The seismite problem
During a period of 82 years (1931–2013), 39 genetic terms were introduced for various deposits. Of the 39 terms, only ten are meaningful in understanding the true depositional origin (e.g., turbidites), the remaining 29 are just jargons (e.g., seismites, tsunamites, etc.). The genetic term “seismite...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:ae42a57a70274a0aace94e3b93389e93 2023-05-15T17:47:07+02:00 The seismite problem G. Shanmugam 2016-09-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jop.2016.06.002 https://doaj.org/article/ae42a57a70274a0aace94e3b93389e93 EN eng Elsevier http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095383616300530 https://doaj.org/toc/2095-3836 2095-3836 doi:10.1016/j.jop.2016.06.002 https://doaj.org/article/ae42a57a70274a0aace94e3b93389e93 Journal of Palaeogeography, Vol 5, Iss 4, Pp 318-362 (2016) Soft-sediment deformation structures (SSDS) Seismites Earthquakes Meteorite impacts Liquefaction Clastic injections Paleontology QE701-760 article 2016 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jop.2016.06.002 2022-12-31T16:18:37Z During a period of 82 years (1931–2013), 39 genetic terms were introduced for various deposits. Of the 39 terms, only ten are meaningful in understanding the true depositional origin (e.g., turbidites), the remaining 29 are just jargons (e.g., seismites, tsunamites, etc.). The genetic term “seismites”, introduced by Seilacher (1969) for recognizing palaeoearthquakes in the sedimentary record, is a misnomer. The term was introduced in haste, based on an examination of a single exposure of the Miocene Monterey Formation (10 m) in California, without a rigorous scientific analysis. The fundamental problem is that earthquake is a triggering mechanism, not a depositional process. Type of triggers cannot be recognized in the ancient sedimentary record because evidence for triggers is not preserved by nature. Soft-sediment deformation structures (SSDS), commonly used as the criteria for interpreting seismites, are a product of liquefaction. However, liquefaction can be induced by any one of 21 triggers, which include earthquakes, meteorite impacts, tsunamis, sediment loading, among others. Brecciated clasts, typically associated with earthquake-induced deposits in the Dead Sea Basin, are also common depositional products of debris flows (i.e., synsedimentary product unrelated to earthquakes). Also, various types of SSDS, such as duplex-like structures and clastic injections, can be explained by synsedimentary processes unrelated to earthquakes. Case studies of sandstone petroleum reservoirs worldwide, which include Gulf of Mexico, North Sea, Norwegian Sea, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Bay of Bengal, reveal that there is compelling empirical evidence for sediment loading being the primary cause of SSDS. The Krishna–Godavari Basin, located on the eastern continental margin of India, is ideal for sediment failures by multiple triggering mechanisms where overpressure and liquefaction have led to multi-origin SSDS. Because tsunamis and meteorite impacts are important phenomena in developing extensive deposits, ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Norwegian Sea Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Norwegian Sea Journal of Palaeogeography 5 4 318 362 |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Soft-sediment deformation structures (SSDS) Seismites Earthquakes Meteorite impacts Liquefaction Clastic injections Paleontology QE701-760 |
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Soft-sediment deformation structures (SSDS) Seismites Earthquakes Meteorite impacts Liquefaction Clastic injections Paleontology QE701-760 G. Shanmugam The seismite problem |
topic_facet |
Soft-sediment deformation structures (SSDS) Seismites Earthquakes Meteorite impacts Liquefaction Clastic injections Paleontology QE701-760 |
description |
During a period of 82 years (1931–2013), 39 genetic terms were introduced for various deposits. Of the 39 terms, only ten are meaningful in understanding the true depositional origin (e.g., turbidites), the remaining 29 are just jargons (e.g., seismites, tsunamites, etc.). The genetic term “seismites”, introduced by Seilacher (1969) for recognizing palaeoearthquakes in the sedimentary record, is a misnomer. The term was introduced in haste, based on an examination of a single exposure of the Miocene Monterey Formation (10 m) in California, without a rigorous scientific analysis. The fundamental problem is that earthquake is a triggering mechanism, not a depositional process. Type of triggers cannot be recognized in the ancient sedimentary record because evidence for triggers is not preserved by nature. Soft-sediment deformation structures (SSDS), commonly used as the criteria for interpreting seismites, are a product of liquefaction. However, liquefaction can be induced by any one of 21 triggers, which include earthquakes, meteorite impacts, tsunamis, sediment loading, among others. Brecciated clasts, typically associated with earthquake-induced deposits in the Dead Sea Basin, are also common depositional products of debris flows (i.e., synsedimentary product unrelated to earthquakes). Also, various types of SSDS, such as duplex-like structures and clastic injections, can be explained by synsedimentary processes unrelated to earthquakes. Case studies of sandstone petroleum reservoirs worldwide, which include Gulf of Mexico, North Sea, Norwegian Sea, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Bay of Bengal, reveal that there is compelling empirical evidence for sediment loading being the primary cause of SSDS. The Krishna–Godavari Basin, located on the eastern continental margin of India, is ideal for sediment failures by multiple triggering mechanisms where overpressure and liquefaction have led to multi-origin SSDS. Because tsunamis and meteorite impacts are important phenomena in developing extensive deposits, ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
G. Shanmugam |
author_facet |
G. Shanmugam |
author_sort |
G. Shanmugam |
title |
The seismite problem |
title_short |
The seismite problem |
title_full |
The seismite problem |
title_fullStr |
The seismite problem |
title_full_unstemmed |
The seismite problem |
title_sort |
seismite problem |
publisher |
Elsevier |
publishDate |
2016 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jop.2016.06.002 https://doaj.org/article/ae42a57a70274a0aace94e3b93389e93 |
geographic |
Norwegian Sea |
geographic_facet |
Norwegian Sea |
genre |
Norwegian Sea |
genre_facet |
Norwegian Sea |
op_source |
Journal of Palaeogeography, Vol 5, Iss 4, Pp 318-362 (2016) |
op_relation |
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095383616300530 https://doaj.org/toc/2095-3836 2095-3836 doi:10.1016/j.jop.2016.06.002 https://doaj.org/article/ae42a57a70274a0aace94e3b93389e93 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jop.2016.06.002 |
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Journal of Palaeogeography |
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5 |
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4 |
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318 |
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362 |
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1766151439980167168 |