THE CLASSIFICATION OF DEEP-SEA DEPOSITIONAL SYSTEMS BY SEDIMENT CALIBER AND FEEDER SYSTEM

Two methods of portraying a classification of deep-sea clastic depositional systems are shown, based on sediment calibre and the nature of the feeder system, whether single or multiple sourced. Mud-dominated systems, particularly point-sourced submarine fans, are large in area, volume, radius and size of flow, with persistent channel/levee systems that tend to meander and have sheet-like sands in the associated basin plain. With increasing grain size, there is an increase in slope, frequency of flow, impersistence of channel system and channels tend to switch more frequently. As the number of sources increases from a single point source through multiple sources (e.g. submarine ramp) to an almost linear source slope apron, so feeder channel stability and organization of the depositional system decreases.