Abstract :
[en] The seismic origin of turbidites is verified either by correlating such layers to historic earthquakes, or by demonstrating their synchronous deposition in widely spaced, isolated depocenters. The historic correlation could thus constrain the seismic intensity required for triggering turbidites. However, the historic calibration is not applicable to prehistoric turbidites. In addition, the synchronous deposition of turbidites is difficult to prove if only one deep core is drilled in a depocenter. Here, we propose a new approach that involves analyzing the underlying in situ deformations of prehistoric turbidites recorded in a 457 m-long core from the Dead Sea center, in order to establish their seismic origin. These in situ deformations have been verified as seismites and could thus authenticate the trigger for each overlying turbidite. Moreover, our high-resolution chemical and sedimentological data validate the previous hypothesis that Dead Sea soft-sediment deformations formed at the sediment-water interface.
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