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Beachrock

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Encyclopedia of Coastal Science

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Earth Science Series ((EESS))

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Formation and distribution of beachrock

Beachrock is defined by Scoffin and Stoddart (1987, p. 401) as “the consolidated deposit that results from lithification by calcium carbonate of sediment in the intertidal and spray zones of mainly tropical coasts.” Beachrock units form under a thin cover of sediment and generally overlie unconsolidated sand, although they may rest on any type of foundation. Maximum rates of subsurface beachrock cementation are thought to occur in the area of the beach that experiences the most wetting and drying—below the foreshore in the area of water table excursion between the neap low and high tide levels (Amieux et al., 1989; Higgins, 1994). Figure B49 shows a beachrock formation displaying typical attributes.

Figure B49
figure 1_1-4020-3880-1_44

Multiple unit beachrock exposure at barrio Rio Grande de Aguada, Puerto Rico. The sculpted morphology, development of a nearly vertical landward edge, and dark staining of outer surface by cyanobacteria indicate that this beachrock has...

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Cross-references

  1. Beach Features

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  2. Coral Reef Coasts

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  3. Eolianite

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  4. Rock Coast Processes

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  5. Sea-Level Indicators, Geomorphic

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Authors
  1. Robert J. Turner
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA

    Maurice L. Schwartz

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Turner, R.J. (2005). Beachrock. In: Schwartz, M.L. (eds) Encyclopedia of Coastal Science. Encyclopedia of Earth Science Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-3880-1_44

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