Abstract
Unconformable facies relationships at the Holocene/ Pleistocene interface in the Bight of Abaco lagoon, northern Bahamas, have been investigated by high- resolution seismic profiling, rock coring, and excavation of buried bedrock surfaces. Lateral variation in the expression of a single lagoonal unconformity can be explained in terms of different genetic and preservational processes affecting the Pleistocene subaerial exposure surface during Holocene sealevel rise.
The dished bedrock surface beneath the Bight of Abaco has been divided geomorphically into a central depression, a transitional slope, and a marginal terrace. Upon Holocene sealevel rise, irregular karstic central depressions (dolines) are first wet by freshwater, preserving them beneath peats or paleosols. Along the transitional bedrock upslope, pedogenic caliche crusts are buried and preserved intact during schizohaline (mixed salinity) conditions. Continued sealevel rise ultimately results in the stable marine environment present within the lagoon today. These conditions initiate marine deposition and bioerosion at the widening lagoon margins, both of which drastically change the burial environment and preservation of the subaerial exposure surface there. A seismically observed break in bedrock slope characterizes the marginal terrace. Bedrock excavation suggests that it is a result of the initiation of coastal marine bioerosion and consequent truncation of the original subaerial exposure surface. Holocene flooding of a silled interior bedrock depression has created three distinct preservational environments, resulting in the burial of three demonstrably different, concentrically zoned Holocene/Pleistocene unconformities at the contact.
Differences in the final expression of paleokarstic unconformities (i.e., karstic, caliche, and bioeroded) are the combined product of the exposure environments which produced them and the burial environments which altered or preserved them. Temporal and spatial differences in the genetic and taphonomic environments of paleokarstic unconformities must surely complicate attempts at strati- graphic correlation, especially when glimpsed in intermittent outcrop. An actualistic model is proposed for central to marginal changes in substrate preservation beneath “dished” carbonate lagoons as a function of sealevel change. Predictable changes in the preservation of ancient subaerial unconformities can yield useful information on antecedent platform topography, sealevel history, basin geometry, and the paleoceanography of the evolving lagoon.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allan, J.R., and Matthews, R.K., 1977, Carbon and oxygen isotopes as diagenetic and stratigraphic tools; surface and subsurface data, Barbados, West Indies: Geology, v. 5, p. 16–20.
Beach, D.K., and Ginsburg, R.N., Facies succession of Pliocene-Pleistocene carbonates, northwestern Great Bahama Bank: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 64, No. 10, p. 1634–1642.
Boardman, M.R., 1976, Lime mud deposition in a tropical island lagoon, Bight of Abaco, Bahamas: Unpubl. M.S. thesis, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, p. 121.
Boardman, M.R., and Neumann, A.C., 1977, Lime mud deposition in an enclosed lagoon, Bight of Abaco, Bahamas: American Association of Petroleum Geologists—Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, Program and Abstracts, p. 40.
Brett, C.E., 1964, A portable hydraulic diver-oper- ated dredge-seive for sampling subtidal macro- fauna: Journal of Marine Research, v. 22, p. 205–209.
Carannante, G., 1971, Ricerche sedimentologiche sulla successione ciclotemica dell’ Infralias del Passo dell’ Annunziata Lunga (Monti di Venafro): Bolletino Societa Naturalisti in Napoli, v. 80, 1971, p. 389–412.
Catalano, R., DArgenio, B., and Lo Cicero, G., 1974a, Ritmi deposizionali e processi diagenetici nella successione triassica di piattaforma carbon- atica dei Monti di Palermo: Nota di Societa Geo- logisti Italiana nell’ assemblea del 12–07–1974, Palermo, p. 3–18.
Catalano, R., DArgenio, B., and Lo Cicero, G., 1974b, I ciclotemi Triassici di Capo Rama (Monti di Palermo): Geologica Romana, v. 13, p. 125–145.
Coniglio, M., and Harrison, R.S.,1983, Holocene and Pleistocene caliche from Big Pine Key, Florida: Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology, v. 31, p. 3–13.
Desrochers, A., and James, N.P., this volume, Early Paleozoic surface and subsurface paleokarst: Middle Ordovician carbonates, Mingan Islands, Quebec.
Doyle, L.J., Brooks, G., and Hebert, J., 1985, Submarine erosion and karstification on the West Florida continental margin: disparate environments yield similar features: Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Orlando, Florida, Abstracts, p. 565.
Esteban, M., and Klappa, C.F., 1983, Subaerial exposure environment, in Scholle, P.A., Bebout, D.G., and Moore, C.H., eds., Carbonate deposi- tional environments: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Memoir 33, p. 1–54.
Fischer, A.G., 1964, The lofer cyclothems of the alpine Triassic: Kansas Geological Survey Bulletin, v. 169, p. 107–149.
Garrett, P., and Gould, S.J., 1984, Geology of New Providence Island, Bahamas: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 95, p. 209–220.
Harrison, R.S., 1977, Subaerial versus submarine discontinuity surfaces in a Pleistocene reef complex, Barbados, W.I.:Proceedings of the Third International Coral Reef Symposium, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, p. 143–147.
Harrison, R.S., and Steinen, R.P., 1978, Subaerial crusts, caliche profiles, and breccia horizons: comparison of some Holocene and Mississippian exposure surfaces, Barbados and Kentucky: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 89, p. 385–396.
Isphording, W.C., 1976, Geomorphic evolution of tropical karst terranes, in Tolson, J.S., and Doyle, F.L., eds., Proceedings of the Twelfth International Congress on Karst Hydrogeology: International Association of Hydrogeologists Memoirs, v. 12, p. 115–129.
Jackson, J.B.C., 1977, Competition on marine hard substrata: the adaptive significance of solitary and colonial strategies: American Naturalist, v. Ill, p. 743–769.
Jackson, J.B.C., 1981, Competitive interactions between bryozoans and other organisms: Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Lophophor- ates Short Course Notes, Cinncinnati, OH, p. 22–36.
Jackson, J.B.C., Goreau, T.F., and Hartman, W.D., 1971, Recent brachiopod-coralline sponge communities and their paleoecological significance: Science, v. 173, p. 623–625.
James, N.P., 1972, Holocene and Pleistocene calcareous crust (caliche) profiles; criteria for sub- aerial exposure: Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, v. 42, p. 817–836.
James, N.P., and Choquette, P.W., 1984, Diagenesis 9. Limestones—The meteoric diagenetic environment: Geoscience Canada, v. 11, p. 161–194.
Jones, B., and Goodbody, Q.H., 1984, Biological alteration of beachrock on Grand Cayman Island, British West Indies: Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology, v. 32(2), p. 201–215.
Klappa, C.F., 1979, Calcified filaments in Quaternary calcretes; organomineral interactions in the sub- aerial vadose environment: Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, v. 49, p. 955–968.
Klappa, C.F., 1980, Rhizoliths in terrestrial carbonates: classification, recognition, genesis and significance: Sedimentology, v. 27, p. 613–629.
Klappa, C.F., and James, N.P., 1979, Biologically induced diagenesis at submarine and subaerial carbonate discontinuity surfaces, in Mcllreath, I.A., ed., Recent advances in carbonate sedimentology in Canada: Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists Symposium, September 20–21, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Abstracts, p. 16–17.
Kobluk, D.R., James, N.P., and Pemberton, S.G., 1978, Initial diversification of macroboring ich- nofossils and exploitation of the macroboring niche in the lower Paleozoic: Paleobiology, v. 4(2), p. 163–170.
Lohmann, K.Cthis volume, Geochemical patterns of meteoric diagenetic systems.
Longman, M.W., and Brownlee, D.N., 1980, Characteristics of karst topography, Palawan, Philippines: Zeitschrift fur Geomorphologie N.F. B.D. 24, Heft 3, p. 299–317.
Longman, M, W., Fertal, T.G., Glennie, J.S., Krazan, C.G., Suek D.H., Toler, W.G., and Wiman, S.K., 1983, Description of a paraconformity between carbonate grainstones, Isla Cancun, Mexico: Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, v. 53, p. 533&3x2013;542.
Maclntyre, I.G., 1975, A diver-operated hydraulic drill for coring submerged substrates: Atoll Research Bulletin, no. 185, p. 21–26.
Multer, H.G., and Hoffmeister, J.E., 1968, Subaerial laminated crusts of the Florida Keys: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 79, p. 183–192.
Mylroie, J.E., 1982, Karst geology and Pleistocene history of San Salvador Island, Bahamas: Proceedings of the First Symposium on the Geology of the Bahamas, College Center of the Finger Lakes, Bahamian Field Station, San Salvador, Bahamas, March 23–25, p. 6–11.
Neumann, A.C., 1966, Observations on coastal erosion in Bermuda and measurements of the boring rate of the sponge Cliona lampa: Limnology and Oceanography, v. 11, p. 92–108.
Neumann, A.C., and Land, L.S., 1975, Lime mud deposition and calcareous algae in the Bight of Abaco, Bahamas: A budget: Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, v. 45(4), p. 763–786.
Neumann, A.C., and Moore, W.S., 1975, Sea-level events and Pleistocene coral ages in the northern Bahamas: Quaternary Research, v. 5, p. 215–224.
Pierson, B.J., 1983, Cyclic sedimentation, limestone diagenesis and dolomitization in Upper Cenozoic carbonates of the southeastern Bahamas: Unpubl. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, 275 p.
Perkins, R.D., 1977, Depositional framework of Pleistocene rocks in south Florida: Geological Society of America Memoir 147, pt. 2, p. 131–198.
Read, J.F., and Grover, G., Jr., 1977, Scalloped and planar erosion surfaces, Middle Ordovician limestones, Virginia: analogs of Holocene exposed karst or tidal rock platforms: Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, v. 47, p. 956–972.
Robbin, D.M., 1981, Subaerial CaC03 crust: a tool for timing reef initiation and defining sea-level changes: Proceedings of the Fourth International Coral Reef Symposium, Manila, v. 1, p. 575–579.
Rose, P.R., 1970, Stratigraphic interpretation of submarine versus subaerial discontinuity surfaces: an example from the Cretaceous of Texas: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 81, p. 2787–2798.
Rose, P.R., 1970, Stratigraphic interpretation of submarine versus subaerial discontinuity surfaces: an example from the Cretaceous of Texas: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 81, p. 2787–2798.
Rose, P.R., and Lidz, B., 1977, Diagnostic forami- niferal asemblages of shallow-water modern environments: south Florida and the Bahamas: Sedimenta VI, Comparative Sedimentology Laboratory, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 55 p.
Semeniuk v., and Searle, D.J., 1985, Distribution of Calcrete in Holocene Coastal sands in relationship to climate, southwestern Australia: Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, v. 55, p. 86–95.
Spencer T. Woodroffe, C.D., and Stoddart, D.R., 1984, Calcareous crust and contemporary weathering of raised reef limestones, Grand Cayman Island, West Indies: Advances in Reef Sciences, Joint Meeting of the Atlantic Reef Committee Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmosoheric Sciences, and the International Society for Reef Studies, Miami, FL, Oct. 26–28, Abstracts of papers, p. 117.
Sweeting, M.M., 1979, Present problems in karst geomorphology: in Sweeting, M.M., and Pfeffer, K.H. eds. Karst processes: Berlin, Gebruder Borntraeger Publishers, p. 1–5.
Videtich, P.E., and Matthewsm, R.K., 1980, Origin of discontinuity surfaces in limestones: isotopic and petrographic data, Pleistocene of Barbados, West Indies: Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, v. 50, p. 971–980.
Warren, J.K., 1983, Pedogenic calcrete as it occurs in Quaternary calcareous dunes in coastal south Australia: Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, v. 53(3), p. 787–796.
Wilber, R.J., 1981, Late quaternary evolution of a leeward carbonate bank margin, western Little Bahama Bank; a chronostratigraphic approach: Unpubl. Ph.D. dissertation, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, 277 p.
Wilkinson, B.H., Janecke, S.U., and Brett, C.E., 1982, Low magnesian calcite marine cement in Middle Ordovician hardgrounds from Kirkfield, Ontario, Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, v. 52(1), p. 47–57.
Wright, V.P., 1982. The recognition and interpretation of paleokarsts: two examples form Lower Carboniferous of South Wales: Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, v. 52(1), p. 83–94.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1988 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Rasmussen, K.A., Neumann, A.C. (1988). Holocene Overprints of Pleistocene Paleokarst: Bight of Abaco, Bahamas. In: James, N.P., Choquette, P.W. (eds) Paleokarst. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3748-8_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3748-8_7
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-96563-5
Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-3748-8
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive