Frustration expressed by many researchers attempting to compare modern and ancient reefs is in large part due to critical flaws in present-day models. Most of these models are based on limited examples from Florida and the Bahamas, and they generally focus in constructional processes in the shallowest portions of the reef. Recent studies have shown that patterns of accretion need not mimic the ability of organisms on the reef surface to produce calcium carbonate. Secondary processes that break down and constantly reorganize the reef interior lead to depositional facies that are dominated by detrital fabrics, with significant accretion occurring in deeper forereef areas. This project will collect core data from Caribbean reef environments along recognized gradients in both physical process and surficial character of the reefs. At each locality, cores collected along the entire shelf profile will provide informaiton on the overall reef system rather than limitation to the shallow, exposed reef crests that have been the focus of most studies to date. %%% The internal structure of modern carbonate reefs in deep water is largely unknown due to the inaccessibility to precise sampling. This project will use a newly designed drilling system to recover samples of coral reefs in Caribbean Sea. The samples will reveal how coral reefs grow, the control of supply and sealevel on that growth, and extend our knowledge of reef processes from the present understanding of shallow water to deep water processes.
