Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
mounds. The Waulsortian mounds grew in tropical,
relatively deep subphotic to shallow photic environ-
ments on ramps and within basins.
Lees and Miller (1985, 1995) distinguished four
depth-related phases on the basis of grain associations,
whereby the deepest phase A is characterized by an
association consisting of crinoids and fenestrate bryo-
zoans, and the shallowest phase D by micritized skel-
etal debris and cryptalgal coating. Organism diversity
increases markedly with decreasing water depth. Pe-
loids and intraclasts tend to be concentrated in more
shallow phases. Correspondence analysis demonstrates
that the phases correspond to relays and are part of a
continuum (see Sect. 14.4). Mud mound formation is
explained as starting with biofilms triggering CaCO
3
precipitation.
ing of skeletal grain- and packstones (Pl. 145/ 4) and
marginal reef limestones (Pl. 145/1-3; Fig. 16.12), and
a slope and basin facies. The Capitan Reef is an excel-
lent example of an ancient prograding reef located at
the edge of a carbonate shelf.
Basics: Understanding reef carbonates
Belka, Z. (1998): Early Devonian Kess-kess carbonate
mounds of the eastern Anti-Atlas, Morocco) and their
relation to submarine hydrothermal venting. - Journal of
Sedimentary Research,
68
, 368-377
Bolton, K., Lane, H.R., LeMone, D.V. (1982): Symposium
in paleoenvironmental setting and distribution of Waul-
sortian facies. - 202 pp., El Paso (El Paso Geological So-
ciety and The University of Texas)
Brachert, T.C., Buggisch, W., Flügel, E., Hüssner, H.M.,
Joachimski, M.M., Tourneur, F., Walliser, O.H. (1992):
Controls of mud mound formation: The Early Devonian
Kess-Kess carbonates of the Hamar Laghdad, Antiatlas,
Morocco. - Geologische Rundschau,
81
, 15-44
Camoin, G.F., Davies, P.J. (eds., 1998): Reefs and carbonate
platforms in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. - International
Association of Sedimentologists, Special Publication,
25
,
440 pp.
Fagerstrom, J.A. (1987): The evolution of reef communities.
- 600 pp., New York (Wiley Interscience)
Fagerstrom, J.A. (1991): Reef-building guilds and a check-
list for determining guild membership. - Coral Reefs,
10
,
47-52
Fagerstrom, J.A., Bradshaw, M.A. (2002): Early Devonian
reefs at Reefton, New Zealand: guilds, origin and paleo-
geographic significance. - Lethaia,
35
, 35-50
Fagerstrom, J.A., Weidlich, O. (1999): Strength and weak-
ness of the reef guild concept and quantitative data: ap-
plication to the Upper Capitan-Massive community (Per-
mian), Guadalupe Mountains, New Mexico-Texas. - Fa-
cies,
40
, 131-156
Flügel, E. (1989): 'Algen/Zement'-Riffe. - Archiv für Lager-
stättenforschung, Geologische Bundesanstalt Wien,
10
,
125-131
Flügel, E., Flügel-Kahler, E. (1992): Phanerozoic reef evolu-
tion: Basic questions and a data base. - Facies,
26
, 167-278
16.2.6.3 Reefs: The Capitan Reef, Permian
Reef Complex, Guadalupe Mountains, Texas
and New Mexico, U.S.A.
The Guadalupe and Delaware Mountains contain some
of the finest outcrops of reef and reef-related rocks in
the world. Original facies relations are preserved from
extensive erosional modifications due to rapid deposi-
tion of evaporites at the end of Guadalupian time. The
Permian Basin region of west Texas and New Mexico
provides an opportunity to study the interrelationships
of depositional facies, sequence stratigraphy, diagenetic
patterns, and the development of carbonate hydrocar-
bon reservoir rocks in detail. Depositional facies belts
include a shelf-interior facies comprising red beds and
evaporites deposited on sabkha-like plains, pisolitic
deposits (see Pl. 14/1, Pl. 126/1), a shelf facies consist-
Fig. 16.12.
Permian Reef Complex.
A:
Reefbuilders. Strongly encrusted inozoan calcareous sponges. Interskeletal voids are
filled with acicular cement.
B:
Reef cement. Former aragonite fans forming botryoids. Walnut Canyon and Slaughter Can-
yon, Guadalupe Mountains.
