Microbial carbonates in Miocene reefs in the Mahakam Delta in East Kalimantan, Indonesia

Publication Type:Journal Article
Authors:V. Pretković, Braga, J. C., Novak, V., Rösler, A., Renema, W.
Journal:Sedimentary Geology
Abstract:

Coral patch reefs in the Miocene Mahakam Delta in East Kalimantan (Borneo, Indonesia) grew in shallow marine turbid waters. These patch reefs developed from delta front to deeper (prodelta) settings in areas with temporary reduced siliciclastic input. Langhian reef deposits are well exposed in limestone quarries in the Samarinda area and locally include microbial carbonates. Two different types of microbial carbonates have been found around Samarinda in two localities 2 km apart. These sections were logged in detail and 208 samples were collected. Meso and macrostructure of microbialites were identified at the outcrops. Thin sections from carbonate samples were examined under optical microscope and microfacies were classified using the Dunham (1962) and Insalaco (1998) terms. The carbonate content was analyzed using Total Inorganic Carbon analysis, with 12% carbon as a standard for carbon calibration. In the northern section, microbialites occur as low-relief domes, up to 2 m wide and 0.5 m high, with internal lamination, developed around large coral fragments at the transition from reef deposits to fine-grained siliciclastics.
The second type of microbialites has been found in the southern locality as decimeter-scale nodules ("megaoncoids") formed around nuclei of large coral fragments. Small nodules were bound together into bigger nodules. Microbial micrite with laminated to digitated fabrics intergrew with coralline algae to form the thick covers of these "megaoncoids", which laterally change into coral boundstones. In both sections microbialites are not components of the reef framework. They grew around large coral fragments on the flanks of the patch reefs. The microbialites that form low relief domes developed on nearly flat, stable seafloor seawards of the patch reef. The "megaoncoids" in the southern section formed as a result of downslope movement of coral fragments coated by microbialite/coralline algal crust. The steep slope at the flank of the patch reef favored falling and overturning of encrusted corals and continued growth of microbial crusts on other sides of nodules.

Refereed Designation:Unknown
Tue, 2014-02-25 13:23 -- kgj
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