Grands traits de la sedimentation actuelle et recente sur les pentes et dans les bassins au large de la Nouvelle Caledonie (SW Pacifique): Resultats geologiques de la campagne Biocal
Salient geological results from the Biocal cruise are based on 3.5 khz echosondeur profiles. Slopes morphology is controlled by tectonics and erosion/sedimentation balance. From Thio to Lifou, an uniform basin bottom is depressed southwestward by tectonic subsidence and uneven northeastward by a tectonic ridge (the Levi Ridge). Sedimentation is fed by 5 main sources: Great-Land of New-Caledonia, yielding an important terrigenous flux, reefal barriers surrounding it and raised reefs of Loyalty islands, benthic communities dwelling on slopes and in the basins, plankton and volcanoes of New-Hebridean arc. The development of Quaternary reefal barriers around islands of the new-caledonian archipelago has reduced severely the input from emerged lands and platforms to the basins where the rates of sedimentation are weak.
Cotillon P, Coustillas F, Gaillard C, Laurin B, Liu D-J, Pannetier W, Rigolot P, Pascal A, Pascal F (1990). Grands traits de la sedimentation actuelle et recente sur les pentes et dans les bassins au large de la Nouvelle Caledonie (SW Pacifique): Resultats geologiques de la campagne Biocal. Oceanologica Acta, Special issue, https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00268/37902/