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Encyclopedia of Geobiology pp 238–261Cite as

Carbonate Environments

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Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series ((EESS))

Definition

Carbonate environments occur both in the terrestrial and marine realms as well as in transitional zones between the land and the sea. The variety of environments spans from high-elevation continental lakes to the deep sea, from the equator to latitudes of about 60°, and they include dry and wet climate realms. The majority of carbonates are produced in the sea, currently in more or less similar proportions in neritic and pelagic settings. Carbonate production is to a large part a consequence of biological activity, either directly as in shell and skeleton formation or indirectly as a result of metabolic reactions, which trigger precipitation. The highest rates of carbonate production per unit time and space are probably reached in tropical coral reefs where several kilograms of calcium carbonate form on 1 m2 during 1 year’s time.

Introduction

Modern carbonate sediments are largely a product of biologic activity, either enzymatically controlled like in calcium carbonate (CaCO

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Geowissenschaften Facheinheit Paläontologie, J.W. Goethe-Universität, Altenhöferallee 1, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Eberhard Gischler

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  1. University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany

    Joachim Reitner  & Volker Thiel  & 

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Gischler, E. (2011). Carbonate Environments. In: Reitner, J., Thiel, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Geobiology. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9212-1_49

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