284 6.

SEQUENCE MODELS

DELTAS STABLE SHELF EDGE

SL

STARVED
Time

SILICICLASTIC

FIGURE 6.49 Generalized life

cycle of a carbonate shallow- to 6. HST: platform burial (siliciclastic progradation)
deep-water system in a sequence
stratigraphic framework, from the BACKSTEPPING INSTABILITY
initial growth of the carbonate PLATFORM AND EROSION
platform to its burial by siliciclastic SL
systems (compiled information TRANSGRESSIVE
from James and Kendal, 1992; Time SLOPE APRON (HEALING-
PHASE WEDGE)
Jones and Desrochers, 1992; and
Schlager, 1992). Distinct stages of CARBONATE
& EVAPORITE
this cycle may include: initial plat-
form growth (1), karstification
(2), regeneration and rimmed-shelf 5. TST - rapid transgression: drowning unconformity
development (3), renewed plat-
form growth (4), drowning (5) and SHALLOW REEFS & SHOALS
burial (6). These stages do not PERITIDAL ± SUBTIDAL
EVAPORITES
necessarily occur in this full
succession. For example, stages SL
1–4 may repeat with time without Time SLOPE
SEDIMENTS
a drowning unconformity being
formed (i.e., the model of James CARBONATE
and Kendall, 1992). Following & EVAPORITE
several such cycles, an increase in
4. HST: keep-up and progradation (‘highstand shedding’)
the rates of base-level rise may
lead to the drowning of the
SHALLOW
carbonate platform, when the SUBTIDAL
PERITIDAL REEFS & SHOALS
carbonate factory is shut down SHELF
and a ‘drowning unconformity’ MUDFLATS
EVAPORITES
develops across the basin (stage 5). SL
Time ++ ++
Note that, as the carbonate plat-
SLOPE
form backsteps gradually in the SEDIMENTS
CARBONATE
process of drowning during rapid & EVAPORITE
transgression, the drowning
unconformity is diachronous,
younging landward. Following the 3. TST - slow transgression: catch-up phase
formation of a drowning uncon-
formity, the water on the shelf is KARST
EXPOSED SHELF NARROW
too deep to revitalize the carbonate PLATFORM BASIN CENTER
factory during subsequent high- Time EVAPORITES
stand, and therefore the drowning SL
unconformity is commonly down- CARBONATE STARVED +
+ ++ +
lapped by prograding high- & EVAPORITE ++ + +
stand clastic systems (stage 6).
Abbreviations: HST—highstand 2. FSST - LST: carbonate factory shut down
systems tract; FSST—falling-stage
systems tract; LST—lowstand sys- SHALLOW REEFS & SHOALS
tems tract; TST—transgressive PERITIDAL ± SUBTIDAL
systems tracts; SL—sea level. EVAPORITES
Time SL
SLOPE
CARBONATE SEDIMENTS
& EVAPORITE
Rise
Base level
1. HST: platform growth and progradation
Fall