What term refers to a sedimentary deposit formed by a turbidity current?

What term refers to a sedimentary deposit formed by a turbidity current?

• A. Well-Sorted Sediment
• B. Silt
• C. Aphotic Zone
• D. Turbidite

Answer: (D)

Turbidites are the sedimentary deposits left behind by turbidity currents. A turbidity current is a dense, sediment‑laden flow that races downslope underwater. As it decelerates, heavier particles settle first and finer material settles later, producing a graded, layered sediment with distinctive sorting. This specific depositional product is what we call a turbidite, naming the bed formed by that current. The other terms don’t describe this process or product: well-sorted sediment refers to uniform grain sizes from other transport processes, silt is just a grain size category, and the aphotic zone is a depth zone lacking light, not a depositional form.

Turbidites are the sedimentary deposits left behind by turbidity currents. A turbidity current is a dense, sediment‑laden flow that races downslope underwater. As it decelerates, heavier particles settle first and finer material settles later, producing a graded, layered sediment with distinctive sorting. This specific depositional product is what we call a turbidite, naming the bed formed by that current. The other terms don’t describe this process or product: well-sorted sediment refers to uniform grain sizes from other transport processes, silt is just a grain size category, and the aphotic zone is a depth zone lacking light, not a depositional form.