Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Economic Importance of Coralline Carbonates

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Rhodolith/Maërl Beds: A Global Perspective

Part of the book series: Coastal Research Library ((COASTALRL,volume 15))

Abstract

Carbonate materials are important economic resources: limestones are excellent reservoirs and valuable building stones; unconsolidated sediments may be used as a viable source of calcium carbonate for soil conditioning. Since Late Cretaceous coralline algae are one of the most important shallow-water carbonate producers. Sediment production and deposition in carbonate platforms are controlled by physical, chemical and biotic factors. Chemical and biotic factors rule over sediment texture, composition, distribution and early diagenetic processes, and consequently they have a major impact over limestone properties after diagenesis, especially over porosity and permeability. Porosity and permeability in turn control limestone mechanical properties, its durability and its reservoir potential. Thus, understanding the factors controlling formation and fate of coralline-algal carbonate factories is necessary for both sustainable management of the coralline-dominated marine habitats and profitable exploitation of reservoirs and quarries.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • AA.VV. (2011) L’industria della calce e del Cemento in Ozzano. La Terra Promessa, Novara

    Google Scholar 

  • Alexandersson T (1978) Destructive diagenesis of carbonates sediments in the eastern Skagerrak, North sea. Geology 6:324–327

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amirshankarami M, Vaziri-Moghaddam H, Taheri A (2007) Sedimentary facies and sequence stratigraphy of the Asmari Formation at Chaman-Bolbol, Zagros Basin, Iran. Asian J Earth Sci 29:947–959

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Angrisani AC, Calcaterra D, Colella A, De Gennaro M (2010) Stone properties and weathering phenomena of the Miocene Cusano Limestone (a.k.a. Perlato Royal Coreno): the case of the basament of Santa Chiara Monastery bell tower (Naples-Italy). Period Mineral Spec Issue 79:1–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Angrisani AC, Calcaterra D, Cappelletti P, Colella A, Parente M, Přikryl R, De Gennaro M (2011) Geological features, technological characterization and weathering phenomena of the Miocene Bryozoan and Lithothamnion limestones (central-southern Italy). Ital J Geosci 130(1):75–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Basso D (2012) Carbonate production by calcareous red algae and global change. Geodiversitas 34(1):13–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Basso D, Vrsaljko D, Grgasović T (2008) The coralline flora of a Miocene maërl: the Croatian “Litavac”. Geol Croat 61(2–3):333–340

    Google Scholar 

  • Blunden G, Binns WW, Perks F (1975) Commercial collection and utilization of Maërl. Econ Bot 29:140–145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blunden G, Sheelagh A, Campbell A, Smith JR, Guiry MD, Heission CC, Griffin RL (1997) Chemical and physical characterization of calcified red algal deposits known as maërl. J Appl Phycol 9:11–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Borg G, Borg BE (2000) From small quarries to large temples, the enigmatic source of limestone for the Apollo Temple at Didyma, W-Anatolia. In: Lazzarini L (ed) Interdisciplinary studies on ancient stone. ASMOSIA, VI international conference, S: 427–436

    Google Scholar 

  • Borromeo O, Miraglia S, Sartorio D, Bolla EM, Ortenzi A, Sandro R, Castellanos C, Villalobos R (2011) The Perla world-class giant gas field, Gulf of Venezuela; depositional and diagenetic controls on reservoir quality in early Miocene carbonates. AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, Milan

    Google Scholar 

  • Bourrouilh Le Jan FG, Hottinger LC (1988) Occurrence of rhodoliths in the tropical Pacific – a consequence of Mid-Miocene paleo-oceanographic change. Sediment Geol 60:355–367

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Braga JC, Bassi D, Piller WE (2010) Paleoenvironmental significance of Oligocene-Miocene coralline red algae – a review. In: Mutti M, Piller WE, Betzler C (eds) Carbonate system during the Oligocene-Miocene Climatic Transition. Int Assoc Sedimentol Spec Publ 42

    Google Scholar 

  • Büyükutku AG (2009) Reservoir properties of Karaisalı formation in the Adana Basin, Southern Turkey. J Pet Sci Eng 65:33–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calvo JP, Regueiro M (2010) Carbonate rocks in the Mediterranean region – from classical to innovative use of building stone. In: Smith BJ, Gomez-Heras M, Viles HA, Cassar J (eds) Limestone in the built environment: present-day challenges for the preservation of the past. Geol Soc Spec Publ 331: 27–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Canfield DE, Raiswell (1991) Carbonate precipitation and dissolution, its relevance to fossil preservation. In: Allison PA, Briggs DEG (eds) Taphonomy: releasing the data locked in the fossil record. Topics in Geobiology, vol 9

    Google Scholar 

  • Carannante G, Simone L (1996) Rhodolith facies in the central-southern Apennines mountains, Italy. In: Franseen EK, Esteban M, Ward W, Rouchy J (eds) Models for carbonate stratigraphy from Miocene reef complexes of Mediterranean regions. SEPM Concepts Sedimentology and Paleontology 5

    Google Scholar 

  • Chave KE (1954) Aspects of biogeochemistry of magnesium. 1. Calcareous marine organism. J Geol 62:266–599

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Civitelli G, Brandano M (2005) Atlante delle litofcies e modello deposizionale dei Calcari a Briozoi e Litotamni nella Piattaforma carbonatica laziale-abruzzese. Boll Soc Geol Ital 124:611–643

    Google Scholar 

  • Cultrone G, Russo LG, Calabrò C, Uroševič M, Pezzino A (2008) Influence of pore system characteristic on limestone vulnerability: a laboratory study. Environ Geol 54:1271–1281

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Grave S, Fazakerley H, Kelly L, Guiry MD, Ryan M, Walshe J (2000) A study of selected Maërl banks in Irish waters and their potential for sustainable extraction. Marine Resource Series 10, Marine Institute

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunham RJ (1962) Classification of carbonate rocks according to depositional texture. In: Ham WE (ed) Classification of carbonate rocks. American Association of Petroleum Geologist Memoir. 1:108–121

    Google Scholar 

  • Flügel E (2009) Microfacies of carbonate rocks: analysis interpretation and application. Springer, 1007 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Fournier F, Borgomano J (2007) Geological significance of seismic reflections and imaging of the reservoir architecture in the Malampaya gas field (Philippines). AAPG Bull 91:235–258

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedman GM (1964) Early diagenesis and lithification in carbonate sediments. J Sediment Petrol 34(4):777–813

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaudon P (2010) Guide Durabilité & Compatibilité de pierres régionales. École des Mines d’Alès, http://pierresud.brgm.fr. Accessed 10 Oct 2013

  • Halfar J, Mutti M (2005) Global dominance of coralline red-algal facies: a response to Miocene oceanographic events. Geology 33(6):481–484

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hall-Spencer J (2005) Ban on maërl extraction. Mar Pollut Bull 50:121–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heubeck C, Story K, Peng P, Sullivan C, Duff S (2004) An integrated reservoir study of the Liuhua 11-1 field using high-resolution three-dimensional seismic data set. AAPG Mem 81:149–168

    Google Scholar 

  • Holzer R, Laho M, Durmenková T (2004) Ancient building stone sources of Bratislava’s monuments. In: Přikryl R (ed) Dimension stone-new perspective for a traditional building material. Balkema Publishers

    Google Scholar 

  • Hover VC, Walter LM, Peacor DR (2001) Early marine diagenesis of biogenic aragonite and Mg-calcite new constraints from high-resolutions STEM and AEM analyses of modern platform carbonates. Chem Geol 175:221–248

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • LeNoble ME, Blevins DG, Sharp RE, Cumbie BG (1996) Prevention of aluminum toxicity with supplemental boron, maintenance of root elongation and cellular structure. Plant Cell Environ 19:1132–1142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mancin N, Ceriani A, Tagni F, Brambilla G (2001) The Ternate formation (northern Italy): micropaleontological content and sedimentary petrography. Atti Ticinesi Sci Terra 42:37–46

    Google Scholar 

  • Miglio BF, Richardson DM, Yates TS, West D (2000) Assessment of the durability of porous limestones: specification and interpretation of test data in UK practice. In: Hoigard KR (ed) Dimension stone cladding: design, construction, evaluation and repair. American Soc for Testing and Material, West Conshohocken

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore CH (2001) Carbonate reservoirs: porosity evolution and diagenesis in a sequence stratigraphic framework. Dev Sedimentol 55

    Google Scholar 

  • Oates JAH (1998) Lime and limestone. Chemistry and technology. Production and uses. Wiley, 455 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Pedley HM (1981) Sedimentology and paleoenvironment of the southeast Sicilian Tertiary platform carbonates. Sediment Geol 28:273–291

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perry OR, Choquette PW (1985) Carbonate petroleum reservoirs. Springer, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Primavori P (1999) Pianeta Pietra. Giorgio Zusi, Verona

    Google Scholar 

  • Rajabzadeh MA, Moosavinasab Z, Rakhshandehroo G (2012) Effects of rock classes and porosity on the relation between uniaxial compressive strength and some rock properties for carbonate rocks. Rock Mech Rock Eng 45:113–122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reijers TJA, Hsü KJ (1986) Manual of carbonate sedimentology: a lexicographical approach. Academic Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynaud J, James NP (2012) The Miocene Sommières basin, SE France; Bioclastic carbonates in a tide dominated depositional system. Sediment Geol 282:360–373

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rothert E, Eggers T, Cassar J, Ruedrich J, Fitzner B, Siegsmund S (2007) Stone properties and weathering induced by salt crystallization of Maltese Globigerina Limestone. In: Přikryl R, Smith BJ (eds) Building stone decay, from diagnosis to conservation. Geol Soc London Spec Publ, London, 271

    Google Scholar 

  • Safti B, Veli J, Sztanó O, Juhász G, Ivković Z (2003) Tertitary subsurface facies, source rocks and hydrocarbon reservoirs in the SW part of the Pannonian Basin (Northern Croatia and South-Western Hungary). Geol Croat 56(1):101–122

    Google Scholar 

  • Sahraeyan M, Bahrami M, Arzaghi S (2013) Facies analysis and depositional environment of the Oligo-Miocene Asmari Formation, Zagros Basin, Iran. Geosci Front 5:103–112

    Google Scholar 

  • Saller AH, Moore CH (1989) Meteoric diagenesis, marine diagenesis and microporosity in Pleistocene and Oligocene limestones, Enewetak Atoll, Marshall Islands. Sediment Geol 63:253–272

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salomidi M, Katsanevakis S, Borja A, Braeckman U, Damalas D, Galparsoro I, Mifsud R, Mirto S, Pascual M, Pipitone C, Rabaut M, Todorova V, Vassilopoulou V, Vega Fernàndez T (2012) Assessement of goods and services, vulnerability and conservation status of European seabed biotopes: a stepping stone towards ecosystem-based marine spatial management. Mediterr Mar Sci 13(1):49–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sassone P (2005) La “Pietra da Cantoni” del Monferrato Casalese (AL): ipotesi di ripresa produttiva per la conservazione della tradizione edilizia locale. GEAM, June–Sept 2005: 15–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Sattler U, Zampetti V, Schlager W, Immenhauser A (2004) Late leaching under deep burial conditions: a case of study from the Miocene Zhujiang Carbonate Reservoir, South China Sea. Mar Pet Geol 21:977–992

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siegesmund S, Török A, Hüpers A, Müller C, Klemm W (2007) Mineralogical, geochemical and microfabric evidences of gypsum crusts: a case study from Budapest. Environ Geol 52:385–397

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steiger M (2005) Crystal growth in porous materials II: influence of crystal size on the crystallization pressure. J Cryst Growth 282:470–481

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Timpanelli M (2003) La Pietra da Cantoni del Monferrato Casalese: salvaguardia e valorizzazione di un patrimonio scientifico, storico e culturale. GEAM, Dec 2003: 17–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Török A (2002) Oolitic limestone in polluted atmospheric environment in Budapest: weathering phenomena and alteration in physical properties. In: Siegsmund S, Weiss T, Vollbrecht A (eds) Natural stones, weathering phenomena, conservation strategies and case studies. Geol Soc London Spec Publ London, 205

    Google Scholar 

  • Török A, Rozgonyi N, Přikryl R, Přikrylová J (2004) Leithakalk: the ornamental and building stone of Central Europe, an overview. In: R Přikryl (ed) Dimension stone-new perspective for a traditional building material. Balkema Publishers

    Google Scholar 

  • Tucker ME (1981) Sedimentary petrology: an introduction. Blackwell Scientific Publications

    Google Scholar 

  • Vannucci S, Alessandrini G, Cassar J, Tampone G, Vannucci ML (1994) The prehistoric megalithic temples of the Maltese Islands: causes and processes of deterioration of Globigerina limestone. In: V Fassina, H Ott, F Zezza (eds) Conservation of monuments in the Mediterranean Basin, Proceedings of the 3rd international symposium, Soprintendenza di Beni Artistici e Storici di Venezia, Venice, Italy

    Google Scholar 

  • Vaziri-Moghaddam H, Kimiagari M, Taheri A (2006) Depositional environment and sequence stratigraphy of the Oligo-Miocene Asmari Formation in SW Iran. Facies 52:41–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vaziri-Moghaddam H, Kalanat B, Taheri A (2011) Sequence stratigraphy and depositional environment of the Oligocene deposits at Firozabad section, southwest of Iran based on microfacies analysis. Geopersia 1(1):71–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Violanti D, Frixa A, Natta C, Sassone P, Trenkwalder S (2008) Geologia e micropaleontologia della “Pietra da Cantoni” nel Monferrato Casalese (Piemonte, Italia NW): Esperienze di divulgazione, turismo culturale e tutela del territorio: Le giornate di Paleontologia, Siena, 9–12 Sept 2008

    Google Scholar 

  • Vrsaljko D, Hećimović I, Avanić R (2007a) Miocene deposits of Northern Croatia. In: Grgasović T, Vlahović I (eds) Ninth international symposium on fossil algae, field trip guidebook and abstracts. Croat Geol Survey, pp 143–153

    Google Scholar 

  • Vrsaljko D, Marković S, Grgasović T (2007b) Cathedral of the assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In: Grgasović T, Vlahović I (eds) Ninth international symposium on fossil algae, field trip guidebook and abstracts. Croat Geol Survey, p 155

    Google Scholar 

  • Wennberg OP, Svånå T, Azizzadeh A, Aqrawi AMM, Brockbank P, Lyslo KB, Ogilvie S (2006) Fracture intensity vs mechanical stratigraphy in platform top carbonates the Aquitanian of the Asmari Formation, Khaviz Anticline, Zagros, SW Iran. Pet Geosci 12:235–246

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the COCARDE – European Research Network (ESF) for the opportunity to discuss and share the knowledge and the concepts that inspired this manuscript. We would like to thank an anonymous referee for his constructive revision of an early draft of the manuscript, and Alessandro Cavallo, Milano-Bicocca University, for his useful suggestions and support. The first author has been funded through a PhD fellowship from University of Milano-Bicocca.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Scienze dell’Ambiente e del Territorio e di Scienze della Terra, Università di Milano Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 4, 20126, Milano, Italy

    Giovanni Coletti

  2. Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Univ. of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 4, 20126, Milan, Italy

    Daniela Basso

  3. Geologist, Via Bramante 3, 20098, San Giuliano Milanese, Italy

    Alfredo Frixa

Authors
  1. Giovanni Coletti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Daniela Basso
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Alfredo Frixa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Giovanni Coletti .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biología Marina, Universidad de Baja California Sur, La Paz, BCS, Mexico

    Rafael Riosmena-Rodríguez

  2. School of Biological Sciences University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

    Wendy Nelson

  3. Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain

    Julio Aguirre

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Coletti, G., Basso, D., Frixa, A. (2017). Economic Importance of Coralline Carbonates. In: Riosmena-Rodríguez, R., Nelson, W., Aguirre, J. (eds) Rhodolith/Maërl Beds: A Global Perspective. Coastal Research Library, vol 15. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29315-8_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation