Lake Pavin sedimentary environments

Abstract

In the recent years, Lake Pavin sedimentary basin has been intensively studied by several acoustic surveys (high resolution seismic reflection profiling, multibeam bathymetry) and gravity coring campaigns. This new data set combining acoustic images and multidisciplinary study of sediment cores allows characterizing contrasted subaquatic sedimentary environments along the littoral slopes, a subaquatic plateau (close to the lake outlet), steep slopes and its deep central basin. Two main types of lacustrine sediments are identified (i) between the lake shore and 26 m water depth (massive organic rich sandy silts), and (ii) below 26 m water depth when the lake floor slopes are less than 15° steep (organic rich laminated diatomites). A large and recent slide scar is in particular clearly identified at the edge of the plateau just above the deep central basin. Evidences of former gravity reworking phenomena within the crater ring draining into Lake Pavin also include a large subaquatic slump deposit accumulated on the subaquatic plateau and several small scale rock fall deposits originating from outcropping lavas within the crater ring. The identification of two recent outstanding erosive sandy layers in Pavin littoral environment also suggests that some of this gravity reworking phenomena have been associated with unusually violent waves and/or abrupt lake level drop. Lake Pavin geomorphology and sedimentary environments are in addition compared to the ones of the nearby Lake Chauvet based on a similar acoustic and sedimentary data base in order to highlight the influence of maar age and geomorphology on the development of sedimentary environments and Natural Hazards in this volcanic region of the French Massif Central. Lake Chauvet is comparatively to Lake Pavin characterized by a shallower central basin, less steep slopes and no subaquatic plateaus. A recent and relatively large mass wasting deposit is, however, clearly identified along the slopes of a small delta facing the only tributary of this maar lake. This work suggest that maar lakes from the study area are concerned by subaquatic slope stabilities, especially in Lake Pavin were slope failures may in addition impact the development or the stability of its meromicticity.