Lyell Collection
Journal of the Geological Society
Lyell Centre  |   Lyell Collection  |   Subscriptions   |   Geological Society  |   Email alerts  |   Online bookshop  |   Help

Keywords:
Author:
Advanced search>>
This Article
Right arrow Figures Only
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Web of Science (15)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by BOSENCE, D. W. J.
Right arrow Articles by QING, H.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
GeoRef
Right arrow GeoRef Citation
Journal of the Geological Society; 2000; v. 157; issue.1; p. 61-74
© 2000 Geological Society of London

Paper

Low- and high-frequency sea-level changes control peritidal carbonate cycles, facies and dolomitization in the Rock of Gibraltar (Early Jurassic, Iberian Peninsula)

D. W. J. BOSENCE1, J. L. WOOD1,2, E. P. F. ROSE1 & H. QING1,3

1 Department of Geology, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX, UK
2 School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Greenwich, Pembroke Area, Chatham Maritime, Kent, ME4 4TB, UK
3 Geology Department, University of Regina, Regina SK, Canada S45 OA2

The Rock of Gibraltar comprises two tectonically separated limbs of an isolated klippe of Liassic Gibraltar Limestone Formation. Both limbs have similar, c. 400 m thick sequences of inner carbonate platform facies arranged in high-frequency, metre-scale, shallowing-upward, peritidal cycles with emergent, caliche caps. Four cycle types are recognized on the basis of vertically repeated successions of different sedimentary structures, lithologies, facies and biota. When compared with other Liassic cycles from fault-bound platforms of the western Mediterranean region all are found to be of similar scale, facies and cycle type. Likely common origins are through Milankovitch band allocyclicity, or autocyclic tidal flat progradation superimposed on regional subsidence.

Within the Gibraltar Limestone high-frequency cycles are superimposed on a low-frequency (third order?) cyclicity that is revealed, through the use of Fischer plots, to control the occurrrence of facies, biota, high-frequency cycle types and dolomitization. Falling sea-level and lowstand phases, with reduced accommodation space, are typified by restricted, inner platform facies and cycles and by early reflux dolomitization. Transgressive and highstand phases, with more accommodation space, are characterized by the absence of early dolomites, the incoming of inner platform microfossils (i.e. foraminifera and calcareous algae) and by less restricted marine facies (i.e. oncoids, shelly rudstones, packstones and grainstones).

Fischer plots have demonstrable value in the correlation and analysis of tectonically separated and geographically isolated cyclic sequences that lack prominent marker beds or stratigraphically useful biotas.


Keywords: Gibraltar, Jurassic, Fischer plots, carbonate platforms, cyclic process.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Journal of Sedimentary ResearchHome page
D. Bosence, E. Procter, M. Aurell, A. Bel Kahla, M. Boudagher-Fadel, F. Casaglia, S. Cirilli, M. Mehdie, L. Nieto, J. Rey, et al.
A Dominant Tectonic Signal in High-Frequency, Peritidal Carbonate Cycles? A Regional Analysis of Liassic Platforms from Western Tethys
Journal of Sedimentary Research, 2009; 79: 389 - 415.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Geological Society, London, Special PublicationsHome page
E. P.F. Rose, J. D. Mather, and M. Perez
British attempts to develop groundwater and water supply on Gibraltar 1800-1985
Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 2004; 225: 239 - 262.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Geological Society, London, Special PublicationsHome page
E. V. Artyushkov and P. A. Chekhovich
Silurian sedimentation in East Siberia: evidence for variations in the rate of tectonic subsidence occurring without any significant sea-level changes
Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 2003; 208: 321 - 350.
[Abstract] [PDF]