Advances in Earth Science
Yang Xue, Zhong Guangfa
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Yang Xue, Zhong Guangfa. Types, Characteristics, and vertical distribution of Formation MicroScanner Image Log Facies at IODP Hole U1445A, Bengal Submarine Fan[J]. Advances in Earth Science, DOI: 10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2026.036.
Abstract: Deep-sea fine-grained sediments are important archives of paleoenvironmental evolution, yet their characterization is often limited by the constraints of traditional outcrop and core analyses, as well as the relatively low resolution of seismic and conventional well-logging methods. High-resolution Formation MicroScanner (FMS) image logging, known as “electrical coring”, provides an important tool for the characterization of deep-sea fine-grained sediments. Using FMS image logs data, we examine the types, characteristics, and vertical distribution of Pliocene-Pleistocene deep-sea fine-grained sediments at IODP Site U1445A in the Bengal submarine fan. By integrating static image color and dynamic image structure, we identified six distinct FMS log facies (F1-F6), which we further interpreted based on core calibration and sedimentological characteristics. Our findings indicate that the sedimentary succession at Hole U1445A is mainly composed of turbiditic clay or sandy/silty clay, as well as pelagic deposits including biosiliceous- or calcareousrich sandy/silty clay and clayey biosiliceous or calcareous ooze The vertical evolution of the sediments generally followed these stages: dominance of fine-grained turbidite deposits in the Early Pliocene; dominance of pelagic deposition with intercalated turbidite deposits during the Late Pliocene, predominantly pelagic deposition during the initial Early Pleistocene; and renewed dominance of fine-grained turbidite deposits during the middle to late Early Pleistocene. Given that approximately two-thirds of the core from hole U1445A was affected by drilling disturbance, resulting in distorted core-based measurements of various physical properties, the vertical lithological sequence reconstructed from FMS imaging logging interpretation in this study provides an important supplement for traditional core-based geological analysis. This method can be extended to other well intervals with incomplete coring or cores affected by drilling disturbance.