Coquina beach-ridge system sedimentary architecture andevolution in Hamelin Pool, Shark Bay
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.70369/b9r4k378Keywords:
coquina, beach ridges, Shark Bay, GPR, bioclastic depositsAbstract
Shark Bay displays a unique Holocene bioclastic (coquina) beachridge system in Hamelin Pool and L’Haridon Bight hypersaline basins. Aerial imagery, GPR profiles, radiocarbon chronology and sedimentological data were used to delineate a depositional and evolutionary model for bioclastic beach-ridge deposits in Hamelin Pool eastern and western shores. The onset of the bioclastic beachridge system took place about 5000 14C years BP facilitated by abundant shell supply and falling sea level conditions under episodes of high-water levels induced by storms. Prograding seaward inclined GPR reflections are the prevailing architectural elements and result from swash-backwash processes in the beachface during elevated water level episodes. Another important feature is a diachronous blanket of deposits generated by stormsurge events and eolian processes. During the latest Holocene, marked environmental changes within Hamelin Pool are suggested by a number of indications such as change in the depositional style of beach-ridge deposits; overall lower ridge elevations and the occurrence of an important erosive period after 1450 14C years BP in the western shore. Although the ages obtained for the ridge sets mapped in both eastern and western shores of Hamelin Pool are roughly similar, they exhibit differences in sedimentary architecture and coastal morphology as a result of different degrees of vulnerability to storms, and secondarily to variable reworking processes such as tidal currents, waves and longshore currents which may also be energetic enough during fair-weather conditions to transport sediment in the nearshore environment. A depositional model is proposed where washovers and storm-surge ridges are deposited by overwash episodes at the peak of major storms while berm construction occurs during the waning phase by swash, backwash, overtopping and minor overwashing processes. This model provides an example of high-resolution depositional architecture that is useful for reservoir characterization and prediction.
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