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Mud Redepositional Processes as a Major Influence on Mediterranean Margin-Basin Sedimentation

  • Chapter
Geological Evolution of the Mediterranean Basin

Abstract

Fine-grained sediments, forming the bulk of unconsolidated Plio-Quaternary series on Mediterranean margins and basins, are largely of redepositional origin. Diverse mud lithofacies are recognized, including those (1) of largely gravity-driven origin (slump, debris flow, turbidite, faintly laminated, uniform mud), (2) of suspension origin (hemipelagite, sapropel) accounting for <30% of the thickness of mud-rich series, and (3) of combined sediment gravity flow and suspension origin (finely laminated mud). A turbid layer-bypass model accounts for mud-rich series that accumulate at a higher rate in more distal regions beyond the base-of-slope than coarser grained sediments in more proximal slope settings.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Sedimentology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 20560, USA

    Daniel Jean Stanley

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  1. Daniel Jean Stanley
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Sedimentology, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 20560, USA

    Daniel Jean Stanley

  2. Istituto di Geologia, Università degli Studi, 61029, Urbino, Italy

    Forese-Carlo Wezel

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Stanley, D.J. (1985). Mud Redepositional Processes as a Major Influence on Mediterranean Margin-Basin Sedimentation. In: Stanley, D.J., Wezel, FC. (eds) Geological Evolution of the Mediterranean Basin. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-8572-1_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-8572-1_19

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