--> Abstract: Marine "Cold-Water" Carbonate Deposits as Possible Paleoclimatic Indicators, by Jay E. Leonard, Barry Cameron, O. H. Pilkey; #90972 (1976).
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Abstract: Marine "Cold-Water" Carbonate Deposits as Possible Paleoclimatic Indicators

Jay E. Leonard, Previous HitBarryNext Hit Cameron, O. H. Pilkey

Until recently, the published knowledge of the locations and origins of nontropical, high-latitude, shallow-water, modern marine calcareous sediments was limited. Many sedimentologists and paleoecologists believe that newly forming carbonate material is restricted primarily to areas in warmer latitudes where recent analogs of limestone deposition currently are being studied.

Although the total amount of carbonate sediment is low in regions of colder water, certain large areas in the world have sufficiently large carbonate percentage and areal distribution to be considered as potential limestones. These areas include the Gulf of Maine, southern Ireland, and southeastern Alaska.

Shallow-marine, cold-water carbonate sediments can be grouped into two general categories: (1) beach and cove deposits and (2) continental shelf deposits. The beach and cove calcareous sediments currently are forming in areas of low-terrigenous influx where biologic productivity is high. Moreover, the proper physical environmental conditions (waves and currents) must exist to produce the high-calcareous sediment concentration. The continental-shelf deposits may be typically relic in nature and were formed at lower sea-level stands.

The presence of cold-water carbonate materials has been overlooked somewhat by geologists for many years, although these small but abundant deposits may add valuable insight into the Previous HitinterpretationTop and recognition of paleoclimates and paleoenvironments.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90972©1976 AAPG-SEPM Annual Convention and Exhibition, New Orleans, LA