Generation of sedimentary fabrics and facies by repetitive excavation and storm infilling of burrow networks Holocene of south Florida and Caicos Platform, B. W. I
- Univ. of Miami, FL (United States)
Excavation of deep, open burrow networks and subsequent infilling with sediment from the surface produces an entirely new sedimentary deposit and results in obliteration to severe diagenetic transformation of precursor depositional facies. Repetitive excavation and infilling is responsible for creating the preserved depositional facies of many marine deposits. Excavating burrowers occur from intertidal to abyssal depths, and are important throughout the Phanerozoic. The repetitive coupling of deep, open burrow excavation with subsequent storm sediment infilling of open burrow networks is a gradual process that ultimately results in the loss of the original deposit and the generation of new lithologies, fabrics and facies. The new lithologies are produced in the subsurface and possess fabrics, textures and skeletal assemblages that are not a direct reflection of either precursor facies or the surficial depositional conditions. Sedimentary facies generated by repetitive burrow excavation and infilling commonly are massively bedded and generally are mottled skeletal packstones. Skeletal grains usually are well-preserved and coarser components are concentrated in burrow networks, pockets and patches. The coarse skeletal components of burrow-generated facies are a mixture of coarse bioclasts from the precursor facies and both the coarse and fine skeletal material introduced from the sediment surface. Many so-called bioturbated or massive facies may, in fact, be primary depositional facies generated in the subsurface and represent severe diagenetic transformation of originally deposited sequences. In addition, mudstones and wackestones mottled with packstone patches may record storm sedimentation.
- OSTI ID:
- 5891202
- Journal Information:
- Palaois; (United States), Vol. 6:3
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
{sup 210}Pb chronology of sequences affected by burrow excavation and infilling: Examples from shallow marine carbonate sediment sequences, Holocene South Florida and Caicos Platform, British West Indies
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Related Subjects
BAHAMA ISLANDS
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
FLORIDA
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
PALEONTOLOGY
BACKFILLING
CAVITIES
DIAGENESIS
EROSION
FOSSILS
LITHOLOGY
ORIGIN
QUATERNARY PERIOD
STORMS
CENOZOIC ERA
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DISASTERS
FEDERAL REGION IV
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
ISLANDS
NORTH AMERICA
USA
WEST INDIES
580000* - Geosciences