Publication

Book	Proceedings of the 15th Symposium on the Geology of the Bahamas and other carbonate regions
Editor	, D.G. Gamble and P. Kindler
Publisher	Gerace Research Center, San Salvador Bahamas
Page(s)	82 - 95
ISBN	0-935909-91-5
Title of proceedings	Proceedings of the 15th Symposium on the Geology of the Bahamas and other carbonate regions

The Pleistocene sequences covering West Caicos Island (Caicos Platform) show a more complicated geometry than previously thought and provide a good example of lateral and chronological variability of sediments deposited during the same sea-level history. Studied core transects at Boat Cove and Company Point on the western coast of the island display several vertically stacked, shallowing-upward sedimentary sequences comprising peri-reefal and/or oolitic facies, separated by soil zones. Previous interpretations proposed that these sequences were formed during distinct and successive interglacial sea-level highstands of the Pleistocene, whereas pedogenic horizons were correlated with glacial lowstands. Our new geochronological data show that the uppermost two sequences observed at the studied locations were both deposited during the last interglacial period, suggesting an intricate sea-level history during this time period. In addition, the underlying sequence at Boat Cove must not be correlated with the penultimate interglacial highstand, but with an older highstand event in the middle Pleistocene. This example of lateral and temporal variability of meter-scale sequences must be remembered when applying cyclostratigraphic concepts to older carbonate successions.