Diagenetic evolution of lower Jurassic platform carbonates flanking the Tazoult salt wall (Central High Atlas, Morocco)

Platform carbonates diagenesis in salt basins could be complex due to potential alterations of fluids related and non‐related to diapirism. This paper presents the diagenetic history of the Hettangian to Pliensbachian platform carbonates from the Tazoult salt wall area (central High Atlas, Morocco). Low structural relief and outcrop conditions allowed to define the entire diagenetic evolution occurred in the High Atlas diapiric basins since early stages of the diapiric activity up to their tectonic inversion. Precipitation of dolomite and calcite from both warmed marine‐derived and meteoric fluids characterised diagenetic stages during Pliensbachian, when the carbonate platforms were exposed and karstified. Burial diagenesis occurred from Toarcian to Middle Jurassic, due to changes of salt‐induced dynamic related to increase in siliciclastic input, fast diapir rise and rapid burial of Pliensbachian platforms. During this stage, the diapir acted as a physical barrier for fluid circulation between the core and the flanking sediments. In the carbonates and breccias flanking the structures, dolomite and calcite precipitated from basinal brines, whereas carbonate slivers located in the core of the structure, were affected by the circulation of Mn‐rich fluids. The final diagenetic event is characterised by the income of meteoric fluids into the system during uplift caused by Alpine orogeny. These results highlight the relevant influence of diapirism on the diagenetic modifications in salt‐related basins in terms of diagenetic events and involved fluids

New insights into the morphology and sedimentary processes along the western slope of Great Bahama Bank.

New high-quality multibeam and seismic data image the western slope of the Great Bahama Bank and the adjacent floor of the Straits of Florida. The extensive survey reveals several unexpected large- and small-scale morphologies. These include bypass areas, channel-leveelobe systems, gullied slopes, and products of slope instabilities at various scales, including long slump scars at the lower slope and mass transport complexes that extend ~30 km into the adjacent basin floor. The toe of the slope is irregularly covered with deep-water carbonate mounds. The abundance of the individual morphological features varies from north to south. From 26°00'N to 25°20'N, the slope is dissected by numerous deep canyons that abruptly end southward, where the slope is characterized by a smooth lower portion and small regularly spaced furrows in its upper part. Further south, two long (25-50 km) scars document instability at the lower slope. One of these scars is the source area of a large mass transport complex. In addition to this large-scale feature, several types of gravity-induced sedimentary processes are revealed. Most of the morphologies and inferred processes of this carbonate system are similar to those observed in siliciclastic systems, including mass transport complexes, gravity currents initiated by density cascading, and overspilling channeled turbidity currents. For the first time, a clear asymmetric channel-levee system has been identified along the slope, suggesting similitude in sorting processes between carbonate and siliciclastic systems and enhancing the reservoir-bearing potential of carbonate slopes. Notable differences with siliciclastic systems include: the lack of connection with the shallow and emerged part of the system (i.e., bank top), and the small size of the sedimentary system. © 2012 Geological Society of America