Sedimentological And Stratigraphical Analysis Of Kaki Bukit Formation (Lower Setul Member) At Teluk Ewa, Pulau Langkawi

The identification of new units on the carbonate sequence of Teluk Ewa (from Tg. Mendidih to Teluk Ewa) has given an idea for the review of stratigraphic succession of Kaki Bukit Formation (Lower Setul Member). The analysis is related to a sedimentology study, where the sedimentary sequences formed as a mixed siliciclastic–carbonate shallow marine system that combines the carbonate and silisiclastic deposits. Eight facies have been recognised such as (1) argillite facies, (2) interlayer of mudstone and limestone facies, (3) wavy stromatolites limestone facies, (4) linear stromatolites limestone facies, (5) heterolithic of mudstone-limestone facies, (6) shale facies, (7) massive limestone facies and (8) thrombolites limestone facies. Each facies are divided into four litostratigraphic units based on the evaluation from Malaysian Stratigraphic Nomenclature Committee (1997) and North American Stratigraphic Code 2005. (1) The clastic unit referring to the uppertmost part of Machinchang Formation maintains it's name. Meanwhile, the suggested nomenclature for the new units such as (2) The Sabung Member is referring to the basal carbonate unit comprising microbial facies and mixed silisiclastic-carbonate sediment. (3) The Pesak Seluar Member in the middle is a silisiclastic unit that consists of shale facies and (4) The Ewa Member at the top representing the upper limestone unit. All units show a similar litostratigraphic characteristics that are found in Tarutao Group, Pante Malaka Formation, Rung Nok Formation and Lae Tong Formation in Thailand as described by Wongwanich et al. (1990; 2002) and Imsamut & Abdul Rahman (2017).

Speleogenesis and depositional hystory of paleokarst phreatic caves/cavities; Podgrad, SW Slovenia

The studied palaeokarst corresponds to an uplifted peripheral foreland bulge when Upper Cretaceous diagenetically immature eugenetic carbonates were subaerially exposed, karstified and subsequently overlain by upper Paleocene/lower Eocene palustrine limestone. Among the subsurface paleokarstic features, both vadose and phreatic forms occur. The phreatic caves/cavities include features characteristic of the mixing zone speleogenesis at the interface between freshwater (brackish water) lenses and the underlying seawater. They were found in various positions with respect to the paleokarstic surface, the deepest being about 75 m below the surface. Three indistinct horizons of cavities/caves and intermediate vugs were recognized. Subsequently, all cavities were completely filled with detrital sediments and speleothems in the phreatic and vadose zones. In general, the phreatic cavities of the lower two horizons are geopetally filled with mudstone derived from incomplete dissolution of the host rock and overlain by coarse-grained, blocky calcite. Shallower below the paleokarst surface, a large phreatic cave of the third horizon is filled with flowstone overlain by reddish micritic carbonate sediment with intercalated calcite rafts. In the upper part of the cave, sediments derived from the paleokarst surface are gradually becoming more abundant. Vadose channels, which may also intersect the cave sediments, are mainly filled with "pedogenic" material derived from the paleokarst surface. Immediately prior to marine transgression over the paleokarst surface, some cavities were filled with marine-derived microturbidites. In general, the diversity of cave fills and the amount of surface material decrease with distance from the paleokarst surface. Below the paleokarst surface, the δ13C and δ18O values of a host rock and cavity deposits show good correlation with trends significant for meteoric diagenesis. It is shown that deposits associated with phreatic caves can be of great importance for the study of the speleogenetic, geomorphological and hydrogeological evolution of certain palaeokarst regions.

Pelagic Sargassum as an emergent high-rate importer of carbonate sediment to tropical Atlantic coastlines

<p>The composition of modern carbonate sediments in nearshore tropical marine settings typically reflects a suite of somewhat proximal processes of carbonate production and erosion. Here, we document pelagic <em>Sargassum</em> as an emergent vector of carbonate sediment import to tropical Atlantic and Caribbean shorelines: a process with distal (oceanic) origins that has the potential to impart a distinct record of regional to global change within nearshore sediments. This process arose as recently as 2011, when a major new <em>Sargassum</em> bloom region emerged in the central Atlantic Ocean and resulted in Caribbean, West African, and northern Brazilian shorelines being inundated with <em>Sargassum</em> at unprecedented scales. Subsequent near annual recurrences of these coastal inundations at increasingly large scales suggest they are becoming an established norm. Socio-economic and ecological implications are widespread and potentially serious, and include potential impacts on the established sources and stability of nearshore carbonate sediments. This study, however, focuses on new sediment delivered to these coastal settings in the form of calcareous epiphytic communities that colonise <em>Sargassum</em> (i.e., bryozoans, serpulid worms, and red algae). Our analysis of <em>Sargassum</em> collected from coastal waters of the Mexican Caribbean in 2018 indicates a mean carbonate content of 2.09% wet weight at shoreline arrival. Based on data from 11 sites in Quintana Roo, Mexico (spanning 11.15 km of a 60 km section of shoreline), we further estimate the average drained weight of <em>Sargassum</em> that arrived at the coast during 2018 to have been 7.0x10<sup>3</sup> kg m<sup>-1</sup> of shoreline. Together, these findings indicate that mean import of new carbonate sediment by <em>Sargassum</em> was 179 kg m<sup>-1</sup> of shoreline in 2018, which is close to our upper estimate of annual proximal sediment production by <em>Thalassia</em> seagrass epiphytes (210 kg m<sup>-1</sup> of shoreline). Prior to the onset of these massive <em>Sargassum</em> inundations, grains recognisable as bryozoan skeletons and serpulid tube casings were rare in coastal sediments of the Mexican Caribbean. Consequently, if these calcareous <em>Sargassum</em> epiphytes that are evidently now being imported in large volumes are retained and preserved, they can be expected to impart a distinct record within these coastal sediments. Although quantitative data on <em>Sargassum</em> inundations from other locations are sparse, numerous reports from the scientific community and the media suggest the scale of these events is comparable for many exposed tropical Caribbean and Atlantic shorelines. This represents the first documentation of pelagic <em>Sargassum</em> as a major vector of coastal sediment import, the significance of which has likely only arisen since the onset of large-scale inundations in 2011.</p>

An Assessment of Cilacap Coast's Total Carbonate Sediment Content

Sediments are particles derived from the dismantling of rocks from the land and pieces of shell and remains of marine organisms that contain organic matter, included carbonate sediment. The total carbonate sediment content was influenced by many factors, such as sediment grain type. This study aimed to determine the carbonate content in sediments and to determine their relationship to the sediment grain characteristic on the Cilacap coast. The sediment's carbonate content used the titration method, while the sediment grain test used a dry filter. Statistical analysis was used to determine the sediment grain characteristic (mean, sorting, skewness, and kurtosis). The results showed that sediments' total carbonate content had a range of 1.93% - 6.23%, with an average of 4.21%. Sediments are dominated by fine sand with very well sorted, very platykurtic, and very fine skewed characteristics. The relationship between sediment grain characteristics and total sediment carbonate content showed a good correlation due to the sorting factor. Other parameters such as mean size and skewness have been shown a low correlation, whereas kurtosis has a shallow relationship with carbonate content.

Coral reef islands can accrete vertically in response to sea level rise

Increased flooding due to sea level rise (SLR) is expected to render reef islands, defined as sandy or gravel islands on top of coral reef platforms, uninhabitable within decades. Such projections generally assume that reef islands are geologically inert landforms unable to adjust morphologically. We present numerical modeling results that show reef islands composed of gravel material are morphodynamically resilient landforms that evolve under SLR by accreting to maintain positive freeboard while retreating lagoonward. Such island adjustment is driven by wave overtopping processes transferring sediment from the beachface to the island surface. Our results indicate that such natural adaptation of reef islands may provide an alternative future trajectory that can potentially support near-term habitability on some islands, albeit with additional management challenges. Full characterization of SLR vulnerability at a given reef island should combine morphodynamic models with assessments of climate-related impacts on freshwater supplies, carbonate sediment supply, and future wave regimes.

Dynamics of carbonate sediment production by Halimeda: implications for reef carbonate budgets

Reef carbonate production and sediment generation are key processes for coral reef development and shoreline protection. The calcified green alga Halimeda is a major contributor of calcareous sediments, but rates of production and herbivory upon Halimeda are driven by biotic and environmental factors. Consequently, estimating rates of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) production and transformation into sediment requires the integration of Halimeda gains and losses across habitats and seasons, which is rarely considered in carbonate budgets. Using seasonal rates of recruitment, growth, senescence and herbivory derived from observations and manipulative experiments, we developed an individual-based model to quantify the annual cycle of Halimeda carbonate and sediment production at Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef. Halimeda population dynamics were simulated both within and outside branching Acropora canopies, which provide refuge from herbivory. Shelter from herbivory allowed larger Halimeda thalli to grow, leading to higher rates of carbonate accumulation (3.9 and 0.9 kg CaCO3 m-2 yr-1 within and outside Acropora canopies, respectively) and sediment production (2.5 versus 1.0 kg CaCO3 m-2 yr-1, respectively). Overall, 37% of the annual carbonate production was transformed into sediments through senescence (84%) and fish herbivory (16%), with important variations among seasons and habitats. Our model underlines that algal rates of carbonate production are likely to be underestimated if herbivory is not integrated into the carbonate budget, and reveals an important indirect pathway by which structurally complex coral habitats contribute to reef carbonate budgets, suggesting that coral losses due to climate change may lead to further declines in reef sediment production.