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]]). (For more information on carbonate depositional environments, see Scholle et al.<ref name=Scholleetal_1983>Scholle, P. A., D. G. Bebout, and C. H. Moore, eds., 1983, [http://store.aapg.org/detail.aspx?id=656 Carbonate depositional environments]: AAPG Memoir 33, 708 p.</ref>)

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]]). (For more information on carbonate depositional environments, see Scholle et al.<ref name=Scholleetal_1983>Scholle, P. A., D. G. Bebout, and C. H. Moore, eds., 1983, [http://store.aapg.org/detail.aspx?id=656 Carbonate depositional environments]: AAPG Memoir 33, 708 p.</ref>)

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 ([[sabkha]]s) are present from which [[gypsum]] and [[halite]] are deposited. [[Sand dune|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 ([http://www.crienterprises.com/Edu_Evap_Coastal_Sabkha.html sabkhas]) are present from which [[gypsum]] and [[halite]] are deposited. [[Sand dune|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 [[bar]]s and [[spit]]s oriented parallel to shoreline. Shorelines that face heavy wave action accumulate [[carbonate sand]] or gravel. [[Tidal current]]s are concentrated in channels between islands and produce [[tidal delta]]s 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 [[bar]]s and [[spit]]s oriented parallel to shoreline. Shorelines that face heavy wave action accumulate [[carbonate sand]] or gravel. [[Tidal current]]s are concentrated in channels between islands and produce [[tidal delta]]s on the lee side of the island.