8. Tidal channels
9. Tidal channels fringed by biostromes
10. Central estuary shoals, some vegetated by mangrove
and/or salt marsh
11. Margin of leeward side of the barrier
12. Flood-tidal delta
13. Washover fans
Each of these environments (or estuarine
sub-environments or facies) listed above has not relegated
to a setting of a wave-dominated or a tide-dominated estuary
but rather to a “general estuary.” However, these types of
environments (or estuarine sub-environments) or facies generate specific suites of sediments and, with accretion,
a specific stratigraphy. This expression of stratigraphy at
the specific environmental level or the level of geomorphic
unit is small-scale stratigraphy, which focuses on the details
of sedimentary structures, lithologies, lithologic
interlayering, and biota imprints preserved/evident within a
given facies, estuarine sub-environment, or geomorphic unit.
Stratigraphy of Estuaries, Figure 10 The idealized whole-of-estuary down-valley-tract longitudinal stratigraphy in a wavedominated estuary showing transgressive and progradational relationships (Diagram simplified and modified from Dalrymple et al.,
1992). While the lithologic suites related to setting in the estuary are generalized and not lithology specific, the lithologic details of
the various large-scale stratigraphic units will be determined by climate setting, wave energy, sediment types supplied, and biota.
Stratigraphy of Estuaries, Figure 11 The idealized whole-of-estuary down-valley-tract longitudinal stratigraphy in a tide-dominated
estuary showing transgressive and progradational relationships (Diagram simplified and modified from Dalrymple et al., 1992). While
the lithologic suites related to setting in the estuary are generalized and not lithology specific, the lithologic details of the various
large-scale stratigraphic units will be determined by climate setting, tidal range, sediment types supplied, and biota.
STRATIGRAPHY OF ESTUARIES
633
9. Tidal channels fringed by biostromes
10. Central estuary shoals, some vegetated by mangrove
and/or salt marsh
11. Margin of leeward side of the barrier
12. Flood-tidal delta
13. Washover fans
Each of these environments (or estuarine
sub-environments or facies) listed above has not relegated
to a setting of a wave-dominated or a tide-dominated estuary
but rather to a “general estuary.” However, these types of
environments (or estuarine sub-environments) or facies generate specific suites of sediments and, with accretion,
a specific stratigraphy. This expression of stratigraphy at
the specific environmental level or the level of geomorphic
unit is small-scale stratigraphy, which focuses on the details
of sedimentary structures, lithologies, lithologic
interlayering, and biota imprints preserved/evident within a
given facies, estuarine sub-environment, or geomorphic unit.
Stratigraphy of Estuaries, Figure 10 The idealized whole-of-estuary down-valley-tract longitudinal stratigraphy in a wavedominated estuary showing transgressive and progradational relationships (Diagram simplified and modified from Dalrymple et al.,
1992). While the lithologic suites related to setting in the estuary are generalized and not lithology specific, the lithologic details of
the various large-scale stratigraphic units will be determined by climate setting, wave energy, sediment types supplied, and biota.
Stratigraphy of Estuaries, Figure 11 The idealized whole-of-estuary down-valley-tract longitudinal stratigraphy in a tide-dominated
estuary showing transgressive and progradational relationships (Diagram simplified and modified from Dalrymple et al., 1992). While
the lithologic suites related to setting in the estuary are generalized and not lithology specific, the lithologic details of the various
large-scale stratigraphic units will be determined by climate setting, tidal range, sediment types supplied, and biota.
STRATIGRAPHY OF ESTUARIES
633