The document classifies and describes four major marine depositional environments: 1) The continental shelf is a gently sloping edge where sediments ranging from coarse sand to clays wash off the continent. Coral reefs or carbonate muds may also dominate. 2) The continental slope is a more steeply sloping edge below the shelf, with fine silts and clays. 3) The continental rise is a fan-shaped deposit at the base of the slope containing turbidites from turbidity currents, with sands, silts and clays. 4) The abyssal plain is the deep ocean floor, flat and covered by fine-grained sediments like clay and shells of microorganisms

1. Instituted of Geology
6th Semester (Morning)
Submitted by: Raja Saad Qamar
Roll No: 37
Submitted To: Mam Shazia
Subject: sedimentation and sedimentary basin

2. Topic
Classification of Marine Depositional
Environment

3. Introduction
Depositional environment
Landscapes form and constantly change due to
weathering and sedimentation. The area
where sediment accumulates and is later
buried by other sediment is known as its
depositional environment.

4. Types of Depositional Environments
– Continental
– Transitional
– Marine

6. Marine Environments
(1) The continental shelf
It is nearly flat, gently sloping edge of the continent
that extends under the
ocean. Sediments wash off of the continent onto
the shelf and range in size from coarse sand
closest to the continent fining to clays. In some
areas coral reefs or carbonate muds dominate the
shelf.

7. (2) Continental Slope
More steeply sloping edge of shelf that
extends down to the ocean floor.
Sediments on the slope consist of fine silts
and clays.

8. (3)Continental Rise
Fan shaped deposit of sediment at the base
of the continental slope, often
contains turbidities deposits from turbidity
currents. Sediments consist of sands, silts and
clays from shelf.

9. (4)Abyssal plain
It is the deep ocean floor. It is basically flat,
and is covered by very fine-grained sediment,
consisting primarily of clay and the shells of
microscopic organisms (such as foraminifera,
radiolarians, and diatoms).
Abyssal plain sediments may include chalk,
diatomite, and shale, deposited over the
basaltic ocean crust.