PLEISTOCENE SHALLOWING-UPWARD SEQUENCES IN NEW-PROVIDENCE, BAHAMAS - SIGNATURE OF HIGH-FREQUENCY SEA-LEVEL FLUCTUATIONS IN SHALLOW CARBONATE PLATFORMS

Citation
M. Aurell et al., PLEISTOCENE SHALLOWING-UPWARD SEQUENCES IN NEW-PROVIDENCE, BAHAMAS - SIGNATURE OF HIGH-FREQUENCY SEA-LEVEL FLUCTUATIONS IN SHALLOW CARBONATE PLATFORMS, Journal of sedimentary research. Section B, Stratigraphy and global studies, 65(1), 1995, pp. 170-182
Citations number
69
Categorie Soggetti
Geology
ISSN journal
10731318
Volume
65
Issue
1
Year of publication
1995
Pages
170 - 182
Database
ISI
SICI code
1073-1318(1995)65:1<170:PSSINB>2.0.ZU;2-J
Abstract
Examination of several closely spaced cores from western New Providenc e, Bahamas, shows a classic shoaling-upward progression of facies. Ref ined age constraints from magnetostratigraphy indicate that since the Brunhes/Matuyama boundary (0.78 Ma), only three sea-level highstands h ave flooded this part of the platform. The reefal-skeletal-oolitic-pel oidal facies sequence, probably representing deposition during fourth- order highstands, show lateral facies changes and perhaps regional cli matic influences. This skeletal-to-nonskeletal transition is common in other Bahamian platform records, and appears to be youngest near the edges of the platform. Estimates of sea level during the reversed-pola rity Matuyama, without subsidence corrections, show that it reached wi thin about 10 m below present sea level. During the Brunhes chron, at least one highstand came to within 6-7 m of present mean sea level. Th e uppermost part of a core, containing beach facies, is now about 6 m above sea level and is thought torepresent the 0.13 Ma sea-level event .