TY - JOUR T1 - A synthesis of the sedimentary evolution of the Demerara Plateau (Central Atlantic Ocean) from the late Albian to the Holocene A1 - Fanget,Anne-Sophie A1 - Loncke,Lies A1 - Pattier,France A1 - Marsset,Tania A1 - Roest,Walter A1 - Tallobre,Cédric A1 - Durrieu De Madron,Xavier A1 - Hernandez Molina,F. Javier AD - University of Perpignan Via Domitia, Centre de Formation et de Recherche sur les Environnements Méditerranéens (CEFREM), UMR 5110, 52 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66100 Perpignan, France AD - Institut français de recherche pour l'exploitation de la mer (Ifremer), Laboratoire Aléas géologiques et Dynamique sédimentaire ‐ LAD, Marine Geosciences Research Unit, CS 70, 20280 Plouzané, France AD - Service Géologique de Nouvelle-Calédonie (DIMENC), 1 ter rue Unger, BP M2 – 98849, Noumea Cedex, New Caledonia AD - Institut français de recherche pour l'exploitation de la mer (Ifremer), Laboratoire Géodynamique et enregistrement Sédimentaire – LGS, Marine Geosciences Research Unit, CS 70, 20280 Plouzané, France AD - University Littoral Côte d’Opale, UMR 8187, LOG, Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, F 62 930, Wimereux, France AD - Department of Earth Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Surrey TW20 0EX, UK UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2019.104195 DO - 10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2019.104195 KW - Marginal plateau KW - Demerara Plateau KW - Contourite KW - Bottom currents KW - Mass transport deposits KW - Atlantic Ocean N2 - The Demerara Plateau, off the French Guiana and Surinam margin, corresponds to a prominent sub-horizontal marginal plateau. The interpretation of a large set of seismic data acquired along the Demerara Plateau and integration with previous seismic stratigraphy and drill studies enables a better understanding of the sedimentary evolution of the outer Demerara marginal plateau. Since the end of the transform activity (late Albian), three sedimentary evolutionary stages have been identified. 1) The Pre-contourite Stage (late Albian to early Miocene) is strongly controlled by the structure of the margin that influences the distribution pattern of post-transform deposits through differential thermal subsidence between transform and divergent segments. 2) The Transitional Stage (middle Miocene to early Pliocene) is expressed as a current-controlled erosive surface resulting from the onset of bottom-current interactions due to the establishment and strengthening of the modern thermohaline circulation that is coeval with the progressive closure of the Isthmus of Panama. 3) The Contourite Stage (middle Pliocene to Holocene) is characterized by the development of a contourite depositional system that is linked to the activity of the North Atlantic Deep Water circulation and by a complex interaction between alongslope and downslope processes. Our study highlights that marginal plateaus might be particularly prone to develop contourite features since they regionally influence ocean current dynamics in guiding and accelerating bottom contour currents. Marginal plateaus should thus be considered as a key target to study bottom current dynamics and paleocirculation patterns. Y1 - 2020/04 PB - Elsevier BV JF - Marine And Petroleum Geology SN - 0264-8172 VL - 114 ID - 71125 ER -