Theses and Dissertations

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Mylroie, E. John

Committee Member

Kirkland, Brenda

Committee Member

Rodgers III, John

Date of Degree

8-11-2007

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

Degree Name

Master of Science

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Department of Geosciences

Abstract

Tafoni have been confusingly defined in many ways: variations in size, rock type, and forming mechanisms. This study addresses tafoni in Quaternary eolian carbonates to help better define the term. Large tafoni were differentiated from other coastal caves in the Bahamas, specifically flank margin and sea caves, using morphometric analyses. The differentiation is important as all three cave types form in the same area, but flank margin and sea caves can be used as paleo-sea level indicators, while tafoni cannot. Small tafoni show a growth rate of 0.022 m3/yr; and may amalgmate to form larger tafoni, which grew at 0.65 m3/yr. Petrographic analysis helped identify tafoniorming mechanisms; results revealed no evaporites present, removing crystal wedging as a mechanism, while indicating wind erosion as the primary mechanism. This analysis found significantly greater cements within the Holocene rocks compared to previous studies, and SEM analysis revealed organic cements preserved by oil-based cutting.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11668/15274

Comments

Tafoni||Flank Margin Caves||Sea Caves||Morphometric Analysis||Quaternary Eolianites

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