Recently published models for deep marine slopes provide a framework for un
derstanding the sedimentary architecture and geometries of major correlativ
e surfaces in this environment. These models use concepts which include: (i
) the development of erosional and unconformable onlapping relationships in
a slope-to-basin setting by processes other than changes in relative sea-l
evel (e.g. earthquake induced gravity Rows), (ii) the definition of genetic
facies associations and (iii) the development of base-of-slope systems by
repeated mass-wasting in order to establish an equilibrium slope profile. T
hese models are based primarily on seismic data from present-day slopes or
numerical simulation, and have not been tested in the field. An example fro
m Turkey of a progradational Eocene basin-to-slope transition is presented
to test these models. We found that most mass-wasting occurs at the top and
not base of the slope, that this is likely to be earthquake-induced rather
than related to changes in relative sea-level, and that seafloor topograph
y continues to control sand transportation pathways and mass-wasting throug
hout slope apron deposition.