Climate and sea‐level controlling internal architecture of a Quaternary carbonate ramp (Northwest Shelf of Australia)

The continental shelf of Northwest Australia hosts an extensive tropical carbonate ramp that forms important template for the interpretation similar systems in sedimentary record. Yet, little is known about its development from middle to late Quaternary, a period high frequency glacioeustatic changes sea-level and climate. This research describes core seismic-reflection data mid-ramp outer transect at Shelf. Core material includes upper 70 m International Ocean Discovery Program Site U1461 (Expedition 356), which covers last 500 kyr. During arid glacials, sedimentation characterized by inorganically precipitated carbonates, including aragonite-needle mud ooids. Ooids developed under shallow marine conditions on small-scale flat-topped platforms. Seismic sedimentological evidence indicates these platforms locally top present-day were typically only active during single glacial period. Aragonite-needle (inorganically) shallow-water areas. Much fine sediments subsequently exported into deeper water where they mixed with pelagic carbonates. Humid interglacials are generally reduced across Shelf Australia, resulting amalgamation lowstand deposits. substantial amounts skeletal carbonates deposited studied location Holocene Marine Isotope Stage 11. These sediment accumulations interpreted as local feature caused decline current energy. study presented highlights system climate controlling deposition.