Holocene Reef Growth Facies and Rates in the Great Barrier Reef

Geoscience Australia Data provides a geological study of Holocene reef growth in the Great Barrier Reef based on 61 drill holes across 24 reefs. The analysis delineates five major biosedimentologic facies and reports depositional rates ranging from 1 to 18 meters per 1000 years.

Use Cases

• Analyze the distribution of five major biosedimentologic facies (e.g., coralline algal facies, coral-head framework facies) across 24 drilled reefs to understand regional sedimentologic patterns.
• Model reef growth rates by comparing reported rates for framework facies (1-16 m/1000yr) against rates for detrital carbonate facies (1-18 m/1000yr).
• Investigate the relationship between reef type (e.g., patch reefs, fringing reefs) and their characteristic growth rate modes (e.g., 7-8 m/1000 yr for patch reefs).
• Assess temporal patterns of reef initiation and growth lag relative to sea-level rise using data from nearly 250 radiocarbon dates.

Strengths

• Data is derived from 61 drill holes providing physical core samples across 24 distinct reefs.
• Analysis is supported by nearly 250 radiocarbon dates for chronological grounding.
• Study delineates five specific biosedimentologic facies with quantified growth rates for each.

Limitations

• Data is presented in report formats (HTML, PDF), not as a structured, machine-readable table, limiting direct computational analysis.
• Sample size is fixed to 61 drill holes; spatial coverage may not represent the entire Great Barrier Reef system uniformly.
• Temporal coverage is focused on the Holocene period, with no contemporary or future projection data.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia Data, based on work by scientists from the Bureau of Mineral Resources and James Cook University.

Collection Method

Data gathered from the analysis of drill-hole cores extracted from 24 reefs across the Great Barrier Reef Province.

Time Range

Holocene period, with reef initiation around 8-9000 years B.P.

Freshness

null

Geography

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