Background

Contourites are sediments which are deposited or substantially reworked by bottom currents. The study of contourites is nowadays crucial for several field of fundamental and applied research:

1. paleoclimatology an paleoceanography, since these fairly continuous and relatively high-resolution sediments hold the key for priceless information on the variability in ocean circulation patterns, current velocities, oceanographic history and basin interconnectivity;
2. hydrocarbon exploration, since accumulation of source rocks may be favoured by weak bottom currents, whereas "clean" deep-sea sands may be formed by robust flows;
3. slope instability, since fine grained, low permeability, high pore-water content contourites facilitate the formation of overpressurized gliding planes when rapidly loaded, or when their rigid biosiliceous microfabric collapses due to diagenetic alteration.