Late Tertiary and Quaternary Geology of the Queen Charlotte Basin Area: An Interpretation From High-Resolution Multi-channel Seismic Data in Hecate Strait
Abstract
In 2002 high-resolution multi-channel seismic data were collected off the west coast of Canada in the Hecate Strait area of Queen Charlotte Basin. The primary targets were regions where shallow sediments were known to be gas charged. The seismic data allow not only a means to recognize whether this gas may have originated from a deep source, but also an opportunity to identify potential geohazards in the surveyed area. A 120 cubic inch airgun seismic source was used, along with a 64-channel, 300m receiver array. One 2-D grid of data was collected on the western side of the strait, and a second on the eastern side. The eastern grid consists of 20 lines, 10 N-S and 10 E-W, yielding approximately 160 km of acoustic data. The seismic data were processed to migration. Consistent stacking velocities yield interval velocities that are reasonable for late Tertiary sandstones, and consequently provide a means to estimate lithological depths and thicknesses. Geologic interpretation has yielded a late Tertiary &\ Quaternary geologic history of the survey area. Important features include folding and faulting of late Tertiary sediments, with subsequent erosion of these sediments by incision of paleo-channels.
- Publication:
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AGU Spring Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- May 2004
- Bibcode:
- 2004AGUSM.T31B..05H
- Keywords:
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- 3025 Marine seismics (0935);
- 8015 Local crustal structure;
- 8105 Continental margins and sedimentary basins;
- 9350 North America