Late quaternary deposits in the Titanic test area (continental slope of North America)

The formation of the bottom deposits within the limits of the test area occurs under the influence of the intensive long-slope Western Boundary Deep Current. This current turbidizes the already-formed sediment and sorts it depending on the current velocity varying both over area and with time. The current removes the grained sedimentary matter from the area of its sedimentation. In some cases, the current erodes the bottom surface and creates the conditions of a sedimentation gap. At depths of 3700-3200 m, where now the core of the long-slope (contour) current is located, an accumulative sedimentary body with a special structure of the sedimentary section (contourite) is formed owing to the supply of sedimentary material by this current. This supply manifold exceeds the vertical fluxes of sedimentary matter typical of this natural climatic zone and for these depths.