GELA SUBMARINE SLIDE - A MAJOR BASIN-WIDE EVENT IN THE PLIO-QUATERNARY FOREDEEP OF SICILY

The 1,500-km2 Gela slide and associated debris flow deposits cover most of the Gela foredeep basin (Sicily channel). The head of the slide follows the tip of the arcuate Gela nappe. A basin-wide detachment surface extends from the extensional slide head to a distal, contractional zone. The slide may be the result of a gravitational collapse which affected the sediments overlaying a remarkable decollement horizon. Mass movement processes resulted in the mobilization of a sedimentary sequence already deposited within the foredeep basin. © 1990 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.