Upper Cretaceous carbonate gravity-flow deposits in South Albania: lithofacies, sequences and mega-structures, an integrated overview

Being part of the NNW-SSE structural Ionian fold-and-thrust belt, the Upper Cretaceous carbonatedeposits of the Ionian Basin expose a unique example of a gravity-flow system. Sediment input derived from the Apulian carbonate platform to the west, document a wide range of depositional processes building up the Upper Cretaceous sedimentary architecture. Our data provide a detailed view of the facies diversity. From inversely-graded coarse-grained decimeter-size clasts to finely grained laminated facies, a wide range of facies are documented, reflecting a wide diversity of depositional processes. Based on field observations and published studies on gravity-flow deposits, a number of typical stacking facies patterns were identified. They form carbonate sequences and document the composite nature of carbonate gravity-flow deposits. Large-scale slump deformations make up thick packages during the Maastrichtian. These mega-structures document a wide range of geometric features, allowing an assessment of type and degree of the softsediment deformation. Integrated in a three-scale classification (facies, sequences, and megastructures), the carbonate gravity system of south Albania can be described accurately regarding the settling of gravity-flow deposits and their synsedimentary deformations.