Preconditioning and triggering of offshore slope failures and turbidity currents revealed by most detailed monitoring yet at a fjord-head delta

Rivers and turbidity currents are the two most important sediment transport processes by volume on Earth. Various hypotheses have been proposed for triggering of turbidity currents offshore from river mouths, including direct plunging of river discharge, delta mouth bar flushing or slope failure caused by low tides and gas expansion, earthquakes and rapid sedimentation. During 2011, 106 turbidity currents were monitored at Squamish Delta, British Columbia. This enables statistical analysis of timing, frequency and triggers. The largest peaks in river discharge did not create hyperpycnal flows. Instead, delayed delta-lip failures occurred 8–11 h after flood peaks, due to cumulative delta top sedimentation and tidally-induced pore pressure changes. Elevated river discharge is thus a significant control on the timing and rate of turbidity currents but not directly due to plunging river water. Elevated river discharge and focusing of river discharge at low tides cause increased sediment transport across the delta-lip, which is the most significant of all controls on flow timing in this setting

A comprehensive study of noble gases and nitrogen in Hypatia, a diamond-rich pebble from SW Egypt

This is a follow-up study of a work by Kramers et al. (2013) on an unusual diamond-rich rock found in the SW side of the Libyan Desert Glass strewn field. This pebble, called Hypatia, is composed of almost pure carbon. Transmission Electron Microscopy and X-ray diffraction results reveal that Hypatia is made of defect-rich diamond containing lonsdaleite and deformation bands. These characteristics are compatible with an impact origin on Earth and/or in space. We analyzed concentrations and isotopic compositions of all five noble gases and nitrogen in several mg sized Hypatia samples. These data confirm that Hypatia is extra-terrestrial. The sample is rich in trapped noble gases with an isotopic composition close to the meteoritic Q component. 40Ar/36Ar ratios in individual steps are as low as 0.4. Concentrations of cosmic-ray produced 21Ne correspond to a nominal cosmic-ray exposure age of ca. 0.1 Myr if produced in a typical m-sized meteoroid. Such an atypically low nominal exposure age suggests high shielding in a considerably larger body. In addition to the Xe-Q composition, an excess of radiogenic 129Xe (from the decay of extinct 129I) is observed (129Xe/132Xe = 1.18 +/- 0.03). Two N components are present, an isotopically heavy component ({\delta}15N = +20 permil) released at low temp. and a major light component ({\delta}15N = -110 permil) at higher temp. This disequilibrium in N suggests that the diamonds in Hypatia were formed in space. Our data are broadly consistent with concentrations and isotopic compositions of noble gases in at least three different types of carbon-rich meteoritic materials. However, Hypatia does not seem to be related to any of these materials, but may have sampled a similar cosmochemical reservoir. Our study does not confirm the presence of exotic noble gases that led Kramers et al. to propose that Hypatia is a remnant of a comet that impacted the Earth

Author Correction: Rapidly-migrating and internally-generated knickpoints can control submarine channel evolution (Nature Communications, (2020), 11, 1, (3129), 10.1038/s41467-020-16861-x)

© 2020, The Author(s). The original version of this Article contained an error in the labelling of the cross-section in Fig. 2g and the vertical axis in Fig. 2b. This has been corrected in both the PDF and HTML versions of the Article

Controls on variations in sedimentary deposits produced by a retreating ice stream grounding line

The majority of glaciers draining the Antarctic Peninsula Ice Sheet are thinning and retreating rapidly1. It is widely understood that these changes are driven by both a warming ocean and atmosphere. However, there are other mechanisms, including pinning points created by bathymetric highs and a reverse bed gradient, that are thought to have an important control on ice stream behaviour (Weertman, 1974; Jamieson et al., 2012). Our understanding of the interplay between these mechanisms and time-scales over which they are important is currently limited in time to the advent of satellite monitoring. By reconstructing the cause and style of ice stream retreat following the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM; 25-19 ka BP), it is possible to gain a greater insight into the mechanisms which drive glacier retreat (Ó Cofaigh et al., 2014). Sedimentary sequences deposited during the LGM and the subsequent deglaciation on polar continental shelves, provide an important archive of past changes (Ó Cofaigh et al., 2014). Previous studies have typically identified three sediment facies assemblages; sub-glacial, transitional and open marine (Ó Cofaigh et al., 2014; Domack et al., 1988; Smith et al., 2011). Transitional sediment facies are deposited at the grounding line and are often targeted for radiocarbon dating, as they represent the onset of glaciomarine sedimentation following the retreat of grounded ice (Domack et al., 1988; Smith et al., 2014; Heroy et al., 1996). Despite the development of depositional models to help explain the processes occurring at grounding lines (Powell et al., 1995 and 1996), there is still significant uncertainty about the temporal and spatial variations in grounding line sedimentation along and across a palaeo-ice stream trough. Here we use a multi-proxy approach (water content, shear strength, magnetic susceptibility, density, contents of biogenic opal, Total Organic Carbon and CaCO3, grain size distribution and X-radiographs) on marine sediment cores recovered from the Anvers-Hugo Palaeo-Ice Stream Trough (AHT), western Antarctic Peninsula shelf, to identify variability in transitional sediment facies deposited along and across the trough. We discuss possible controls on the variability in transitional sediment facies and how this is related to the rate and style of ice stream retreat. Our data reveal systematic variability in the types and volume of transitional sediments deposited during the last deglaciation of AHT. A detailed analysis of the transitional sediment facies shows that this variability reflects different phases of ice stream behaviour. Large volumes of ice proximal sediment facies recovered seawards of grounding zone wedges are indicative of episodes of grounding line still-stands. Re-advances of the grounding line, concurrent with a shallowing of the reverse bed gradient and a narrowing of the trough, appear to have occurred during the final stages of deglaciation. This is indicated by interlaminated ice-proximal and ice-distal sediment facies within inner shelf cores. Transitional sediment variability additionally captures the evolution of the ice stream during deglaciation, including the formation of a small ice shelf on the inner shelf. Keywords: Antarctic Peninsula, Last Glacial Maximum, ice stream, sediment cores References Cook, A. J., Holland, P. R., Meredith, M. P., Murray, T., Luckman, A. & Vaughan, D. G, 2016. Ocean forcing of glacier retreat in the western Antarctic Peninsula. Science, 353, 283-286. Weertman, J, 1974. Stability of the Junction of an Ice Sheet and an Ice Shelf. Journal of Glaciology, 13, 3-11. Jamieson, S. S. R., Vieli, A., Livingstone, S. J., Cofaigh, C. O., Stokes, C., Hillenbrand, C.-D. & Dowdeswell, J. A, 2012. Ice-stream stability on a reverse bed slope. Nature Geoscience, 5, 799-802. Ó Cofaigh, C., Davies, B. J., Livingstone, S. J., Smith, J. A., Johnson, J. S., Hocking, E. P., Hodgson, D. A., Anderson, J. B., Bentley, M. J., Canals, M., Domack, E., Dowdeswell, J. A., Evans, J., Glasser, N. F., Hillenbrand, C.-D., Larter, R. D., Roberts, S. J. & Simms, A. R, 2014. Reconstruction of ice-sheet changes in the Antarctic Peninsula since the Last Glacial Maximum. Quaternary Science Reviews, 100, 87-110. Domack, E. W. & Harris, P. T, 1998. A new depositional model for ice shelves, based upon sediment cores from the Ross Sea and the Mac. Robertson shelf, Antarctica. Annals of Glaciology, 27, 281-284. Smith, J. A., Hillenbrand, C.-D., Kuhn, G., Larter, R. D., Graham, A. G. C., Ehrmann, W., Moreton, S. G. & Forwick, M, 2011. Deglacial history of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet in the western Amundsen Sea Embayment. Quaternary Science Reviews, 30, 488-505. Smith, J. A., Hillenbrand, C.-D., Kuhn, G., Klages, J. P., Graham, A. G. C., Larter, R. D., Ehrmann, W., Moreton, S. G., Wiers, S. & Frederichs, T, 2014. New constraints on the timing of West Antarctic Ice Sheet retreat in the eastern Amundsen Sea since the Last Glacial Maximum. Global and Planetary Change, 122, 224-237. Heroy, D. C. & Anderson, J. B, 1996. Radiocarbon constraints on Antarctic Peninsula Ice Sheet retreat following the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Quaternary Science Reviews, 26, 3286-3297. Powell, R. D., Dawber, M., McInnes, J. N. & Pyne, A. R, 1996. Observations of the Grounding-line Area at a Floating Glacier Terminus. Annals of Glaciology, 22, 217-223. 1Powell, R. D. & Domack, E, 1995. Modern Glacimarine Environments. In: Glacial Environments, Volume 1 (ed. J Menzies). Butterworth-Heinemann, 445-486

Bedforms and sedimentary structures related to supercritical flows in glacigenic settings

Upper-flow-regime bedforms, including upper-stage-plane beds, antidunes, chutes-and-pools and cyclic steps, are ubiquitous in glacigenic depositional environments characterized by abundant meltwater discharge and sediment supply. In this study, the depositional record of Froude near-critical and supercritical flows in glacigenic settings is reviewed, and similarities and differences between different depositional environments are discussed. Upper-flow-regime bedforms may occur in subglacial, subaerial and subaqueous environments, recording deposition by free-surface flows and submerged density flows. Although individual bedform types are generally not indicative of any specific depositional environment, some observed trends are similar to those documented in non-glacigenic settings. Important parameters for bedform evolution that differ between depositional environments include flow confinement, bed slope, aggradation rate and grain size. Cyclic-step deposits are more common in confined settings, like channels or incised valleys, or steep slopes of coarse-grained deltas. Antidune deposits prevail in unconfined settings and on more gentle slopes, like glacifluvial fans, sand-rich delta slopes or subaqueous (ice-contact) fans. At low aggradation rates, only the basal portions of bedforms are preserved, such as scour fills related to the hydraulic-jump zone of cyclic steps or antidune-wave breaking, which are common in glacifluvial systems and during glacial lake-outburst floods and (related) lake-level falls. Higher aggradation rates result in increased preservation potential, possibly leading to the preservation of complete bedforms. Such conditions are met in sediment-laden jökulhlaups and subaqueous proglacial environments characterized by expanding density flows. Coarser-grained sediment leads to steeper bedform profiles and highly scoured facies architectures, while finer-grained deposits display less steep bedform architectures. Such differences are in part related to stronger flows, faster settling of coarse clasts, and more rapid breaking of antidune waves or hydraulic-jump formation over hydraulically rough beds. © 2020 The Authors. Sedimentology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Association of Sedimentologist

History of Anvers-Hugo Trough, western Antarctic Peninsula shelf, since the Last Glacial Maximum. Part I: Deglacial history based on new sedimentological and chronological data

Reconstructing the advance and retreat of past ice sheets provides important long-term context for recent change(s) and enables us to better understand ice sheet responses to forcing mechanisms and external boundary conditions that regulate grounding line retreat. This study applies various radiocarbon dating techniques, guided by a detailed sedimentological analyses, to reconstruct the glacial history of Anvers-Hugo Trough (AHT), one of the largest bathymetric troughs on the western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) shelf. Existing records from AHT indicate that the expanded Antarctic Peninsula Ice Sheet (APIS) advanced to, or close to, the continental shelf edge during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM; 23-19 cal kyr BP [ = calibrated kiloyears before present]), with deglaciation of the outer shelf after ∼16.3 cal kyr BP. Our new chronological data show that the APIS had retreated to the middle shelf by ∼15.7 cal kyr BP. Over this 600-year interval, two large grounding-zone wedges (GZW) were deposited across the middle (GZW2) and inner shelf (GZW3), suggesting that their formation occurred on centennial rather than millennial timescales. Expanded sequences of sub-ice shelf sediments occur seaward of the inner GZW3, which suggests that the grounding line remained stationary for a prolonged period over the middle shelf. Grounding-line retreat rates indicate faster retreat across the outer to middle shelf compared to retreat across the middle to inner shelf. We suggest that variable retreat rates relate to the broad-scale morphology of the trough, which is characterised by a relatively smooth, retrograde seabed on the outer to middle shelf and rugged morphology with a locally landward shallowing bed and deep basin on the inner shelf. A slowdown in retreat rate could also have been promoted by convergent ice flow over the inner shelf and the availability of pinning points associated with bathymetric highs around Anvers Island and Hugo Island

Anvers-Hugo Trough palaeo-ice stream, Antarctic Peninsula: geomorphological evidence for the role of subglacial water in facilitating ice stream flow

We will present new multibeam bathymetry data that make the Anvers-Hugo Trough west of the Antarctic Peninsula one of the most completely surveyed palaeo-ice stream pathways in Antarctica. We interpret landforms revealed by these data as indicating that subglacial water availability played an important role in facilitating ice stream flow in the trough during late Quaternary glacial periods. Specifically, we observe a set of northward-shoaling valleys that are eroded into the upstream edge of a sedimentary basin, extend northwards from a zone containing landforms typical of erosion by subglacial water flow, and coincide spatially with the onset of mega-scale glacial lineations. Water was likely supplied to the ice stream bed episodically as a result of outbursts from a subglacial lake previously hypothesized to have been located in the Palmer Deep basin on the inner continental shelf. In a palaeo-ice stream confluence area, close juxtaposition of mega-scale glacial lineations with landforms that are characteristic of slow, dry-based ice flow, suggests that water availability was also an important control on the lateral extent of these palaeo-ice streams. These interpretations are consistent with the hypothesis that subglacial lakes or areas of elevated geothermal heat flux play a critical role in the onset of many large ice streams. The interpretations also have implications for the dynamic behaviour of the Anvers-Hugo Trough palaeo-ice stream and, potentially, of several other Antarctic palaeo-ice streams. Keywords: multibeam bathymetry, ice stream, subglacial water, landfor

Lessons learned from monitoring of turbidity currents and guidance for future platform designs

Turbidity currents transport globally significant volumes of sediment and organic carbon into the deep-sea and pose a hazard to critical infrastructure. Despite advances in technology, their powerful nature often damages expensive instruments placed in their path. These challenges mean that turbidity currents have only been measured in a few locations worldwide, in relatively shallow water depths (≪2 km). Here, we share lessons from recent field deployments about how to design the platforms on which instruments are deployed. First, we show how monitoring platforms have been affected by turbidity currents including instability, displacement, tumbling and damage. Second, we relate these issues to specifics of the platform design, such as exposure of large surface area instruments within a flow and inadequate anchoring or seafloor support. Third, we provide recommended improvements to improve design by simplifying mooring configurations, minimising surface area, and enhancing seafloor stability. Finally we highlight novel multi-point moorings that avoid interaction between the instruments and the flow, and flow-resilient seafloor platforms with innovative engineering design features, such as ejectable feet and ballast. Our experience will provide guidance for future deployments, so that more detailed insights can be provided into turbidity current behaviour, and in a wider range of settings

Deep carbon through time: Earth’s diamond record and its implications for carbon cycling and fluid speciation in the mantle

Diamonds are unrivalled in their ability to record the mantle carbon cycle and mantle fO2 over a vast portion of Earth’s history. Diamonds’ inertness and antiquity means their carbon isotopic characteristics directly reflect their growth environment within the mantle as far back as ∼3.5 Ga. This paper reports the results of a thorough secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) carbon isotope and nitrogen concentration study, carried out on fragments of 144 diamond samples from various locations, from ∼3.5 to 1.4 Ga for P [peridotitic]-type diamonds and 3.0 to 1.0 Ga for E [eclogitic]-type diamonds. The majority of the studied samples were from diamonds used to establish formation ages and thus provide a direct connection between the carbon isotope values, nitrogen contents and the formation ages. In total, 908 carbon isotope and nitrogen concentration measurements were obtained. The total δ13C data range from −17.1 to −1.9 ‰ (P = −8.4 to −1.9 ‰; E = −17.1 to −2.1‰) and N contents range from 0 to 3073 at. ppm (P = 0 to 3073 at. ppm; E = 1 to 2661 at. ppm). In general, there is no systematic variation with time in the mantle carbon isotope record since > 3 Ga. The mode in δ13C of peridotitic diamonds has been at −5 (±2) ‰ since the earliest diamond growth ∼3.5 Ga, and this mode is also observed in the eclogitic diamond record since ∼3 Ga. The skewness of eclogitic diamonds’ δ13C distributions to more negative values, which the data establishes began around 3 Ga, is also consistent through time, with no global trends apparent. No isotopic and concentration trends were recorded within individual samples, indicating that, firstly, closed system fractionation trends are rare. This implies that diamonds typically grow in systems with high excess of carbon in the fluid (i.e. relative to the mass of the growing diamond). Any minerals included into diamond during the growth process are more likely to be isotopically reset at the time of diamond formation, meaning inclusion ages would be representative of the diamond growth event irrespective of whether they are syngenetic or protogenetic. Secondly, the lack of significant variation seen in the peridotitic diamonds studied is in keeping with modeling of Rayleigh isotopic fractionation in multicomponent systems (RIFMS) during isochemical diamond precipitation in harzburgitic mantle. The RIFMS model not only showed that in water-maximum fluids at constant depths along a geotherm, fractionation can only account for variations of <1‰, but also that the principal δ13C mode of −5 ± 1‰ in the global harzburgitic diamond record occurs if the variation in fO2 is only 0.4 log units. Due to the wide age distribution of P-type diamonds, this leads to the conclusion that the speciation and oxygen fugacity of diamond forming fluids has been relatively consistent. The deep mantle has therefore generated fluids with near constant carbon speciation for 3.5 Ga

Diamondites: evidence for a distinct tectono-thermal diamond-forming event beneath the Kaapvaal craton

The petrogenesis and relationship of diamondite to well-studied monocrystalline and fibrous diamonds are poorly understood yet would potentially reveal new aspects of how diamond-forming fluids are transported through the lithosphere and equilibrate with surrounding silicates. Of 22 silicate- and oxide-bearing diamondites investigated, most yielded garnet intergrowths (n = 15) with major element geochemistry (i.e. Ca–Cr) classifying these samples as low-Ca websteritic or eclogitic. The garnet REE patterns fit an equilibrium model suggesting the diamond-forming fluid shares an affinity with high-density fluids (HDF) observed in fibrous diamonds, specifically on the join between the saline–carbonate end-members. The δ13C values for the diamonds range from − 5.27 to − 22.48‰ (V-PDB) with δ18O values for websteritic garnets ranging from + 7.6 to + 5.9‰ (V-SMOW). The combined C–O stable isotope data support a model for a hydrothermally altered and organic carbon-bearing subducted crustal source(s) for the diamond- and garnet-forming media. The nitrogen aggregation states of the diamonds require that diamondite-formation event(s) pre-dates fibrous diamond-formation and post-dates most of the gem monocrystalline diamond-formation events at Orapa. The modelled fluid compositions responsible for the precipitation of diamondites match the fluid-poor and fluid-rich (fibrous) monocrystalline diamonds, where all grow from HDFs within the saline-silicic-carbonatitic ternary system. However, while the nature of the parental fluid(s) share a common lithophile element geochemical affinity, the origin(s) of the saline, silicic, and/or carbonatitic components of these HDFs do not always share a common origin. Therefore, it is wholly conceivable that the diamondites are evidence of a distinct and temporally unconstrained tectono-thermal diamond-forming event beneath the Kaapvaal craton