The late Visean-Serpukhovian Stage in Paleozoic reef formation

摘要

The late Visean-Serpukhovian reef-formation stage is separated by a short-term period from the preceding Famennian-Tournaisian stage of dominant mud mounds development and by a longer period from the Late Carbonaceous-Permian reef formation. Algae and bryozoans were main reef-building organisms associated with less significant crinoids and foraminifers. Late Visean-Serpukhovian reefs formed mainly in the tropical and and climatic belts between 10 degrees-15 degrees S and 30 degrees N. A wide spectrum of organogenic buildups, from simple biostromes and bioherms to thick intricate differentiated reefs of different types, developed at that time in diverse geodynamic settings of passive and active margins, volcanic arcs, postorogenic, rift, and stable intraplate structures.