Abstract
In this paper we show that the development of the sediment architecture at the leeward toe-of-slope of Great Bahama Bank (Ocean Drilling Project Leg 166, Bahama Transect) during the last 6 Ma is not only a response to sea-level fluctuations, but also to major paleo-oceanographic and climatic changes. A major sequence boundary close to the Miocene/Pliocene boundary (dated at 5.6-5.4 Ma) is interpreted to reflect a major sea-level drop that was followed by a sea-level rise, which led to the re-flooding of the Mediterranean Sea at the end of the Messinian and increasing sea-surface temperatures at Great Bahama Bank. Distinct erosional horizons occurred during the Pliocene (dated at 4.6 and 3.3-3.6 Ma) related to sea-level change and the intensification of the Gulf Stream when the emergence of the Isthmus of Panama reached a critical threshold. The Gulf Stream brings warm, saline and nutrient-poor waters to the Bahamas. Starting at the Early-Late Pliocene boundary at 3.6 Ma this paleo-oceanographic reorganization in combination with enhanced sea-level fluctuations associated with the Late Pliocene main intensification in Northern Hemisphere Glaciation (since 3.2 Ma) led to (1) a gradual change from a ramp-type to a flat-topped type morphology, and (2) a change from a skeletal to a non-skeletal-dominated sedimentary system (mainly peloidal). Increased sea-level fluctuations during the second half of the Pleistocene led to an intensified high stand-shedding depositional pattern within the surrounding basins.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 482-489 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | International Journal of Earth Sciences |
| Volume | 91 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2002 |
Fingerprint
Keywords
- Bahamas
- Carbonate platform evolution
- Miocene-Holocene
- Paleo-oceanography
- Sequence stratigraphy
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous)
Cite this
Bahamian carbonate platform development in response to sea-level changes and the closure of the Isthmus of Panama. / Reijmer, John J.; Betzler, Christian; Kroon, Dick; Tiedemann, Ralf; Eberli, Gregor P.
In: International Journal of Earth Sciences, Vol. 91, No. 3, 2002, p. 482-489.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Bahamian carbonate platform development in response to sea-level changes and the closure of the Isthmus of Panama
AU - Reijmer, John J.
AU - Betzler, Christian
AU - Kroon, Dick
AU - Tiedemann, Ralf
AU - Eberli, Gregor P
PY - 2002
Y1 - 2002
N2 - In this paper we show that the development of the sediment architecture at the leeward toe-of-slope of Great Bahama Bank (Ocean Drilling Project Leg 166, Bahama Transect) during the last 6 Ma is not only a response to sea-level fluctuations, but also to major paleo-oceanographic and climatic changes. A major sequence boundary close to the Miocene/Pliocene boundary (dated at 5.6-5.4 Ma) is interpreted to reflect a major sea-level drop that was followed by a sea-level rise, which led to the re-flooding of the Mediterranean Sea at the end of the Messinian and increasing sea-surface temperatures at Great Bahama Bank. Distinct erosional horizons occurred during the Pliocene (dated at 4.6 and 3.3-3.6 Ma) related to sea-level change and the intensification of the Gulf Stream when the emergence of the Isthmus of Panama reached a critical threshold. The Gulf Stream brings warm, saline and nutrient-poor waters to the Bahamas. Starting at the Early-Late Pliocene boundary at 3.6 Ma this paleo-oceanographic reorganization in combination with enhanced sea-level fluctuations associated with the Late Pliocene main intensification in Northern Hemisphere Glaciation (since 3.2 Ma) led to (1) a gradual change from a ramp-type to a flat-topped type morphology, and (2) a change from a skeletal to a non-skeletal-dominated sedimentary system (mainly peloidal). Increased sea-level fluctuations during the second half of the Pleistocene led to an intensified high stand-shedding depositional pattern within the surrounding basins.
AB - In this paper we show that the development of the sediment architecture at the leeward toe-of-slope of Great Bahama Bank (Ocean Drilling Project Leg 166, Bahama Transect) during the last 6 Ma is not only a response to sea-level fluctuations, but also to major paleo-oceanographic and climatic changes. A major sequence boundary close to the Miocene/Pliocene boundary (dated at 5.6-5.4 Ma) is interpreted to reflect a major sea-level drop that was followed by a sea-level rise, which led to the re-flooding of the Mediterranean Sea at the end of the Messinian and increasing sea-surface temperatures at Great Bahama Bank. Distinct erosional horizons occurred during the Pliocene (dated at 4.6 and 3.3-3.6 Ma) related to sea-level change and the intensification of the Gulf Stream when the emergence of the Isthmus of Panama reached a critical threshold. The Gulf Stream brings warm, saline and nutrient-poor waters to the Bahamas. Starting at the Early-Late Pliocene boundary at 3.6 Ma this paleo-oceanographic reorganization in combination with enhanced sea-level fluctuations associated with the Late Pliocene main intensification in Northern Hemisphere Glaciation (since 3.2 Ma) led to (1) a gradual change from a ramp-type to a flat-topped type morphology, and (2) a change from a skeletal to a non-skeletal-dominated sedimentary system (mainly peloidal). Increased sea-level fluctuations during the second half of the Pleistocene led to an intensified high stand-shedding depositional pattern within the surrounding basins.
KW - Bahamas
KW - Carbonate platform evolution
KW - Miocene-Holocene
KW - Paleo-oceanography
KW - Sequence stratigraphy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0036078204&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0036078204&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00531-001-0235-x
DO - 10.1007/s00531-001-0235-x
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0036078204
VL - 91
SP - 482
EP - 489
JO - International Journal of Earth Sciences
JF - International Journal of Earth Sciences
SN - 1437-3254
IS - 3
ER -