Hashimoto, Y. et al. (2010): Velocity-porosity relationships for slope apron and accreted sediments in the Nankai Trough Seismogenic Zone Experiment, Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 315 Site C0001

Leg/Site/Hole:
IODP 314 C0001
IODP 315 C0001
Identifier:
2011-101845
georefid

10.1029/2010GC003217
doi

Creator:
Hashimoto, Y.
Kochi University, Department of Applied Science, Kochi, Japan
author

Tobin, H. J.
University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States
author

Knuth, M.
author

Identification:
Velocity-porosity relationships for slope apron and accreted sediments in the Nankai Trough Seismogenic Zone Experiment, Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 315 Site C0001
2010
Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems - G (super 3)
American Geophysical Union and The Geochemical Society, United States
11
In this study, we focused on the porosity and compressional wave velocity of marine sediments to examine the physical properties of the slope apron and the accreted sediments. This approach allows us to identify characteristic variations between sediments being deposited onto the active prism and those deposited on the oceanic plate and then carried into the prism during subduction. For this purpose we conducted ultrasonic compressional wave velocity measurements on the obtained core samples with pore pressure control. Site C0001 in the Nankai Trough Seismogenic Zone Experiment transect of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program is located in the hanging wall of the midslope megasplay thrust fault in the Nankai subduction zone offshore of the Kii peninsula (SW Japan), penetrating an unconformity at approximately 200 m depth between slope apron sediments and the underlying accreted sediments. We used samples from Site C0001. Compressional wave velocity from laboratory measurements ranges from approximately 1.6 to approximately 2.0 km/s at hydrostatic pore pressure conditions estimated from sample depth. The compressional wave velocity-porosity relationship for the slope apron sediments shows a slope almost parallel to the slope for global empirical relationships. In contrast, the velocity-porosity relationship for the accreted sediments shows a slightly steeper slope than that of the slope apron sediments at 0.55 of porosity. This higher slope in the velocity-porosity relationship is found to be characteristic of the accreted sediments. Textural analysis was also conducted to examine the relationship between microstructural texture and acoustic properties. Images from micro-X-ray CT indicated a homogeneous and well-sorted distribution of small pores both in shallow and in deeper sections. Other mechanisms such as lithology, clay fraction, and abnormal fluid pressure were found to be insufficient to explain the higher velocity for accreted sediments. The higher slope in velocity-porosity relationship for accreted sediments can be explained by weak cementation, critical porosity or differences in loading history.
Coverage:Geographic coordinates:
North:33.1400
West:136.4300East: 136.4300
South:33.1400

Oceanography; acoustical properties; Asia; body waves; clay minerals; computed tomography data; continental slope; elastic waves; Far East; Honshu; hydrostatic pressure; Integrated Ocean Drilling Program; IODP Site C0001; Japan; Kii Peninsula; lithofacies; marine sediments; Nankai Trough; NanTroSEIZE; North Pacific; Northwest Pacific; P-waves; Pacific Ocean; pore pressure; porosity; sediments; seismic waves; sheet silicates; silicates; West Pacific; X-rays;

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