Skip to main content
Log in

Morphologic, acoustic, and sedimentologic characteristics of the Magdalena Fan

  • Published:
Geo-Marine Letters Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Magdalena Fan can be divided into: upper fan—1:60–1:110 gradients, channels with well-developed levees, generally several subbottom reflectors on 3.5-kHz records, and fine-grained sediments; middle fan—1:110–1:200 gradients, channels with very subdued levees, several to few subbottom reflectors on 3.5-kHz records, and chaotic and discontinuous reflections on multichannel seismic (MCS) records; lower fan—<1:250 gradients, small channels and relatively smooth seafloor, generally coarsegrained sediments, few or no subbottom reflectors on 3.5-kHz records, and flat continuous reflections on MCS records. In addition to the turbidity currents, slumping along the continental slope and elsewhere also influenced sedimentation in the fan.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Duque-Caro, H., 1979. Major structural elements and evolution of northwestern Columbia. In: J. S. Watkins, L. Montadert, and P. W. Dickenson (eds.), Geological and Geophysical Investigations of Continental Margins. American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Memoir 29, pp. 330–351.

  2. Van Houten, F. B., and Travis, R. B., 1968. Cenozoic deposits, upper Magdalena Valley, Colombia. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 52, pp. 675–702.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Shepard, F. P., 1973. Sea floor off Magdalena delta and Santa Marta area, Colombia. Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 84, pp. 1955–1972.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Heezen, B. C., 1956. Corrientes de turbidez del Rio Magdalena. Boletin de La Sociedad Geografica de Colombia, nomeros 51 y 52, pp. 135–143.

  5. Heezen, B. C., and Munôz, J., 1965. Magdalena turbidites in deep sea sediments. Fourth Caribbean Geological Conference, Trinidad, 1965, p. 342.

  6. Christofferson, E., 1976. Colombian Basin magnetism and Caribbean plate tectonics. Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 87, pp. 1255–1258.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Kolla, V., and others, 1984. Seismic stratigraphy and sedimentation of the Magdalena Fan, southern Colombian Basin, Caribbean Sea. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 68, pp. 316–332.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Normark, W. R., 1978. Fan valleys, channels and depositional lobes on modern submarine fans: characters for recognition of sandy turbidite environments. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 62, pp. 912–931.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Damuth, J. E., and Kumar, N., 1975. Amazon cone: morphology, sediments, age and growth pattern. Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 86, pp. 863–878.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Damuth, J. E., Kolla, V., and others, 1983. Distributary channel meandering and bifurcation patterns on the Amazon deep-sea fan as revealed by long-range side-scan sonar (GLORIA). Geology, v. 11, pp. 94–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Prell, W. L., 1978. Upper Quaternary sediments of the Colombia Basin. Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 89, pp. 1241–1255.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Normark, W. R., and others, 1980. Sediment waves on the Monterey Fan Levee: a preliminary physical interpretation. Marine Geology, v. 37, pp. 1–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Mutti, E., 1979. Turbidites et cones sous-marins profonds. In: P. Homewood (ed.), Sédimentation Détritique (Fluviatile, Littorale et Marine). Institut Géologique Université de Fribourg, Switzerland pp. 353–349.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Sarg, J. F., and Skjold, L. J., 1982. Stratigraphic traps in Paleocene sands in the Balder Area, North Sea. In: M. T. Halbouty (ed.), The Deliberate Search for the Subtle Trap. American Association of Petroleum Geology, Memoir 32, pp. 197–206.

  15. Berg, O. R., 1982. Seismic detection and evaluation of delta and turbidite sequences: their application to exploration for the subtle trap. American Association of Petroleum Geologist Bulletin, v. 66, pp. 1271–1289.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kolla, V., Buffler, R.T. Morphologic, acoustic, and sedimentologic characteristics of the Magdalena Fan. Geo-Marine Letters 3, 85–91 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02462452

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02462452

Keywords

Navigation