Gravity Flow 1

SEDIMENT GRAVITY
FLOW
Sediment Gravity Flow

Mechanisms
Sediment Gravity Flows:
20%-70% suspended sediment

High density/viscosity fluids
suspended sediment charged fluid within a lower density, ambient fluid
mass of suspended particles results in the potential energy for initiation of
flow in a the lower density fluid (clear water or air)
mgh = PE
m = mass
g = force of gravity
h = height
PE= Potential energy
Sediment Gravity Flow

Classification :
1. Fluidal (Newtonian) Flow
Mechanism : Fluidized Flow
Turbidity Current
2. Mass (non-Newtonian) Flow
Mechanism : Mud/Debris Flow
Grain Flow
Four Types of Sediment Gravity Flows
Four Types of Sediment Gravity Flows
Grain flows-occurs
when cohesionless
sediments (ex. dry
sand) moves
downward under the
pull of gravity.
Although there is air
or water trapped
between the grains,
it merely acts as a
lubricant and does
not actually propel
the grains.
Whatisaturbiditycurrent?
Whatarethegravitydeposits?
Grain Flow
The most familiar

examples of grain
flow are sand
avalanches. They
occur whenever a
sand dune
becomes steeper
than the angle of
repose (25-30).
Grain Flow
Grain flows move by dispersive pressure
between grains.
Deposits are thin, well sorted and show
inverse graded bedding.
Grain flows also occurs in the deep sea,
where sand avalanches down the sides of
steep submarine canyons.
Fluidized Sediment Flows

Concentrated dispersions of grains
supported by pore water in between.

They begin to flow when something
increases the pressure on the interstitial
pore water, turning the once-firm sand into
a soupy liquid, ex. quicksand.
Quicksand - grain shift and settle past one
another; liquefaction. A person should not
continue to sink (as in a swimming pool)
beyond your point of buoyancy. To get out
swim as you would in a pool. Lie flat.
Mechanism forms when unstable masses of sediment are

shaken by eartquake.
Can flow down very gentle slope with tremendous speeds.
Duration of flows depend on amount of fluid available and
only be important very near the source.
Deposits are massive or show vague planar laminae and
dish-pillar structure.
Liquefaction occurs in others instances, for example in
shockwaves sent through saturated soil by an earthquake.
Dlm sistem aliran ini sedimen terdukung oleh

aliran fluida ke atas melalui sedimen yang
membuat butiran mengapung.
Terjadi pada saat massa sedimen yang tidak stabil
digoncang oleh gempa.
Aliran air ke atas menyebabkan pengurangan
kekuatan massa karena butiran tidak terdukung
lagi oleh kontak antar butir shg aliran dpt bergerak
pd lereng landai (3- 10).
Dpt terjadi di lingkungan darat atau air dg
kecepatan tinggi.
Durasi dari aliran tergantung pada jumlah

kandungan air.
Hanya terjadi di daerah dekat sumber krn
tidak mempunyai cukup waktu untuk
menempuh jarak jauh.
Gerakan air ke atas membentuk dish dan
pillar structures (yg terbentuk sbg kolom air
yg melalui sedimen selama dewatering).
Dish-pillar structure generated

by fluidized flow
Liquified Flows
Sama dg fluidized flow tetapi hanya sebagian

butir yg terdukung oleh gerakan fluida ke atas.
Terjadi selama tahap akhir dari deposisi high
density turbidite atau sedimen terairkan krn
proses luar (seperti gempa) dimana sedimen
bergerak menuruni lereng dan air yang
dikandungnya bergerak ke atas.
Jika lereng cukup curam aliran dpt berubah menjadi
arus turbid dan dpt berubah kembali menjadi
liquified flow pd saat aliran bergerak lambat.
Liquified Flows
Membentuk dish dan pillar structures.

Deposit masiv, kadang-kadang membentuk
planar laminae yang tidak jelas.
Tdk dpt mengerosi lapisan di bawahnya krn
alirannya lambat.
Mud Flows and Debris Flows
Mud flows are composed of a slury-like mass of

liquefied mud that move downhill under the force
of gravity.
If there are large particles, ranging up to boulder
size, they are known as Debris flows.
Mud flows and Debris flows are most common
in steep mountain canyons during heavy
rainstorm.
Lahars are mud/debris flows in the volcanic
area.
Depend on the cohesive strength of the matrix,

larger grains are supported by the high density
and viscousity of the matrix-water mixture.
The texture can be varies depending on the
concentration of coarse grain (mud supported or
grain supported).
The bed is generally massive, inverse grading is
common feature.
Deposition occurs when internal stress is
overcome by cohesion of the matrix.
These flows
have the
consistency of
wet cement and
can move as
fast as water in
a flash flood.
Sequence of aerial photograph of a debris

flow moving along a canyon bottom.
An exotic block
can be transported
by lahar due to the
high viscousity
and density of
ash-water mixture.
Some beds exhibit

reverse (inverse)
grading, with the
coarsest material
at the top and the
finer at the bottom.
The pressure push
the largest grains
to the top, when
stop they settle.
Turbidity Currents
Turbidity currents are gravity flows in which the

sediment is supported by upward turbulence of the
fluid within the flow.
It is trigger by gravity.
The mass of suspended sediment is denser than
water.
Occures in areas where sediments is
accumulating subaqueously above or near a
slope, so that as the sediments move downslope it
can mix with water and flow turbulently with
tremendous speed.
Deltafrontofflap
Shelfbreak
Slope10002000m
Deltaplain
Deltafront
Prodelta
shelf
x10to>100m
Differenceof2ordersofmagnitude
24
Manytypesofenvironmentcanbeobservedintheshelf
Theyareconditionedby:
thefluiddynamics
physiographyofthebasin
latitude
- Reference, date, place
climaticconditions
clasticinputinthesystemetc.
Idealized passive continental margin
SlopeandBasinFloorDeposits
ModelforMiocenesanddepositionduringlowstandsofsea
levelintheKuteiBasin
26
Aprofileofexperimentalhighdensityturbiditycurrentshowingdensity
stratification.Notealowerlaminarinertiaflowandanupperturbulentflow.
FromPostmaetal.(1988).
Itisthedepositofamorecomplexflowwhosefinalstateisthatofafullyturbulent
turbiditycurrent.
27
Thisincludesallthosebedswhichappeartohaveformedthroughgeneticallyrelated
gravityflowsthelastofwhichisawaninganddepletingturbiditycurrent
Turbidity Currents
The composition is varied and they deposit a wide

range of sediment types and sedimentary structures
depending on the concentration and grain size of the
sediments.
3 populations of sediment sizes transported by
turbidity currents : 1) mud and fine to medium sands,
2) coarse sands to small pebbles,
3) pebbles to
cobbles.
2 types of turbidity current :
1.
Low density turbidity current
2.
High density turbidity current
Low Density Turbidity Currents
The sediment concentration is < 20%

Can transport and deposit clay, silt and sand.
Deposition from bed load & suspended load.
Initial deposits are coarsest transported particles
deposited (ideally) under upper (plane bed) flow
regime.
As flow velocity decreases (due to loss of minimum
mgh) finer particles are deposited under lower flow
regime conditions.
Final deposition occurs under suspension settling
mode with hemipelagic layers.
An idealized
Bouma Sequence
Low Density Turbidity Currents
Uncomplete
Bouma
Sequence
formed by low
density turbidity
current
Outcrop of Turbidite Sequence
High Density Turbidity Currents
The sediment concentration is > 20%

Can transport and support grains larger than sand.
Deposition from traction load, traction carpet
accretion & suspension.
Deposits are sandy and gravelly.
Inverse graded bedding form during the traction
carpet deposition and is caused by dispersive
pressure.
Normal graded bed forms from suspension
deposition as the velocity drops.
Traction carpet
deposition process
in high density
turbidity currents.
Outcrop of highdensity turbidite

pebbly
sandstone
Model Facies of High Density

Turbidity Current
Geometry of submarine fans and the

associations of facies
Sedimentary
structures of
the four major
types of
sedimentary
gravity flow
deposits.
BIOLOGICAL PROCESS
A. Aktivitas Metabolisme
Organisme
- Beberapa organisme menghasilkan CaCO3
sbg kerangka luar (cangkang) utk melindungi
bagian tubuh yg lunak dr serangan predator
dan kondisi ekologis.
- Organisme laut dangkal (koral) mrpk pabrik
CaCO3 dg cara melakukan katalisa ion
kalsium dan karbonat yg terlarut dlm air
samodra menjadi cangkang CaCO3 padat.
- Fotosintesa pada alga merah dan hijau
mempercepat sekresi CaCO3.
A living coral-algal reef sheds bioclastic sediment

into the fore-reef and back-reef environments.
The fore reef consists of coarse, angular fragments of reef.

Coralline algae are the major contributors of carbonate sand and mud
in the back-reef environment. Beaches and dunes = bioclastic sand.
The sediments in each area can lithify to form highly varied limestones .
CorallinealgaeontheseafloorofftheBahamas
canproducelargequantitiesofcarbonatemud.
B. Degradasi Cangkang
CaCO3
- Degradasi karena aktivitas konsumsi pada
organisme bercangkang oleh vertebrata (ikan)
& invertebrata (holothuroida, gastropoda).
- Degradasi krn burrowing oleh organisme
benthos pada sedimen tak terkonsolidasi utk
perlindungan atau mencari makan.
- Degradasi krn boring oleh organisme (bakteri,
moluska, echinodermata, tanaman) pada
substrat keras.
C. Peletisasi
- Aktivitas metabolisme organisme
(cacing, moluska, echinoid)

menghasilkan pelet.
- Ukuran dan bentuk bervariasi
tergantung organismenya.
D. Sediment Trapping
- Terjadi di lingkungan laut dangkal.
- Alga mengeluarkan film yg mengandung
material organik bergetah (mucilage) yg
dapat menjebak partikel sedimen, prosesnya
dapat terjadi berulang-ulang.
- Membentuk stromatolit (endapan dengan
struktur laminasi terlitifikasi yg tersusun
oleh perselingan lapisan yg terbentuk
oleh mikroorganisme, biasanya alga dan
partikel-partikel luar yg tersementasi).
Stromatolite yang dibentuk

oleh sediment trapping
E. Sediment Baffling
Beberapa tumbuhan laut (thalasia) dan
tumbuhan marsh (spartina) dpt membentuk
karpet di atas substrat yg secara fisis
dapat menjebak partikel atau memperlambat
arus sehingga kompetensinya berkurang dan
sedimen yg ditransport mengendap.
CHEMICAL PROCESS
Diagenesis
Carbonate
Cemented
Diagenesis is the PostDepositional Chemical and

Mechanical Changes that
Occur in Sedimentary Rocks
Some Diagenetic Effects Include
Oil
Stained
Whole Core
Misoa Formation, Venezuela
Compaction
Precipitation of Cement
Dissolution of Framework
Grains and Cement
The Effects of Diagenesis May

Enhance or Degrade Reservoir
Quality
Lithification:CompactionandCementation.
1) Compaction:reductionofporespacedueto
weightofoverlyingsediments.
Porosity=percentageofvoids:Loosesand:3050%
Lithifiedsand:1020%
Siltstone:<5%
Granite:0%!
Permeability:abilityofrocktoallowwatertopass.
Requiresthatporesareinterconnected.
Reorientationofgrainsreducespermeability/porosity.
Lithification
2)Cementation:precipitationfrompore
water(CaCO3,SiO2,Fe2O3,etc.).
Crystalline Limestone
F.O.V.=3mm
Chemical Process

Gravity Flow 1

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SEDIMENT GRAVITY

Sediment Gravity Flow

20%-70% suspended sediment

Sediment Gravity Flow

Four Types of Sediment Gravity Flows

Four Types of Sediment Gravity Flows

The most familiar

Fluidized Sediment Flows

supported by pore water in between.

Fluidized Sediment Flows

Mechanism forms when unstable masses of sediment are

Fluidized Sediment Flows

Dlm sistem aliran ini sedimen terdukung oleh

Fluidized Sediment Flows

Durasi dari aliran tergantung pada jumlah

Fluidized Sediment Flows

Dish-pillar structure generated

Sama dg fluidized flow tetapi hanya sebagian

Membentuk dish dan pillar structures.

Mud Flows and Debris Flows

Mud flows are composed of a slury-like mass of

Mud Flows and Debris Flows

Depend on the cohesive strength of the matrix,

Mud Flows and Debris Flows

Sequence of aerial photograph of a debris

Mud Flows and Debris Flows

Mud Flows and Debris Flows

Some beds exhibit

Turbidity currents are gravity flows in which the

Idealized passive continental margin

- Reference, date, place

The composition is varied and they deposit a wide

Low Density Turbidity Currents

The sediment concentration is < 20%

Low Density Turbidity Currents

Outcrop of Turbidite Sequence

High Density Turbidity Currents

The sediment concentration is > 20%

High Density Turbidity Currents

High Density Turbidity Currents

Outcrop of highdensity turbidite

Model Facies of High Density

Geometry of submarine fans and the

A living coral-algal reef sheds bioclastic sediment

The fore reef consists of coarse, angular fragments of reef.

(cacing, moluska, echinoid)

Stromatolite yang dibentuk

Diagenesis is the PostDepositional Chemical and

The Effects of Diagenesis May

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