Challenge the future

Delft
University of
Technology
M.E. Donselaar
Carbonate coast deposits

2
Sedimentary environments
Continental: fluvial (braided, meandering)
aeolian
lacustrine
Coastal: deltas
linear (clastic, carbonate)
Marine: shelf
deep marine sands
pelagic
3
Carbonate coasts: Outline
Occurrence
Coastal types
Reef coasts and sea level fluctuations
Diagenesis
Seismic and log response of reefs
4
Carbonate coasts: Boundary conditions - 1
Relative lack of clastic deposition
High organic productivity
5
Carbonate coasts: Boundary conditions - 2
Photic zone (~ 80-120 m water depth in clear water):
photosynthesis
Clear, non-turbid water: clogging of pores
Limited range of temperature fluctuations

6
7
Carbonate coasts: Occurrence
Progressive increase from higher to lower latitudes: increase
of solar illumination
Oceanic upwelling along borders of continents (O
2
-rich)
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/currents/media/supp_cur04a.html
8
Carbonate minerals
CaCO
3
Aragonite (orthorhombic)
Calcite (hexagonal)
Low-Mg calcite: < 4 mol. % Mg
High-Mg calcite: > 4 mol. % Mg (typically 11-19 mol. % Mg)
Ca(Mg,Fe)(CO
3
)
2
: Dolomite
FeCO
3
: Siderite
9
Main components
Non-skeletal grains
Biogenic carbonate
Matrix (mud-grade carbonate)
10
Non-skeletal grains
Ooids
Pisoids
Peloids
http://people.uncw.edu/dockal/gly312/co3diagen/image023.jpg
http://plaza.snu.ac.kr/~lee2602/atlas2/nonsk.html
http://geoinfo.nmt.edu/staff/scholle/graphics/permphotos/035.html
11
Ooids and pisoids
Spherical-sub-spherical shape
Ooid: diameter < 2mm
Pisoid: diameter > 2mm
Ooids and pisoids are coated grains: core (grain) coated
with carbonate lamellae
Carbonate precipitation on moving grain (wave-, tidal
action)
Sediment consisting of ooids: oolite

12
Peloids
Spherical, ellipsoidal or angular grains
No internal structure
Size: generally 0.1-0.5 mm
Faecal pellets
13
Non-skeletal grains
Link:
http://plaza.snu.ac.kr/~lee2602/atlas2/nonsk.html
14
Coastal types
Mainland and barrier island bioclastic coasts
Reef coasts
15
Mainland and barrier island bioclastic coasts
Inden & Moore (1983)
16
Cross section through
bioclastic carbonate coast
Inden & Moore (1983)
17
Bioclastic carbonate coast
Vertical sequence
Inden & Moore (1983)
18
Atoll reef
19
Barrier reef coasts
http://www.science.ubc.ca/~geol202/sed/carb/carbhome.html
20
Fringing reef coasts
mainland
sea
Fringing reef
Moora Finging reef: http://encarta.msn.com/media_461529282_761572186_-1_1/Moor%C3%A9a_Fringing_Reef.html
21
Atoll reef coasts
22
Occurrence atoll reefs
Grow around shield volcanoes
in oceans
After cessation volcanic activity:
erosion and thermal cooling
Volcanic island shrinks in size &
submerges
Reef grows upward, central
lagoon surrounded by ring-
shaped reef
http://www.unb.br/ig/sigep/siti
o033/sitio033english.htm

http://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/EarthSC202Notes/WAVEeros.HTM
23
Zonation carbonate coasts
Selley (1985)
24
Sea level changes and reef development
Reef-forming organisms live in the photic zone of sea
Relative rise of sea level: reef grows upward to stay within
photic zone (aggradation)
Relative fall of sea level: emerged part of reef dies and
karstifies
Stable sea level: reef expands seaward (progradation)
25
Reef response to eustatic sea level
fluctuation
Pomar (1991)
Sea level rise: aggradation
Sea level rise: aggradation
Sea level highstand: progradation
Sea level highstand: progradation
Sea level fall: erosion
Sea level fall: erosion
Sea level rise: aggradation
26
Porosity
27
Dolomitisation
Diagenetic change of calcite by partial replacement of Ca
2+
ions
by Mg
2+
ions:
2CaCO
3
+ Mg
2+
> CaMg(CO
3
)
2
+ Ca
2+

Volume dolomite < calcite caused by smaller ion-size Mg
If dolomitisation is complete the porosity increase is 13%
See also:
http://mineral.galleries.com/minerals/carbonat/dolomite/dolomite.
htm
Origin: two models
28
Dolomitisation model:
Hypersaline Brine Model
Evaporation gypsum precipitation (CaSO
4
. 2H
2
O)
Leads to Ca
2+
depletion and increase Mg/Ca ratio
Leads to increase of Mg concentration
Heavy brine reflux and calcite replacement by dolomite
http://www.science.ubc.ca/~geol256/notes/ch11_dolo_mixing.html
29
Reefs on seismic
Selley (1985)
30
Reefs on logs
31
32
Carbonate blooms in geological time
http://www.science.ubc.ca/~geol202/sed/carb/carbintr.html
33
34
http://www.science.ubc.ca/~geol202/sed/carb/carbintr.html
35
Web links
http://geology.uprm.edu/Morelock/corgeol.htm
http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/coral/index.html
http://coralreefs.wr.usgs.gov/

36
Compulsory reading
Nichols Chapter 15:
Section 15.1Carbonate and evaporite depositional environments
Section 15.3.2 Reefs