Turbiditesthe deposits of turbidity currentsare not found only in deep water, but volumetrically they are most common

there.
Where else might you find them?

The basic hydraulics of a turbidity current were described by Middleton from simple experiments.

and/or late turbidity

current fallout from
suspension cloud

Bouma described the basic sequence of sedimentary structuresthis is an idealized case; most turbidities dont contain all these
parts.

Here is a pretty good a-b-c bouma sequence from the Oligocene Blakeley Formation at South Beach, Whidbey Island

This one, Cretaceous Hunters Cove Formation in Oregon, has a good a, not so clear b, good c and d units.

and/or late turbidity

current fallout from
suspension cloud

Those are some of the best examples I have of multiple bouma parts in one turbidite; many times you see only one or two parts.

For example, here is just bouma a.

These are graded beds where the grain size is very similar, but the bases are sharp [from erosion] and the tops are fuzzy [from slow
deposition of fines at the end, and maybe some bioturbation]. Which way is up, and how do you know?

Heres a bouma b-c turbidite. Some convoluted bedding in the climbing ripple zone [bouma c], which is common because these
sediments are rapidly deposited on avalanche faces and thus not well packed.

So lets go through the steps of a turbidite passing overhead [imagine you are a marine worm on the bottom], and predict the
sequence youd see.

O
This is your original worm position.

O
erosion
We did this is class, in terms of boundary shear stress and Rouse numbers; Im not including those details here.

An erosional base with rip-up clasts [intraclasts] from the ripped up bed or channel wall? Cretaceous, Oregon

Eocene Elkton in Oregon; submarine channel deposit full of rip-up clasts.

A sharp, scoured bas with cross-sections through sole marks. Cretaceous, Oregon

Here are some grooves on the base of a bed linear sole marks which way or ways did the flow go? Cretaceous, Oregon

Flutes and a shallow sole mark [behind a stick], on the base of a turbidite. Which way did the flow go? Carboniferous, Oklahoma.

Cretaceous, Oregon. Double flute marks. Base of a bed, so the topography is inverted from the original scour features.

A brush mark; Carboniferous, Oklahoma. Base of a bed.

Note also the burrow with sand filling. If sand is rapidly deposited, it may load the mud below. In this case, the mud below
apparently was quite frim.

Load and flame structures

But in the case, the sand loaded and squeezed the mud below. This process generates load structures [pushing down], and flame
structures [squeezing up]. Look for overturning of flames in the direction of transport. [here it is unclear, they go both ways]

Some of the most amazing flame structures youll ever see. Eocene Elkton Siltstone, Oregon.

Giant sandy flames below a deep-sea conglomerate; Cretaceous, Oregon.

rapid deposition from the head

Produces graded to massive sandstone [or gravel].

Cretaceous, Salt Point, California.

Most of the lower half of this is bouma a; Cretaceous, Oregon.

1
0
Example from the Blakeley Formation, South Beach, WA

deposition from suspended load

Which will produce?

Which is these is the result of #2 phase, aka bouma b?

Parting lineation forms along planar laminated beds; this is in the Blakeley Fm at South Beach.

Another example of parting lineation, parallel to flow. We saw examples in lab, too.

These may be antidunes, a special case controlled by Froude number; we didnt really talk about this.

1
0
review

3
deposition from bed load
Which will produce?

Which of these is deposited by phase 3, or bouma c?

A sequence mostly dominated by bouma c; climbing ripple lamination; Cretaceous Hunters Cove Fm, Oregon.

These units can also be very thin. Cretaceous Houstenaden Creek Fm., Oregon.

Note intimate association of b and c might there be a grain size control? Explain. Note load/flame structures.

[3]

1
0
The ripples are hard to see at the top of this sequence.

3
[2]
3
[2]
3

So heres another example.

Find the bouma c unit here.

Remember that a whole turbidite at some place [like overbank levees] might be mostly little bouma c units.

Label the bouma units on this photo.

4
3
[2]
4
3
[2]
4
3

Here they are labeled. But we havent yet really seen the next unit up planar laminated silts, usually. They are not common and/or
not easy to see.

4
3

4
3
4

And it may be hard to tell 4 from 5 [d and e in bouma terminology]

3
2
1
0

4 and 5 represent the fallout of finer material, which may or may not be reworked on the bed into planar lamination.

3
2
1
0

So its easy to explain 0-3, and the general idea of 4 or 5, but how do we distinguish the final fallout from sediment that is deposited
in the years or more between turbidity currents? Think about it there are ways.

0
4 or 5
4
3
2

1
0
review

and/or late turbidity

current fallout from
suspension cloud

What weve looked at mostly are deposits from what are called dilute [or low concentration] turbidity currents. Hyperconcentrated
flows or high-concentration turbidity currents produce the massive to graded beds weve seen in a few photos. All these processes
are interrelated.

This is a debris flow within a turbidite sequence. Pigeon Point Fm., California.

A thick, mostly massive turbidite sand, Cretaceous, Oregon. There are probably amalgamated beds here [from more than one
flow]do you see evidence of that in the middle of the photo?

High-concentration turbidity currents deposit poorly sorted beds. Why are the beds not graded? [we talked about the factors in
class]

Another example of a poorly sorted, massive turbidite.

Note that in this thick bed, the intraclasts are near the top maybe they floated like rafts in this high-concentration flow.

Review the basics of submarine fan morphology in your text of choice.

Another of many cartoon maps of submarine fans. Most studies have been done on ancient sequences. One thing weve learned
from modern fans is that the channels meander once they leave the inner fan incised channel!

There is debate about the significance of the differences between middle and outer fan. The basic idea would be that the outer fan is
prograding lobes, and the middle fan meandering channels [migrating laterally]; but there is little detail on a modern fan to
substantiate this concept. So you should think of the basic PROCESSES that dominate parts of the fan and the basin plain, and you
can predict what youd find.

These are very sheet-like turbidites, so most people would interpret this as part of the outermost fan or adjacent basin plain. Great
Valley Sequence, CA.

Still sheet-like but sandier outer to middle fan, probably. Cretaceous, Oregon.

Coarse sand full of intraclasts. Inner submarine fan channel, likely.

These are thin turbidites, but coarser and more lenticularprobably submarine fan channel levee deposits [in fact, there are outcrops
nearby that have both channel and levee facies associated]. Cretaceous, northern California.

A simplified prediction of a prograding submarine fan sequence.

Extra pictures

Extra photo of turbidites.

Another high-concentration turbidity current deposit with dish structures [fluid escape features]

More sole marks.

More sole marks.

More sole marks.