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Geological Society, London, Special Publications; 2007; v. 277; p. 85-103;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.SP.2007.277.01.05
© 2007 Geological Society of London

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The use of two- and three-dimensional seismic to understand sediment transfer from fluvial to deepwater via sinuous channels: example from the Mahakam shelf and comparison with outcrop data (south central Pyrenees)

P. Crumeyrolle, I. Renaud & J. Suiter

TOTAL S.A., Centre Scientifique et Technique, , Avenue Larribau, 64000 PAU, France

While being very different in term of horizontal and vertical resolution, the three-dimensional seismic and the two-dimensional lines straddling the Mahakam shelf complement each other to refine the classical two-dimensional seismic-based sequence stratigraphy models and the associated depositional environments interpretation by establishing closer three-dimensional genetic relations between fluvial, deltaic and turbiditic sediments using palaeolandscape morphologies. The Mahakam lowstand seismic geomorphology study can be compared with ancient sinuous fluvial to slope and deep marine channels outcropping in the cenozoic of the Spanish Pyrenees. This comparison emphasizes the interaction of various processes such as sea-level cycles, shelf-edge failures and the behaviour of flood/fluvial flows shaping the fluvial conduits that fed turbiditic systems during the lowstand period. Fluvial-derived flows by-passing the depositional shoreline break or the shelf break appear to be one of the main mechanisms for sediment transfer from shelf to deep basin both in the Mahakam and the Sobrarbe delta despite the obvious difference in tectonic setting, slope dip and flow efficiency.