Siliceous concretions (nodules), from two different geological settings—the Apulian platform margins in Kefalonia island, and the Ionian Basin in Ithaca, Atokos, and Kastos islands—have been studied both in the field and in the laboratory. Nodule cuttings are mainly characterized by the development of a core, around which a ring (rim) has been formed. Mineralogical study, using X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) analysis, showed that the rim is usually richer in moganite than the core. Homogeneous concretions, without discernible inner core and outer ring, were observed generally in both settings. Mineralogical analysis of the selected siliceous concretions from Kefalonia island showed the presence mostly of quartz and moganite, while calcite either was absent or participated in a few samples in minor/trace abundances. Moganite was generally abundant in all the samples from Kefalonia island. Concretions from the Ionian Basin showed a variation in the quartz, moganite, and calcite contents. Mineralogical differences were recognized both between the different studied geodynamic settings and internally in the same setting, but with different stages of development. The above-mentioned differential diagenesis on nodules evolution could be related to the presence and/or abundance of stylolites, later fluid flows, restrictions from one area to another due to synchronous fault activity, and the composition of substances dissolved in fluids. Moreover, the development of concretions produced secondary fractures in the surrounding area of the nodule-bearing rocks.

The studied section, up to 10m thick, with 17 different carbonate beds, showed the interaction between a giant slide and the pre-existing normal faults, during the upper Cretaceous time. There are three major points in the studied section: (1). The presence of two slump horizons, up to 1m thick each, within the stratigraphic column, related with the basin floor instability, due to normal listric faults activity, (2). The presence of many normal, with listric geometry, faults, with an ESE-WNW direction, and mostly west dipping. These faults acted during the sedimentation processes and produced the basin floor inclination for the slumping, when still the sediments were unconsolidated. This tectonic activity seems to terminate in the upper part of the stratigraphic column, (3). After the development of the slumps and the normal faults activity, that produced a displacement up to 30cm, a new event was characterized the region. The completely studied block probably rotated to the west and thus the instability of the sediments produced a giant slide, with up to 7m thick and movement up to 0.9m, cutting the pre-existing normal faults. The knowledge of the regional evolution, with extensional tectonic during Jurassic to early Miocene that was inverted to compressional regime, during middle Miocene, and the presence of a major normal fault along the studied section, with an NNW-SSE direction, introduced that the studied section was situated on the hangingwall of the above fault, during the extensional regime.

Kefalonia Island is situated in western Greece and geologically corresponds to the Apulian Platform Margins (APM), with the Apulian Platform lying to the west and the Ionian Basin to the east. The studied deposits, with a thickness up to 164.5, extend along the 650 m long Agia Efimia bay, ranging from the Middle Paleocene (Selandian) to the uppermost Eocene (Priabonian), during the latest part of the rift stage. Fieldwork measurements of soft-sediment deformation structures (SSDS), paleocurrent directions, the size and abundance of siliceous concretions (SC) and siliceous beds (SB), and shale horizons were correlated with the age of selected samples, and thus, the relation of the tectonic regime with the depositional conditions was presented. As SSDS could represent an indicator of tectonic activity and instability of the basin floor instability, the size and the abundance of the SSDS whereas used to identify the parameters that produced the basin floor instability like the intensity of tectonic activity. The studied section, with a general NE-SW orientation, was subdivided into five (5) different units. The changes of these units in paleocurrent directions, the size, the abundance, and the thickness of SSDS, SC, and SB and the presence of shale horizons in the upper unit, characterize a gradual change of the depositional conditions in the APM, from the Upper Paleocene (Selandian) to the Upper Eocene (Priabonian). The factor that influenced the abovementioned changes was related with the presence and the activity of normal faults that produced instability of the basin floor. Therefore, a reduction in tectonic activity from the Paleocene to the Eocene is suggested.

Sedimentological studies of the Cretaceous limestones in the central Ionian basin (Amfilochia, Arta as well as Kerasonas areas) indicate that these deposits are composed of calciturbidites interbedded with breccia-microbreccia deposits. In the Amfilochia new cross-section, with a NNW-SSE direction, the lower Cretaceous Vigla limestones and Vigla shales were outcropped for the first time. This section is directed parallel to the paleo Ionian basin axis and the fact of the lateral discontinuity of Vigla limestones and Vigla shales indicate that during the sedimentation of these two Formations there was a restriction along the paleo basin axis, probably due to synsedimentary transfer fault activity. Forty-two (42) samples from Vigla shales were analyzed for their content in CaCO3 and TOC, showed that these sediments present poor to fair hydrocarbon potential. In the Arta new cross-section, with a NE-SW direction, the Upper Cretaceous Senonian deposits showed strong deformation that took place during the compressional regime that affected the Ionian basin after sedimentation. This deformation appears stronger in the western part being close to a major thrust, and thus it is possible that this deformation could be responsible for the high secondary porosity of Upper Cretaceous deposits. Microfacies analysis of these deposits showed in general that deep-sea depositional environments prevailed, nevertheless in a few cases indications for the presence of environments with a shallow character imply the existence of isolated carbonate platforms close to the studied sections. In the studied sections with an E-W direction, no lateral changes were observed in the depositional conditions within the same Formation introducing standard depositional conditions across the paleo basin.