Shortening viscous pressure ridges, a solution to the enigma of initiating salt ‘withdrawal’ minibasins

Research Article| April 01, 2010 Shortening viscous pressure ridges, a solution to the enigma of initiating salt 'withdrawal' minibasins Steven J. Ings; Steven J. Ings 1Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4J1, Canada2Department of Earth Sciences, Memorial University, St John's, Newfoundland A1B 3X5, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Christopher Beaumont Christopher Beaumont 1Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4J1, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Steven J. Ings 1Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4J1, Canada2Department of Earth Sciences, Memorial University, St John's, Newfoundland A1B 3X5, Canada Christopher Beaumont 1Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4J1, Canada Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 09 Jul 2009 Revision Received: 16 Oct 2009 Accepted: 06 Nov 2009 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2010 Geological Society of America Geology (2010) 38 (4): 339–342. https://doi.org/10.1130/G30520.1 Article history Received: 09 Jul 2009 Revision Received: 16 Oct 2009 Accepted: 06 Nov 2009 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Steven J. Ings, Christopher Beaumont; Shortening viscous pressure ridges, a solution to the enigma of initiating salt 'withdrawal' minibasins. Geology 2010;; 38 (4): 339–342. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G30520.1 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 Salt 'withdrawal' sedimentary minibasins, common features of salt tectonic provinces, are typically subcircular or polygonal, 10–30 km in diameter, and contain as much as 10 km of sediment above evaporite that has been expelled into surrounding diapiric structures. The early development of minibasins typically is not buoyancy driven (Rayleigh-Taylor instability) because thin sediment overburden is usually less dense than salt (strictly, halite) or other evaporites. We analyze an alternative mechanism that applies in compressional regimes involving sedimentation onto salt, lateral flow and shortening of sediment and salt to form viscous pressure ridges (VPRs) (the key process). Loading by sediment ponded between VPRs provides a positive feedback that grows the pressure ridges. We show using lubrication theory and numerical models that this mechanism quantitatively solves the enigma and grows minibasins until the compacting sediment is sufficiently thick and dense for Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities to take over. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.