Sedimentary Environment and Microfacies Analysis of a Carboniferous Coral Reef in the Bianping Village of Ziyun County, Guizhou

Key words: 
• microfacies analysis

Abstract: The Bianping organic reef occurs in the Triticites belt of Maping Formation, Fomitchevella framework builds up its principal part. The type of the Bianping organic reef , a Carboniferous one with corals as dominating reefbuilder, is uncommon in the world. In this paper the Bianping coral reef's growth and sedimentary environments are observed and analyzed by the way of detailed section microfacies analysis.We define and interprete 6 microfacies types. 5 facies are identified in the section as follows: From the bottom up, facies 1: a little protected environment on shallower open platform ; facies 2: shoal in agitated warm water; facies 3: deeper open platform; facies 4: slope above wave base, Fomitchevella growing on facies 4 subsequently, that is facies 5: coral reef; then facies 3, and facies 1. In addition, a sedimentary model similar to typeⅡof shelf margin profile: knoll reef ramps is summarized. Fomitchevella reef’s growth and sedimentary environments are interpreted and analyzed. As a whole, the sedimentary environment of the section should be a subtidal open platform.