Recent Carbonate Sedimentation on Alacran Beef, Yucatan, Mexico.
Abstract
Hard parts from marine organisms composed or aragonite and calcite, and a trace of siliceous particles from Recent surface sediments on Alacran Reef, a living coral continental shelf atoll in the Gulf of Mexico. These surface sediments are sands and silts which contain minor amounts of gravel and clay-size particles. Within the three major environments of the reef, the windward reef, the leeward reef, and the lagoon, the proportion of each size grade in the sediments is a reflection of the depositional environment; coarse sediments accumulate in shallow, wave-washed areas, and fine sediments in deeper water. These three major environments have been subdivided into 19 biotopes, most of which are recognized by criteria of grain size and grain-type composition. Nearly all sub merged sediments are poorly sorted, and most are coarse-skewed andkurtic. The averaged sand fraction of Alacran Reef sediment is com posed of 35% Halimeda, 29% coral, 8% coralline algae, 8% mollusks, 6% foraminifers, 1% miscel laneous skeletal grains, 9% fecal pellets, and 4% aggregates, by volume. Coral grains are most abundant in sediment on the tops of lagoon pin nacle reefs. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0412368
Entities
People
- Charles Morris Hoskin