Stratigraphic architecture, sedimentology and structure of the middle Pleistocene Corinth canal (Greece)

Abstract: The man-made Corinth canal connects the Aegean Sea with the Corinth Gulf while displaying high steep walls allowing to study the sedimentological structure of this area. A former strait naturally connecting the gulf with the Aegean Sea is assumed in this area. Therefore, this exceptionally well-exposed site could be used as an analogue to study tidal straits after the definition of its stratigraphic architecture, sedimentology and structure. To do so, we used field observations associated with a 3D model built from drone imaging. We document a strait divided in a centre zone and 2 adjacent dune-bedded strait zones The centre is an active horst where sediment bypass occurred. On both sides opposite dipping conglomeratic dunes are represented by simple and compound dune foreset architectures with multiscale asymmetric herringbones cross stratifications. These observations document a tidal strait with conglomeratic dune bedded strait zones in a micro-tidal context. These ∼300 ka strait deposits are the only one preserved in the canal area. After deposition ended, this connection faded due to regional uplift and offset of Kalamaki-Isthmia fault. This paleostrait improves our understanding of middle to late Pleistocene paleogeography and structural controls on sea connections.