The Characteristic of Algal Reef Carbonate Sedimentary and Pore Structure in the Xisha Islands: Evidence from Halimeda

Abstract:

Halimeda is an important reef-building green alga. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy spectrum tests on green and white Halimeda collected from Shidao Island in the Xisha Islands show that carbonate is predominantly deposited in the cortexes and medullas, especially in the aragonite raphides of them, as the case of calcium carbonate. These modern carbonate sediments are then compared with their ancient counterparts that are collected from Xichen-1 well in the Yongle Atoll, where a large number of Halimeda segments have been recognized in about 100-m-long late Miocene-middle Miocene whole-coring succession. In addition, there are developed great numbers of algal-frame holes, including secondary dissolved pores and intercrystalline pores in the medullas and in aragonites between cysts, which have formed particular network systems and pore throats.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 1065-1069)
• Pages: 3291-3294
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.1065-1069.3291
• Online since: December 2014
• Authors: Xin Wei Zhao*, Hui Zhi Hao
• Keywords: Carbonate, Halimeda, Pore Throats, Xisha Islands

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