Evolutionary mass flow-megaturbidites in an interplate basin: Example of the north Pyrenean basin

The Cretaceous north Pyrenean interplate basin developed in conjunction with the opening of the Bay of Biscay with the deposition of large amounts of carbonates on its margins. Major failures of linear segments of the shelf and slope generated autosuspended mass flows; some of these flows differentiated orevolved into megaturbidites that are up to 63 m thick and 95 km long. A study of the evolutionary mass flow-megaturbidites also has application to petroleum geology because it can help to detail the anatomy of a basin and its related distribution of sedimentary bodies and paleoenvironments.