Textural characteristics of Oligocene submarine debris-flow deposits, Sites 792 and 793

Abstract

Recognition is rendered difficult by several serious limitations. Unambiguously submarine deposits are not very accessible. Studies of subaqeuous debrites rely on cores of ancient deposits. Submarine debris flows must differ in one important aspect from subaerial ones, purely by virtue of their being overlain by water instead of air. It may be typical for them to undergo an upward transition into a classic turbulent turbidity currents by admixture with the overlying water column. Finally, what we know regarding subaqueous debris flows has come mainly from nonvolcanic terrains, and even exclusively subaerial volcaniclastic (laharic) debris flows may differ signficantly fron nonvolcanic ones in ways that are only now becoming apparent. -from Authors