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Turbidite identification and geology

A sedimentary deposit formed by a turbidity current—a dense, sediment-laden underwater flow driven by gravity down a submarine slope. Turbidites are characterized by graded bedding coarse at the base, fine at the top and a predictable internal sequence of sedimentary structures described by the Bouma sequence: massive graded sand Ta , parallel-laminated sand Tb , ripple-laminated sand Tc , parallel-laminated silt Td , and massive mud Te . Field: sedimentology. Example: The 1929 Grand Banks earthquake triggered a massive turbidity current off Newfoundland that traveled at over 100 km/hr, severing transatlantic telegraph cables sequentially and depositing a turbidite layer across the abyssal plain.. Related terms: Graded bedding, Bouma sequence, Submarine fan, Density current.

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Sources, scope & corrections

These authoritative resources support category-level nomenclature, terminology, identification methods, and safety. When a specimen-specific safety warning appears, the public-health source listed here directly supports that precaution. They are not line-by-line citations for every other property on this entry, and natural specimens vary.

Editorial owner
GeoMiner
Last updated
2026-03-30T15:19:42.096023+00:00
Review status
Published; not independently peer-reviewed
  • USGS Thesaurus — U.S. Geological Survey. Controlled earth-science terminology used to describe USGS information resources.
  • Glossary of Geologic Terms — U.S. National Park Service. Geologic definitions prepared by the NPS Geologic Resources Inventory.

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Common questions

What does Turbidite mean in geology?
A sedimentary deposit formed by a turbidity current—a dense, sediment-laden underwater flow driven by gravity down a submarine slope. Turbidites are characterized by graded bedding coarse at the base, fine at the top and a predictable internal sequence of sedimentary structures described by the Bouma sequence: massive graded sand Ta , parallel-laminated sand Tb , ripple-laminated sand Tc , parallel-laminated silt Td , and massive mud Te .
What is an example of Turbidite?
The 1929 Grand Banks earthquake triggered a massive turbidity current off Newfoundland that traveled at over 100 km/hr, severing transatlantic telegraph cables sequentially and depositing a turbidite layer across the abyssal plain.
Which earth-science field uses the term Turbidite?
Turbidite is used in sedimentology.
Which terms are related to Turbidite?
Related terms in this reference are Graded bedding, Bouma sequence, Submarine fan, Density current.

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