ALBERT

Beschreibung: Studies of convergent margin tectonics along the Japan Trench Transect are based on geophysical as well as on drill and conventional sampling data. The large number of geophysical and geological studies in the 1960's made this area an attractive target for convergent margin drill core sampling. Once the transect was scheduled for drilling by the Glomar Challenger, the earth science community in Japan intensified its efforts to collect geophysical and geological data within the transect area. Many of these data are published in Japanese and international journals. This chapter describes both the seismic reflection records along which Legs 56 and 57 drilling took place and the reflection records made after drilling. The seismic data are interpreted in light of the drilling results.

Beschreibung: The evolution of Neogene and Quaternary sedimentation in the fore-arc region off northern Honshu is evaluated using multichannel and single-channel seismic records in conjunction with the drill holes of the Japan Trench Transect (DSDP/IPOD Legs 56-57). The outer forearc region, which consisted of older sedimentary rocks and some calc-alkaline volcanic rocks, was subaerially exposed and eroded during the Paleogene and part of the Neogene. The deep sea terrace (fore-arc basin) region subsided below sea level in the early Miocene; most rapid subsidence occurred during the early to middle Miocene. Submergence progressed seaward so that the last vestige of the Oyashio landmass, which is now under the upper trench slope, was below sea level in the latest Miocene. Sediment sources to the outer fore-arc basin changed progressively from lithic, predominantly nonvolcanic material derived from the uplifted landmass during the late Paleogene-early Neogene to volcanic, arc-derived sediment rich in volcanic glass, Plagioclase, and volcanic lithic fragments. The volcaniclastic sediment was probably derived both from Honshu to the west and Hokkaido to the northwest. In response to subsidence the sedimentary depocenters in the fore-arc basin migrated generally seaward through time; the greatest relative seaward migration occurred between the late Miocene and Pliocene. Thick sediment sequences accumulated in slope basins on the trench inner slope. Sediment from the arc moved seaward to spill over the slope via large channels. An abrupt change in morphology and patterns of sedimentation apparently took place in the late Pliocene, coincident with a peak in explosive volcanism recorded in the form of ash layers and increased glass contents in sediment. The deep sea terrace was uplifted several hundreds of meters and a major channel crossing the fore-arc region was tilted landward and filled. At about the same time the midslope terrace basin was created and began rapidly accumulating sediment. The older basins, lower on the trench inner slope, were destroyed, possibly by steep seaward tilting, or filled. Large slump masses were sloughed-off downslope to the trench. Little sediment now accumulates on the trench inner slope in the vicinity of the sites, and older strata crop out on the slope. The locus of deposition has shifted northward off Hokkaido where a large channel feeds sediment to the slope. Large slump masses now fill the trench and are being accreted, creating a "toe" to the slope in this region. The evolution of the fore-arc region off northern Honshu has not been steady state. Tectonic accretion has been discontinuous, and tectonic erosion of the continental margin edge may have occurred periodically. Slope basins have been both created and abruptly destroyed at different points on the trench inner slope. There appears to be little possibility of distinguishing most sediment "scraped off" the oceanic plate from hemipelagic sediment deposited in the fore-arc region of Japan.

Beschreibung: Diatomaceous mudstones at depth under the deep sea terrace and the trench inner slope off Japan have been variably affected by tectonic stress. Veins, healed fractures, and microfaults occur at all sites except the shallow Site 435 on the upper trench inner slope and Site 436 on the Pacific Plate. Veins, fractures, and faults occur in cores from below 620 meters (lower to middle Miocene) in the landward sites (438 and 439) on the deep sea terrace, and are probably related to normal faulting seen in seismic records. The depth to "consolidated" sediment and to the first occurrence of veins and healed fractures shallows progressively toward the trench. The intensity of deformation also appears to increase seaward. However, no sediments younger than upper Pliocene are deformed. Open fractures may exist in situ at Sites 434 and 441 at levels between about 150 and 500 meters sub-bottom. The Japan Transect sediments—in contrast to deposits in the zone of initial deformation at other convergent margins though highly deformed, are not highly overconsolidated. However, sediment at depth in the trench inner slope sites is overconsolidated relative to that at the same depth in the landward reference site. None of the deformed Japan margin sediments recovered at Legs 56 and 57 sites originated by accretion of oceanic plate material—also in contrast to sediments at some of the margins previously studied. We suggest that tectonic stress related to convergence has been communicated to the slope sediments on the trench inner slope, either continuously or periodically, causing rapid tectonic dewatering and inducing fracturing and faulting. If episodic, the latest of these deformational periods may have occurred during the late Pliocene. The faults and fractures are either rehealed by continued overburden pressure (sediment loading) or may remain open at shallower levels. Fracturing and dewatering of semiconsolidated sediment beneath an unconsolidated but impermeable mud veneer may cause overpressured zones at depths of 200 to 500 meters. These overpressured zones possibly locally reduce shear strength and cause downslope mass movement of sediment, even on low-angle slopes on the trench inner slope.