It is important
to understand that depositional environments are not randomly
distributed across the platform interior, but form in
response to well-organized physical, biological, and chemical
processes. Therefore, predictable patterns of depositional environments
develop. The generalized platform model is simplified as to the
control of relative-sea-level changes on placement of the different
depositional environments. The reader can refer to Handford and
Loucks (1993) for a basic discussion on relative-sea-level changes
on carbonate systems tracts.
Review
the general discussion on processes that is presented in the pop-up
menu below. As you study each major depositional environment,
be sure to think about each of these processes and how each affects
the creation and deposition of carbonate sediments.
|