Аннотация:Development of submarine mass transport complexes (MTCs) coupled with formation of powerful deepwater masstransport deposits (MTDs) is a global geological phenomenon affecting structure of marine sediments due to induced slope instability provoked by rapid sea level changes, tectonic rearrangements, rising of intra-basinal uplifts and folds, earthquakes or decomposition of gas hydrates. Submarine rock downsliding upon layers of weakness (glideplanes) with translation of detached olistoliths and formation of chaotic folding, sedimentary me'langes and debris flows are well known for the Cenozoic sequences at continental margins of the World Ocean. Recently it was
recognized that development of MTCs is much powerful process that previously thought and impacted the Mid-Late Neogene and Pliocene sedimentary sequences most of deepwater domain of the Black sea basin as well. Full range of MTC/MTD structural settings and related seismofacies of extensional, translation and compressive domains has been recognized while thematic interpreting of the regional 2D seismic data covering Ukrainian deepwater area in the Black Sea. At the same the time the synchronous to deepwater MTDs the Sarmatian tempestites known under local name heraclites are described and studied in the SW Crimea shore in the rock cliffs. This study links the rapid pulses of the Black sea level fall in the Middle to Late Miocene epoch with the erosion of the shelf hinges and
formation of submarine incision valleys, dissociation of gas hydrates, slope failures and large scale rock downslides triggering tsunamis and formation of deepwater mass transport deposits. Fill complex and some other structural elements of MTDs are various structural and lithological hydrocarbon traps.