Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-1-2011
Publication Title
Geology
Abstract
Sandcracks, which are ubiquitous in Holocene eolian and beach backshore carbonate grainstone on Alligator Point, Cat Island, Bahamas, resemble polygonal mudcracks, but formed in ooid sand without muddy matrix. In experiments on Cat Island beach sand, sediment surfaces cracked polygonally in the absence of mud or biofi lms while drying at room temperature due to contraction generated by capillary effects related to surface tension attraction of interstitial water. Gravitational collapse of irregular open pores and repacking of sand grains due to loss of cohesion between particles caused by evaporation of water enhance the cracking process and appearance of polygons by providing space for cracks to expand. The polygons are held together by any remaining capillary moisture and associated meniscus cement, which precipitates as the sand dries. Polygonal sandcracks can be preserved by rapid lithifi cation of carbonate sand, but have been documented only rarely from other localities because their formation requires well-sorted, well-rounded spherical grains rather than those making up the more common, heterogeneous skeletal and peloidal sediment in carbonate settings. Interpretation of this primary sedimentary desiccation structure provides new insights into sedimentation and diagenesis of ooid-rich deposits and can aid in recognizing ancient subaerial exposure horizons.
Volume
39
Issue
7
First Page
615
Last Page
618
DOI
10.1130/G31973.1
ISSN
00917613
Rights
© 2011 Geological Society of America
Recommended Citation
Glumac, Bosiljka; Curran, H. Allen; Motti, Sarah A.; Weigner, Madeline M.; and Pruss, Sarah, "Polygonal Sandcracks: Unique Sedimentary Desiccation Structures in Bahamian Ooid Grainstone" (2011). Geosciences: Faculty Publications, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/geo_facpubs/156
Comments
Archived as published. Open access article.