Eocene base-of-slope resedimented carbonate deposits of the Gargano Promontory (Italy)

The variety and complexity of depositional processes which acted to generate base-of-slope resedimented gravity flow carbonates, often make their distribution and architecture difficult to reconstruct and predict. To determine whether normal sediment exportation processes, slope destabilization or tectonic-induced re-sedimentation processes are the triggering mechanism for gravity flow development, a detailed analysis of carbonate sediment composition, in terms of facies, spatial distribution and depositional architecture of these deposits, is needed. The Apulia Carbonate Platform (ACP) represents one of the most extensive Mesozoic–Cenozoic isolated carbonate domains of the Tethyan Ocean. During the Eocene the ACP experienced a general uplift and subaerial exposure to which are related regional unconformity, gravitational collapses and massive deposition of slope and base-of-slope resedimented carbonates that are spectacularly exposed in the Gargano Promontory. In this setting, a basal mega-breccia (Grottone Megabreccia) and breccias with bioclastic turbidites (Peschici Formation), alternating with micritic limestones and pelagic marlstone, represented the basinward exportation of loose sediments that belonged to the Cretaceous and Eocene margins. Thus, in order to characterize the facies and the spatial distribution of these deposits, a detailed lithofacies map of well-exposed outcrops in the whole area was performed. Previous studies of these systems, still leave many open questions about what may have been the controlling factors that affected the depositional architecture and the transport mechanisms. These still open questions can find answers in detailed facies distribution studies which can improve the scientific knowledge about these systems and can help in the exploration of subsurface analogues in terms of identification and characterization of carbonate reservoirs, since submarine fans or aprons represent important oil and gas reservoirs around the World.