Abstract
The Upper Permian Changhsingian Jiantissanba reef complex is a well-known platform marginal reef, located in the western Hubei Province, China. Based on field observations and lithological analysis of the entire exposed reef complex, 12 reef facies have been distinguished according to their sedimentary components and growth fabrics. Each of the lithofacies is associated with a specific marine environment. Vertically traceable stratal patterns reveal 4 types of the lithologic associations of the Jiantianba reef: (1) heterozoan reef core association: developed in the deep marginal platform with muddy composition; (2) photozoan reef core association developed within the photic zone; (3) tide-controlled reef crest association with tidal-dominated characteristic of lithofacies in the shallow water; and (4) reef-bank association dominated by bioclastic components. The entire reef complex shows a complete reef succession revealing a function of the wave-resistant and morphological units. This study displays a complete sedimentary succession of Jiantianba reef, which provides a more accurate and comprehensive description of the reef lithofacies and a better understanding of the structure and composition of organic reefs.
Highlights
IntroductionRobert Riding [1] defines the reef as “essentially in place calcareous deposits created by sessile organisms”, suggesting that reefs can be categorized as agglutinated microbial reefs, cluster reefs, segment reefs, frame reefs, cement reefs, non-skeletal cement reefs, and carbonate mud mounds
Robert Riding [1] defines the reef as “essentially in place calcareous deposits created by sessile organisms”, suggesting that reefs can be categorized as agglutinated microbial reefs, cluster reefs, segment reefs, frame reefs, cement reefs, non-skeletal cement reefs, and carbonate mud mounds.Concerning the reef frameworks and their growth pattern, the scheme introduced by Insalaco [2]proposed the concepts of superstratal and constratal growth fabrics and stated that such growth fabrics must be accurately identified within a reef facies
The filled-skeleton sponge framestone and filled-skeleton sponge bafflestone show the characteristics of constratal growth fabrics, indicating that the constituent organisms grow at a rate similar to that of sediment accumulation, and covered by lime mud sediments
Summary
Robert Riding [1] defines the reef as “essentially in place calcareous deposits created by sessile organisms”, suggesting that reefs can be categorized as agglutinated microbial reefs, cluster reefs, segment reefs, frame reefs, cement reefs, non-skeletal cement reefs, and carbonate mud mounds. Proposed the concepts of superstratal and constratal growth fabrics and stated that such growth fabrics must be accurately identified within a reef facies. In a superstratal growth fabric, the constituent organisms grow higher than sedimentary substratum, creating positive topographic relief. Constratal growth occurs when constituent organisms grow at a rate similar to that of sediment accumulation. The environmental realm of carbonate depositional association introduced by James [3], which proposed the concepts of photozoan and heterozoan associations. An increasing number of researchers have focused on the oceanographic controlling factors of the development of carbonate reefs, including temperature and nutrients [6,7], early marine cementation [8,9], upwelling and non-upwelling environment [10], and pushed the study of reefs to a new climax
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