Table 1 Facies description and sedimentary processes identified along the B17 profile

Massive mudstone (Mm)

Light Gray to dark mudstone without apparent structures

Deposition of clay and silt under low energy flow from suspension

Lenticular heterolithic (Hl)

Lenses of greenish gray mudstone connected and/or isolated interbedded with pale olive calciferous sandstone. Roots and root marks can be observed in the top of the facies

Variation of bed load transport by tidal current with deposition of mud from suspension during very low-energy periods

Biocalcirudite with cross-stratification (Bc)

Limestone with fossil fragments and quartz pebbles with cross-stratification and large amounts of bivalves and gastropods with multi-oriented pattern of deposition

Deposition under moderate to high energy flow, and decrease of energy through time. Reworking of fossils in sandwaves with lateral and downstream migration under bidirectional (with predominance of flood flow) and combined flows. Fossil and pebbles are left behind while sand is transported as bedload during the decrease of high energy to moderate energy flow

Massive biocalcirudite (Bm)

Fossiliferous limestone with well-preserved bivalves and gastropods with multi-oriented pattern of deposition

Sedimentation by high energy flows, with progressive decrease through time

Sandstone with planar and/or low-angle cross-stratification (Sp)

Fine to very fine calciferous sandstone, well-sorted, with planar and/or low-angle cross-stratification

Deposition of sand under high energy flow, with formation of slightly plane beds during swash and backwash

Inclined heterolithic (Hi)

Parallel and inclined beds of light gray mudstone and sandstone

Lateral accretion with deposition of sand and mud during low to moderate energy flows in a small-scale meandering channel

Calciferous sandstone (Sca)

Fine carbonate sandstone without apparent structures

Deposition of sand under low to moderate energy flow