Sedimentation processes and palaeographic evolution of Makrilia pliocene deposits, SE Crete

Περίληψη

Detailed sedimentological analysis in Makrylia cross-section deposits showed at least five coarsening-upward cycles that were developed in a shelf environment. The main lithology is sandy silt and the sediments were transported as homogenous suspension in a low energy environment that deposited in a shallow water basin. The content of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is low and tends to increase to the coarsegrained clasts. Organic carbon (TOC) measurements showed the presence of many samples with high content in TOC suggesting potential hydrocarbon source rocks. There is mostly a negative correlation between CaCO3 and TOC introducing generally anoxic conditions. Biostratigraphic analysis showed that the studied deposits are of Pliocene age that were precipitated in alternating conditions of oxic- anoxic events. According to the above results and taking into account previous results from the surrounding sediments it seems that the studied deposits accumulated in a shallow, low energy, intra-mountain basin at the margins of the main Ierapetra basin.