A new classification system for mixed (turbidite-contourite) depositional systems: Examples, conceptual models and diagnostic criteria for modern and ancient records

Contourite on the Limpopo Corridor, Mozambique margin: Long‐term evolution, facies distribution and Plio‐Quaternary processes

“…For several decades, the sedimentary processes that shape the ocean floor were actively studied. Contourite deposits were the subject of many recent studies, which revealed a significant diversity and complexity (Stow et al ., 2002, 2009; Faugères & Stow, 2008; Hernández‐Molina et al ., 2008a,b; Rebesco et al ., 2014, and references therein) that depends on the level of interaction of bottom currents with gravity processes affecting continental margins (Stow & Faugères, 2008; Sansom, 2018; Rodrigues et al ., 2022). Concerning sedimentary architecture and morphology of contourite sedimentary systems without direct contribution of gravity processes, studies based on geophysical data and sparse cores indicate that many large contourite drifts on the present sea floor are dominated by muddy or silty sediments (Hernández‐Molina et al ., 2008a, 2016; Rebesco et al ., 2014, and references therein).…”

“…However, a growing number of studies on sedimentary cores show a great diversity of contouritic facies with muddy or sandy facies, carbonate facies and all intermediate facies between turbidites, hemipelagites and contourites (Stow & Smillie, 2020). Recent works concerning microfacies, ichnofacies, chemical composition and grain size of contourite deposits allow further characterization of sedimentary facies (Bankole et al ., 2020; Hüneke et al ., 2020; Yu et al ., 2020; de Castro et al ., 2020a, 2021; Rodrigues et al ., 2022). Concentration and accumulation of sand by bottom currents is recognized in different parts of contourite systems, such as in contourite channels, moats, contourite terraces and within muddy contourite drifts (Stow et al ., 2002; Miramontes et al ., 2016; Brackenridge et al ., 2018; Yu et al ., 2020).…”

Eocene to middle Miocene contourite deposits in Cyprus: A record of Indian Gateway evolution

“…Partial reworking of a turbidite division (usually the top) with only minor sediment transport would qualify as BCRS. They may or may not include a component of lateral displacement, and usually appear in a contourite drift environment, for example in the channel-drift transition (de Castro et al, 2020(de Castro et al, , 2021a, or in mixed levee-drift systems (Shanmugam et al, 1993a(Shanmugam et al, , 1993bFonnesu et al, 2020;Fuhrmann et al, 2020;Rodrigues et al, 2022aRodrigues et al, , 2022b. Mutti et al (2014) defined a facies association similar to BCRS in which genetically distinct processes (turbidity currents and bottom currents) produce vertically and laterally associated facies.…”

The Zambezi deep-sea fan: mineralogical, REE, Zr/Hf, Nd-isotope, and zircon-age variability in feldspar-rich passive-margin turbidites

“…Sediment mixing and homogenization on submarine valley floors occur through repeated episodes of erosion and reworking by turbidity currents and contour currents, as suggested by a variety of bedforms indicative of seabed transport (e.g., sand waves, ripples, scours, knickpoints; Mitchell 2006;Rodrigues et al 2022). Very coarse sand contains small pebbles in the Lower Valley (Simpson et al 1974) and is transported to as far as the Lower Fan, indicating that coarse sediment travels as bedload in the dense basal part of the current.…”