Three-Dimensional Reconstruction of the Pleistocene Deltas of the Gulf of Corinth (Greece)

Ori, Gian Gabriele¹ (1) IRSPS, Pescara, Italy

The Southern margin of the Gulf of Corinth displays remarkable outcrops of coarse-grained deltaic bodies. Most of them are Gilbert-type deltas where the relations among topset facies and foreset facies are matched by the external exhumed morphology. These bodies have been investigated by field observations and large reconstruction from satellite images and SRTM elevation models. They occur at about 1000 to 1200 m of elevation and are located 2 – 3 km from the present coastline. The outcrop conditions and the preservation of the morphologies allow a detailed analysis of the internal and external geometries of these bodies. These bodies are strongly controlled by the tectonic activity that formed deep and steep basin margin on which the deltas grown. Deltaic bodies are distinct and can be reconstructed in details from the fluvial systems deeply cut in the mountain chain of the Peloponnesus up to the deep-sea (about 700 m of paleodepth). Individual bodies are distinct and protruding from the paleoshoreline. They are separated by coarse-grained beach deposits without fluvial influence. Internally these deposits are extremely complex indicating a matching of tectonic and climatic influences. These bodies are good analogues for several coarse-grained stratigraphic reservoirs.