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. [[Sand dunes|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. [[Storm deposits and currents|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. [[Storm deposits and currents|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.