Platform-margin collapse during Famennian reef evolution, Canning Basin, Western Australia

Abstract

Research Article| August 01, 1995 Platform-margin collapse during Famennian reef evolution, Canning Basin, Western Australia Annette D. George; Annette D. George 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6907, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Phillip E. Playford; Phillip E. Playford 2Geological Survey of Western Australia, 100 Plain Street, East Perth, Western Australia 6004, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar C. McA. Powell C. McA. Powell 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6907, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (1995) 23 (8): 691–694. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1995)023<0691:PMCDFR>2.3.CO;2 Article history first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Annette D. George, Phillip E. Playford, C. McA. Powell; Platform-margin collapse during Famennian reef evolution, Canning Basin, Western Australia. Geology 1995;; 23 (8): 691–694. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1995)023<0691:PMCDFR>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Sedimentological investigations of well-exposed slope strata in the Upper Devonian reef complexes of the northern Canning Basin lead to a sequence-stratigraphic interpretation that differs from others based on predictive models in which coarse carbonate debris deposits are regarded as lowstand deposits. In the upper Frasnian–Famennian Napier Range slope succession, we recognize an important phase of platform-margin collapse during a sea-level highstand in the middle Famennian. At this time the reef-rimmed margin was rapidly prograding, and the platform was producing carbonate grains (notably ooids and peloids) that were being transported by turbidity currents to the slope and basin floor. Periodic collapse of the platform margin led to deposition on the slope of allochthonous blocks of reefal limestone and channelized debris-flow units, intercalated with the ooid-peloidal turbidites and quartzo-feldspathic sandstones. Collapse of the early-cemented margin was probably triggered by gravitational instability caused by oversteepening during rapid progradation and/or tectonic activity, with falling blocks initiating some of the debris flows. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.