ABSTRACT This investigation presents a chemostratigraphic analysis of the Upper Eocene to Lower Oligocene submarine fan deposits, which have been accumulated within the foredeep province of the central Pindos Foreland Basin (PFB) in western Greece. This research brings new data and provides information about the paleoenvironmental conditions that prevailed during the sediment deposition. The low Fe/Ti and high Al/(Al + Fe) ratios, along with the Zn–Ni–Co ternary diagram and the U versus Th cross‐plot indicate no hydrothermal influence during the sediment deposition. Paleoclimatic data (climate index, Sr/Cu and Rb/Sr ratios, K 2 O/Al 2 O 3 and Ga/Rb values, Ga/Rb vs. K 2 O/Al 2 O 3 and Sr/Cu vs. C value cross‐plots) and statistical treatment reveal two distinct groups of samples that suggest deposition chiefly during semi‐arid to semi‐humid climatic regime, interrupted by an Early Oligocene period of humid climatic conditions. Paleosalinity results propose deposition in a fully marine environment. Paleoredox indices (i.e., Mo, Mo EF , U EF , U/Th ratio, Mo EF vs. U EF cross plot, U/Al, V/Al and Mo/Al ratios, δU values, V/Al vs. U/Al and V/Al vs. Mo/Al cross‐plots and Cd/Mo values) imply sediment accumulation in a highly oxygenated (oxic) setting. The Cd/Mo ratios and cross diagram, along with the Co EF × Mn EF values propose a transitional hydrographic regime in between the restricted and upwelling setting, with a low degree of primary productivity. The PFB exhibits continuous contribution of terrigenous material, with low input of riverborne detritus. The elevated Si/(Si + Al + Fe) ratio is indicative of a sediment depocenter that is situated away from riverborne sources of detritus. This research documents geochemically the climatic regime, redox conditions, input of terrestrial material and degree of primary productivity in the PFB, offering an uncommon environmentally oriented geochemical study from such a deep‐water setting.
Maravelis et al. (Wed,) studied this question.