Stratigraphic architecture of the Pyreneo-Languedocian submarine fan, Gulf of Lions, western Mediterranean Sea

The Pyreneo-Languedocian submarine sediment body, located in the western sector of the Gulf of Lions, is an example of a fan-like depositional system essentially controlled by salt tectonics. The area was subjected to a combined effect of overburden subsidence into the evacuated salt layer and a significant distal salt thickening, due to preferential basinward salt migration. This mode of salt migration impacted the Quaternary sea-bottom morphology by creating a large midslope topographic low, providing space accommodation for the Pyreneo-Languedocian fan. At gulf scale, the fan is a unique feature because unchannelized sedimentary environment in the area occurs at slope level, thus in minor water depth in relation to all other deep-water sedimentary systems offshore Gulf of Lions. (C) 2003 Academie des sciences. Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.