Erosion of the seafloor is often interpreted to be the result of turbidity currents and reflects their frictional and non-cohesive nature. However, evidence of the interaction between sediment gravity-flows and the substrate forming the sea floor has been increasingly reported in the literature. Based on styles of basal interaction with the substrate, we here propose a broad classification of submarine mass movements labelled free-and no-slip flows. Three mechanisms are proposed for free-slip flows during translation of mass movements that are effectively detached from the substrate; hydroplaning, shear wetting, and substrate liquefaction. In contrast, no-slip flows occur where the mass movement is welded to the substrate, and the strain front lies within the substrate itself. In the latter case, flows can erode by pushing forward and/or ploughing into the substrate, often remobilizing sediments that are later incorporated into the flow, a common characteristic shared by many mass transport deposits (MTDs) containing blocks. Additionally, linear track features (e.g. grooves and striations) are described as a consequence of substrate tooling by rigid blocks. Using outcrops in NW Argentina as a detailed case study, we have recorded evidence for penetration of the strain profile into sediments underlying MTDs and categorised the deformation into no-slip basal deformation that may display continuous and discontinuous profiles. Continuous deformation profiles involve the complete deformation of the uppermost layers of the substrate, while discontinuous deformation profiles preserve a undeformed substrate layer between the MTD and the zone of deformed substrate. These features highlight the erosive and deformational nature of MTDs, and can be used as potential kinematic indicators.

J.P. Milana). AbstractThe role of Mass Transport Deposits (MTD's) in redistributing sediment from the shelf-break to deep water is becoming increasingly apparent and important in the study of basins. While seismic analysis may reveal the general morphology of such deposits, it is unable to provide information on the detailed geometry and kinematics of gravity-driven transport owing to the limits of seismic resolution.Outcrop analysis of ancient MTD's may therefore provide critical observations and data regarding the internal deformation and behaviour during slope failure. One such field area where geometry and kinematics are clearly exposed is Cerro Bola in the Paganzo basin of northwestern Argentina. This 8 km strike section exposes a mid to late Carboniferous succession, comprising fluvio-deltaic sediments, turbidites and MTDs. Our work focuses on the main MTD that is up to 180 m thick and is characterized by a silty matrix, containing sandstone blocks and siltstone rafts. Although we consider a single slope failure as the most likely scenario, a possible double failure might also explain the occurrence of a folded turbidite marker in the upper zone of the MTD. The MTD is host to a variety of deformational features such as folding, boudinage, shear zones, allochthonous strata, and secondary fabrics among others. These deformational features vary in intensity, scale and style, both vertically A C C E P T E D M A N U S C R I P T ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT and laterally across the deposit. The vertical variation is the most notable, and the entire deposit can be subdivided into lower, middle and upper zones according to variations in texture and structures, including sandstone blocks, sand streaks and blebs in the matrix, folding on a variety of scales, and shear zones. The middle part of the MTD is characterized by the abundance of siltstone rafts. Various models are proposed for the origin of blocks and rafts within the MTD: erosion of underlying strata; fragmentation of the original protolith; or a mixture of both. Significantly, specific strain cells occur around the blocks, and so the kinematics of deformation structures in the matrix of the MTD are very largely governed by their proximity and position relative to blocks, and may not relate to the overall kinematics of the MTD. This casts serious doubt on the ability to interpret overall movement directions from core or dip-meter data in the subsurface.

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While imaging of mass transport deposits (MTDs) by seismic reflection techniques commonly reveals thrusts and large blocks that affect entire deposits, associated systems of folds are generally less apparent as they are typically below the limits of seismic resolution. However, such sub-seismic scale structures are important as they permit the direction of emplacement, gross kinematics and internal strain within MTDs to be determined. Here we present a rigorous description of two outcropscale MTDs exposed in La Peña gorge, northwestern Argentina. These Carboniferous MTDs enable us to illustrate structural changes from a compressional domain, marked by sets of imbricated sandstone layers, into an extensional domain, characterized by sheared blocks of sandstone embedded in a finer matrix. Folds may be progressively modified during slump translation, resulting in asymmetric folds, which undergo subsequent deformation leading to sheared fold limbs together with detached and rotated fold hinges. In order to constrain transport directions within the MTDs, we measured fold hinges, mud clast alignment, and thrust planes as kinematic indicators. We propose emplacement models for both MTDs based on the overall deformational behaviour of sandstone beds Sobiesiak_et_al_ JSG_manuscript Click here to view linked References during translation. The first model is based on the internal geometries and structures of a faultdominated MTD, and the second model is based on layer-normal shearing in a fold-dominated MTD.