Holocene coral patch reef ecology and sedimentary architecture, Northern Belize, Central America

Journal Article · Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1992 · Palaios; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3514871· OSTI ID:6427789

Mazzullo, S J; Anderson-Underwood, K E; Burke, C D; Bischoff, W D ^[1]

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1. Wichita State Univ., KS (United States)

Coral patch reefs are major components of Holocene platform carbonate facies systems in tropical and subtropical areas. The biotic composition, growth and relationship to sea level history, and diagenetic attributes of a representative Holocene patch reef ([open quotes]Elmer Reef[close quotes]) in the Mexico Rocks complex in northern Belize are described and compared to those of Holocene patch reefs in southern Belize. Elmer Reef has accumulated in shallow (2.5 m) water over the last 420 yr, under static sea level conditions. Rate of vertical construction is 0.3-0.5 m/100 yr, comparable to that of patch reefs in southern Belize. A pronounced coral zonation exists across Elmer Reef, with Monastrea annularis dominating on its crest and Acropora cervicornis occurring on its windward and leeward flanks. The dominance of Montastrea on Elmer Reef is unlike that of patch reefs in southern Belize, in which this coral assumes only a subordinate role in reef growth relative to that of Acropora palmata. Elmer Reef locally is extensively biodegraded and marine, fibrous aragonite and some bladed high-magnesium calcite cements occur throughout the reef section, partially occluding corallites and interparticle pores in associated sands. Patch reefs in southern Belize have developed as catch-up and keep-up reefs in a transgressive setting. In contrast, the dominant mode of growth of Elmer Reef, and perhaps other patch reefs in Mexico Rocks, appears to be one of lateral rather than vertical accretion. This style of growth occurs in a static sea level setting where there is only limited accommodation space because of the shallowness of the water, and such reefs are referred to as [open quotes]expansion reefs[close quotes]. 39 refs., 8 figs., 2 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6427789
• Journal Information: Palaios; (United States), Vol. 7:6; ISSN 0883-1351
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
02 PETROLEUM
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
DEPOSITION
REEFS
GROWTH
BELIZE
CARIBBEAN SEA
CENTRAL AMERICA
CORALS
DIAGENESIS
ECOLOGY
QUATERNARY PERIOD
SEA LEVEL
ANIMALS
ATLANTIC OCEAN
CENOZOIC ERA
CNIDARIA
COELENTERATA
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
INVERTEBRATES
LATIN AMERICA
LEVELS
MATERIALS
SEAS
SURFACE WATERS
580000* - Geosciences
020200 - Petroleum- Reserves
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& Exploration
540310 - Environment
Aquatic- Basic Studies- (1990-)