Recent evolution of a Bahamian ooid shoal: Effects of Hurricane Andrew

Research Article| February 01, 1996 Recent evolution of a Bahamian ooid shoal: Effects of Hurricane Andrew R. P. Major; R. P. Major 1University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology, Austin, Texas 78713-8924 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Don G. Bebout; Don G. Bebout 1University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology, Austin, Texas 78713-8924 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Paul M. Harris Paul M. Harris 2Chevron Petroleum Technology Company, La Habra, California 90633-0446 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information R. P. Major 1University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology, Austin, Texas 78713-8924 Don G. Bebout 1University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology, Austin, Texas 78713-8924 Paul M. Harris 2Chevron Petroleum Technology Company, La Habra, California 90633-0446 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (1996) 108 (2): 168–180. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1996)108<0168:REOABO>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation R. P. Major, Don G. Bebout, Paul M. Harris; Recent evolution of a Bahamian ooid shoal: Effects of Hurricane Andrew. GSA Bulletin 1996;; 108 (2): 168–180. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1996)108<0168:REOABO>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Hurricane Andrew, a category 4 hurricane having wind velocities of ≈240 km/hr, passed north of Joulters Cays, Bahamas, in a westerly direction on August 23, 1992. We documented three sedimentary facies in a 2.7 km2 study area dominated by mobile ooid sands before the hurricane, using aerial photographs, surface observations, and shallow coring. The shoal crest at this locality had aggrading and northward-prograding (parallel to depositional strike) washover bars composed of cross-bedded, well-sorted ooid sands. Burrowed, poorly sorted ooid sands were present seaward of the washover bars, whereas poorly sorted ooids and mud occupied a stabilized area bankward of the actively migrating shoal and local areas between washover bars on the crest of the shoal. The shoal was crosscut by tidal channels, and older washover bars were being dissected by tidal currents.Although Hurricane Andrew profoundly changed surface features within the study area, its effects will probably be only partly preserved. The hurricane eroded washover bars and transported sediment seaward, leaving a nearly flat shoal crest overlain by a laterally continuous, decimeter-thick lens of well-sorted ooid sand that thins seaward and bankward. Post-hurricane tidal currents deposited a centimeter-thick discontinuous layer of carbonate mud over this lens of well-sorted ooid sand and transported ooids seaward off the shoal.The well-sorted ooid sand layer will most likely be reworked when an actively migrating shoal crest is reestablished, although some of this storm deposit may be preserved on the shoal crest where the ooid sand layer was deposited in areas of normally less agitated conditions. Ooids may also be preserved in finer grained sediments seaward of the shoal, as suggested by previous studies. Mud deposits on the shoal crest may be preserved where buried beneath reestablished washover bars, although some of this mud will be removed by reworking during diurnal tides. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.