ABSTRACT
The eastern portion of the East Breaks region, Gulf of Mexico, is a transition zone between the massive Sigsbee salt province to the east and the diapir-free region overlying the offshore extension of the San Marcos Arch to the west. Over 1750 km of 72-fold, migrated seismic reflection profiles were analyzed to produce several structure and isotime maps of the late Plio-Pleistocene. The chapter describes the interrelationships between diapirism, basin morphology, and sediment distribution patterns. Salt mobilization and diapirism is a continuous process through time. A progression of three diapir morphologies: large elongate ridges and massifs; double-humped or "molar"-shaped diapirs; and steep-sided chimneys or spines. There are two major sediment transport mechanisms in the study area: turbidite deposition and mass transport and slump deposition. Stratigraphic relationships between separate slump features demonstrate that they seek out bathymetric lows and are directly controlled by existing sea floor morphology.
