The American Association o1 Petroleum Geologists Bulletin
V. 68, No. 3 (March 1984), P. 316-332, 13 Figs., 2 Tsbles
Seisrnic Stratigraphy and Sedimentation of Magdalena Fan,
Southern Colombian Basin, Caribbean sea1
V. KOLLA,' R. T. BUFFLER,' and J. W LADD~
ABSTRACT
Analysis of aU available seismic data from the Magda-
lena Fan in the southern Colombian basin, Caribbean Sea,
allows subdivision of the sedimentary section into six seis-
mic sequences (units). Although sedimentswere deposited
in the present-day Magdalena Fan region since about Late
Cretaceous, terrigenous sedimentation became significant
only in the late Cenozoic during deposition of the upper
three sequences associated with the uplifts of the Andes.
These upper three sequences comprise the Magdalena Fan
proper. The uppermost sequence probably represents the
last main phase of sedimentation subsequent to the major
uplift of the Andes in the Pliocene. The morphologic and
shallow acoustic (3.5 kHz) characterisücs of this fan unit
are: upper fan, 1:60-1:110 gradients, channels having
well-developed levees, and several subbottom reflectors in
al1 areas except in channels; middle fan, 1:110-1:200 gra-
dients, numerous channels with very subdued levees, and
several to few subbottom reflectors; lower fan, < 1:250
gradients, small channels, relatively smooth sea floor, and
few or no subbottom reflectors. The decrease in number
of subbottom reflectors as well as in subbottom penetra-
tion downfan apparently results from increasing amounts
of coarse-grained sediments. Features in the form of regu-
lar hyperbolic echoes and sediment waves are very com-
mon in the upper, middle, and to some extent the lower
fan, although their heights gradually decrease downfan.
On multichannel seismic (MCS) records, the upper fan
exhibits conspicuous channel-levee development and coa-
lescing wedge-shaped reflection patterns indicative of
levee deposits. The middle fan is characterized by the pres-
ente of chaotic and discontinuous reflection patterns,
which may have resulted from the presence of numerous
channels, and hyperbolic features and sediment waves of
the type recorded on 3.5 kHz records. The lower fan
region has relatively flat, continuous reflections. Withil
@Copyright 1984.The American Association of Petroleum Geologists. All
rights reserved.
'~anuscriptreceived, March 2,1983; accepted,July 29,1983.
2~amont-~oherty Geological Ob~eNatory,Palisades, New York 10964.
Present address: Superior Oil Co., Houston, Texas 77077.
31nstitute for Geophysics, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
78751.
4~amont-~oherty Geological Obse~atory,Palisades, New York 10964.
Support for the work in the paper was provided by Oflice of Naval Research
Contract (N0014-80-C-0098) to Larnont-Doherty Geological ObseNator/, and
by industrialsponsors (participatingin Caribbean Tectonics Project 1) to Insti-
tute for Geophysics, University of Texas. W. R. Norrnark, J. E. Damuth, R.
Flood, T. Shih, and D. Ford critically read the manuscript and offered helpful
suggestions. V. Kolla thanks the Superior Oil Co. for perrnitting him to attend
the 1982 AAPG convention at Calgary and present a talk on the subject of the
paper. Lamont-DohertyGeological ObseNatory Contribution No. 3585.Insti-
tute for Geophysics, Universityof Texas at Austin Contribution No. 587.
the topmost seismic unit, several episodes of sedimenta-
tion can be inferred from MCS records. These episodes are
probably related to uplifts in the source region, lowered
sea levels, or shifting of the Magdalena River delta in space
and time, subsequent to the major orogeny in middle PLio-
cene.
A model of sedimentary processes proposed on the basis
of the characteristics described visualizes a dominant role
for channelized and overbank turbidity current deposition
in the upper fan. The influence of these currents decreases
and that of the unchannelized currents increases downfan,
On the lower fan, deposiüon by unchannelized turbidity
sheet flows forms the dominant mode of sedimentation.
In addition, slumping on the back sides of oversteepened
levees and along broad fronts of the continental slope, and
other downslope mechanisms may also have influenced
fan sedimentation significantly.
INTRODUCTION
The Magdalena Fan forms a broad arcuate bathyrnetric
feature in the southern Colombian basin, Caribbean Sea,
and is about 145 mi (232 km) long (Figures 1,2). It grades
to the northwest into the deep abyssal plain of the basin
and terminates updip against the deformed northwestern
continental margin of Colombia.
According to Duque-Caro (1979), two main geotectonic
elements can be distinguished in northwestern Colombia
adjacent to the Caribbean Sea: a stable platform and an
unstable folded region (Table 1). The unstable region has
been divided into (1) Pliocene-Pleistocene Sinu belt com-
prising primarily the folded, present-day continental shelf
and slope, and (2) the middle Eocene San Jacinto belt
landward of the Sinu belt but parallel with it. The stable
platform region is just landward of the San Jacinto belt.
Both the Sinu and San Jacinto belts have been interpreted
to be accreted to the Colombian margin, which reflects the
broad interaction between the Caribbean and South
American plates (Duque-Caro, 1979).
Terrigenoussediments for the Magdalena Fan have been
supplied primarily by the Magdalena River and to some
extent by the Sinu River. Both these rivers drain the
Andean Cordillera, which forms three branches in north-
ern Colombia-the western, central, and eastern Cordil-
lera (Van Houten and Travis, 1968) (Figure 1). Because of
outbuilding of the Magdalena River delta, the continental
shelf in this area is virtually absent (Figure 2). Severa1
slope valleys and gullies, as well as mud diapirs, exist off
the Magdalena River (Shepard, 1973). Cable breaks off
the Magdalena River, presumably due to dumping and
turbidity currents, were reported by Heezen (1956) and
 V. Kolla, R. T. Buffler, a n d J. W. Ladd

Figure 1-Map showing principal physiographic provinces, tectonic boundaries, and plate motions of Caribbean region. Magdalena
Fan area is boxed. DSDP sites 149 and 153 in Venezuelan basin and Aruba Gap referred to in text are dso shown.

Heezen and Muiioz (1965). On the continental slope west
of the Magdalena River, valleys and channels occur, which
apparently served as conduits for Magdalena River sedi-
ments in the past (Figure 2).
Although severa1 studies on the geology and geophysics
of the western Caribbean Sea have been published
(Heezen, 1956; Edgar et al, 1971; Krause, 1971; Malfait
and Dinkleman, 1972; Shepard, 1973; Christofferson,
1973, 1976; Holcombe, 1977; Case and Holcombe, 1980;
Lu and McMillen, 1982; and others), none of them have
dealt in any detail with the characteristics and sedimenta-
tion of the MagdalenaFan. Consequently, we do not know
how this fan, which is located along an active margin, dif-
fers from the fans along passive margins, which have been
studied in greater detail.
The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to describe the
Magdalena Fan and to propose a preliminary model for its
evolution. This study is based on examination of seismic
(3.5 kHz, single-channel, and multichannel) records and
piston-core data collected in the area by Lamont-Doherty
Geological Observatory (LDGO) and the University of
Texas Institute for Geophysics (UTIG). First, we discuss
briefly the seismic stratigraphy of the entire sediment
column to develop a geologic framework for the fan
region. Then we discuss in detail the morphologic, seismic,
and sedimentologic characteristics of the uppermost seis-
mic unit, which represents the last major phase of sedi-
mentation in the Magdalena Fan. We believe that the
combined use of 3.5 kHz, deep-penetration multichannel
seismic, and sedimentologic data is very useful in the study
of fan sedimentation.
DATA BASE
The piston cores available at Lamont-Doherty Geologi-
cal Observatory's core library were examined to determine
the lithology of Quaterriary sediments. From the 3.5 kHz
records obtained during various cruises by Lamont-
Doherty Geological Observatory and the University of
Texas, &t&s of the morphology of the sea floor, types of
echoes, subbottom penetration, and subbottom reflector
continuity were nottd. Tracks of al1 cruises used are
318 Magdalena Fan, Colombian Basin, Caribbean Sea

Table l. Tectonicsand Sedimentation Along Northwestem Colombian Marglli and in Adjacent Magdalena Fan*

Sinu Belt San Major

Magdalena (Shelf and Jacinto Sedimentary Ttxtonic
Fan Slope) Belt Platform Cycles Events
Turbidites and Shdow Marine Fluvial and Fluvial and
Related Carbonates and Ter- Lacustrine Lacustrine Tubarian
Sediments rigenous Sedirnents Sediments Sediments
(F-Seismic Upiift, Folding, Uplift and No Folding
Sequence and Mud
Volcanism
Folding But Vertical
Faulting I Orogeny
Pliocene

Diversion of
Turbidites and Turbidites and Shailow Marine ShdowMarine u Magdalena River
Related Reiated Carbonatesand
Sediments Sediments Temgenous
Cxbonates and
Terrigenous
3 from NE to NW
and Increased
(E-Sequence) Clay Clay

Hemipelagic and Hemipelagic and Shdow Shailow

Terrigenous Temgenous Marine Marine
Sediments Sediments Carbonates Carbonates
(D-Seisrnic) and Clays and Temgenous S
Sequence clays 2
- S
U~liftand Platform
riting
Toward -
west

Pelagic(?) Pela&?) Shallow Marine No Sediment

Sediments Sediments
Uplift and No Folding, Pre-Andean
But Vertical Orogeny Eocene
I
Faulting 1
'Table rnodified after Duque-Caro(1979).

shown in Figure 3. We utilized primarily multichannel seis-
mic (MCS) records (MCS-124, 125, 127; CT-1-27; CB-1)
and to some extent single-channel seismic data obtained
by.LDGO and UTIG in developing the seismic stratigra-
phy and in studying the characteristics of deeper sections
of the sediment column (Figures 2,3).
SEISMIC STRATIGRAPHY
The seismic stratigraphy of the Magdalena Fan area is
characterized by a prominent acoustic basement overlain
by a thick sedimentary section. The total sediment thick-
ness is greater than 5 sec two-way travel time (5-7 km or
more, or 3-4 mi) in the slope area and decreases gradually
to less than 2 sec (2-3 km or 1-2 mi) in the lower fan-plain
region (Figure 4). Six seismic sequences (units) have been
defined in the sediment section utilizing two types of crite-
ria: presence of unconformities (and correlatable confor-
mities) between seismic sequences, and highly contrasting
gross reflection character of the sequences. The uncon-
formities may be in the form of onlap or downlap contacts
or erosionaVdepositiona1 features. Not al1 six seismic
ubits are present in al1the multichannel seismic records. A
schematic composite sketch along a northwest-southeast
section prepared from the seismic records shows the gen-
eral configuration and distribution of the six sequences
(Figure 5).
Portions of MCS line CT-1-27 (Figures 6, 7) and the
entire MCS h e 127 (Figure 8) show the overall character-
istics of the units and basement across the fan and the con-
tinental slope.
Acoustic basement is an irregular surface that, in gen-
eral, dips southward (landward) across the basin. On some
lines, basement exhibits a large upward bulge near the
margin (Figure 5).
The bottommost seismic sequence (unit A) is character-
ized by highly reflective layers and tends to fill the depres-
sions in the basement (Figures 5,6). Stacking velocities of
the different seismic units vary from place t o place
depending on the overburden and lithologic changes. Unit
A, however, has an interval velocity of about 3.5 km/sec
(2.2 mi/sec). Overlying unit A is a relatively transparent
unit B, which is in turn overlain by unit C. Al1 three lower
units locally exhibit an onlapping character and thin onto
basement both landward and seaward (Figures 5,6,8).
The D sequence appears to exhibit regional downlap
onto the top of C unit in the middle to upper fan region
(Figures 5,8). The top of the D sequence and the overlying
E sequence are characterized by what we believe to be cut-
and-fill structures in areas proximal to land (Figure 8);
however, the boundary between D and E becomes con-
formable seaward. The boundary between E and F is also
erosional/depositional in the upper fan region and is
marked by a strong reflector that continues seaward and
 - LOWER FAN
- -
1
FIGURE 13 1

MCS LlNE 127

Figure 8-Multichannel seismic record (MCS-127; labeled 3 in Figure 3) extending from continental slope to lower Magdalena Fan.
Boundaries of B, C, D, E, and F seismic sequences (units) are indicated to show their relationships to one another. Presence of A
sequence in this section is not certain. Straight lines labeled D, F, and H are portions for which 3.5 kHz echograms are shown in Figure
9. Thick lines, labeled Figure 13, indicate portions of blown-up seismic records shown in Figure 13 (see Figure 3 for locations). Note at
least one old levee within F unit.
 LEVEE

MCS LINE CB-1

Figure 11-Portion of MCS line CB-1 (labeled 4 in Figure 3)showing detailed characteristics of upper, middle, and lower fan regions.
Within F unit, at least three periods (1, 11,111) of channel activity in upper fan can be identified. C H indicates location of chal veis
flanked by levees. Line M indicates location of 3.5 kHz records (Figure 9) with respect to seismic record.
2 H-II-A m
/SUSPECTED SLUMP u
1 M
MIDDLE
 V. Kolla, R. T. Buffler, and J. W. Ladd 321

FAN DIVISIONS
>'/. WUWDMIES OF FIN DIVISIONS
A- M W N E 3WPE 0 SHELF
A-B .UFPERFW
B-C.UIDUFAN
WER M C UllER FAN-ABIUAL

- FUIN
CHANNEL

Figure 2-Bathymetry of Magdalena Fan region with simplified Figure 3-Morpho-acoustic map based on 3.5 kHz characteris-
courses of Magdalena and Sinu Rivers. Also shown are locations tics. Cruise track-lines utilized are shown. Portions of tracklines
of multichannel seismic lines. for which 3.5 kHz (D-P) and multichannel seismic (1-5) records
are shown in Figures6,7,8,9,11,12 are solid lines. The 3.5 kHz
morpho-acoustic zones are as follows: 1. Sea floor with canyons
and irregular hyperbolae. 11. Sea floor with continuous subbot-
also landward into the folded slope (Figures 7, 8). The D, tom reflectors, 30-40 m (16-22 fm) subbottom penetration, reg-
E, and F sequences thicken landward (south) and thin sea- ular hyperbolae or wavelike features, and leveed channels. 111.
ward (north) (Figure 5). We believe that these units Sea floor with continuous to discontinuous subbottom reflec-
together mark the onset of a major terrigenous sediment loes, 30-m (16-fm) penetration, hyperbolae or waves with heights
input from the south caused by tectonic activity and asso- less than in 11. and channels. IV. Sea floor with intermittent and
ciated uplifts in the northern Andes and adjacent land fuzzy subbottom reflectors about 15-m (8-fm) penetration,
and channels. V. Smooth sea floor with few or no subbottom
region. reflectors and no penetration.
AGE OF SEISMIC UNITS

In the eastern Caribbean Sea, a smooth reflecting hori-
zon, called horizon B", was once considered to be an
acoustic basement on single-channel seismic records
(Ewing et al, 1965). This horizon has been shown by
DSDP results to consist of dolerite-basalt rocks of Coni-
acian age (Saunders et al, 1973; Hopkins, 1973). Multi-
channel seismic data have revealed severa1reflecting layers
underlying horizon B", which have been inferred to be a
combination of basalt flows and sediments (Hopkins,
1973) or exclusively basalt flows (Stoffa et al, 1981). The
oceanic basement in the eastern Caribbean is thought to
underlie these layers (Saunders et al, 1973).
The irregular, hyperbolic nature of acoustic basement in
the Magdalena Fan region contrasts with the smooth
acoustic horizon B" in the eastern Caribbean Sea. How-
ever, it is possible that the acousticbasement in the Magda-
lena Fan region may be Coniacian as well, or it may be
older. The magnetic data, although not convincing,
appear to support a Late Cretaceous age for the crust of
the western Caribbean (Christofferson, 1973, 1976).
Horizon A", overlying the bottommost sedimentary
sequence in the eastern Caribbean Sea, has been dated
from DSDP drilling as the Cretaceous-Tertiaryboundary
(Hopkins, 1973). The sediments below horizon A" are
highly lithified and silicified, whereas overlying it are
unconsolidated oozes and other sedimentary lithologies.
322 Magdalena Fan, Colombian Basin, Caribbean Sea
We do not know from the seismic data presently available
whether the top of our unit A in the Magdalena Fan region
can be correlated with horizon A" in the eastern Carib-
bean Sea. However, from the high-amplitude reflectors in
the A sequence, which may be due to greater lithification
than in the overlying sequences, we speculate that the top
of the A sequence is equivalent to horizon A". Houtz and
Ludwig (1977) designated the horizon corresponding to
the top of unit A as a "prominent reflector."
4"
3 land.
- 2
m -
Figure 4-Total sediment thickness in seconds of two-way travel
time.
Figure 6-Section 1 of MCS line CT-1-27,
from lower fan-abyssal plain region, with seismic units sketched. See Figure 3 for location.
Another prominent reflection at DSDP site 153 in the
Aruba Gap (Figure 1) has been dated as middle Miocene
(horizon 5 of Hopkins, 1973). Again, whether any of the
sequence boundaries in the Magdalena Fan region can be
correlated with horizon 5 in the Aruba Gap is not known.
However, it appears that above horizon 5 at site 153, ter-
rigenous sediment supply increased significantly. At site
149 in the Venezuelan basin (Figure l), the terrigenous sed-
iment supply increased during the early Miocene (Saun-
ders et al, 1973). It is possible that these increased supplies
In the drainage area of the Magdalena River, Campbell
(1965) distinguished severa1 periods of orogeny and dias-
northwestern Colombia to types of processes influencing
the sedimentation in the Sinu and San Jacinto belts. In
Table 1 (modified after Duque-Caro, 1979), weattempt to
develop a framework in which seismic sequencesD, E, and
F in the Magdalena Fan region are related to tectonics on
We speculate that sequence D, which is thicker landward
unlike the older sequences in the Magdalena Fan region,
was deposited during the early to middle Miocene subse-
quent to Oligocene-Miocenediastrophism (proto-Andean
orogeny; Duque-Caro, 1979) (Table 1). During the late
Miocene-Pliocene, the Magdalena River was diverted
from northeast toward northwest, owing to tectonic
UPPER DEFORMED
SEC
ACOUSTIC BASEMENT
Figure 5-Schematic stratigraphic section of entire sedihnent
column based on composite interpretation of several multichan-
nel seismic lines extending from continental slope to deep sea.
 V. Kolla, R. T. Buffler, and J. W. Ladd 323

movements, directly into the Magdalena Fan region. The River as the major sediment source. However, the follow-
E sequence was probably deposited as a result of this ing discussion concentrates only on unit F, because our
increased terrigenous sediment supply. The orogeny com- data allow a more complete description of the characteris-
mencing from about middle Pliocene is the most impor- tics of only this unit.
tant of al1 the Andean orogenies (Campbell, 1965). This Although many of the characteristics change graduaily
episode of uplift, in combination with the lowered sea lev- downfan, the combined morphologic, acoustic, and sedi-
els, may have led to the dominance of terrigenous sedi- mentologic properties of the upper part of the sediment
ment supply and downslope sediment-transport column based on 3.5 kHz records, seismic data, and cores,
mechanisms in the western Caribbean Sea during the allow the Magdalena Fan to be divided into an upper, mid-
Pliocene-Pleistocene.We believe that these conditions led dle, and lower fan. The characteristicsof the fan are sum-
to deposition of the F sequence. marized in Table 2. The distribution of morpho-acoustic
characteristics as seen on 3.5 kHz records is mapped in
MORPHOLOGIC, ACOUSTIC, AND SEDIMENTOLOGIC Figure 3. Examples of these characteristicsare included in
CHARACTERISTICS OF FAN UNIT F Figure 9. The distribution of sand-silt layers as determined
from cores is shown in Figure 10. Characteristicsof unit F
We believe that the upper three seismic units D, E, and F (from multichannel seismic lines 127, CB-1, and 125) are
make up the Magdalena Fan proper, with the Magdalena shown in Figures 8, 11, 12, and 13.

Figure 7-Seclion 2 of MCS line CT-1-27,from continental slope of folded belt off Colombia (deformedslope in Figures). See Figure
3 for location.
324 Magdalena Fan, Colombian Basin, Caribbean Sea

SED.WAV

Figure 9-Examples of 3.5 kHz records from different morpho-acoustic zones: D, from continental slope; E, F, and G from upper
fan; H, 1, J, K, L, M, and N from middle fan; O and P from lower fan. See Figure 3 for locations. Depths in meters and fathoms.

Upper Fan
The gradients of the continental slope are steeper than
1:60, whereas those of the upper fan are 1:60-1:110 (Table
2). The continental slope is characterized by an irregular
sea floor, canyons, and slump features (Figure 9D),
whereas the upper fan has very well-developed, channel-
levee complexes (Figure 9E). The channel depths and levee
heights in the upper fan extend to more than 100 m (300 ft;
Table 2). The shallow (3.5 kHz) acoustics of the upper fan
are generally characterized by distinct echoes with severa1
continuous subbottom reflectors and good penetration
(Figures 3,9E, G). There are, however, areas of sea floor
with patches of no penetration separated by patches of
good penetration (Figure 9F). Bed forms in the form of
regular hyperbolae or sediment wavelike features, as
observed on 3.5 kHz records, are present on the backsides
of the levees (Figure 9E) as well as far away from the
levees. Irregular bed forms are present on the valley
floors. The generally good subbottom penetration of the
upper fan results from the fine-grained nature of sedi-
ments although valley floors probably contain sands simi-
lar in penetration and lithology to other fans (Figure 10)
(Damuth and Kumar, 1975; Normark, 1978; Kolla et al,
1979). On seismic records of the upper fan, very well-
developed channel-levee complexes can be recognized
even along longitudinal cruise tracks (Figures 8, 11, 12).
Levees in the upper fan show up as overlapping and coa-
lescing wedge-shaped reflection packages (Figure 11). The
channel floors are characterized by onlap-fill reflection
configurations.
Middle Pan
The middle fan has gradients between 1 :110 and 1:200.
This region has good 3.5 kHz subbottom penetration in its
upper part, and poor penetration with discontinuous sub-
bottom reflectors or fuzzy subbottoms in its lower part
(Figures 3, 9H-N). Decreasing subbottom penetration
downfan generally reflects the increasing sand content in
the sediments compared to the upper fan (Figure 10A, B).
ln the western region, the middle fan has mostly poor pen-
 V. Kolla, R. T. Buffler, and J. W. Ladd
Figure 9 (Continued)
Table 2. Summary of Characteristicsof Magdalena Fan
Characteristics Upper Fan
Gradient 1:60to 1:110
Longitudinal profile Irregular; usudy
and relief >25 m
Channels and levees Channel depth up to > 100 m;
levee heights up to > 100 m;
limited number of channel
(valley)-levee complexes
3.5 kHz Distinct echoes with continuous
subbottom reflectors; regular
hyperbolae; sediment waves cornmon
Multichannel Overlapping or coalescing wedge-
Seismics shaped levee seauences: channel
floors may con&n high-amplitude,
discontinuous reflections, and
onlap-fill sequences
Lithology Coarse-grainedsediments in
channels; dominante of fine-grained
d sediments in other areas
.4
6 Processes Channelized and overbank-
E spilled turbidity currents;
1 slumping: from continental
slope, within channels, and on
back sides of levees
325
Middle Fan Lower Fan
1:llOto 1:200 < 1:250
lrregular to smooth; Smooth; < 5 m
6-20 m
Channel depth 30-40 m or less; Channel depth < 20 m;
levee height 20 m or less; leve absent; few channels
numerous channels
Distinct to indistinct echoes, with Indistinct echoes with few
continuous to fuzzy subbottom or no subbottom reflectors;
reflections; regular hyperbolae; poor to no penetration;
sediment waves common smooth, flat sea floor
Discontinuous, hyperbolic, and chaotic Relatively continuous, flat
reflections common; coalescence of reflections
s m d wedge-shaped reflections in
upper middle fan; mounding due to many
small channel-leveecomplexes
Type of sediment intermediate between Coarse-grained (sand) sediments
upper and lower fan dorninate
Channelized and overbank- Unchannelized turbidity currents;
spilled turbidity currents; debris flows
unchannelized turbidity currents;
slumping and debris flows
326 Magdalena Fan, Colombian Basin, Caribbean Sea
Figure 9 (Continued)
etration, similar to the lower parts of the middle fan in the
rest of the region (Figure 3). However, the presence of
numerous channels throughout the middle fan (Figures 3,
9H, M) appears to be a distinctive characteristic of the
middle fan on 3.5 kHz and seismic records. The channels
of the upper part of the middle fan have levees, but they
have relatively low heights compared to the upper fan
(Table 2). In the lower part of the middle fan, levees are
either poorly developed or absent. Regular hyperbolic and
wavelike features are common in the middle fan, and their
heights gradually decrease downfan (Figure 91-L).
Although the general morphology of the whole middle fan
is very subdued compared to the upper fan, the presence of
numerous channel-levee complexes and consequent
upbuilding caused portions of the middle fan to be ele-
vated somewhat above the sea floor. However, we do not
believe that any clear-cut suprafan morphology, with dom-
inance of sandy sediments (as defined for fans off Califor-
nia, by Normark, 1978), is developed in the Magdalena
Fan. On seismic records, the middle fan is characterized
by hyperbolic, chaotic, or discontinuous reflections (Fig-
ures 11, 13), which may have resulted from the highly dis-
sected, channeled sea floor, and wavelike features of the
type observed on 3.5 kHz records (Figure 9H-J, M).
Lower Fan
The lower Magdalena Fan is characterized by poor to no
subbottom penetration on 3.5 kHz records. Channels are
uncommon, and levees on channels are absent. The lower
fan is relatively smooth and flat (Figure 90, P). The lack
of penetration on the lower fan probably results from the
dominance of coarse sediments as in other lower fan
regions (Figure 10B) (Damuth and Kumar, 1975). Pres-
ente of relatively continuous, parallel reflectors on seismic
records is an unambiguous characteristic of the lower fan
(Figures 8, 11, 13).
Fan-Valley Migration and History of Sedimentation
Within Unit F
Besides the most recent fan-valley occurrence opposite
the Magdalena River, bathymetry and seismic records
show old fan valleys west of the river confluence (Figures
2,8, 11, 12).
The isotime map of unit F (Figure 14) suggests that its
thickness is generally greater west of the present Magda-
lena River confluence and valley complex than directly
opposite the river. This suggests that in the past the
 V. Kolla, R. T. Buffler, and J. W. Ladd 327

CHANNEL LEVEE
-- -- -

t , - - - -- - -- -

UNCHANNELlZED UNCWANNELIZED

b*:j
r-

Figure 9 (Continued)

Magdalena River sediments were transported more
through the old channel-levee complexes in the western
region than through the valley complexes opposite the
present river confluence. Lack of multichannel seismic
records transverse to the valleys precludes determining
their chronologic sequence. Also, the boundaries of the
different fan regions in the deeper sediment column can-
not be demarcated with certainty. However, in al1our MCS
lines, wedge-shaped reflection packages characteristic of
the levees in the upper fan, and relatively smooth, flat con-
tinuous reflections characteristic of the lower fan can be
clearly recognized (Figures 8, 11, 12, 13). On MCS line
CB-1, channels (CH) flanked by levees are identified
within unit F (Figure 11). Severa1 periods or episodes of
channel activity (CH-1, CH-11, CH-IIA, CH-111) in the
upper parts of the upper fan region within unit F can be
recognized on this h e . Reflecting events 1, 11, and 111 in
the lower parts of the upper fan and upper parts of the
middle fan approximately correspond in time to channel
activities CH-1, CH-11, and CH-111, respectively, in the
upper parts of the upper fan (Figure 11). It may also be
inferred from CB-1 (Figure 11) that the boundary between
the parallel continuous reflections of the lower fan and the
hyperbolic, chaotic, and discontinuous reflections of the
middle fan prograded generally seaward with time within
unit F, although in detail the boundary fluctuated both
landward and seaward.
More than one episode of sedimentation can also be rec-
ognized on MCS lines 127 and 125 (Figures 8, 12). Sea-
ward progradation in time of the upper fan within unit F
can be seen on MCS line 125 (Figure 12). The episodes of
sedimentation recognized on MCS lines CB-1, 125, and
127 may or may not be synchronous. However, we believe
that these episodes reflect several uplifts in the source
328 Magdalena Fan, Colombian Basin, Caribbean Sea

2
" /1
-----
YAYlWM THICKNESS OF SANO-SIL7 BEOS
(cm1 IN
'
i
'

Figure 10-(A) Number of sand-süt layers per 10 m (30 ft) of core. (B) Maximum thickness of sand-silt bed (cm) in each core. Note
area of high sand content in 1,000-2,000 m (545-1,090 fathoms) water depths in fan valley opposite present Magdalena River mouth.

region (Andes), lowered sea levels, and/or shifting of the fine-grained sediments in other areas of the upper fan
Magdalena delta in space and time, subsequent to the resulted from deposition by channelized turbidity currents
major orogeny during the middle Pliocene. and overbank spilling of these currents. These turbidity
currents originated primarily in the canyons at times of
MODEL OF SEDIMENTATION FOR MAGDALENA FAN lowered sea level. At high stands also, slumping and tur-
bidity current generation might have occurred in the areas
A schematic model of fan evolution shown in Figure 15 off Magdalena River, as has been documented from cable
is based on observed as well as some hypothesized charac- breaks in recent times by Heezen (1956). However, strati-
teristics of the Magdalena Fan. As previously discussed, graphic studies on piston cores by Prell (1978; see also
there were probably severa1 valleys in the upper Magda- Heezen and Muiioz, 1%5) show that al1 sampled turbidites
lena Fan, each of which may have been active at a different in the Magdalena Fan were deposited at times of lowered
time. The Magdalena Fan is a complex of more than one sea leve1 during the Pleistocene. Thus, the modern turbid-
episode of sedimentation similar to that depicted in Figure ity currents may not be a significant source of sediments
15. compared with turbidity currents during lowered sea level.
Many of the characteristics of the Magdalena Fan, sum- In the middle fan, channels become small in depth and
marized in Figure 15 and Table 2, have already been dis- width, and the levee heights decrease gradually, in part an
cussed. We hypothesize that the occurrence of numerous indication of the availability of lesser and lesser amounts
channels observed on acoustic records of the middle fan of fine-grained sediments. The turbidity currents were
resulted from channel meander, branching, abandon- probably less confined to channels in the middle fan than
ment, and avulsion as has been documented by Damuth et in the upper fan. This resulted in the deposition of increas-
al (1983) on the Amazon Fan with the aid of Gloria survey. ingly coarse-grained sediments in the middle fan (Figures
In the upper Magdalena Fan, there is less channel mean- 10,15). Finally, in the lower fan, which has few or no chan-
dering or branching than in the middle fan. nels, unchannelized turbidity currents played a major role,
The occurrence of coarse sediments in valleys and of leading to the widespread occurrence of coarse-grained
330 Magdalena Fan, Colombian Basin, Caribbean Sea
7 8' 77" 7 6" 75-
~
15'+ L L -- -- - ~ L-
1
L B E
TOP UNIT- THCKNESS IN SECaYDS
l
1
Figure 14-Thickness of uppermost seismic unit F in seconds of
two-way travel time, based on multichannel and single-channel
seismic records.
sediments. The gradual increase of coarse-grained sedi-
ments from the upper to lower fan results in decreasing
subbottom penetration observed on 3.5 kHz records.
The bed forms indicated by regular hyperbolae and
wavelike features on the levees of channels in the upper
and middle fan regions may be related to overbank spilling
of turbidity currents (Normark et al, 1980). However,
these bed forms seem to be common even in areas far away
from the channel (or vaiiey) levees. Several indications of
slump scars and typical slump features (irregular bed
forms) have been observed on the continental slope off
Colombia. Locally in the upper fan, patches of sea floor
with no 3.5 kHz penetration (Figure 9F) may be indicative
of slump or erosional scars. These features combined with
the gradual decrease of relief of hyperbolic and wavelike
bed forms downfan suggest that slumping processes along
broad fronts on the continental slope or in the upper fan
regions outside the valley, and the debris flows and turbid-
ity currents that might evolve from such processes, could
have also caused the bed forms on the Magdalena Fan.
Slumping could also occur on the banks of channels as
well as on back sides of oversteepened levees which might
generate the bed forms.
In the Mississippi and Amazon Fans, slumping on older
inactive fan regions flanking the most recent fan-channel-
levee complexes has been documented (Walker and Mas-
singill, 1970; Damuth and Embley, 1981). It is not clear
from previous studies why slumping occurs only on inac-
tive fan areas. It is possible that undercompaction of fine-
grained sediments in the abandoned fan areas could be a
contributing factor to slumping. A similar inference may
be drawn for the slumping of the Magdalena Fan. The fan
gradients of the Magdalena Fan are generally relatively
steep, and the adjacent continental slope is being actively
folded and faulted. These factors might also contribute to
slumping on the Magdalena Fan.
The Magdalena Fan, although located along an active
margin, is essentially similar in characteristics and evolu-
tion to river-fed fans along passive margins. However, the
bed forrns indicated by regular hyperbolae and wavelike
features appear more widespread in the Magdalena Fan
than in the fans along passive margins. Nothing is known
about the vertical sedimentary sequences in the Magda-
lena Fan due to the absence of drilling. Also, the piston
core coverage for this fan is sparse. However, in view of
generally increasing sand content in the lower fan, the
Magdalena Fan may be classified as a "high efficiency"
deep-sea fan (Mutti and Ricci Lucchi, 1978; Mutti, 1979).
In seismic studies of deep-sea fans, the middle and lower
fan regions have been shown to have mound-shaped mor-
phologies with dip reversals, and hyperbolic, chaotic and
discontinuous interna1 reflection configurations (Berg,
1982; Sarg and Skjold, 1982). These fan characteristics
have been interpreted to be indicative of sand-prone areas.
The middle fan region of the Magdalena Fan typically has
the foregoing seismic characteristics. However, although
the sand content is generally greater in the middle than in
the upper fan, it is in the lower Magdalena Fan that sands
dominate.
CONCLUSIONS
1. The sediment thickness in the Magdalena Fan region
ranges from greater than 5 to less than 2 seconds of two-
way travel time (more than 7.5 to 2-3 km, or 4.7 to 1-2
mi).
2. Six seismic sequences can be distinguished in the
entire sedimentary section in the region. The upper three
sequences, which form the Magdalena Fan proper, proba-
bly reflect increased input of terrigenous sediments during
the later Cenozoic, following uplifts of the Andes.
3. The uppermost sequence, for which we have most
data, probably represents the latest major phase of sedi-
mentation following the major uplift of the Andes during
the middle Pliocene.
4. The model of sedimentation proposed here envisions
a threefold subdivision of the Magdalena Fan based on
morphologic, seismic, and lithologic characteristics
observed. The upper fan has channels with well-developed
levees and has, on the whole, a dominance of fine-grained
sediments, except in channels where coarse-grained sedi-
ments may be present. Channelized and overbank-spilled
turbidity currents played a dominant role in sedimentation
in the upper fan. In the middle fan, numerous channels
with subdued levees are present, and sand content gener-
 V. Kolla, R. T. Buffler, and J. W. Ladd 331

SEDIMENTARY PROCESSES SEDIMENTS A N D MORPHOLOGY SElSMlC CHARACTERISTICS

-
FAN VALLEY

INFLUENCE OF
/ IEVEE CONTINEhTAL SLOPE

W >.-re i - n
z a 7
IT
W
; - +W,lYES
B
% -

+ SLUMPING .+t._<.
-SMOOTH
+ W
* .. * *
Z Vi , m *
* * FLOOR
Y
IT
a.
Y
. .
1
_ . t . +

IT a
3 U
u I
g $
:
2 3
o "
J .r
J
W "
m + SLUMPING
I % a
u D E B R I S FLOW
E
Y
o
W
6 d
m 5
2N I
U
2 Z
Y 2

z
4

U r DEBRIS FLOW
_.cI

Figure 15-Schematic representation of characteristicsand model of processes and evolution of Magdalena deep sea fan during one
episode of sedimentation.

ally increases compared with the upper fan. This reflects
the decreasing influence of channelized and overbank
flows and the increasing influence of unchannelized cur-
rents. In the lower fan, with few or no channels and with
more coarse sediments than in any other region, deposi-
tion by unchannelized turbidity sheet flows is the domi-
nant mode of sedimentation. In addition to these
mechanisms, slumping on the back sides of oversteepened
levees and along broad fronts of continental slope, and
other downslopemovements may also have influenced fan
sedimentation throughout the region.
5. The characteristics of the Magdalena Fan, located
along the active margin of Colombia, are essentially simi-
lar to those of river-fed deep-sea fans along the passive
margins. Although core coverage is sparse for the Magda-
lena Fan, the generally high sand content in the lower fan
suggests that this fan may be classified as a "high effi-
ciency" deep-sea fan (Mutti, 1979).
6. Within the uppermost seismic unit, several episodes
of fan-valley (channel) activity can be identified. These
episodes are probably related to severa1 uplifts in the
source region, lowered sea levels, or shifting in location of
the Magdalena River delta subsequent to the major orog-
eny in the middle Pliocene.
REFERENCES CITED
&rg, O. R., 1982, Seismicdetection andevaluation of deltaand turbidite
sequences: their application to exploration for the subtle trap: AAPG
Bulletin, v. 66, p. 1271-1288.
Bouma, A. H., and T. K. Treadwell, 1975, Deep sea dune-like features:
MarineGeology, v. 19, p. M53-M59.
Campbell, C. J., 1%5, The Santa Marta wrench fault of Colombia and
its regional setting: Fourth Caribbean Geological Conference Pro-
ceedings, p. 247-261.
Case, J. E, and T.L. Holcombe, 1980, Geologic-tectonicmap of the Car-
ibbean region: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigations
Series Map 1-1100.
Christoffersori, E., 1973, Linear magnetic anomalies in the Colombia
basin, central Caribbean Sea: GSA Bulletin, v. 84, p. 3217-3230.
-1976, Colombian basin magnetism and Caribbean plate tecton-
ics: GSA Bulletin, v. 87, p. 1255-1258.
Damuth, J. E., and N. Kumar, 1975, Amazon cone: morphology, sedi-
ments, age and growth pattern: GSA Bulletin, v. 86, p. 863-878.
-and R. W. Embley, 1981, Mass transport processes on Amazon
Cone: westernequatorial Atlantic: AAPG Bulletin, v. 65, p. 629-643.
-V. Kolla, et al, 1983, Distributary channel meandering and bifur-
cation patterns on the Amazon deep-sea fan as revealed by long-range
side-scan sonar (Gloria): Geology, v. 11, p. 94-98.
Duque-Caro, H., 1979, Major structural elements and evolution of
northwestern Colombia, in Geological and geophysical investigations
of continental margins: AAPG Memoir 29, p. 329-351.
Edgar, N. T., J. 1. Ewing, and J. Hennion, 1971, Seismic refraction and
reflection in Caribbean Sea: AAPG Bulletin, v. 55, p. 833-870.
-J. B. Saunders, et al, 1973, Initial reports of the Deep Sea Drilling
Project: Washington, U.S. Government Printing Office, v. 15, 1137
P.
Ewing, J., M. Talwani, M. Ewing, andT. Edgar, 1%5, Sediment distribu-
tion in the Caribbean Sea: Fourth Caribbean Geological Conference
Proceedings, p. 317-324.
Heezen, B. C., 1956, Corrientes de turbidez del Rio Magdalena: Boletin
de La Sociedad Geografica decolombia, nomeros 51,52, p. 135-143.
-and J. Mufioz, 1%S, Magdalena turbidites in deep sea sediments:
Fourth Caribbean Geological Conference Proceedings, 342 p.
Holcombe, T. L., 1977, Caribbean bathymetry and sediments, in J. D.
Weaver, ed., Geology, geophysics and resources of the Caribbean:
report of the IDOE workshop on the geology and marine geophysics
of the Caribbean region and its resources: p. 27-62.
Hopkins, H. R., 19731Geology of the ~ r u b aGap abyssal plain near
DSDP site 153: Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project,
Washington, U.S. Government Printing Office, v. 15, p. 1039-1050.
Houtz, R. E., and W. J. Ludwig, 1977, Structure of Colombia basin, Car-
ibbean Sea, from profiler-sonobuoy measurernents: Journal of Geo-
physical Research, v. 82, p. 4861-4867.
Kolla, V., J. Kostecki, L. Little, and L. Reynold, 1979, Morpho-acoustic
and sedimentologic characteristics of the Indus-Fan (abs.): GSA
Abstracts with Programs, v. 11, p. 459-460.
332 Magdalena Fan, Colombian Basin, Caribbean Sea
Krause, D. C., 1971, Bathymetry, geomagnetism, and tectonics of the
Caribbean Sea north of Colombia, in T. W. Donnelly, ed., Caribbean
geophysical, tectonic and petrologic studies: GSA Memoir 130, p. 35-
54
Lu, R. S., and K. J. McMillen, 1982, Multichannel seisrnic survey of the
Colombia basin and adjacent margins, in Studies in continental mar-
gin geology: AAPG Memoir 34, p. 395-410.
Malfait. B. T., and M. G. Dinkelman, 1972, Circum-Caribbean tectonic
and igneous activity and the evolution of the Caribbean plate: GSA
Bulletin, v. 83, p. 251-272.
Mutti, E., 1979, Turbidites et cones sous-marine profonds, in P. Home-
wood, ed., Sedimentation detrique (fluviatile, littorale et marine):
Institute Geology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.
-and F. Ricci Lucchi, 1978, nirbidites of the northern Apennines:
introduction to facies analysis: International Geology Review, v. 20,
p. 125-166, translated from the 1972 Italian version.
Normark, W. R., 1978, Fan valleys, channels, and depositional lobes on
modern submarine fans: characters for recognition of sandy turbidite
environments: AAPG Bulletin, v. 62, p. 912-931.
-G. R. Hess, D. A. V. Stow, and A. J. Bowen, 1980, Sediment
waves on the Monterey Fan levee: a preliminary physical interpreta-
tion: Marine Geology, v. 37, p. 1-18.
Prell, W. L., 1978, Upper Quaternary sediments of the Colombia basin:
GSA Bulletin, v. 89, p. 1241-1255.
Sarg, J. F., and L. J. Skjold, 1982, Stratigraphic traps in Paleocene sands
in the Balder area, North Sea, in The deliberate search for the subtle
trap: AAPG Memoir 32, p. 197-206.
Saunders, J . B., N. T. Edgar, T. W. Donelly, and W. W. Hay, 1973, Cruise
synthesis: lnitial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, Washing-
ton, U.S. Government Printing Office, v. 15, p. 1077-1111.
Shepard, F. P., 1973, Sea floor off Magdalena delta and Santa Marta
area, Colombia: GSA Bulletin, v. 84, p. 1955-1972.
Stoffa, P., A. Mauffret, M. Truchan, and P. Buhl, 1981, Sub-Bt'layering
in the southern Caribbean: the Aruba Gap and Venezuela basin:
Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 53, p. 131-146.
Van Houten, F. B., and R. B. Travis, 1968, Cenozoic deposits, upper
Magdalena Valley, Colombia: AAPG Bulletin, v. 52, p. 675-702.
Walker, J. R., and J. V. Massingill, 1970, Slump features on the Missis-
sippi Fan, northeasternGulf of Mexico: GSABulletin, v. 81, p. 3101-
3108.