ON SOME PECULIARITIES OF SEDIMENTATION AL ONG PASSIVE AND ACTIVE MARGINS OF SOUTH-AMERICA

Long-term research of sedimentation on underwater margin of South Amer ica revealed fundamental difference of the processes in the east and w est of the continent. It is remarkable that the difference has been di scovered along the whole continent. The relationship between sedimento genesis and passive and active structures has been found. The terrigen ous sedimentation and accumulation of biogenic carbonate material prev ail in the areas of the development of passive structures. Sedimentati on in the areas of active structures attends with intensive formation of organogenic particles de novo. The genesis of these particles close ly relates to upwelling. The upwelling zone at the active margin of So uth America is the largest one in the World Ocean.