f Megaslides, Source Rocks and Mantle Convection

Modern deep-water seismic data from many of the worlds passive margins reveal that a large portion of the slope and deep water basin are comprised of slowly developed, gravity controlled fold and thrust systems or “megaslides” (examples from Orange River, Namibia and Juba Lamu Basin, Somalia). Yet similar clastic sequences in other basins have not developed these features.

Mechanisms for megaslide formation, and indeed the controls on clastic margin stability in general will be discussed, including the potential for identification of source rocks, and yet we propose there is also a “basin specific control on subsidence”, and therefore deformation.