Carbonate Depositional Environments - Microfacies of Carbonate Rocks

Geology Reference

In-Depth Information

Box 2.5. Glossary of terms used in distinguishing major reef types.

Bioherm : Mound or lens-shaped reefal buildup.

Biostrome: Tabular rock body, usually a single bed of similar composition. Laterally extended, dense growth of skeletal

organisms. No depositional relief. A rigid framework may or may not be present.

Buildup : A carbonate rock mass that is thicker than laterally equivalent strata, and probably stood above the sea floor

during some or all of its depositional history. The term is often very loosely used for reefs, banks or thick massive

limestone structures.

Ecologic reef : An ancient reef interpreted as having been built by organisms into a rigid, wave resistant, topographic

high on the sea floor (Dunham 1970).

Framework reef : Built by organisms forming a rigid calcareous frame.

Microbial mound: Biogenic mounds, formed by the action of microbes which initiate carbonate precipitation, and bind

and trap sediment (James and Bourque 1992).

Mound : A rounded hill-like structure. In the context of reef studies used for counterparts of framework reefs. See

microbial mounds, skeletal mounds and mud mounds.

Mud mound : Mud-dominated carbonate buildups (Wilson 1975). Organisms are minor constituents. Syndepositional

relief.

Reef: Laterally confined biogenic structures, developing due to the growth or activity of sessile benthic organisms and

exhibiting topographic relief. This broad definition covers framework reefs, reef mounds, mud mounds as well as

biostromes (Flügel and Kiessling 2002).

Reef mound : Lenticular carbonate bodies consisting of bioclastic mud with minor accounts of organic binding (James

1980). Skeletal organisms are common, but there is no evidence for a prominent in situ skeletal framework. Lime

mud/carbonate cement and skeletal organisms are about equally important. Syndepositional relief.

Skeletal mound : Biogenic mounds made of small delicate skeletal or encrusting organisms that are thought to baffle,

trap, bind and stabilize lime mud (James and Bourque 1992).

Skeletal reef : Corresponds to framework reefs with organisms, forming a rigid calcareous framework.

Stratigraphic reef: A thick, laterally restricted mass of carbonate rock, without genetic connotations (Dunham 1970).

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