Alexander, I.; Andres, M. S.; Braithwaite, C. J. R.; Braga, J. C.; Cooper, M. J.; Davies, P. J.; Elderfield, H.; Gilmour, M. A.; Kay, R. L. F.; Kroon, D.; MacKenzie, J. A.; Montaggioni, L. F.; Skinner, A.; Thompson, R.; Vasconcelos, C.; Webster, J.; Wilson, P. A. (2001): New constraints on the origin of the Australian Great Barrier Reef; results from an international project of deep coring. Geological Society of America (GSA), Boulder, CO, United States, Geology (Boulder), 29 (6), 483-486, georefid:2001-043115

Abstract:
Two new boreholes provide the first direct evidence of the age of the Australian Great Barrier Reef. An inner shelf sequence (total depth, 86 m; basal age = 210+ or -40 ka) comprises a dominantly siliciclastic unit (thickness approximately 52-86 m), overlain by four carbonate units (total thickness 0-34 m). A shelf-edge and slope sequence (total depth 210 m) reveals three major sections: (1) a lower section of resedimented flows deposited on a lower slope, (2) a mid-section including intervals of corals, rhodoliths, and calcarenites with low- angle graded laminae, and (3) an upper section of four shelf- margin coral-reef units separated by karst surfaces bearing paleosols. Sr isotope and magnetostratigraphic data indicate that the central Great Barrier Reef is relatively young (post Bruhnes-Matuyama boundary time), and our best estimate for the onset of reef growth on the outer barrier system is ca. 600+ or -280 ka. This date suggests that reef initiation may have been related to the onset of full eccentricity-dominated glacio-eustatic sea-level oscillation as inferred from large-amplitude "saw-tooth" 100 k.y. delta (super 18) O cycles (after marine isotope stage 17), rather than to some regional environmental parameter. A major question raised by our study is whether reef margins globally display a similar growth history. The possibility of a global reef initiation event has important implications for basin to shelf partitioning of CaCO (sub 3) , atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, and global temperature change during Quaternary time.
Coverage:
West: 143.0000 East: 153.0000 North: -10.0000 South: -23.0000
West: NaN East: NaN North: NaN South: NaN
Relations:
Expedition: 133
Data access:
Provider: SEDIS Publication Catalogue
Data set link: http://sedis.iodp.org/pub-catalogue/index.php?id=2001-043115 (c.f. for more detailed metadata)
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