Changes

There are five basic carbonate depositional environments. From shore to basin, they are ''peritidal'' (tidal flat), ''shallow shelf interior, shelf margin complex, slope'', and ''basin'' ([[:file:carbonate-reservoir-models-facies-diagenesis-and-flow-characterization_fig2.png|Figure 2]]).

There are five basic carbonate depositional environments. From shore to basin, they are ''peritidal'' (tidal flat), ''shallow shelf interior, shelf margin complex, slope'', and ''basin'' ([[:file:carbonate-reservoir-models-facies-diagenesis-and-flow-characterization_fig2.png|Figure 2]]).

The peritidal depositional environment is complex ([[:file:carbonate-reservoir-models-facies-diagenesis-and-flow-characterization_fig2.png|Figure 2]]). Sediments deposited between mean high and mean low tide are called ''intertidal sediments'', sediments deposited above mean high tide are called ''supratidal sediments'', and sediments deposited below mean low tide are called ''subtidal sediments''. In arid and semi-arid climates, evaporite flats (sabkhas) are present from which gypsum and halite are deposited. Eolian sand dunes composed of siliciclastic or carbonate grains may form on the supratidal surface.

The peritidal depositional environment is complex ([[:file:carbonate-reservoir-models-facies-diagenesis-and-flow-characterization_fig2.png|Figure 2]]). Sediments deposited between mean high and mean low tide are called ''intertidal sediments'', sediments deposited above mean high tide are called ''supratidal sediments'', and sediments deposited below mean low tide are called ''subtidal sediments''. In arid and semi-arid climates, evaporite flats (sabkhas) are present from which [[gypsum]] and [[halite]] are deposited. [[Sand dunes|Eolian sand dunes]] composed of siliciclastic or carbonate grains may form on the supratidal surface.

The shallow shelf interior environment ([[:file:carbonate-reservoir-models-facies-diagenesis-and-flow-characterization_fig2.png|Figure 2]]) is dominated by low energy waters that allow lime mud to accumulate. Storms, however, churn the sediment into suspension, winnowing out the fine-sized material and concentrating the coarse material. Near shorelines, the shelf environment may be composed of offshore bars and spits oriented parallel to shoreline. Shorelines that face heavy wave action accumulate carbonate sand or gravel. Tidal currents are concentrated in channels between islands and produce tidal deltas on the lee side of the island.

The shallow shelf interior environment ([[:file:carbonate-reservoir-models-facies-diagenesis-and-flow-characterization_fig2.png|Figure 2]]) is dominated by low energy waters that allow lime mud to accumulate. Storms, however, churn the sediment into suspension, winnowing out the fine-sized material and concentrating the coarse material. Near shorelines, the shelf environment may be composed of offshore bars and spits oriented parallel to shoreline. Shorelines that face heavy wave action accumulate carbonate sand or gravel. Tidal currents are concentrated in channels between islands and produce tidal deltas on the lee side of the island.