Tsunami-related sedimentary properties of Mediterranean homogenites as an example of deep-sea tsunamiite

On the basis of occurrence of the features of a type A homogenite, it is inferred that erosion (stir-up) or non-erosion of deep-sea sediments by a tsunami depends essentially on the depth of the seafloor. It has been suggested that the maximum depth where erosion occurred was between 2000 and 3000 m in the case of the Santorini tsunami event. The grain-size distribution and the fossil and chemical contents of the Mediterranean homogenites reflect essentially the constituents of the calcareous sediments in their provenance area. The homogeneous nature of the homogenites is attributed to settling from a high suspension cloud. The transport and depositional processes of the homogeneous fine-grained upper part of type B homogenites resemble the depositional process from a cloud formed by a pyroclastic flow. Thus, homogenites provide a good opportunity for investigating the important role that settling of suspended load plays in the genesis of the sedimentary structures in turbidites. The repeated occurrence of tsunami waves is revealed by a faint vertical change in the grain-size distribution and the fossil content.