Virginia Brake

B.Sc., Honours Earth Sciences, Dalhousie University (2006)

Deciphering margin evolution requires understanding continental margin sedimentary processes. Seismic reflection data were used to investigate the Cenozoic section of the outer shelf and upper slope region of the eastern Scotian Slope. This section is largely progradational with marked periods of erosion and canyon incision. A widespread Oligocene unconformity incoudes an extensive 6-15 km-wide, 1 km-deep U-shaped canyon system that breaches the paleo-shelf break and extends > 150 km to the basin floor. The history of canyon incision and infill suggests at least two cycles of major relative sea level fall and rise involved in its formation; one in the Early Oligocene and another in the Middle Oligocene. This major canyon system is indicative of margin processes that potentially supply vast quantities of sediment from shallow to deep water through a slope by-pass system; critical information for understanding and predicting margin evolution and developing hydrocarbon exploration models along passive margins.

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Pages: 126
Supervisors: Grant Wach / David Mosher