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Modern carbonate sedimentary facies on the outer shelf and slope around N ew C aledonia
Author(s) -
Yamano Hiroya,
Cabioch Guy,
Pelletier Bernard,
Chevillon Christophe,
Tachikawa Hiroyuki,
Lefêvre Jérôme,
Marchesiello Patrick
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
island arc
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.554
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1440-1738
pISSN - 1038-4871
DOI - 10.1111/iar.12085
Subject(s) - facies , geology , foraminifera , carbonate , benthic zone , sedimentary rock , carbonate platform , geochemistry , paleontology , oceanography , structural basin , materials science , metallurgy
We investigated surface carbonate sediments at 33 sites on the outer shelf and slope around N ew C aledonia (163°–167° E , 20°–23° S ), at water depths of 75–720 m. Four carbonate sedimentary facies are recognized on the basis of sediment size fractions and predominant constituents: F acies 1, encrusted grains (rhodoliths and macroids), bryozoa, and benthic foraminifera; Facies 2, bryozoa, benthic foraminifera, and mud; Facies 3, plankton and mud; and Facies 4, ahermatypic corals. Facies distributions were constrained primarily by water depth, and secondarily by local seafloor geomorphology that, in some areas, allows transport of sediments to deeper water. Because the dominant facies ( F acies 1 and 3), as well as lagoon and basin facies, are distributed worldwide at similar latitudes, facies around N ew C aledonia can be considered as representative of carbonate sedimentary facies distributed in tropical–subtropical regions.