Page 181 - Carbonate Facies in Geologic History

168 The Lower Carboniferous Waulsortian Facies

distribution of certain organisms, perhaps originally controlled by gentle cur-
rents. At present, however, this cannot be adequately demonstrated.
Waulsortian downslope and basinal micrite mounds form a recognizable type
of carbonate buildup repeated in nature in various parts of the geological column.
In many areas they form one example of Type I shelf margin profile. It is tempting
to cite as a partial analog the echinoderm-covered lime mud and sand accumula-
tions discovered at about 700 m depth in Florida Strait off Bimini by Neumann et
aI., (1972). These, however, are in the area of Gulf stream current and are oriented
and shaped by water movement. No evidence of this has been recorded for
Waulsortian buildups.