Lower Meotian facies of the Taman trough

The facies structure and sedimentation settings of lower Meotian sequences in the Taman trough are considered with detailed characteristics of their seven shallow-water facies. It is established that sedimentation in the basin during the initial early Meotian was strongly influenced by the influx of sea waters, indicating connection of the Eastern Paratethys with the World Ocean. This period was marked by the wide distribution of diatomaceous sediments. In the terminal early Meotian, sedimentation during the continuing transgression was largely determined by regional tectonic and orogenic regimes, shallowing of the basin segment adjacent to the Kerch Peninsula, and synchronous reworking of sediments by bottom discharge currents.