MORPHOLOGY AND SEDIMENTATION OF THE RISE OF THE WESTERN MARGIN OF CORSICA (FRANCE)

The continental rise of western Corsica is the site of widespread terr igenous deposits of different geographical origin settled by gravity-f low processes and are characterized by well-defined morphological and seismic features. Provencal sediments are predominant in the northern area and have been transported through the Var canyon and its deep-sea channel. Their deposition is still active as indicated both by their mineralogical composition and by the observation of present-day turbid ity-currents. Southwards, Corsican gravity-flow deposits predominate. They are characterized by a series of elongated channel-levees systems , whose development can be related to the extent of the adjacent Corsi can hydrographic network. Some of these systems can be seismically rec orded as far as 100 km from the coasts. Finally, in the Southern area, Sardinian sediments carried by the Castelsardo canyon are recorded. T heir morphological expression and their sub-bottom configuration seem to have been disturbed by recent tectonic movements occurring in the B onifacio Strait region.