Summarizing Microfacies Criteria: Microfacies Types

Abstract

Microfacies studies aim for the recognition of overall patterns that reflect the history of carbonate rocks, by means of a thorough examination of their sedimentological and paleontological characteristics. The previous chapters have shown which thin-section criteria are used in describing the microfacies of limestones. The evaluation of microfacies in the context of facies interpretation requires a synopsis of microfacies data observed in various samples into a microfacies type (MFT). Microfacies types and facies associations are fundamental to the development of models for carbonate sedimentation.