Figure 5. Schematic chronologic summary of northern GOM deposodes, correlative slope apron and abyssal plain-fan systems, tectonic episodes of the adjacent North American plate, and creation of excess accommodation by extension and salt evacuation. The six high-frequency Plio-Pleistocene deposodes have been combined into Pliocene (pre-ice sheet) and Pleistocene (continental ice sheet) composite episodes for the illustration. Salt removal includes primary (P) Louann and canopy (C) level evacuation. Both extension and salt evacuation create additional volume that must be mainly filled by slope-apron sediment.