Slides and debris flows on the high-latitude continental slopes of Baffin Bay

Research Article| October 01, 1989 Slides and debris flows on the high-latitude continental slopes of Baffin Bay A. E. Aksu; A. E. Aksu 1Department of Earth Sciences and Ocean Sciences Centre, Memorial University of Newfoundland St. John's, Newfoundland A1B 3X5, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar R. N. Hiscott R. N. Hiscott 1Department of Earth Sciences and Ocean Sciences Centre, Memorial University of Newfoundland St. John's, Newfoundland A1B 3X5, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (1989) 17 (10): 885–888. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1989)017<0885:SADFOT>2.3.CO;2 Article history first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share MailTo Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation A. E. Aksu, R. N. Hiscott; Slides and debris flows on the high-latitude continental slopes of Baffin Bay. Geology 1989;; 17 (10): 885–888. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1989)017<0885:SADFOT>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The eastern continental margin of Baffin Island around Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Site 645 was surveyed by using single-channel airgun, high-resolution boomer systems and piston cores. The data show that much of the upper slope between the 300 and ∼1200 m isobaths is erosional. Major sliding and rotational slumping has removed several hundred metres of sediment from the upper slope, giving the sea bed a steplike morphology. From ∼1200 m to the 2300 m isobath, the slope is constructional and is characterized by abundant acoustically transparent lenses, some of which are traced upslope into acoustically transparent to internally deformed wedge-shaped bodies. These lenses are interpreted to be debris-flow deposits and their abundance in the lower slope indicates frequent upper slope failures. The wedge-shaped bodies are much less common and are interpreted to be larger slides and/or slumps. Near the base of the slope, fields of diapiric structures pierce the acoustically well stratified section and locally produce small mounds on the sea floor. On the basis of correlation with ODP Site 645, they are interpreted as mud diapirs. The combined data show that the lower slope of Baffin Island is constructed predominantly of shingled lenses of debris-flow deposits and rotated slump blocks that originated from major erosion of the upper slope. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.