Éditeur(s) : Neidine Editeurs
Résumé : The object of this article is to offer a synthesis of the knowledge clarifying the originality and the diversity of the submarine geological formations of the New Caledonian EEZ. A reminder is given onto the geologic history of the region, based upon the dislocation of the Gondwana Continent, the opening of the Tasman Sea, the presence of submarine volcanism, the setting up of heavy peridotitic rocks, the building up of the Fairway and Lord Howe Ridges and of sedimentary basins, the formation of volcanic domes and sea-mounts or guyots, the subduction along the Vanuatu Trench, the uplift of the Loyalty Islands, the development of carbonated ptatforms around the islands etc.... Of this complex history ensues an exceptional submarine geo-diversity. After this presentation the article clarifies the methods and the tools used in marine geosciences to map, explore, observe, analyze, sample, that they are embarked or are autonomous, teleoperated or inhabited systems. A chapter describes the programs which were set up since about forty years and the results obtained as well as the scientific teams concerned with. In conclusion, based on the unpublished character of this geo-diversity, the article introduces the second text to come in a next issue of theTai Kona magazine, text which will focus on the scientific, economic (mineral resources), environmental (deep biodiversity) and risks (seismicity) challenges that are worn by one of the most original submarine geologic context in the world.
L’objet de cet article est de proposer une synthèse des connaissances explicitant l’originalité et la diversité des formations géologiques sous-marines de la ZEE calédonienne. Un rappel est donné sur l’histoire géologique de la région basée sur la dislocation du continent Gondwana, l’ouverture de la Mer de Tasman, la présence de volcanisme sous-marin, la mise en place des péridotites, la formation des rides de Fairway et Lord Howe et de bassins sédimentaires, la formation de dômes et monts sous-marins ou guyots, la subduction le long de la fosse de Vanuatu, la surrection des Loyautés, la mise en place de plateformes carbonatées etc... De cette histoire complexe découle une géo-diversité sous-marine exceptionnelle. Après cette présentation l’article explicite les méthodes et les outils utilisés en géosciences marines pour cartographier, explorer, observer, analyser, prélever, qu’ils soient embarqués ou soient des systèmes autonomes, télé-opérés ou habités. Un chapitre décrit les programmes qui ont été mis en place depuis une quarantaine d’années et les résultats obtenus ainsi que les équipes scientifiques en place. En conclusion sur le constat du caractère inédit de cette géo-diversité, l’article introduit un deuxième texte à venir dans un prochain numéro de Tai Kona, texte qui se focalisera sur les enjeux scientifiques, économiques (ressources minérales), environnementaux (biodiversité profonde) et de risques (sismicité) portés par un contexte géologique sous-marin des plus originaux.
Tai Kona (2269-7535) (Neidine Editeurs), 2014 , N. 8 , P. 48-57

Droits : 2014 Tai Kona
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00194/30574/29098.pdf
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00194/30574/

Éditeur(s) : Neidine Editeurs
Résumé : This article replaces the French program of legal extension of the continental shelf named EXTRAPLAC, interesting in particular the 3 overseas collectivities of the Pacific (New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna and French Polynesia)” It considers this program in the context of the Convention of the United Nations on the Maritime law. It clarifies the governance system of this program set up by the authorities of the State. A specific chapter clarifies the constraints to be respected to build up the necessary file in respect of the international Committee requirements so said UNO Commission of the Limits of the Continental shelf. The article considers then scenarios presented by 3 territories and state of progress of the three cases, both regarding the acquisition of the useful data and the planning of adequate oceanographic campaigns and structuring the administrative files in front of the UNO in conjunction with the border countries. The article ends finally on the potential extensions, the exploitation rights of mineral and living resources as the obligations which it supposes
Cet article replace le programme français d’extension juridique du plateau continental nommé EXTRAPLAC, intéressant notamment les 3 collectivités d’Outre-Mer du Pacifique (Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis et Futuna et Polynésie française) dans le contexte de la Convention des Nations Unies sur le Droit de la Mer. Il explicite le système de gouvernance de ce programme mis en place par les autorités de l’Etat. Un chapitre spécifique explicite les contraintes à respecter pour construire un dossier de demande présentable devant la Commission internationale spécialisée de l’ONU dite Commission des Limites du Plateau Continental. L’article considère ensuite les cas de figures présentés par les 3 territoires et l’état d’avancement des dossiers tant en matière d’acquisition des données utiles et de planification de campagnes océanographiques adéquates que de structuration et de dépôt administratif devant l’ONU en conjonction avec les pays frontaliers. L’article conclue enfin sur les extensions potentielles, les droits d’exploitation de ressources qui peuvent en être tirés comme les obligations que cela suppose.
Taï Kona (2269-7535) (Neidine Editeurs), 2014 , N. 11 , P. 18 - 26

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00217/32820/31254.pdf
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00217/32820/

Éditeur(s) : Elsevier Sci Ltd
Résumé : Several marine geophysical data and piston-coring surveys acquired during the last decade allow one to better understand the close dynamic interactions between the sand-rich Orinoco turbidite system and the compressional structures of the Barbados prism. These interactions have been active since Eocene time as illustrated by the study of outcrops onshore Barbados Island. Because of strong morphologic and tectonic control in the east-Caribbean active margin, the present-day Orinoco turbiditic pattern system does not exhibit a classic fan geometry. The sea-floor geometry between the slope of the front of the Barbados prism and the slope of the South-American margin induces the convergence of the turbidite channels toward the abyssal plain, at the front of the accretionary prism. Also, whereas in most passive margins the turbidite systems are organized upstream to downstream as canyon, channel-levee and lobes, here, due to the tectonic control, the sedimentary system is organized upstream to downstream as channel-levee, canyons and channelized lobes. Indeed, at the edge of the Orinoco platform, the system has multiple sources with several distributaries and downstream the channel courses are complex with frequent convergences or divergences that are emphasized by the effects of the undulating seafloor tectonic morphologies associated with active thrust tectonics and mud volcanism. On top of the accretionary prism, turbidite sediments are filling transported piggy-back basins whose timing of sedimentation vs. deformation is complex. While erosion processes are almost absent on the highly subsiding Orinoco platform and in the upper part of the turbidite system, they develop mostly between 2000 and 4000 m of water depth, above the compressional structures of the Barbados prism (canyons up to 3 km wide and 300 m deep). In the abyssal plain, the main turbiditic channel develops toward the east and connects with the Vidal mid-Atlantic channel. The sediments transported in this channel are filling several elongated basins linked with fracture zones (notably the Barracuda Basin), and finally end their course in the Puerto-Rico trench, the deepest morphologic depression of the region. Piston-cores have demonstrated that turbidite sediments above the accretionary prism and in the abyssal plain are mostly coarse sandy deposits covered by recent pelagic planktonic-rich sediments, which corresponds to slower sand deposition during the post-glacial sea level rise. Numerical stratigraphic modelling suggests that during the last glacial event, the main depocentres were located above the tectonic prism and in the abyssal plain, at the front of the prism and that, during the Holocene eustatic rise, a large accommodation space formed on the shelf confining sedimentation mostly on the Orinoco deltaic platform and producing a starvation downstream in the turbidite system.
Marine And Petroleum Geology (0264-8172) (Elsevier Sci Ltd), 2015-06 , Vol. 64 , P. 76-103

Droits : 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00252/36373/34913.pdf
DOI:10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2014.12.015
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00252/36373/

Éditeur(s) : Neidine Editeurs
Résumé : This article of the number 10 of Tai Kona is the natural complement to the article appeared under the number 8, dedicated to the submarine geodiversity of the New Caledonian EEZ. The first article notably put the bases of knowledge on the history, the origins and the specificities of the geodiversity of the maritime spaces of the New Caledonian EEZ. The present article focuses on four of the major stakes which are put: 1/ the scientific ones relative to an exceptional submarine geologic context, 2 /the economic ones connected to such a favorable geologic context and to mineral resources exploitation perspectives which are no more domain of the utopia, 3/ the major environmental ones with the existence of a semi deep and deep major biodiversity and 4/ the stakes on the natural risks of a zone in the active local or regional seismicity. The conclusions of this article underline all the major challenges, in the interface of four main quoted questions, which New Caledonia must know how to raise.
Cet article du numéro 10 de Tai Kona est le complément naturel de l’article paru sous le numéro 8, dédié à la géo diversité sous-marine de la Nouvelle-Calédonie. Le premier article posait notamment les bases de connaissance sur l’histoire, les origines et les spécificités de la géo diversité des espaces maritimes de la ZEE calédonienne. Le présent article se focalise sur quatre des enjeux majeurs qui sont posés aux plans : 1/ scientifique, relatifs à un contexte géologique sous-marin exceptionnel, 2/ économique, liés à un contexte géologique favorable et à des perspectives d’exploitation de ressources qui ne sont plus du domaine de l’utopie, 3/ environnemental avec là encore un contexte totalement original et l’existence d’une biodiversité semi profonde et profonde majeure et 4/ des risques naturels d’une zone à la sismicité locale ou régionale active. Les conclusions de cet article soulignent tous les enjeux majeurs, à l’interface des quatre grands défis cités, que la Nouvelle-Calédonie doit savoir relever.
Tai Kona (2269-7535) (Neidine Editeurs), 2014-09 , N. 10 , P. 24-37

Droits : 2014 Tai Kona
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00209/32013/30443.pdf
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00209/32013/

Éditeur(s) : Elsevier Sci Ltd
Résumé : The eastern Demerara Plateau offshore French Guiana was surveyed in 2003 during the GUYAPLAC cruise (multibeam bathymetry and acoustic imagery, 6-channel seismic reflection and 3.5 kHz echo-sounding). The data show the "post-transform" Cenozoic that the series located on the outer part of the plateau (below c. 2000 m) contain at least twelve stacked mass transport deposits (MTDs) that have recorded a history of large-scale slope failure, as well as two main normal fault sets that provide possible pathways for upward fluid migration through the series, reaching at high as the uppermost MTDs. Seabed data show that the area above the failures is characterized by circular-to-elongate (slope-parallel) depressions interpreted as fluid seeps (pockmarks), some of them have been modified by along slope currents. We suggest that the development of the MTDs to results from the combinaiton of the presence of fluid overpressure at depth the geometry of the margin's deep structure, in particular the existence of a 'free borderlateral border' on the outermost plateau. Our results also emphasise the role of stratigraphic decollements within the Cenozoic series.
Marine And Petroleum Geology (0264-8172) (Elsevier Sci Ltd), 2013-09 , Vol. 46 , P. 287-303

Droits : 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00157/26850/25316.pdf
DOI:10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2013.06.010
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00157/26850/

Éditeur(s) : Elsevier
Résumé : The French Guiana transform margin and Demerara abyssal plain have been recently surveyed in the framework of the EXTRAPLAC French Program of extension of the continental shelf (Guyaplac survey, Ifremer-IFP-SHOM-IPEV). Based on the interpretation of some of the data collected during the Guyaplac survey (Simrad-EM12 multibeam bathymetric data, backscatter imagery, and 3.5 kHz profiles), the area can be divided into three morphostructural domains. (1) The western Guiana margin, including a part of the Demerara plateau, an important bathymetric relief prolonging the continental platform off Guiana and Surinam. This domain is bounded by (1a) the NWSE trending northern border of the Demerara plateau which appears quite steep and corresponds to a transform segment of the margin, (1b) the N-S eastern border of the Demerara plateau which corresponds to a divergent segment of the margin. The Demerara plateau shows a segmented morphology, low slope gradients, and a very rough surface (ripples perpendicular to the slope direction). NNW-SSE structural steps seem to correspond to collapses of 100 km long blocs towards the east. Slumps initiate along these directions. The observed rough bathymetry seems to be related to creeping processes. At a greater scale (seismic data), this part of the margin has been totally destabilized (numerous imbricate transparent masses rooted at about 0.5 s.t.w.t.t. below seafloor). The NW-SE trending northern border of the Demerara plateau corresponds to a cliff-like continental slope, probably slightly smoother than other transform margins (Ghana/cote d'Ivoire margin). The N-S eastern border of Demerara plateau is characterized by numerous small-scale imbricate slumps. Some of these failures seem to be emplaced in the prolongation of the NNW-SSE structural steps identified on the Demerara plateau. (2) The eastern Guiana margin corresponds to a NW-SE oriented gullied transform margin segment. The associated continental slope is very steep and characterized by numerous imbricate slumps and related debris flows. Some undulated masses, probably corresponding to creeping sediments or to older mass-wasting events are still imprinted on bathymetry. This transform margin segment is nearly entirely destabilized and eroded. (3) The Demerara abyssal plain. This domain is characterized eastwards by channels belonging to the Amazon turbidite system and westwards, at the foot of Demerara continental slope, by sediment waves probably created by contour currents. To conclude, it seems that there is a strong relationship between the structure (transform and divergent segments) and the emplacement of recurrent slope instabilities. These are probably related to the steepness of the slopes but also to subsidence histories generating in some cases huge deep-seated collapses of the whole margin. Fluid ascents are common everywhere in the area, probably enhancing slope instability. Their origin is not constrained but the black shales or Cretaceous organic-rich layers could be good candidates.
Marine and Petroleum Geology (0264-8172) (Elsevier), 2009-05 , Vol. 26 , N. 5 , P. 711-723

Droits : 2008 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2009/publication-6856.pdf
DOI:10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2008.02.010
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/6856/