Holocene Reef Growth Rates and Facies Across the Great Barrier Reef

Drill core data from 61 holes across 24 reefs in the Great Barrier Reef Province, collected by scientists from the Bureau of Mineral Resources and James Cook University. The dataset includes nearly 250 radiocarbon dates and analysis of five major biosedimentologic facies, documenting growth rates from 1 to 18 meters per 1000 years. Research covers reef development over the Holocene, with initiation around 8,000-9,000 years before present.

Use Cases

• Model reef accretion rates by analyzing the documented 1-16 m/1000yr framework growth rates and 1-18 m/1000yr detrital facies deposition rates.
• Compare sedimentologic composition across latitudes using the five defined facies: coralline algal, coral-head framework, branching-coral framework, detrital carbonate, and detrital siliciclastic.
• Reconstruct Holocene sea-level history by examining the reported lag between sea-level rise and reef growth initiation, including cases where water depths reached 12 meters.
• Analyze regional variation in reef structure by studying the noted differences in Pleistocene depth and detrital facies dominance between central, northern, and southern reef regions.
• Calibrate radiocarbon dating models using the nearly 250 recorded dates from cores that penetrated to the Pleistocene.

Strengths

• Core samples from 61 drill holes across 24 distinct reefs provide broad spatial coverage.
• Nearly 250 radiocarbon dates offer a detailed chronological framework for growth rate analysis.
• Quantified growth rates for specific facies, with values ranging from 1 to 18 meters per 1000 years.

Limitations

• Specific row count, column names, and sample-level data are unavailable, limiting direct analysis.
• Data is presented in published reports (HTML, PDF), not in a structured, machine-readable tabular format.
• Temporal coverage is focused on the Holocene, with no explicit data for modern or future projections.

Provenance

Source

Bureau of Mineral Resources and James Cook University of North Queensland, via the Australian Ocean Data Network.

Collection Method

Scientific drilling and core analysis from 61 holes across 24 reefs, supplemented by radiocarbon dating.

Time Range

Holocene epoch, with reef initiation dated to 8,000-9,000 years before present.

Freshness

Data collection occurred over a five-year period prior to publication; the platform lists a 2026 update date for metadata.

Geography

Great Barrier Reef Province, between 15°30'S and 25°50'S latitude.