Sedimentation of the Shelf

If you dig for sediments near the coastline, or on the continental shelf, most of the materials you will find are terrigenous in nature. Closest to the coast, you will find the largest sediments and they get smaller as you move deeper into the ocean. Sometimes, scientists find sediments in unexpected places due to changing sea levels (relict sediments) or ice rafting on glaciers. Underwater landslides caused by turbidity currents can move large amounts of sediment to the ocean floor while carving deep canyons in the process.