Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

CS10 Continental Shelf Processes: Benthos and Pelagos

Date: Thursday, February 15, 2001, Time: 4:15:00 PM

Location: Aztec

Powell, E, N, Haskin Shellfish Lab, Rutgers University, Port Norris, NJ, USA, eric@hsrl.rutgers.edu

Parsons-Hubbard, K, M, Department of Geology, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH, USA, karla.hubbard@oberlin.edu

Callender, W, R, Marine Science Consortium, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA, rcallender@virginia.edu

Staff, G, M, Geology Department, Austin Community College, Austin, TX, USA, gstaff@ibm.net

Rowe, G, T, Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA, growe@ocean.tamu.edu

Brett, C, E, Department of Geology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA, brettce@email.uc.edu

Walker, S, E, Department of Geology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA, swalker@gly.uga.edu

Raymond, A, , Department of Geology and Geophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA, raymond@geo.tamu.edu

TAPHONOMY ON THE CONTINENTAL SHELF AND SLOPE: TWO-YEAR TRENDS -- GULF OF MEXICO AND BAHAMAS

The SSETI (Shelf and Slope Experimental Taphonomy Initiative) Program was established to examine the process of shell carbonate preservation in continental shelf and slope environments of deposition (EODs) over time. We deployed experiments in the Bahamas and on the continental shelf and slope of the Gulf of Mexico for two years in eighteen distinctive EODs at depths from 15 to 530 m. Overall, most shells deployed at most sites were characterized by relatively minor changes in shell condition. A few sites did produce taphonomic signatures clearly distinguishable from the central group and were characterized by one or more of the following: high rates of oxidation of reduced compounds, presence in the photic zone, and significant burial and exhumation events. Discoloration and dissolution were the dominant processes. Taphonomic alteration was greater on hardgrounds and in brine-exposed sites than on terrigenous muds. Dissolution was less effective at sites where burial was greatest. Discoloration occurred most rapidly at shallower sites and on hardgrounds. Water depth was less influential in determining taphonomic signature than burial state or sediment type.

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Aquatic Sciences Meeting, Albuquerque 2001

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