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Physical Properties and Microstructural Response of Sediments to Accretion-Subduction: Barbados Forearc

  • Chapter
Microstructure of Fine-Grained Sediments

Part of the book series: Frontiers in Sedimentary Geology ((SEDIMENTARY))

Abstract

Convergent margins are one of three major geological boundaries in terms of relative plate motion. These margins are sites where large piles of sediment are being physically transferred from one tectonic plate to another, often forming the roots of extensive mountain systems. Important global fluid and mass fluxes take place at these locations. The Barbados Ridge represents the growing pile resulting from sediment being scraped off the Atlantic plate and added to the Caribbean plate (Fig. 22.1). This transfer process results in accretion through lateral shortening and vertical thickening of the sediment package. Some of the sediment pile on the Atlantic plate is not initially offscraped. A major detachment fault, or decollement, separates material being accreted from that being subducted. Samples from this region were taken to determine the structural and physical changes associated with sediments undergoing accretion or subduction, and to understand the features that control the location of the slip plane, or decollement, between these two units.

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Authors
  1. Elliott Taylor
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  2. Patti J. Burkett
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  3. Jeri D. Wackler
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  4. John N. Leonard
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Seafloor Geosciences Division, Naval Ocean Research and Development Activity, 39529-5004, Stennis Space Center, MS, USA

    Richard H. Bennett

  2. Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, 77843, College Station, TX, USA

    William R. Bryant

  3. IMC/Pitman-Moore, Inc., 47808, Terre Haute, IN, USA

    Matthew H. Hulbert

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© 1991 Springer-Verlag New York

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Taylor, E., Burkett, P.J., Wackler, J.D., Leonard, J.N. (1991). Physical Properties and Microstructural Response of Sediments to Accretion-Subduction: Barbados Forearc. In: Bennett, R.H., et al. Microstructure of Fine-Grained Sediments. Frontiers in Sedimentary Geology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4428-8_22

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4428-8_22

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-8766-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-4428-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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