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dc.contributor.authorO'Leary, Mick
dc.contributor.authorHearty, P.
dc.contributor.authorMcculloch, M.
dc.date.accessioned2017-01-30T14:56:41Z
dc.date.available2017-01-30T14:56:41Z
dc.date.created2014-11-19T01:13:38Z
dc.date.issued2008
dc.identifier.citationO'Leary, M. and Hearty, P. and Mcculloch, M. 2008. Geomorphic evidence of major sea-level fluctuations during marine isotope substage-5e, Cape Cuvier, Western Australia. Geomorphology. 102 (3-4): pp. 595-602.
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/41970
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.geomorph.2008.06.004
dc.description.abstract

A detailed geomorphologic and morphostratigraphic investigation of raised marine terraces at Cape Cuvier, Western Australia, reveals two morphologically distinct units. A lower, well-developed accretional reef terrace between 3 and 5.5 m above MLWS (mean low-water springs; hereafter denoted as “+”) represents an extended interval of stable sea level. An upper erosional terrace and incipient coralgal rim between + 8.5 to 10.5 m represents a brief sea-level stillstand at this higher elevation. These features suggest the lower and upper terraces developed during discrete sea-level events. In an attempt to better define the timing of emplacement of each marine unit, 20 coral samples collected along vertical and lateral reef growth axis from both terraces were analysed with U-series dating. Unfortunately, all coral samples exhibited elevated d234Uinitial values, suggesting that pervasive uptake of 234U-enriched uranium and 230Th thorium had occurred. Despite the shortcomings of absolute dating, a succession of events can be resolved though morphostratigraphic relationships. Comparison of the facies relationships, coral growth, and morphostratigraphic features between the lower and upper terraces indicates that an early to mid MIS 5e stillstand at + 3 to 5 m was followed by a late rise to + 8.5 to 10.5 m. This agrees with an emerging global view of MIS 5e sea-level history derived from stable carbonate platforms, rejecting the hypothesis that these higher sea-level benchmarks are an artefact of localized tectonic processes.

dc.publisherElsevier BV
dc.subjectU-series
dc.subjectSea-level changes
dc.subjectCoral reefs
dc.subjectMIS 5e
dc.subjectCape Cuvier
dc.subjectMarine terraces
dc.titleGeomorphic evidence of major sea-level fluctuations during marine isotope substage-5e, Cape Cuvier, Western Australia
dc.typeJournal Article
dcterms.source.volume102
dcterms.source.number3-4
dcterms.source.startPage595
dcterms.source.endPage602
dcterms.source.issn0169-555X
dcterms.source.titleGeomorphology
curtin.accessStatusFulltext not available


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