Final answer:
Silt and mud transported from land by rivers and currents are the greatest contributors to the sediment of the neritic zone, with materials from continental run-off and marine organism remains forming the sea floor deposits that facilitate high biodiversity and productivity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question relates to the type of sediment that is the greatest contributor to the sediments of the neritic zone on a global scale. This zone is characterized by conditions such as being well-oxygenated, having low pressure, and stable temperature, which foster high biological productivity and biodiversity. Key to understanding sediment contribution is recognizing that sediments are dynamic and influenced by various geological and biological processes.
For example, as rivers carry sediments from the continents, they deposit large amounts of silt and mud near the shore, as well as the shells of microorganisms. Additionally, coarse sediments from mountain erosion and turbulent events such as slope failures contribute to turbidite deposits on the sea floor. All these processes and the resulting sediment types are subject to shifts and relocations caused by sea-level changes, such as transgression and regression, which show vertical changes in sedimentary rock succession reflecting lateral changes in environment, as per Walther's Law.
Given the neritic zone's proximity to land and the mentioned geological processes, we can infer that the majority of sediments in this zone are provided by continental run-off, namely a mix of muds and silts transported by rivers and currents from the land. These sediments form the bulk of the sea floor deposits in the neritic zone, thereby supporting a diverse and productive ecosystem. The breakdown of biological material, such as shell particles of marine organisms, also contributes to the sediment composition.