cyanslide

A cyanslide is a hypothetical geological phenomenon involving the rapid downslope movement of a material composed primarily of cyanobacteria. While not a recognized geological term, the concept can be imagined as a type of mass wasting event. Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are photosynthetic prokaryotic organisms that can form extensive mats and colonies. Under certain conditions, such as saturation with water and the presence of steep slopes, these thick biological layers could potentially detach and slide.

The movement would likely be slow and viscous initially, similar to a mudflow or a debris slide, but with the added characteristic of being biologically derived. The color associated with cyanobacteria, typically blue-green to black, would give the event its "cyan" designation. Factors contributing to such a slide might include heavy rainfall saturating the microbial mats, seismic activity, or erosion undercutting the base of the accumulation. The resulting deposit would be a layered or homogeneous mass of organic matter and sediment. This phenomenon has not been documented in scientific literature and remains a theoretical concept.