Since 1950 geologists have learned more about the origin and lithification of carbonate sediments than in all the previous years of the history of science. This is true in all the diverse fields of carbonate geology: the study of Recent environments, marine zoology and botany, organic geochemistry, trace element and isotope geochemistry, mineralogy, microfacies of depositional environments, and trace-fossil and sedimentary structure investigation. A synthesis of this new knowledge is just beginning to be formulated. The purpose of this volume is to introduce the advanced student and petroleum explorationist principally to one important aspect of this study: to some of the principles of carbonate geology which may serve to interpret the depositional environments of ancient strata and to better define their sequences and patterns. Chapter I is a brief review of principles of carbonate sedimentation. (For a full discussion of the mineralogy, geochemistry, and diagenesis of carbonates along with a review of Holocene sediments, one may refer to Bathurst's (1971) and Milliman's (1974) texts.) Chapter II reviews stratigraphic and paleotectonic concepts and discusses a general model for carbonate deposition. Chapter III offers an outline of carbonate petrography, concentrating on lithologic descrip tion for the purposes of environmental interpretation. For a further review of this subject and excellent photomicrographs, Horowitz and Potter (1971) and Majewske (1969) may be used.

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I Principles of Carbonate Sedimentation.- The Requisite Marine Environment: Warmth, Light, Water Movement.- Carbonate Production Is Basically Organic.- Principal Hydrographic Controls on Carbonate Accumulation.- The Local Origin of Carbonate ParticlesTextural Interpretation and Classification.- Carbonate Deposition Is Rapid but Is Easily Inhibited and Therefore Sporadic during Geologic Time.- Carbonate Sediments and Rock Are Peculiarly Subject to Many Stages of Diagenesis.- Summary.- II The Stratigraphy of Carbonate Deposits.- Definitions.- The Basic Facies Pattern.- Paleotectonic Settings for Carbonate Facies.- Stratigraphic Sequences, Geometry, and Facies of Carbonate Shelf Margins and Basins.- Stratigraphie Sequences in Carbonates of Epeiric Seas on Shelves and in Shallow Basins.- III Outline of Carbonate Petrography.- Techniques for Examining Carbonate Rocks.- Microfacies Interpretations.- Standard Microfacies Types.- Diagenetic Changes in Carbonate Sediments.- Biological Observations.- Glossary of Sedimentary Structures in Carbonate Rocks.- Environmental Analysis of a Carbonate Thin Section.- Significance of Color in Carbonate Rocks.- Clastic Content in Carbonates.- Porosity and Permeability.- IV The Advent of Framebuilders in the Middle Paleozoic.- The Earliest Buildups.- Silurian Buildups Paleotectonic Settings.- Devonian Buildups.- Summary.- V The Lower Carboniferous Waulsortian Fades.- Relation of Waulsortian Fades to Regional Paleostructure.- Composition of Typical Waulsortian Fades.- Theories of Mound Origin.- Condusions.- VI Pennsylvanian-Lower Permian Shelf Margin Fades in Southwestern United States of America.- Paleotectonic Setting, Geologic History, and Climate.- Special Organic Communities Forming Carbonate Buildups in Late Paleozoic Strata.-Examples of Permo-Pennsylvanian Carbonate Buildups.- Conclusions.- VII Late Paleozoic Terrigenous-Carbonate Shelf Cycles.- Yoredale Cycles.- Pennsylvanian and Wolfcampian Shelf Cyclothems of the Midcontinent and Southern Rocky Mountains.- VIII Permo-Triassic Buildups and Late Triassic Ecologic Reefs.- Permian Reef Complex.- The Middle Triassic of the Dolomites.- Upper Triassic Reef-Lined Banks and Basinal Mounds of Austria and Bavaria.- Similarities and Differences between Permian and Triassic Reef Complexes.- IX Reef Trends and Basin Deposits in Late Jurassic Facies of Europe and the Middle East.- Regional Settings.- Basic Microfacies.- The Reef Girdle of Central Europe.- The Solnhofen Facies.- X Shoaling upward Shelf Cycles and Shelf Dolomitization.- Oolite-Grainstone Cycles.- Lime Mud-Sabkha Cycles.- Platform Cycles with Intense Diagenesis.- Dolomitization of Carbonate Banks and Interior Shelf Cycles.- Conclusions.- XI The Rise of Rudists; Middle Cretaceous Fades in Mexico and the Middle East.- The Rudist Bivalves.- Shelf Margin and Plattform-Bank Interior Facies of Middle Cretaceous of Mexico and the Gulf Coast.- Middle and Lower Cretaceous Facies in the Middle East.- XII Summary.- Stratigraphic Principles.- Nine Standard Facies Belts in an Ideal Model of a Carbonate Complex.- Three Major Types of Shelf Margin Profiles.- Carbonate Mounds and Associated Ecologic Reefs.- Interrelations of Parameters Controlling and Modifying Carbonate Accumulations.- Review of Tectonic Settings for Carbonate Buildups and Cycles.- References.- Plates.