Carbonate HierarchiesA framework of genetically related stratigraphic facies geometries and their bounding surfaces independent of thickness and timeChristopher G. St. C. Kendall, 2005

Lecture Series OverviewSequence stratigraphy & stratigraphic surfacesBasics: Ideal sequence of Vail et al 1977 & associated terminologyClastic system response to changing sea level and rates of sedimentation - with movie Carbonate systems response to changing sea level and rates of sedimentation - with movie Exercises Sequence stratigraphy of carbonates and clastics from chronostratigraphy, seismic, outcrop and well log character

CARBONATE HIERARCHY - UNITSSHELF COMPLEX Mix of shelf, shelf margin & adjacent basin facies evolving in response to complete & complex cycles of changing base level & paleogeographyMARGIN COMPLEX Shelf, shelf margin & adjacent basin facies evolving in response to a cycle in changing base levelSTACKED CYCLES OF BEDS Vertical character of beds from varying depositional settingsBEDDING Internal character including lithology, geometry, sedimentary structures, and faunaALLOCHEMS Lthological components, their cementation & diagenesis

Hierarchy of Carbonate Shelf Architectural ElementsPROGRADING MARGINPROGRADING MARGINONLAPPING MARGINPROGRADING MARGIN

Lst Sequence Stratigraphic Hierarchies

Lst Sequence Stratigraphic Hierarchies

Lst Sequence Stratigraphic Hierarchies

Lst Sequence Stratigraphic Hierarchies

Lst Sequence Stratigraphic Hierarchies

Carbonate depositional settingsShelfOuter more normal marineInner restrictedShelf marginMargin slopeBasin

RESTRICTEDOPEN MARINESLOPESHELFMARGINBASIN

BasinRampRestrictedShelfOpenShelf

BasinRimRestrictedShelfOpenShelf

BasinMarginCarbonatesSabkhaSedimentsBasinal ClasticsOpenShelf

BasinFillOpen Marine ShelfMarginSlopeRestrictedTidal Flats & Lagoon

Carbonate depositional settingsShelfOuter more normal marineInner restrictedShelf marginMargin slopeBasin

OPEN MARINE

Outer Shelf GeometriesSediment types are heterogeneous Ooids, grapestones & hardened pellets to bioclastic grain shoals to patch reef & shoal build upsShoaling upward cycles commonBedding:Unconfined sheets with heterogeneous characterLocal confined Channel fillLocal confined Lens shaped build ups Fauna heterogeneous and moderately cosmopolitan

OuterShelf

Parasequences

Outer Shelf Parasequences

Shelf ParasequencesT SS BT SS BT SS BT SS BT SS B

Bimini Ooid Shoal - Bahamas

Joulters Cay - Bahamas

South of Joulters Cay Bahamas

BiminiBahamas

Ooid GrainstoneBimini

Guadalupe Shelf Slaughter CanyonBack Reef CyclesMassive Capitan ReefKendall PhotoSheets of Carbonate Grainsof Outer Shelf

Peter Scholle His Diagram!

Seven Rivers Fm-Slaughter CanyonW. TexasKendall Photo

Tansill Fm Walnut Canyon N.MxKendall Photo

Seven Rivers Fm Slaughter CanyonKendall Photo

Marble Falls Fm Central Texas

Belize Reef - Cementation

UAE Inner ShelfJebel DhannaS. Spit Bay

UAE InnerShelfMega-polygons&Tepees

UAE InnerShelfMega-polygons&Tepees

Coastal Bay J. Dhanna - UAE Marine TravertinePurser & Loreau Photo

Coastal Bay J. Dhanna - UAESupratidal CrustPurser & Loreau Photo

Lake McLeodW. Australia SUBTIDAL LAKE

Lake McLeodW. Australia Subtial area

Lake McLeodW. Australia Subtidal Spring

Lake McLeodW. Australia Sub Tidal SpringsMoundsKendall Photo

Lake McLeod W. Australia Marine SpringKendall Photo

Lake McLeod W. Australia Marine Spring

Lake McLeod W. Australia Cement FillKendall Photo

Lake McLeod W. Australia Cement Drape

Lake McLeod W. Australia Cement Drape

Lake McLeod W. Australia Cement Drape

Lake McLeod W. Australia Cement Drape

Walnut Canyon Tepee at Cave!Kendall Photo

Yates Fm - Dark Canyon - New MexicoC. G. St. C. Kendall Photo, 1967Vertical Cycles of Supratidal Pisolitic Fenestral LstMegapolygon Saucers withUpturned MarginsAeolian Silt

Tansill Fm Walnut Canyon N.Mx

Yates Fm - Walnut Canyon - New MexicoKendall PhotoAeolian Silt

Yates Fm - Walnut Canyon - New MexicoKendall PhotoVertical Cycles of Supratidal Pisolitic Fenestral LstMegapolygon Saucers withUpturned MarginsAeolian Silt

Yates Fm - Dark Canyon - New MexicoKendall Photo

Yates Fm - Dark Canyon - New MexicoKendall Photo

Yates Fm - Walnut Canyon - New MexicoKendall Photo

Yates Fm- Walnut Canyon-New MexicoKendall Photo

zYates Fm- Walnut Canyon-New MexicoKendall PhotoInternal Marine sediment

Yates Fm - Walnut Canyon - New MexicoKendall Photo

Yates Fm Walnut CanyonKendall PhotoInternal Marine sediment

Yates Fm- Dark Canyon-New MexicoKendall Photo

Folk & LoucksAragonite replaced by Calcite-NW Shelf

TepeeOrigin &Fabric-New Mexico

Carbonate Shelf Tepees Cap CycleTriassic of Italy

Tansill Fm Walnut Canyon N.Mx

OuterShelf

Parasequences

Outer Shelf Parasequences

ShelfPatchReefs

Parasequences

Outer Shelf Parasequences

Patch Reefs Transgressive SurfaceSequence BoundaryParasequence

Florida Patch Reefs Shelf CycleTransgressive SurfaceSequence BoundaryOrParasequence

Great Barrier Reef

Heron Island Reef - Australia

Wistari Reef Great Barrier Reefs

Atoll in Pacific

Eniwetok Marshal Islands

Bora Bora French Polynesia

BelizeBarrierReef

Patch Reefs Belize

Carbonate Shelf Jurassic - Morocco

Jurassic Patch Reefs High Atlas Moroc

Carbonate Shelf Buildups

Eniwetok Marshal Islands

Wooramel Bank Shark Bay

Wooramel Bank Grass Bank

Dry Canyon Almagordo, NMxSBSB

Dry Canyon Almagordo, NMx

Dry Canyon Almagordo N.Mx.

BuildUpsontheOuterShelf

ShelfPatchReefs

Parasequences

Outer Shelf Parasequences

INNER SHELF

Carbonate depositional settingsShelfOuter more normal marineInner restrictedShelf marginMargin slopeBasin

Inner Shelf GeometriesSediment types are homogeneous Muds, pellets to bioclastic packstone to wackestone shoals; local evaporitesShoaling upward cycles commonBedding:Unconfined sheets with homogeneous characterLocal storm driven confined Channel fillFauna sometimes high numbers and often restricted

Inner Shelf Tidal FlatsParasequences

Inner Shelf Parasequences

Tansill Fm Walnut Canyon N.MxT SS BT SS BT SS BT SS B

ShelfCycleAfter NP JamesTransgressive SurfaceSequence BoundaryOrParasequence

Major coastal provinces of United Arab Emirates & bathymetry of Southern Arabian Gulf in fathoms (modified from Purser, 1973).

Western Coastal Margin of the United Arab EmiratesWestern Coast of the United Arab Emirates

Earlier High Energy BeachesSupratidal SabkhaEvaporitesHigh IntertidalCyanobacterialFlatsIntertidalCarbonateFlats

Tidal ChannelsIntertidal Sand & Mud FlatsHardgroundsCyanobacterialMatsSabkhaBeach Ridges

AnhydriteWashover SedimentsCyanobacterial Peat

Seven Rivers Fm New MexicoGypsum DolomiteQuartz Silt

Seven Rivers Fm New MexicoGypsum DolomiteQuartz SiltPhoto Scholle, 1999ShoalingUpwardSalt Flat Cycles

Seven Rivers Fm New MexicoGypsum DolomiteQuartz SiltKendall PhotoTransgressiveSurfaceSequenceBoundary

Seven Rivers Fm New MexicoGypsum DolomiteQuartz SiltKendall Photo

Sabkha of the Guadalupian Permian Seven Rivers Formation, of the Seven Rivers Embayment, New Mexico.Supratidal GypsumWindblown & Fluvial SiltsUpper Tidal Flat DolomiteSeven Rivers Fm New MexicoKendall PhotoSabkhaCycle

Sabkha of the Guadalupian Permian Seven Rivers Formation, Dark Canyon, New Mexico.Supratidal DolomiteCollapse Breccia& Aeolian SiltsUpper Tidal Flat DolomiteSeven Rivers Fm New MexicoKendall Photo

Sabkha of the Guadalupian Permian Seven Rivers Formation, Rocky Arroyo New Mexico.Collapse Breccia& Aeolian SiltsUpper Tidal Flat DolomiteSeven Rivers Fm New MexicoKendall Photo

McElroy FieldGreyburg/San Andres FmScholle. 1999

Collapse Breccia& Aeolian SiltsSeven RiversFm-New MexicoQuartz SiltKendall Photo

Three Creeks Tidal Flats

Three CreeksTidal Flats

Carbonate Shelf Bahamian Tidal FlatAfter Kendall

Shelf CycleAfter JamesTransgressiveSurfaceSequenceBoundaryOrParasequence

Carbonate Shelf -Gas Escape-Seven Rivers Fm-New MexicoAfter James

Inner Shelf-OrdovicianWinchesterKentucky-StormDerivedMudsAfter James

Inner Shelf-OrdovicianWinchesterKentucky-StormDerivedMudsAfter James

Inner Shelf-Ordovician-WinchesterKentucky-StormDerivedMudsAfter James

Tidal Flat Mud Flakes

AeolianSedimentofInner Shelf

NavajoSandstoneBase level change punctuates the sandstone with erosion surfaces!

NavajoSandstoneBase level change punctuates the sandstone with erosion surfaces!

Quaternary of UAE Stokes Surface

Quaternary of UAE

Quaternary of UAE Trangressive SurfaceMarine SedimentAeolian SedimentTransgressiveSurface

Carbonate Shelf Aeolian UpdipAfter James

Inner Shelf Tidal FlatsParasequences

Inner Shelf Parasequences

MARGINCREST

Carbonate depositional settingsShelfOuter more normal marineInner restrictedShelf margin crestMargin slopeBasin

Margin Crest GeometriesSediment types are heterogeneous to homogenous Bioclastic packstone to grainstone accumulationsShoaling upward cycles commonBedding:Unconfined thick to massive sheets with homogeneous characterFauna has high numbers and is cosmopolitan

Margin CrestParasequencesOften MarginhasMassiveBedding

Margin Crest Parasequences

Carbonate Shelf Seismic Expression

BasinMarginCarbonatesSabkhaSedimentsBasinal ClasticsOpenShelf

BasinFillOpen Marine ShelfMarginSlopeRestrictedTidal Flats & Lagoon

Scholle, 1999; after BabcockGuadalupe Margin Permian

Guadalupe Shelf Slaughter CanyonBack Reef CyclesMassive Capitan ReefKendall Photo

Kendall PhotoMassive Capitan Reef Fabric

ArchaeolithoporellaCoating Sponges Kendall PhotoCapitan ReefSpongesArcheolithoporella

Marine Aragonite replaced by CalciteKendall Photo

Acropora ReefNew Providence Island -Bahamas

Heron Island ReefGreat Barrier Reef

Crest of Slope Belize

Geometry of Carbonates - Ramp

Ramp to Rim Evolution-A response to Basin Starvation

Margin CrestParasequencesOften MarginhasMassiveBedding

Margin Crest Parasequences

MARGINSLOPE

Carbonate depositional settingsShelfOuter more normal marineInner restrictedShelf margin crestMargin slopeBasin

Margin Slope GeometriesSediment types are heterogeneous upslope but homogenous down slope Bioclastic packstone to mudstone accumulationsFining upward cycles commonBedding:Unconfined thick to thin sheets downslopeOlistoliths of varying size may be common Confined sheets and channel fill locally commonFauna has high numbers upslope but becomes sparser and more restricted downslope

Slope & BasinParasequences

EVOLUTION FROM LOW SLOPE RAMP TO STEEP RIM - BASIN STARVATION IN ACTION

Guadalupe West FaceCapitan Reef SlopeCapitan ReefKendall Photo

Guadalupe West FaceCapitan Reef SlopeCapitan ReefKendall Photo

West Face & Victorio PeakVictorio Peak Ramp SlopeCut Off ChannelCherry Canyon SandsKendall Photo

West Face Cut OffMega Breccia with SandKendall Photo

Mega Breccia with SandCherry Canyon FormationKendall Photo

Base of Slope Permian BasinSlope SedimentsBase of Cut OffKendall PhotoBone Springs - Cut Off - Contact

Beaubeouf His Diagram!

West Face Margin & SlopePermian BasinKendall PhotoReef &Fore ReefMargin ClasticTurbidites

El Capitan & with Brushy Canyon Fm in Foreground - Permian BasinKendall PhotoReef &Fore ReefMargin ClasticTurbidites

Delaware Mountains Basin FansChannel SandsDeepwater ChannelKendall Photo

Brushy Canyon Group - Base of Slope Permian BasinKendall PhotoMargin ClasticTurbidites

Brushy Canyon Group - Base of Slope - Permian BasinU.S. Highway 62-180 south of Guadalupe Pass Margin of submarine fan channel incised into "overbank". Channel fill with amalgamation as well as flowage & injection of sand into the surrounding strata of the channel walls.Kendall Photo

Brushy Canyon - Permian BasinKendall PhotoMargin ClasticTurbidites

PermianBasinCrossSection- Scholle 1999

Marginal ClasticsFore-slope Kendall PhotoGuadalupe Mts Margin Slope

Base of Slope Permian BasinCherry Canyon FormationChannel cutKendall Photo

Guadalupe Slope - Mouth of McKitrick Bell Canyon SandsKendall Photo

Guadalupe Slope - Mouth of McKitrick Bell Canyon SandsKendall Photo

Guadalupe Margin S of Pine SpringDelaware Mt Group SlopeCapitan ReefKendall Photo

Guadalupe Shelf Big CanyonCapitan Reef SlopeCapitan ReefPhoto Scholle, 1999

Guadalupe Shelf Big CanyonMassive Capitan ReefBack Reef Tansill CyclesKendall Photo

Guadalupe Slope - Mouth of McKitrick Kendall PhotoCapitan Reef SlopeMassive Capitan Reef

Guadalupe Slope - Mouth of McKitrick Kendall PhotoCapitan Reef Slope

Guadalupe Slope - Mouth of McKitrick Kendall PhotoCapitan Reef SlopeBioherm or Reef Debris

Kendall PhotoCherry Canyon FormationRader Turbidite

Base of Slope Permian Basin 7 km basinward from shelf margin the Bell Canyon Formation sandstones enclose Rader Conglomerat: U.S. Highway 62-180 approx 2 km south of McKittrick Canyon, TX. intersectionKendall Photo

Rader Conglomerate Bell CanyonKendall Photo

Base of Slope - Rader ConglomerateKendall Photo

Geometry of Carbonates - Ramp

Carbonate Ramp

Geometry of Carbonate SlopeMaestrictian Chalk

Base of Slope Permian Basin

Base of Slope Permian Basin

Base of Carbonate Slope - Bahamas

Carbonate Base of Slope - Bahamas

Carbonate Base of Slope - Bahamas

Base of Slope Permian Basin

Carbon Geometry - Slope

Geometry of Carbonates - Ramp

Basin Morrocan High Atlas

BASIN

Carbonate depositional settingsShelfOuter more normal marineInner restrictedShelf margin crestMargin slopeBasin

Basin GeometriesSediment types are homogenous mudstone, marl to shaleFining upward cycles commonBedding:Unconfined thin widespread sheetsFauna has low numbers and sparser away from margin

Base of Slope Permian Basin

Basin Morrocan High Atlas

Basin Morrocan High Atlas

Geometry of Carbonates - Ramp

Geometry of Carbonates - Ramp

Permian Basin

Basinal Gypsum Castille Fm New MexicoEl Capitan PeakKendall Photo

Dark layers are DolomiteLight layersare Gypsum Castille Fm New MexicoKendall Photo

Dark layers are DolomiteCrenulated Light Layersare Gypsum after Anhydrite Castille Fm New MexicoKendall Photo

Restricted Playas & Basin Evaporites Match sea level of Lowstand and Transgressive System Tract Matrix poorDeeper parts of the isolated evaporite basinExtensive bodiesThin interbedded fabric reflects seasonal evaporative cycles of circum basin climate

Responses to sea level

Foreland, Extentional and Cratonic Basin Geometries of Carbonates

Lst Sequence Stratigraphic Hierarchies

Lst Sequence Stratigraphic Hierarchies

Lst Sequence Stratigraphic Hierarchies

Lecture ConclusionsShelf has wide spread continuous sheets that tend to shoal upOuter shelf:- heterogeneous carbonates with mix of linear bodies parallel to basin & perpendicular to it! Local build up lenses.Inner shelf:- dominated by mud prone sheets with evaporites & or clastic channels and sheetsMargin: Massive and heterogeneous, most porous but least prone to sealDown slope sheets that thin down slope & may be grain prone in distal portionsBasinal couplets of mud and shale from mix of pelagic and shelf sources.

Lecture Ends!!And so to lunch