Mauritania Slide Complex: morphology, seismic characterisation and processes of formation

Recently acquired Parasound and high resolution multi-channel seismic reflection data have afforded a more detailed investigation of the Mauritania Slide Complex. The slide is more complex than previously reported, and has affected an area in the order of 34,000 km(2) between similar to 600 and > 3,500 m water depths. The ovate-shaped slide displays a long run-out distance > 300 km. Slide formation was pre-conditioned mainly by uninterrupted deposition of upwelling-induced organic-rich sediment in an open slope environment which gave rise to rapid accumulation of poorly consolidated bedded sediment intercalated with thin weak layers. The stages of slide development were characterised by multiple failure events probably occurring mainly as retrogressive sliding which exploited widespread weak layers as glide planes. The study suggests excess pore pressures as being the most important trigger mechanism for slide formation. Earthquakes associated with nearby Cape Verde Islands may have played a mostly complementary or, at one time, a leading role in triggering sediment failures. Diapiric growths have locally triggered minor instability events which resulted in remobilizing of pre-existing debris flows as well as translational sliding. The combined activities of all these triggering factors are the most like cause of the complex morphology of the Mauritania Slide Complex.