Abstract
A high-resolution three-dimensional (3-D) seismic reflection survey was conducted in Lake Geneva, near the city of Lausanne, Switzerland, as part of a project for developing such seismic techniques. Using a single 48-channel streamer, the 3-D site with an area of 1200 m x 600 m was surveyed in 10 days. A variety of complex geologic structures (e.g. thrusts, folds, channel-fill) up to —150 m below the water bottom were obtained with a 15 in.3 water gun. The 3-D data allowed the construction of an accurate velocity model and the distinction of five major seismic facies within the Lower Freshwater Molasse (Aquitanian) and the Quaternary sedimentary units. Additionally, the Plateau Molasse (PM) and Subalpine Molasse (SM) erosional surface, “La Paudèze” thrust fault (PM-SM boundary) and the thickness of Quaternary sediments were accurately delineated in 3-D.
Résumé
Une campagne de sismique réflexion de tridimensionnelle (3-D) à haute résolution a été réalisée sur le Lac Léman, près de la ville de Lausanne en Suisse, en tant qu’ élément d’un projet pour développer de telles techniques sismiques. Le site 3-D est contenu dans une zone de 1200 m x 600 m qui a été couverte en 10 jours en utilisant une flûte de 48-hydrophones. Une variété de structures géologiques complexes (chevauchements, plis et remplissage de chenaux par exemple) ont été obtenues jusqu’à -150 m au dessous du fond d’eau avec un canon à eau de 15 in.3 Ces données 3-D ont permis de construire un modèle de vitesse précis et de distinguer cinq faciès sismiques principaux dans la Molasse d’eau douce inférieure (Aquitanian) et dans des unités sédimentaires quaternaires. De plus, la surface d’ érosion de la Molasse du Plateau (PM) et de la Molasse subalpine (SM), le chevauchement de “La Paudèze” (frontière entre PM et SM) et l’épaisseur des dépôts quaternaires ont été délimités en 3-D avec précision.
An erratum to this chapter is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-7992-7_16
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Berger, J.-P. 1992: Correlative chart of the European Oligocene and Miocene: application to the Swiss Molasse Basin. Eclogae geol. Heiv. 85,573–609.
Bersier, A. 1958a: Exemples des sédimentation cyclothématique dans l’Aqui-tanien de Lausanne. Eclogae geol. Heiv. 51, 842–853.
Bersier, A. 1958b: Séquences détritiques et divagations fluviales. Eclogae geol. Heiv. 51, 854–893.
Chapron, E. 1999: Contrôles climatique et sismo-tectonique de la sédimenta-tion lacustre dans l’avant-pays alpin (Lac du Bourget, Léman) durant le Quaternaire récent. Géologie Alpine Mémoire 30, University of Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France, 261 p.
Choffat, PH. & Aubert, D. 1983: Erosion et morphologie glaciaires de la Molasse. Bull. Soc. Vaudoise Sci. Nat. 76, 321–340.
Davies, T.A., Austin JR., J.A., Lagoe, M.B. & Milliman, J.D. 1992: Late Quaternary sedimentation off New Jersey: new results using 3-D seismic profiles and cores. Mar. Geol. 108, 323–343.
Eyles, N., Arnaud, E., Scheidegger, A.E. & Eyles, C.H. 1997: Bedrock jointing and geomorphology in southwestern Ontario, Canada: an example of tectonic predesign. Geomorph. 19, 17–34.
Finckh, P., Kelts, K. & Lambert, A. 1984: Seismic stratigraphy and bedrock forms in perialpine lakes. Bull. Geol. Soc. Amer. 95, 1118–1128.
Girardclos, S. 2001: Sismostratigraphie et structure sédimentaire en 3D d’un bassin lacustre, du retrait glaciaire à nos jours (Lac Léman, Suisse). Terre & Environnement 33, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland, 182 p.
Gorin, G.E., Signer, C., & Amberger, G. 1993: Structural configuration of the western Swiss Molasse Basin as defined by reflection seismic data. Eclogae geol. Helv. 86, 693–716.
Gorin, G.E., Morend, D. & Pugin, A. 2002: Bedrock, Quaternary sediments and active fault in central Lake Neuchâtel, as derived from high-resolution reflection seismics. Eclogae geol. Helv., this volume.
Henriet, J.P., Verschuren, M. & Versteeg, W. 1992: Very high resolution 3D seismic reflection imaging of small-scale structural deformation. First Break 10, 81–88.
Homewood, P., Allen, P.A. & Williams, G.D. 1986: Dynamics of the Molasse Basin of western Switzerland. In: Foreland Basins (Ed. by Allan, P.A. & Homewood, P.). Spec. Publ. Int. Assoc. Sediment. 8, 199–217.
Loizeau, J.L. 1991: La sedimentation récente dans le delta du Rhône, Léman: processus et évolution. Ph.D. thesis, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland, 209 p.
Morend, D. 2000: High-resolution seismic facies of alluvial depositional systems in the Lower Freshwater Molasse (Oligocene-early Miocene, western Swiss Molasse Basin). Terre & Environnement 23 (Ph.D. thesis), University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland, 97 p.
Morend, D., Pugin, A. & Gorin, G.E. 2002: High-resolution seismic imaging of outcrop-scale channels and an incised-valley system within the fluvial-dominated Lower Freshwater Molasse (Aquitanian, western Swiss Molasse Basin). Sediment. Geol. 149, 245–264.
Moscariello, A., Pugin, A., Wildi, W., Beck, C., Chapron, E., deBatist, M., Girardclos, S., Rachoud-Schneider, A.M., Signer, C. & VanClauwenberghe, T. 1998: Déglaciation würmienne dans des conditions lacustres à la terminaison occidentale du bassin lémanique (Suisse occidentale et France). Eclogae geol. Helv. 91, 185–202.
Pugin, A., Pullan, S.E., Burns, R.A., Douma, M. & Good, R.L. 1999: High-resolution multichannel, marine seismic surveying using a small airgun source. Proc. Symp. Appl. Geophys. Engin. & Environ. Problems, Mar. 14–18, Oakland, California, U.S.A., 255–264.
Reymond, B. & Stampfli, G.M. 1994: La sismique tridimentionnelle: outil géologique pour l’analyse tectonique, géomorphologique et sédimentologique. Bull. Soc. Vaudoise Sci. Nat. 83, 17–36.
Rigassi, D. 1977: Subdivision et datation de la Molasse “d’eau douce inférieure” du Plateau suisse. Paleolab News 1, 1–42.
Scheidhauer, M., Beres, M. & Marillier, F 2000: Initial results of a high-resolution 3-D seismic reflection survey in north-central Lake Geneva, Switzerland. Soc. Explor. Geophysicists, Exp. Abs., Aug. 611, Calgary, Canada, 1389–1392.
Scheidhauer, D. Dupuy, M., Beres, M. & Marillier, F 2002: Single and multi-streamer high-resolution 3D seismic studies in Lake Geneva, Switzerland. Europ. Assoc. Geosci. & Engin., Exp. Abs., May 2730, Florence, Italy, P154.
Vernet, J.-P., Horn, R., Badoux, H. & Scolarli, G. 1974: Etude structurale du Léman par sismique réflexion continue. Eclogae geol. Helv. 67, 515–529.
Weidmann, M. 1988: Feuille 1243 Lausanne. Atlas géol. Suisse 1:25,000, Carte et Notice expl. 85, 1–44.
Weidmann, M. & Morend, D. 2002: Anciennes vallées dans la Molasse grise de Lausanne (Aquitanian, USM, Suisse occidentale). N. Jb. Geol. Paläont. Abh. 223, 163–182.
Weimer, P. & Davis, T.L. 1996: Applications of 3-D Seismic Data to Exploration and Production. Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol. Studies in Geology 42, Soc. Explor. Geophysicists Geophysical Developments Series 5, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 270 p.
Yilmaz, O. 1987: Seismic Data Processing. Soc. Explor. Geophysicists, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 536 p.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2003 Springer Basel AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Beres, M., Scheidhauer, M., Marillier, F. (2003). Imaging Molasse and Quaternary Sediments in Lake Geneva, Switzerland, with 3-D High-Resolution Seismic Reflection Methods: A Case Study. In: Lake Systems from the Ice Age to Industrial Time. Eclogae Geologicae Helvetiae / Swiss Journal of Geosciences, vol 1. Birkhäuser, Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-7992-7_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-7992-7_5
Publisher Name: Birkhäuser, Basel
Print ISBN: 978-3-7643-6225-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-0348-7992-7
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive