Article
Article
Deep-marine sediments
Article By:
Shanmugam, G. Research Department, Mobil Research and Development Corporation, Dallas Research Laboratory, Dallas, Texas.
Last reviewed:November 2019
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.757553
The term “deep marine” refers to bathyal sedimentary environments occurring in water deeper than 200 m (650 ft), seaward of the continental shelf break, on the continental slope and the basin (Fig. 1). The continental rise, which represents that part of the continental margin between continental slope and abyssal plain, is included under the broad term “basin.” An example of well-developed shelf, slope, and basin settings can be seen in the modern Gulf of Mexico (Fig. 2). On the slope and basin environments, sediment-gravity processes (slides, slumps, debris flows, and turbidity currents) and bottom currents are the dominant depositional mechanisms, although pelagic and hemipelagic deposition is also important. See also: Basin; Continental margin; Gulf of mexico; Marine sediments
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