A Cretaceous carbonate delta drift in the Montagna della Maiella, Italy

摘要: The Upper Cretaceous (Campanian–Maastrichtian) bioclastic wedge of the Orfento Formation in Montagna della Maiella, Italy, is compared to newly discovered contourite drifts Maldives. Like drift deposits Maldives, fills a channel and builds Miocene delta-shaped mounded sedimentary body basin that similar size approximately 350 km2 large coarse-grained delta composition also exclusively debris sourced from shallow-water areas reworked clasts itself. In near mud-free succession, age-diagnostic fossils are sparse. deposi- tional textures vary wackestone float-rudstone breccia/conglom- erates, but rocks with grainstone rudstone most common facies. channel, lensoid convex-upward breccias, cross-cut- ting channelized beds thick lobes abundant scours indi- cate alternating erosion deposition high-energy current. basin, contains divergent progradational geometry. built by decametre composite megabeds consisting sigmoidal clinoforms typically have channel- ized topset, grainy foreset fine-grained bottomset irregular angular clasts. Up 30 m channels filled intraforma- breccias coarse grainstones pinch out downslope between megabeds. distal portion wedge, stacked foresets intraclasts document continuous sediment reworking migration. has been vari- ously interpreted as succession sea-level controlled slope deposits, shoaling shoreface complex, or carbonate tidal delta. Current-controlled however, offer new interpretation because their similarity architecture composition. These similarities include:(i) feeder opening into basin; (ii) an excavation moat at exit channel; (iii) overall geometry apex shallower water depth than source (iv) progradation lobes; (v) basinward direction; (vi) smaller intervals arranged radial pattern. As result, here drift.