Physical and Geotechnical Properties and Assessment of Sediment Stability an the Continental Slope and Basin of the Bransfield Basin (Antarctica Peninsula)

• Published in: Marine Georesources & Geotechnology
• Main Authors: CASAS D, ERCILLA G, ESTRADA F, ALONSO B, BARAZA J, LEE H, KAYEN R, CHIOCCI, Francesco Latino
• Other Authors: Casas, D, Ercilla, G, Estrada, F, Alonso, B, Baraza, J, Lee, H, Kayen, R, Chiocci, Francesco Latino
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Taylor & Francis Limited:Rankine Road, Basingstoke RG24 8PR United Kingdom:011 44 1256 813035, EMAIL: [e-mail], [e-mail], INTERNET: http://www.tandf.co.uk, Fax: [phone] 2004
• Subjects: Antarctica; Bransfield Basin; sedimentology; slope stability; SURFACE SEDIMENTS; MARINE-SEDIMENTS; WEST ANTARCTICA; SOUND-VELOCITY; ATLANTIC OCEAN; SEA; EVOLUTION; STRAIT; MARGIN; NORTH; Antarctic; Antarctic Peninsula; The Antarctic; West Antarctica; Antarc*
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11573/14173; https://doi.org/10.1080/10641190490900853; http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=000226055800003&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=0c7ff228ccbaaa74236f48834a34396a; http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-12144258026&partnerID=65&md5=bc0178f467113e6a158d413b590eb14e

Our investigation is centred on the continental slope of the Antarctic Peninsula and adjacent basin. Type of sediments, sedimentary stratigraphy, and physical and geotechnical characterization of the sediments have been integrated. Four different types of sediments have been defined: diamictons, silty and muddy turbidites, muddy, silty and muddy matrix embedded clast contourites. There is a close correspondence between the physical properties (density, magnetic susceptibility and p-wave velocity) and the texture and/or fabric as laminations and strati. cation. From a quantitative point of view, only a few statistical correlations between textural and physical properties have been found. Within the geotechnical properties, only water content is most influenced by texture. This slope, with a maximum gradient observed (20degrees), is stable, according to the stability under gravitational loading concepts, and the maximum stable slope that would range from 22degrees to 29degrees. Nevertheless, different instability features have been observed. Volcanic activity, bottom currents, glacial loading-unloading or earthquakes can be considered as potential mechanisms to induce instability in this area.