Abstract
Many sedimentary processes can lead to the formation of mixed carbonate–siliciclastic sediments in shallow shelf environments. The Miocene Saint-Florent Basin (Corsica), and in particular the Monte S. Angelo Formation, offers the possibility to analyze coarse mixed sediments produced by erosion of a rocky coast, ephemeral stream input, and shallow-water carbonate production dominated by red algae. The Monte S. Angelo Formation was deposited during the Burdigalian to Langhian interval. During this interval, the island of Corsica experienced increased subsidence related to the development of the Ligurian-Provençal Basin and associated Sardinia-Corsica block rotation. Four main rhodolith-rich subfacies have been recognized: conglomerate with rhodoliths, massive rhodolith rudstone, well-bedded rhodolith rudstone, and rhodolith floatstone. The four facies have been interpreted as having been deposited in different environments of a gravel-dominated, nearshore to offshore prograding wedge. Deep-water melobesioids dominate the red algal assemblage from shoreface to offshore. Shallow-water subfamilies of lithophylloids and mastophoroids occur in only accessory amounts. Poor illumination is believed to be due to terrigenous input by ephemeral streams and wave- and current-resuspension. Resuspension processes are favored by the limited occurrence of seagrasses. Two types of siliciclastic–carbonate mixing processes characterize the investigated rhodolith-rich deposits: (1) punctuated mixing, produced by the re-deposition of terrigenous sediments by debris-flow processes during flooding events onto carbonate sediments together with rhodoliths of the shoreface environments, and (2) in situ mixing, produced by growth of coralline algae on siliciclastic pebbles to form the rhodoliths.
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Acknowledgments
Financial support was provided by the University of Rome, La Sapienza (progetto di ateneo 2011 resp. M. Lustrino). The manuscript benefited greatly from criticism and suggestions of the reviewers Dan Bosence and Francesca Bosellini and of the editor of Facies, Franz Theodor Fürsich. Many thanks go to Michele (Bike-Volcano) Lustrino who pushed us to attend at Corse-Alp 2010 and for discussion on Mediterranean Geology. We are grateful to Salvatore Milli for useful discussions and comments. Laura Tomassetti and Demetrio Meloni are thanked for assistance in the field. We are thankful to Stan Beaubien for his comments and for improving the English.
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Brandano, M., Ronca, S. Depositional processes of the mixed carbonate–siliciclastic rhodolith beds of the Miocene Saint-Florent Basin, northern Corsica. Facies 60, 73–90 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10347-013-0367-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10347-013-0367-z