Guide to the Geology of Reefs of the Capricorn and Bunker Groups, Great Barrier Reef Province with special reference to the Heron Reef

Jell, J. S. (John Samuel) and Flood, P. G. (Peter Gerard, 1946-) (1978) Guide to the Geology of Reefs of the Capricorn and Bunker Groups, Great Barrier Reef Province with special reference to the Heron Reef. Papers, Department of Geology, University of Queensland, 8 3: 1-85.

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Author Jell, J. S. (John Samuel)
Flood, P. G. (Peter Gerard, 1946-)
Title Guide to the Geology of Reefs of the Capricorn and Bunker Groups, Great Barrier Reef Province with special reference to the Heron Reef
Journal name Papers, Department of Geology, University of Queensland
Publication date 1978-04-01
Sub-type Article
Volume number 8
Issue number 3
Start page 1
End page 85
Subject 260104 Sedimentology
Formatted abstract Published geological studies of the Capricorn and Bunker Groups of reefs together with preliminary results of our researches indicate that the reefal masses which comprise the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef Province had commenced growth by the early Pleistocene. Since then the reefs have been exposed during the Pleistocene glaciations to subaerial weathering associated with the dissolving action of meteroic water. Subsequent sea level rise allowed coral growth to recolonize the pre-existing reefal bodies which in places may have exhibited a karst topography. The present stage of development of individual reefs can only be partly related to the relative heights of the sea and to the height and slope of the pre-existing reefal body, because a northwesterly trend in the development of reef types occurs irrespective of the size of the reefs and irrespective of differences or similarities in the depth to the pre-Holocene disconformity. A possible explanation is that the rate of reef productivity might increase in the northwesterly direction. Further research is clearly warranted.

Detailed analyses of the skeletal components of reef-top sediments from several reef types (e.g. closed ring, lagoonal platform, and platform) show that variations in composition result mainly from differences in the percentage contribution made by four dominant skeletal types: coral, coralline algae, Halimeda, and foraminiferans. As the reef progressively changes according to a recognisable sequence in the development of reefs, the component composition of the bulk of the sediments also changes. This trend reflects the changing nature of the biota of the reef top. Recognition of this gradual evolution of reef types allows one to relate conclusions concerning the component and textural composition not only to individual depositional environments on each reef, but also to a scheme of reef development, thereby providing insight into the possible variations in the composition of sediment in time as well as in space.
Keyword Geological studies
Quaternary sediments
Sedimentation
Sedimentary processes
Sedimentary environments
Heron Reef
Bunker and Capricorn Reefs
Great Barrier Reef
Coral reefs
Q-Index Code C1
Q-Index Status Provisional Code
Institutional Status Unknown
Additional Notes Part of a range of articles and papers on themes relating to Quaternary sediments and sedimentation presented to the first Queensland meeting of the Australasian Sedimentologists Group, August, 1977.

Document type: Journal Article
Sub-type: Article
Collection: School of Physical Sciences Publications
 
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Created: Fri, 06 Feb 2004, 10:00:00 EST by Belinda Weaver (EA) on behalf of The University of Queensland Library