SEDIMENTARY ARCHIVES Marine Environment SEDIMENTARY ARCHIVES Marine Environment

SEDIMENTARY ARCHIVES Marine Environment

SEDIMENTARY ARCHIVES Marine Environment Continental Shelf Flat, smooth regions that fringe continents Few km to 300 km wide Low tide to 200 m depth Similar to continental deposits Shelf planed off by changes in sea level

SEDIMENTARY ARCHIVES Marine Environment Continental Shelf Most eroded continental material ends up here Primarily sand, silt, clay Carbonates develop where clastic influx is low In shallow marine biologic impact is great

SEDIMENTARY ARCHIVES Marine Environment

SEDIMENTARY ARCHIVES Marine Environment Continental Slope Steeper slope than shelf 300 to 3200 m deep Zone of erosion as material from shelf moves to abyssal plain Turbidity currents (Waterville Fm. ) Mostly fine sand, silt, clay

SEDIMENTARY ARCHIVES Marine Environment Continental Slope Turbidity Currents

SEDIMENTARY ARCHIVES Marine Environment Continental Rise More gradual slope at base of continental slope

SEDIMENTARY ARCHIVES Marine Environment Deep Marine – Abyssal Plain Depths >3200 m Only fine clay, volcanic ash and calcareous and siliceous oozes accumulate Carbonate compensation depth Oozes are skeletal remains Coarse-grains Slumps Ice-rafted debris

SEDIMENTARY ARCHIVES Transitional Environments Represents the margin between the oceans and contintents (Shorelines and coasts) Clastic sediments

SEDIMENTARY ARCHIVES Transitional Environment Carbonate sediments

SEDIMENTARY ARCHIVES Transitional Environment Deltas Δ

SEDIMENTARY ARCHIVES Transitional Environment Deltas Prograding Delta Deposition > Erosion Upward progression of fines to coarse Subsiding basin Contain organic matter Petroleum producing Mississippi River Delta

SEDIMENTARY ARCHIVES Transitional Environment Deltas

SEDIMENTARY ARCHIVES Transitional Environment Deltas Deposition = Erosion Concentric enlargement of delta Niger River Delta

SEDIMENTARY ARCHIVES Transitional Environment Deltas Erosion > Deposition No visible delta Kennebec River

SEDIMENTARY ARCHIVES Transitional Environment Barrier Islands

SEDIMENTARY ARCHIVES Transitional Environment Barrier Islands Usually sandy Organisms include bivalves, gastropods, echinoids, and crustaceans

SEDIMENTARY ARCHIVES Transitional Environment Lagoon Shallow areas landward of barrier islands Can be protected inlets Sediments usually silty

SEDIMENTARY ARCHIVES Transitional Environment Lagoon

SEDIMENTARY ARCHIVES Transitional Environment Tidal Flats

SEDIMENTARY ARCHIVES Transitional Environment Tidal Flats Exposed and covered by tides Harsh environment Alternating wet and dry Generally fine-grained Diversity is low Includes bivalves, gastropods, crustaceans, worms, and cyanobacteria