Abstract
A simple procedure for estimating the fraction of the mantle response that is actually isostatic is used here with four carbonate buildups to provide variations of the isostatic fraction along the buildups. In all cases it is found that the fraction is small compared to that needed to allow isostasy to be the dominant component. Tectonic variations, sea-level effects, and compaction of underlying substrates after carbonate deposition all contribute to the non-isostatic response. In addition, the relative variation of the equivalent isostatic factor along each carbonate buildup is shown to be a direct consequence of changes in tectonism, sea-level and/or compaction with lateral position. These identifications are made through use of the general geologic description of the region for each buildup. The isostatic factor method is thus shown to provide a simple and powerful procedure for identifying not only the over-all non-isostatic response but also variations of the non-isostatic factors along the buildups.
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Perlmutter, M.A., Lerche, I. Case histories of isostatic factor variations along carbonate buildups. Carbonates Evaporites 9, 89–94 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03175188
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03175188