From gravity cores to overpressure history: the importance of measured sediment physical properties in hydrogeological models

The development of overpressure in continental margins is typically evaluated with hydrogeological models. Such approaches are used to both identify fluid flow patterns and to evaluate the development of high pore pressures within layers with particular physical properties that may promote slope instability. In some instances, these models are defined with sediment properties based on facies characterization and proxy values of porosity, permeability or compressibility are derived from the existing literature as direct measurements are rarely available. This study uses finite-element models to quantify the differences in computed overpressure generated by fine-grained hemipelagic sediments from Gulf of Cadiz, offshore Martinique and Gulf of Mexico, and their consequences in terms of submarine slope stability. By comparing our simulation results with in-situ pore pressure data measured in the Gulf of Mexico, we demonstrated that physical properties measured on volcanic-influenced hemipelagic sediments underestimate the computed stability of a submarine slope. Physical properties measured on sediments from the study area are key to improving the reliability and accuracy of overpressure models, and when that information is not available literature data from samples with similar lithologies, composition and depositional settings enable better assessment of the overpressure role as a pre-conditioning factor in submarine landslide initiation

A volcaniclastic deep-sea fan off La Réunion Island (Indian Ocean): Gradualism versus catastrophism

International audienceA new geophysical data set off La Réunion Island (western Indian Ocean) reveals a large volcaniclastic submarine fan developing in an open-ocean setting. The fan is connected to a torrential river that floods during tropical cyclones. Sediment storage at the coast is limited, suggesting that the sediments are carried directly to the basin. The fan morphology and turbidites in cores lead us to classify it as a sand-rich system mainly fed by hyperpycnal flows. In the ancient geological record, there are many examples of thick volcaniclastic successions, but studies of modern analogues have emphasized mechanisms such as debris avalanches or direct pyroclastic flow into the sea. Because the Cilaos deep-sea fan is isolated from any continental source, it provides information on architecture and noncatastrophic processes in a volcaniclastic deep-sea fan

Composition, geometry, and emplacement dynamics of a large volcanic island landslide offshore Martinique: From volcano flank-collapse to seafloor sediment failure

Landslides are common features in the vicinity of volcanic islands. In this contribution, we investigate landslides emplacement and dynamics around the volcanic island of Martinique based on the first scientific drilling of such deposits. The evolution of the active Montagne Pelée volcano on this island has been marked by three major flank-collapses that removed much of the western flank of the volcano. Subaerial collapse volumes vary from 2 to 25 km3 and debris avalanches flowed into the Grenada Basin. High-resolution seismic data (AGUADOMAR – 1999, CARAVAL – 2002 and GWADASEIS – 2009) is combined with new drill cores that penetrate up to 430 m through the three submarine landslide deposits previously associated to the aerial flank-collapses (Site U1399, Site U1400, Site U1401, IODP Expedition 340, Joides Resolution, March-April 2012). This combined geophysical and core data provide an improved understanding of landslide processes offshore a volcanic island. The integrated analysis shows a large submarine landslide deposit, without debris avalanche deposits coming from the volcano, comprising up to 300 km3 of remobilized seafloor sediment that extends for 70 km away from the coast and covers an area of 2100 km2. Our new data suggest that the aerial debris avalanche deposit enter the sea but stop at the base of submarine flank. We propose a new model dealing with seafloor sediment failures and landslide propagation mechanisms, triggered by volcanic flank-collapse events affecting Montagne Pelée volcano. Newly recognized landslide deposits occur deeper in the stratigraphy, suggesting the recurrence of large-scale mass-wasting processes offshore the island and thus, the necessity to better assess the associated tsunami hazards in the region. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Gravity-driven sliding and associated deformations along complex submarine slopes: a laboratory modeling approach based on constraints observed offshore Martinique Island (Lesser Antilles)

Submarine gravity-driven sliding of sediments are common processes in the vicinity of volcanic islands. In the Lesser Antilles arc, the Montagne Pelée volcano on Martinique Island underwent several flank-collapse events during its long-term eruptive history, resulting in debris avalanches. When the debris avalanches entered into the seawater, they were emplaced over the unstable slope of the volcano, triggering a seafloor sediment failure and massive landslides downslope. Using a laboratory modeling approach, we simulated the gravity-driven sliding of a sand layer lying above a silicone layer. The experiments were performed using various slope geometries (slope lengths and number of slope breaks separating the slopes with different angles), under both dry and aqueous conditions, and while varying the amount of additional sand inputs upslope. The resulting deformations were characterized in each experiment in order to compare the obtained structures with those shown by the seismic lines offshore to the west of Martinique Island. During all the experiments, a compressional frontal deformation zone made of several reverse faults formed downslope, often near the slope breaks. Downslope, a portion of the sediments was mostly displaced and poorly deformed in a damping zone, while an extensional deformation zone formed upslope. The displacements of the surficial markers were measured through time to characterize the sliding dynamics. Our study demonstrates that the slope geometry and additional sand inputs primarily favor and increase the sliding deformation, whereas the hydrostatic pressure plays a secondary catalytic role over time. These results provide new constraints on the driving factors and their consequences on gravity-driven sliding in terms of deformations and runout distance over time. This may have a significant impact on the associated hazard assessment related to offshore infrastructures, in a region known for its seismic and volcanic risks

The relationship between eruptive activity, flank collapse, and sea level at volcanic islands: A long-term (>1 Ma) record offshore Montserrat, Lesser Antilles

Hole U1395B, drilled southeast of Montserrat during Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 340, provides a long (>1 Ma) and detailed record of eruptive and mass-wasting events (>130 discrete events). This record can be used to explore the temporal evolution in volcanic activity and landslides at an arc volcano. Analysis of tephra fall and volcaniclastic turbidite deposits in the drill cores reveals three heightened periods of volcanic activity on the island of Montserrat (?930 ka to ?900 ka, ?810 ka to ?760 ka, and ?190 ka to ?120 ka) that coincide with periods of increased volcano instability and mass-wasting. The youngest of these periods marks the peak in activity at the Soufrière Hills volcano. The largest flank collapse of this volcano (?130 ka) occurred towards the end of this period, and two younger landslides also occurred during a period of relatively elevated volcanism. These three landslides represent the only large (>0.3 km3) flank collapses of the Soufrière Hills edifice, and their timing also coincides with periods of rapid sea-level rise (>5 m/ka). Available age data from other island arc volcanoes suggests a general correlation between the timing of large landslides and periods of rapid sea-level rise, but this is not observed for volcanoes in intra-plate ocean settings. We thus infer that rapid sea-level rise may modulate the timing of collapse at island arc volcanoes, but not in larger ocean-island settings

Experimental evidence for the shallow production of phonolitic magmas at Mayotte

Since May 2018 till the end of 2021, Mayotte island has been the locus of a major submarine volcanic eruption characterized by the offshore emission of more than 6.5 km of basanitic magma. The eruption occurred along a WNW–ESE trending submarine ridge on the east flank of the island where, in addition, several seemingly recent phonolitic bodies were also identified close to the island. To define realistic scenarios of magma ascent and potentially predict the style of an upcoming event, it is crucial to have a precise understanding on the plumbing system operating below volcanoes. The putative relationships between basanites emitted by the new volcano and these recent phonolites have been experimentally explored by performing crystallization experiments on a representative basanite over a large range of pressures (up to 400 MPa). The results show that the crystallization of basanite at crustal levels (12–15 km) yields a phonolitic residual liquid containing up to 3–4 wt% after 65 wt% of an assemblage of olivineplagioclaseamphiboleclinopyroxenebiotitemagnetiteilmeniteapatite. The final iron content of the residual phonolitic liquids is strongly controlled by the depth/pressure of fractionation. Fe-rich phonolites from the submarine ridge are produced at 6–8 km depth, while a shallower differentiation (4–5 km) results in the production of liquids with trachyte–benmoreite affinities. If the fractionation process occurs at depths higher than 8 km, the resulting phonolitic melts are progressively enriched in – but depleted in FeO*, ie unlike those erupted. We therefore conclude that phonolitic magma production and storage at Mayotte is a rather shallow process.Depuis mai 2018 et jusqu’à la fin de l’année 2021, l’île de Mayotte a été le scenario d’une éruption volcanique sous-marine majeure caractérisée par l’émission en mer de plus de 6,5 km de magma basanitique. L’éruption s’est produite le long d’une ride sous-marine orientée ONO–ESE sur le flanc est de l’île où, entre autre, plusieurs corps phonolitiques d’ aspect récent ont également été identifiés à proximité de l’île. Pour définir des scénarios réalistes d’ascension du magma et potentiellement prévoir le style d’un événement à venir, il est crucial d’avoir une compréhension précise du système de plomberie magmatique opérant sous les volcans. Les relations génétiques potentielles entre les basanites émises par le nouveau volcan et ces phonolites récentes ont été explorées expérimentalement en effectuant des expériences de cristallisation sur une basanite représentative, et ce sur une large gamme de pressions (jusqu’à 400 MPa). Les résultats montrent que la cristallisation de la basanite à des profondeurs crustales (12–15 km) produit un liquide résiduel phonolitique contenant jusqu’à 3–4 % en poids (pd.%) de HO, après la précipitation d’au moins 65 pd.% d’un assemblage d’olivineplagioclaseamphiboleclinopyroxènebiotitemagnétiteilméniteapatite. La teneur finale en fer des liquides phonolitiques résiduels est fortement contrôlée par la profondeur/pression de cristallisation. Les phonolites riches en fer de la dorsale sous-marine sont produites à 6–8 km de profondeur, tandis qu’une différenciation moins profonde (4–5 km) entraîne la production de liquides à affinités trachyte–benmoreite. Si le processus de fractionnement se produit à des profondeurs supérieures à 8 km, les liquides phonolitiques résultants sont progressivement enrichis en SiO–AlO mais appauvris en FeO*, c’est-à-dire différents des phonolites naturelles. Nous concluons donc que la production et le stockage de magma phonolitique à Mayotte est un processus plutôt superficiel

Noeud A VOLCANO de RESIF : bilan et perspectives

Knot A VOLCANO is part of the RESIF research infrastructure information system and concentrates seismic data from the three volcanological and seismological observatories of the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris. These observatories operate short-seismological stations-analogical period, short-digital three-component period, medium-digital band and digital wideband. These data are used for monitoring regional volcanic and land-based activity, as well as tsunami warning. The poster presents the results at the end of 2017 and the prospects for this knot A.The French Seismological and Geodetic Network RESIF is a national research infrastructure dedicated to the observation and understanding of the structure and dynamics of the Internal Earth. RESIF is based on high-tech observation networks, composed of seismological, geodetic and gravimetric instruments deployed in a dense manner throughout France. The data collected make it possible to study with high spatial and temporal resolution the deformation of the ground, surface and deep structures, seismicity on a local and global scale and natural hazards, and more particularly seismic events, on French territory. RESIF is integrated into European (EPOS - European Plate Observing System) and global systems of instruments for imaging the Earth's interior as a whole and studying many natural phenomena.Le nœud A VOLCANO fait partie du système d'information de l'infrastructure de recherche RESIF et concentre les données sismiques des trois observatoires volcanologiques et sismologiques de l'Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris. Ces observatoires opèrent des stations sismologiques courte-période analogique, courte-période numérique trois composantes, moyenne- bande numérique et large-bande numérique. Ces données sont utilisées pour le suivi de l’activité volcanique et tellurique régionale, ainsi que l’alerte aux tsunamis. Le poster présente le bilan fin 2017 et les perspectives pour ce noeud A.Le Réseau sismologique et géodésique français RESIF est une infrastructure de recherche nationale dédiée à l’observation et la compréhension de la structure et de la dynamique Terre interne. RESIF se base sur des réseaux d’observation de haut niveau technologique, composés d’instruments sismologiques, géodésiques et gravimétriques déployés de manière dense sur tout le territoire français. Les données recueillies permettent d’étudier avec une haute résolution spatio-temporelle la déformation du sol, les structures superficielles et profondes, la sismicité à l’échelle locale et globale et les aléas naturels, et plus particulièrement sismiques, sur le territoire français. RESIF s’intègre aux dispositifs européens (EPOS - European Plate Observing System) et mondiaux d’instruments permettant d’imager l’intérieur de la Terre dans sa globalité et d’étudier de nombreux phénomènes naturels

Crise sismo-volcanique de Mayotte : réactivation et évolution en-direct d’une ride volcanique sur la pente est de l’île mise en lumière par la bathymétrie et la réflectivité multifaisceaux.

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