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Sediment distribution on the Mississippi-Alabama shelf, northern Gulf of Mexico

January 19, 2010

The Mississippi-Alabama shelf is bounded to the west by landforms associated with the Mississippi River Delta, to the north by the barrier-island systems of the Mississippi Alabama shoreline, and to the east by the Desoto Canyon. This portion of the northern Gulf of Mexico has been described as a slowly subsiding, passive continental margin (Sydow and Roberts, 1994). Presently, sediment processes on the shelf are a function of prevailing winds and currents: in the past, however, the shelf was the focus of numerous delta cycles. Major episodes of deposition and erosion on the shelf have occurred in response to oscillations in sea level. This report summarizes these processes and identifies areas of near-surface (<10 m below seafloor) deposits that may be suitable for sediment resources.

Publication Year 2010
Title Sediment distribution on the Mississippi-Alabama shelf, northern Gulf of Mexico
DOI 10.3133/ofr20101002
Authors James G. Flocks, Jordan Sanford, Jackie L. Smith
Publication Type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Series Title Open-File Report
Series Number 2010-1002
Index ID ofr20101002
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Coastal and Marine Geology Program; St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
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