CASSEIS
| Type | Oceanographic cruise |
|---|---|
| Ship | Téthys II |
| Ship owner | CNRS until 2019 - IFREMER since 2020 |
| Dates | 19/07/2009 - 30/07/2009 |
| Chief scientist(s) | FOURNIER François |
GEOLOGIE DES SYSTEMES ET RESERVOIRS CARBONATES (EA4229 ) 3 Place Victor Hugo 13331 MARSEILLE CEDEX 3 |
|
| DOI | 10.17600/9450130 |
| Objective | This project's objective is to determine the structural and sedimentary context of the continental shelf between Marseilles (at le Planier) and Cape Sicié, by linking it to known geology on land. The study sector is located at the transition area between the Rhodanian margin in the Gulf of Lion and the Ligurian margin. Contrary to the Gulf of Lion margin, the Ligurian margin has a narrow continental shelf and was very strongly influenced by Alpine orogenesis and Ligurian-Provençal ante-, syn- and post-rifting (Gorini, 1993, Chaumillon et al., 1994., Bigot-Cormier et al., 2004). Only a very small number of detailed structural and sedimentological studies have been made on this transition zone and available data from seismics and dredging are scarce (Leenhardt et al., 1969 ; Ducrot, 1971; Froget, 1974), contrary to the margin of the Gulf of Lion, strictly speaking (e.g. Gorini, 1993; Guennoc et al., 1994, 2000, Séranne, 1999) and that of the Ligurian Sea (e.g. Rollet, 1999 and references given). The related project is Actions Marges. This cruise will thus make it possible to: 1) establish a link between the syn- and post-rift structural and sedimentary arrangements of the Gulf of Lion margin and the Ligurian margin; 2) determine the modalities of Ligurian-Provençal rifting and the influence of the Pyrenean-Provençal heritage in this key sector; 3) assess the influence of alpine tectonics on the post-rift evolution of the Provençal margin's structuring. 4) assess the how tectonics and/or eustasy controlled the formation and the filling of deep canyons indenting the continental shelf (e.g. the canyon of Cassidaigne). This project supplements studies done on land in the past or now underway in lower Provence limestone. These two complementary approaches, on land and sea, will provide coherent shore to offshore transects. |
