Formation mechanism of diapirs of relict lagoonal sediments on the underwater slope of the Curonian Spit

Abstract

Geological-geophysical methods were applied to provide deeper insight into the nature of unique relict lagoonal sediments exposed on the underwater slope of the Curonian Spit. The study of textural features and morphology of the deformed lagoonal sediments indicates a similarity of their formation mechanism with clay diapirism. Analysis of seismoacoustic data and side scan sonar survey allowed us to establish the configuration of paleolagoon and to determine the direction of dune migration in the past.