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Geological Society, London, Special Publications; 1987; v. 26; p. 167-180;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.SP.1987.026.01.10
© 1987 Geological Society of London

Part II: Depositional and Environments

A model of organic sedimentation on present-day continental margins

R. Pelet

Institut Français du Pétrole, B.P. 311, 92506 Rueil-Malmaison, France

A very general mathematical formalism describing biological degradation in either the water column or in sediments is proposed. Coupled with considerations of sedimentary processes, it permits the qualitative description of organic sedimentation. It is found that a simple, general relationship relating the organic-carbon content of sediments and sedimentation rates cannot exist, and that any apparent relationship is caused by the covariation of factors which are not logically linked. Consideration of the rates of degradation of organic matter in different oceanic environments leads to the conclusion that, in aerobic environments, meio- and macro- benthos are more efficient biological consumers than the free bacterial community.