Sediment stability conditions west of Milos Island, west Hellenic volcanic arc

Abstract

Examination of seismic profiles west of Milos Island (Aegean Sea) show that the north Milos slope is affected by extensive mass movements, whereas the south slope is generally stable. Conditions that promote sediment failures include late Quaternary volcanic activity and related seismic activity, tectonically oversteepened slopes and possibly hydrothermal fluid escape. Big and small depressions indicative of phreatic explosions and hydrothermal venting, respectively, have been observed in Milos shelf. Sediment coring revealed that the surficial sediments are relatively soft and thus prone to failure. The lack or presence of sapropel layers is also indicative of unstable or stable slope conditions of the surficial sedimentary cover, respectively.