Clay minerals in fine grain size fractions from recent bottom sediments of the Gdansk Basin, Baltic Sea

Six regional provinces have been identified in the Gdansk Basin from clay minerals complexes in recent bottom sediments. Mechanism of their formation has been considered. Their dependence on physical and geographical factors of sedimentation (source areas, hydrodynamics, sedimentation rates, etc) has been established. The role of bottom currents and flocculation of particles in processes of distribution of smectite and hydromica suspended matter within the basin has been noticed.