Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
The Middle Cretaceous carbonate ramp of the north-
ern Sinai, Egypt
Box 16.3.
Selected references dealing with sequence-
stratigraphic studies of carbonate rocks
Bachmann and Kuss (1998) combined detailed field
observations of sedimentary structures, depositional
geometries and paleontological criteria with micro-
facies studies, aiming at a reconstruction of the chang-
ing depositional environments and an interpretation in
terms of sequence stratigraphy. The investigations were
concentrated on Late Albian to Cenomanian carbon-
ate-dominated ramp deposits in the northern Sinai. The
lateral and vertical facies variability in the stratigraphic
sections and the paleoenvironmental data derived from
the microfacies data of 500 thin sections allow esti-
mates of sea level-controlled environmental changes
during deposition and the interpretation of facies varia-
tions in terms of sequence boundaries, transgressive
surfaces, and maximum flooding surfaces. The result-
ing facies patterns characterize systems tracts and
parasequences whose formation is reflected by micro-
facies composition and distribution.
Microfacies of limestones and marls were defined
according to texture, matrix and grain types. The micro-
facies spectrum comprises oolitic, bioclastic and intra-
clastic grainstones representing carbonate shoals, bio-
clastic packstones and floatstones recording rudist bio-
stromes, bioclastic packstones with foraminifera and
other biota formed on the open-marine shallow ramp,
peloidal and bioclastic wackestones deposited in pro-
tected inner ramp settings, and peritidal wackestones
and lime mudstones. The distribution of 24 microfacies
types were analyzed with respect to their preferred oc-
currence within lowstand, transgressive and highstand
systems tracts. Some microfacies types in the studied
area are characteristic of specific systems tracts:
Lowstand Systems Tract:
This systems tract was
characterized by a proximal emerged facies belt where
non-deposition of continental sediments prevailed, a
facies belt with restricted environments characterized
by peritidal, lagoonal or brackish conditions, and an
open-marine low-energy facies belt separating the in-
ner ramp from the mid-ramp area.
Common microfacies are:
• grainstones with terrigenous quartz associated with
sandstones and claystones,
• fenestral mudstones and quartz-bearing dolomites
of peritidal carbonates,
• mudstones to wackestones with abundant miliolid
foraminifera of protected inner ramp environments,
• wackestones to packstones with brackish-water os-
tracods.
Transgressive Systems Tract:
The transition from a
lowstand systems tract to transgressive systems tract is
Tertiary:
Baum and Vail 1988; Betzler 1989; Coffey
and Read 2002; Cucci and Clark 1993; Donovan et al.
1988; Franseen et al. 1993; Friebe 1993; Geel 2000;
Grötsch and Mercadier 1999; Kulbrock 1995; Kusum-
astutu et al. 2002; Luterbacher et al. 1991; Mutti et al.
1999; Pujalte et al. 1993; Rusciadelli 1999; Saller et al.
1993; Vecsei and Sanders 1997
Cretaceous:
Arnaud-Vanneau and Arnaud 1990; Bauer
et al. 2002; Bernoulli et al. 1992; Booler and Tucker
2002; Buchbinder et al. 2000; Christie-Blick 1990; Di
Stefano and Ruberti 2000; Donovan et al. 1988; Dromart
et al. 1993; Elder et al. 1994; Everts 1994; Everts et al.
1995; Gräfe and Wiedmann 1993; Hunt and Tucker
1993; Kulbrock 1995; Lehmann et al. 2000; Mettraux
et al. 1999; Philip 1994; Pinet and Papenoe 1985;
Quesne and Ferry 1994; Röhl and Strasser 1995;
Rusciadelli 1999; Simo 1986; Strasser 1987, 1994;
Wilmsen 2000
Jurassic:
Aurell and Melendiz 1993; Brachert 1992;
De Matos and Hulstrand 1994; De Raffaelis et al. 2001;
Dromart 1992; Dromart et al. 1993; Durlet and Thierry
2000; Fürsich et al. 2003; Helm et al. 2003; Koenick et
al. 1994; Lasemi 2002; Leinfelder 1993; Leinfelder and
Brachert 1991; Leinfelder and Wilson 1998; Martire
1992; Merzeraud et al. 2000; Miall 1986; Monaco and
Giannetti 2002; Pittett et al. 2000; Strasser 1994; Vail
et al. 1987
Triassic:
Aigner and Bachmann 1992; Goldhammer et
al. 1990, 1991, 1993; Götz 1996; Lenoble and Canerot
1993; Lopez-Gomez and Arche 1993; Milroy and
Wright 2000; Rameil et al. 2000; Reijmer 1998; Tucker
et al. 1993
Permian:
Brown and Loucks 1993; Ehrenberg et al.
2000; Gerard and Buhrig 1990; Hovorka et al. 1993;
Hunt and Fitchen 1999; Mazzullo 1999; Mutti and Simo
1993; Osleger and Tinker 1999; Ross and Ross 1995;
Saller et al. 1999; Sarg 1988; Sonnenfeld and Cros 1993
Carboniferous:
Grammer et al. 1996; Khetani and Read
2002; Olszewski 1996; Rankey et al. 1999; Reid and
Dorobek 1993; Smith 1999; Waite 1993; Weber et al.
1995; Wendte et al. 1992
Devonian:
Middleton 1987; Southgate et al. 1993;
Wendte et al. 1992
Ordovician:
Choi et al. 1999; Long 1993; Meng et al.
1997; Pope and Read 1997
Cambrian:
Chafetz et al. 1986; Meng et al. 1997;
Montanez and Osleger 1993
marked by a total change in the previously common
microfacies types, because the shallow ramp is now
subdivided into two facies belts that are controlled by
different hydraulic regimes.
The microfacies types formed under high-energy
conditions (carbonate shoal) include:
•
various bioclastic, oolitic and some intraclastic grain-
stones, prevailing together with
•
bioclastic and intraclastic packstones,
