As recentes descobertas de acumulações gigantes de hidrocarboneto nas coquinas e outras rochas carbonáticas lacustres das supersequência Rifte e Pós-Rifte (pré-sal) das Bacias de Campos e Santos tem fomentado uma série de pesquisas focadas em entender a gênese destes reservatórios singulares. Esta pesquisa se concentra em entender o modelo deposicional e evolução das rochas bioclásticas retrabalhadas e demais rochas associadas pertencentes a Formação Coqueiros, depositadas em alto externo no norte da Bacia de Campos, durante a transição entre as fases final de rifte e sag, a partir da integração de dados petrográficos de amostras laterais e testemunho, dados sísmicos e de perfis de poços. Sete fácies carbonáticas, duas magnesianas, uma siliciclástica e três híbridas foram definidas a partir de análise combinando informações de amostras laterais e estruturas sedimentares interpretadas em perfis de imagem. Rudstones e grainstones bioclásticos com moderado a alto retrabalhamento das conchas representam 65% das amostras descritas. Diversas evidências apontam para um ambiente deposicional lacustre predominantemente raso, dominado por correntes de tempestades, sendo as principais: (i) presença de rudstones com estratificações cruzadas de alto ângulo (>14°) e paleo-correntes de longshore; (ii) ocorrência pontual de sedimentos lamosos intercalados a espessos pacotes de rudstones bioclásticos amalgamados, indicando ambiente sujeito a correntes de maior energia, acima da zona de ação de ondas de tempo bom; (iii) predomínio de depósitos de rudstones desprovidos de matriz sobre o alto estrutural, com grande continuidade lateral, coerentes com processos de tempestades atuantes sobre amplas áreas de lago raso; (iv) depósitos de rudstones maciços, com conchas desorganizadas, semelhantes aos depósitos bioclásticos costeiros modernos da Califórnia e de Shark Bay. Três conjuntos de associação de fácies são propostos : (i) conjunto de alta energia, representado por rudstones e grainstones bioclásticos desprovidos de matriz, depositados entre as regiões de shoreface e berma, acima do nível de ação de onda de tempo bom (FWB); (ii) conjunto de baixa energia, formado pelas fácies hibridas com matriz lamosa ou peloidal e demais fácies de granulometria inferior à areia média, depositados abaixo do FWB ou em ambientes rasos protegidos (backshore); (iii) conjunto formado principalmente por facies de oóides argilo-magnesianos, cujo controle é dado pela composição mais alcalina da água do lago. Blocos diagramas dos modelos deposicionais de cada uma das cinco unidades sismo-estratigráfica estabelecidas para a Formação Coqueiros na área de estudo permitiram inferir a evolução das associações de fácies ao longo do tempo, evidenciando uma tendência geral de raseamento do lago, culminando com a discordância Pré-Neo-Alagoas (DPA). O padrão de paleo-correntes sugere atuação de mais de uma direção de vento sobre o alto externo, um mais forte vindo de noroeste e outro mais brando vindo de sudeste, resultando em fácies bioclásticas limpas de matriz e com bom potencial como reservatório em ambos os flancos do alto estrutural. Estas direções de ventos propostas para o Eobarremiano e Neoaptiano no norte da Bacia de Campos são de extrema importância para prever a localização das melhores fácies deposicionais da Fm. Coqueiros em outras áreas alvo de exploração de hidrocarboneto. / Recent discoveries of giant hydrocarbon accumulations in coquinas and other lacustrine carbonate rocks of Rift and Post-Rift (pre-salt) supersequences of Campos and Santos Basins have stimulated a series of studies focused on understanding the genesis of these unique reservoirs. An integrated petrologic-sedimentologic-stratigraphic-seismic study of Coqueiros Formation allowed characterizing the depositional model and evolution of reworked bioclastic rocks and other associated rocks deposited on the external high in the north of Campos Basin during the transition between late rift and sag stages. Seven carbonatic facies were defined from analysis combining information from sidewall core and sedimentary structures interpreted in image logs, in addition to one siliciclastic, two magnesian, and three hybrids facies. Bioclastic rudstones and grainstones with moderate to high reworking of the shells represent 65% of the samples described. Several pieces of evidences point to a predominantly shallow lacustrine depositional environment, dominated by storm currents: (i) presence of rudstones with high-angle cross-bedding (>14°) and longshore paleocurrents; (ii) limited occurrence of muddy sediments interbedded with thick packages of amalgamated bioclastic rudstones, indicating environment subject to high energy currents, above the fairweather wave base (FWB); (iii) predominance of rudstones deposits devoid of matrix on the structural high, with great lateral continuity, consistent with processes of storms acting on large areas of shallow lake; (iv) deposits of massive rudstones, with disorganized shells, similar to the modern coastal bioclastic deposits of California and Shark Bay. Three sets of facies association are proposed: (i) high energy set, represented by bioclastic rudstones and grainstones devoid of matrix, deposited between the shoreface and berm regions, above the FWB; (ii) low energy set, formed by hybrid facies with muddy or peloidal matrix and other facies of grain-size finer than medium sand, deposited below the FWB or in protected shallow environments (backshore); (iii) and an alkaline set, formed mainly by magnesian clay ooids, whose control is given by the more alkaline composition of lake water. Block diagrams of each of the five seismic-stratigraphic units, established for the Coqueiros Formation in the study area allowed to infer the evolution of the facies associations over time, demonstrate the general falling of relative lake level culminating in the pre-Neo-Alagoas unconformity (DPA). Paleocurrents suggests the activity of more than one wind direction over the external high, the stronger coming from northwest and a milder one coming from southeast, resulting in clean matrix bioclastic facies with good reservoir potential on both flanks of the structural high. These proposed wind directions for the Eobarremian and Neoaptian in the north of Campos Basin is extremely important to predict the location of the best depositional facies of the Coqueiros Formation in other target areas for hydrocarbon exploration.

As recentes descobertas de acumulações gigantes de hidrocarboneto nas coquinas e outras rochas carbonáticas lacustres das supersequência Rifte e Pós-Rifte (pré-sal) das Bacias de Campos e Santos tem fomentado uma série de pesquisas focadas em entender a gênese destes reservatórios singulares. Esta pesquisa se concentra em entender o modelo deposicional e evolução das rochas bioclásticas retrabalhadas e demais rochas associadas pertencentes a Formação Coqueiros, depositadas em alto externo no norte da Bacia de Campos, durante a transição entre as fases final de rifte e sag, a partir da integração de dados petrográficos de amostras laterais e testemunho, dados sísmicos e de perfis de poços. Sete fácies carbonáticas, duas magnesianas, uma siliciclástica e três híbridas foram definidas a partir de análise combinando informações de amostras laterais e estruturas sedimentares interpretadas em perfis de imagem. Rudstones e grainstones bioclásticos com moderado a alto retrabalhamento das conchas representam 65% das amostras descritas. Diversas evidências apontam para um ambiente deposicional lacustre predominantemente raso, dominado por correntes de tempestades, sendo as principais: (i) presença de rudstones com estratificações cruzadas de alto ângulo (>14°) e paleo-correntes de longshore; (ii) ocorrência pontual de sedimentos lamosos intercalados a espessos pacotes de rudstones bioclásticos amalgamados, indicando ambiente sujeito a correntes de maior energia, acima da zona de ação de ondas de tempo bom; (iii) predomínio de depósitos de rudstones desprovidos de matriz sobre o alto estrutural, com grande continuidade lateral, coerentes com processos de tempestades atuantes sobre amplas áreas de lago raso; (iv) depósitos de rudstones maciços, com conchas desorganizadas, semelhantes aos depósitos bioclásticos costeiros modernos da Califórnia e de Shark Bay. Três conjuntos de associação de fácies são propostos : (i) conjunto de alta energia, representado por rudstones e grainstones bioclásticos desprovidos de matriz, depositados entre as regiões de shoreface e berma, acima do nível de ação de onda de tempo bom (FWB); (ii) conjunto de baixa energia, formado pelas fácies hibridas com matriz lamosa ou peloidal e demais fácies de granulometria inferior à areia média, depositados abaixo do FWB ou em ambientes rasos protegidos (backshore); (iii) conjunto formado principalmente por facies de oóides argilo-magnesianos, cujo controle é dado pela composição mais alcalina da água do lago. Blocos diagramas dos modelos deposicionais de cada uma das cinco unidades sismo-estratigráfica estabelecidas para a Formação Coqueiros na área de estudo permitiram inferir a evolução das associações de fácies ao longo do tempo, evidenciando uma tendência geral de raseamento do lago, culminando com a discordância Pré-Neo-Alagoas (DPA). O padrão de paleo-correntes sugere atuação de mais de uma direção de vento sobre o alto externo, um mais forte vindo de noroeste e outro mais brando vindo de sudeste, resultando em fácies bioclásticas limpas de matriz e com bom potencial como reservatório em ambos os flancos do alto estrutural. Estas direções de ventos propostas para o Eobarremiano e Neoaptiano no norte da Bacia de Campos são de extrema importância para prever a localização das melhores fácies deposicionais da Fm. Coqueiros em outras áreas alvo de exploração de hidrocarboneto. / Recent discoveries of giant hydrocarbon accumulations in coquinas and other lacustrine carbonate rocks of Rift and Post-Rift (pre-salt) supersequences of Campos and Santos Basins have stimulated a series of studies focused on understanding the genesis of these unique reservoirs. An integrated petrologic-sedimentologic-stratigraphic-seismic study of Coqueiros Formation allowed characterizing the depositional model and evolution of reworked bioclastic rocks and other associated rocks deposited on the external high in the north of Campos Basin during the transition between late rift and sag stages. Seven carbonatic facies were defined from analysis combining information from sidewall core and sedimentary structures interpreted in image logs, in addition to one siliciclastic, two magnesian, and three hybrids facies. Bioclastic rudstones and grainstones with moderate to high reworking of the shells represent 65% of the samples described. Several pieces of evidences point to a predominantly shallow lacustrine depositional environment, dominated by storm currents: (i) presence of rudstones with high-angle cross-bedding (>14°) and longshore paleocurrents; (ii) limited occurrence of muddy sediments interbedded with thick packages of amalgamated bioclastic rudstones, indicating environment subject to high energy currents, above the fairweather wave base (FWB); (iii) predominance of rudstones deposits devoid of matrix on the structural high, with great lateral continuity, consistent with processes of storms acting on large areas of shallow lake; (iv) deposits of massive rudstones, with disorganized shells, similar to the modern coastal bioclastic deposits of California and Shark Bay. Three sets of facies association are proposed: (i) high energy set, represented by bioclastic rudstones and grainstones devoid of matrix, deposited between the shoreface and berm regions, above the FWB; (ii) low energy set, formed by hybrid facies with muddy or peloidal matrix and other facies of grain-size finer than medium sand, deposited below the FWB or in protected shallow environments (backshore); (iii) and an alkaline set, formed mainly by magnesian clay ooids, whose control is given by the more alkaline composition of lake water. Block diagrams of each of the five seismic-stratigraphic units, established for the Coqueiros Formation in the study area allowed to infer the evolution of the facies associations over time, demonstrate the general falling of relative lake level culminating in the pre-Neo-Alagoas unconformity (DPA). Paleocurrents suggests the activity of more than one wind direction over the external high, the stronger coming from northwest and a milder one coming from southeast, resulting in clean matrix bioclastic facies with good reservoir potential on both flanks of the structural high. These proposed wind directions for the Eobarremian and Neoaptian in the north of Campos Basin is extremely important to predict the location of the best depositional facies of the Coqueiros Formation in other target areas for hydrocarbon exploration.

As recentes descobertas de acumulações gigantes de hidrocarboneto nas coquinas e outras rochas carbonáticas lacustres das supersequência Rifte e Pós-Rifte (pré-sal) das Bacias de Campos e Santos tem fomentado uma série de pesquisas focadas em entender a gênese destes reservatórios singulares. Esta pesquisa se concentra em entender o modelo deposicional e evolução das rochas bioclásticas retrabalhadas e demais rochas associadas pertencentes a Formação Coqueiros, depositadas em alto externo no norte da Bacia de Campos, durante a transição entre as fases final de rifte e sag, a partir da integração de dados petrográficos de amostras laterais e testemunho, dados sísmicos e de perfis de poços. Sete fácies carbonáticas, duas magnesianas, uma siliciclástica e três híbridas foram definidas a partir de análise combinando informações de amostras laterais e estruturas sedimentares interpretadas em perfis de imagem. Rudstones e grainstones bioclásticos com moderado a alto retrabalhamento das conchas representam 65% das amostras descritas. Diversas evidências apontam para um ambiente deposicional lacustre predominantemente raso, dominado por correntes de tempestades, sendo as principais: (i) presença de rudstones com estratificações cruzadas de alto ângulo (>14°) e paleo-correntes de longshore; (ii) ocorrência pontual de sedimentos lamosos intercalados a espessos pacotes de rudstones bioclásticos amalgamados, indicando ambiente sujeito a correntes de maior energia, acima da zona de ação de ondas de tempo bom; (iii) predomínio de depósitos de rudstones desprovidos de matriz sobre o alto estrutural, com grande continuidade lateral, coerentes com processos de tempestades atuantes sobre amplas áreas de lago raso; (iv) depósitos de rudstones maciços, com conchas desorganizadas, semelhantes aos depósitos bioclásticos costeiros modernos da Califórnia e de Shark Bay. Três conjuntos de associação de fácies são propostos : (i) conjunto de alta energia, representado por rudstones e grainstones bioclásticos desprovidos de matriz, depositados entre as regiões de shoreface e berma, acima do nível de ação de onda de tempo bom (FWB); (ii) conjunto de baixa energia, formado pelas fácies hibridas com matriz lamosa ou peloidal e demais fácies de granulometria inferior à areia média, depositados abaixo do FWB ou em ambientes rasos protegidos (backshore); (iii) conjunto formado principalmente por facies de oóides argilo-magnesianos, cujo controle é dado pela composição mais alcalina da água do lago. Blocos diagramas dos modelos deposicionais de cada uma das cinco unidades sismo-estratigráfica estabelecidas para a Formação Coqueiros na área de estudo permitiram inferir a evolução das associações de fácies ao longo do tempo, evidenciando uma tendência geral de raseamento do lago, culminando com a discordância Pré-Neo-Alagoas (DPA). O padrão de paleo-correntes sugere atuação de mais de uma direção de vento sobre o alto externo, um mais forte vindo de noroeste e outro mais brando vindo de sudeste, resultando em fácies bioclásticas limpas de matriz e com bom potencial como reservatório em ambos os flancos do alto estrutural. Estas direções de ventos propostas para o Eobarremiano e Neoaptiano no norte da Bacia de Campos são de extrema importância para prever a localização das melhores fácies deposicionais da Fm. Coqueiros em outras áreas alvo de exploração de hidrocarboneto. / Recent discoveries of giant hydrocarbon accumulations in coquinas and other lacustrine carbonate rocks of Rift and Post-Rift (pre-salt) supersequences of Campos and Santos Basins have stimulated a series of studies focused on understanding the genesis of these unique reservoirs. An integrated petrologic-sedimentologic-stratigraphic-seismic study of Coqueiros Formation allowed characterizing the depositional model and evolution of reworked bioclastic rocks and other associated rocks deposited on the external high in the north of Campos Basin during the transition between late rift and sag stages. Seven carbonatic facies were defined from analysis combining information from sidewall core and sedimentary structures interpreted in image logs, in addition to one siliciclastic, two magnesian, and three hybrids facies. Bioclastic rudstones and grainstones with moderate to high reworking of the shells represent 65% of the samples described. Several pieces of evidences point to a predominantly shallow lacustrine depositional environment, dominated by storm currents: (i) presence of rudstones with high-angle cross-bedding (>14°) and longshore paleocurrents; (ii) limited occurrence of muddy sediments interbedded with thick packages of amalgamated bioclastic rudstones, indicating environment subject to high energy currents, above the fairweather wave base (FWB); (iii) predominance of rudstones deposits devoid of matrix on the structural high, with great lateral continuity, consistent with processes of storms acting on large areas of shallow lake; (iv) deposits of massive rudstones, with disorganized shells, similar to the modern coastal bioclastic deposits of California and Shark Bay. Three sets of facies association are proposed: (i) high energy set, represented by bioclastic rudstones and grainstones devoid of matrix, deposited between the shoreface and berm regions, above the FWB; (ii) low energy set, formed by hybrid facies with muddy or peloidal matrix and other facies of grain-size finer than medium sand, deposited below the FWB or in protected shallow environments (backshore); (iii) and an alkaline set, formed mainly by magnesian clay ooids, whose control is given by the more alkaline composition of lake water. Block diagrams of each of the five seismic-stratigraphic units, established for the Coqueiros Formation in the study area allowed to infer the evolution of the facies associations over time, demonstrate the general falling of relative lake level culminating in the pre-Neo-Alagoas unconformity (DPA). Paleocurrents suggests the activity of more than one wind direction over the external high, the stronger coming from northwest and a milder one coming from southeast, resulting in clean matrix bioclastic facies with good reservoir potential on both flanks of the structural high. These proposed wind directions for the Eobarremian and Neoaptian in the north of Campos Basin is extremely important to predict the location of the best depositional facies of the Coqueiros Formation in other target areas for hydrocarbon exploration.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / A beach is an accumulation on the shore of unconsolidated sediment and its composition and texture are directly related to the available source of material and the coastal processes that modify the sediments during long periods. Coastal and shallow marine sediments are usually of heterogeneous nature, composed of variable mixtures of siliciclastic and bioclastic particles. Surface samples collected in the beach face from eighteen stations along south Alagoas coast were analyzed concerning textural and compositional characteristics. Mean grain size and sorting were obtained through dry mechanical sieving, with processing of the samples using the SYSGRAN package. Three hundred grains were identified for each grain size class coarser than 0.125 mm. Compositional analysis was carried out with the identification of 300 grains for each grain size class coarser than 0.125 mm. Grain size distribution ranged from medium sand to very fine sand with predominance of the latter, mostly moderately sorted. Coarser sands were found in Pontal do Peba and in the narrow beaches of Miaí de Cima and Barreiras. The sedimentation in the studied beaches showed predominance of siliciclastic grains, mainly quartz. The highest concentrations of bioclastic grains are near the Ponta do Peba bank and the north of this point the proportion of bioclasts gradually decreases. The main biogenic components are molluscs shells and fragments of red algae and Halimeda. Echinoderms spines and fragments, bryozoans and foraminifera tests also contribute significantly to the beach deposit. The sediment distribution pattern suggests that in addition to the grains originated from the hinterland, the continental shelf constitutes an important sediment source for the beaches. / As praias constituem depósitos de material inconsolidado cuja composição e textura estão diretamente relacionadas com a fonte de material disponível e os processos costeiros que modificam os sedimentos durante longos períodos. Sedimentos marinhos rasos e costeiros são comumente de natureza heterogênea, compostos por misturas variáveis de partículas silicilásticas e bioclasticas. Amostras superficiais coletadas na face de praia de dezoito estações distribuídas ao longo de 36 km de litoral no sul de Alagoas foram analisadas quanto a composição e aspectos texturais. A granulometria e grau de seleção foram obtidos através do peneiramento mecânico a seco, com processamento das amostras no Sistema de Análises Granulométricas (SYSGRAN). Trezentos grãos aleatórios de cada fração ganulométrica superior a 0,125mm foram identificados por meio de lupa binocular. A granulometria oscilou entre areia média e areia muito fina, com predomínio da última, em maioria moderadamente selecionadas. Sedimentos de granulometria mais grossa foram encontrados no Pontal do Peba e nas estreitas praias de Miaí de Cima e Barreiras. A sedimentação nas praias estudadas mostrou predomínio de grãos siliciclásticos, sobretudo quartzo. As maiores concentrações de grãos bioclásticos estão nas proximidades do Pontal do Peba e a norte deste ponto a proporção de bioclastos gradualmente diminui.Os principais componentes biogênicos encontrados foram as conchas de moluscos e fragmentos de algas vermelhas e Halimeda. Espinhos e fragmentos de equinodermos, briozoários e carapaças de foraminíferos também contribuem expressivamente para o depósito praial. O padrão de distribuição dos sedimentos sugere que, além dos grãos oriundos do interior do continente, a plataforma continental constitui uma importante fonte de sedimentos para as praias.

The Chatham Islands are located in the SW Pacific Ocean, approximately 850 km to the east of the South Island of New Zealand. This small group of islands is situated near the eastern margin of the Chatham Rise, an elongated section of submerged continental crust that represents part of the Late Paleozoic-Mesozoic Gondwana accretionary margin. The location and much of the geology of the Chatham Islands are attributed to intra-plate basaltic volcanism, initiated during the Late Cretaceous, in association with development of a failed rifting system to the south of the Chatham Rise. Despite the volcanic nature of much of the geology, the majority of the Cenozoic sedimentary stratigraphic record on the islands comprises non-tropical skeletal carbonate deposits whose deposition was often coeval with submarine volcanics and volcaniclastic deposits. This has resulted in complex stratigraphic relationships, with the volcanic geology exerting a strong influence on the geometry and distribution of the carbonate deposits. These limestones, despite some general field descriptions, have been little studied and are especially poorly understood from a petrographic and diagenetic perspective. The carbonate geology in detail comprises eleven discrete limestone units of Late Cretaceous through to Pleistocene age which were studied during two consecutive field expeditions over the summers of 2005 and 2006. These limestone occurrences are best exposed in scattered coastal outcrops where they form prominent rugged bluffs. While many of the younger (Oligocene to Pliocene) outcrops comprise of poorly exposed, thin and eroded limestone remnants (it;5 m thick), older (Late Paleocene to Early Oligocene) exposures can be up to 100 m in thickness. The character of these limestones is highly variable. In outcrop they display a broad range of textures and skeletal compositions, often exhibit cross-bedding, display differing degrees of porosity occlusion by cementation, and may include rare silicified horizons and evidence of hardground formation. Petrographically the limestones are skeletal grainstones and packstones with a typical compositional makeup of about 70% skeletal material, 10% siliciclasts, and 20% cement/matrix. Localised increases in siliciclastics occur where the carbonates are diluted by locally-derived volcaniclastics. The spectrum of skeletal assemblages identified within the Chatham Island limestones is diverse and appears in many cases to be comparable to the bryozoan dominant types common in mainland New Zealand and mid-latitude Australian cool-water carbonates in general. However, some key departures from the expected cool-water carbonate skeletal makeup have been identified in this study. The occurrence of stromatolitic algal mats in Late Cretaceous and Early Eocene carbonate deposits indicates not cool-temperate, but certainly warm-temperate paleoclimatic conditions. A change to cool-temperate conditions is recorded in the limestone flora/fauna from the mid-Late Miocene times following the development and later northward movement of the Subtropical Front. An uncharacteristic mix of shallow-shelf (bryozoans) and deeper water fauna (planktic foraminifera), together with their highly fragmented and abraded nature, is indicative of the likely remobilisation and redistribution of carbonate, primarily during episodic storm events. The Chatham Islands limestones formed within the relative tectonic stability of an oceanic island setting, which was conducive to ongoing carbonate accumulation throughout much of the Cenozoic. This contrasts markedly with other mainland New Zealand shelf carbonates which formed over sporadic and short-lived geological periods, experiencing greater degrees of burial cementation controlled by a relatively more active tectonic setting. As a consequence of the tectonically stable setting, the Chatham Islands limestones have experienced little burial and exhibit a paucity of burial cementation effects. They remain commonly soft and friable. Detailed petrographic investigations have shown the limestones are variably cemented by rare uneven acicular spar fringes, poorly to well-developed syntaxial rim cements about echinoderm fragments, and equant/blocky microsparite. Staining of thin sections and cathodoluminescence petrography show these spar cement generations are non-ferroan and their very dull- to non-luminescent nature supports precipitation from Mn-poor oxygenated waters, likely of an either meteoric or combined marine/shallow burial origin. Micrite is the dominant intra- and inter-particle pore fill and occurs both as a microbioclastic matrix and as precipitated homogenous and/or micropeloidal cement. The rare fringing cements often seen in association with homogenous and/or micropeloidal micrite may be indicative of true early marine (seafloor) cement precipitation and localised hardground development. An interesting feature of the geology of the Chatham Islands is the occurrence of carbonate material within sedimentary dykes. The locations of the dykes are in association with volcanic and volcaniclastic deposits. Similarities between dyke characteristics at Red Bluff on Chatham Island with mainland occurrences from East Coast and Canterbury Basins (North and South Islands, respectively) on mainland New Zealand have been recognised. They show complex structures including sidewall striations, internal flow structures as revealed by grain sorting, and extra-clast inclusions of previous fill lithologies which are characteristic of carbonate injection. This is in contrast to other dykes which are known to be of a passive fill origin. Multiple phases of carbonate sediment injection can be recognised by crosscutting relationships enabling the determination of a parasequence of events. Possible injection mechanisms are most likely associated with sediment overloading or hydrothermal pressurisation associated with emplacement of submarine volcanics. The Chatham Islands provide an exciting example of a geologically unique and complex non-tropical carbonate depositional setting. The production of carbonates is controlled by volcanic and volcaniclastic sediment input with the types of carbonate deposits and water depth variations related to thermal uplift/subsidence in association with global eustatic sealevel and temperature changes associated with development of Southern Ocean water fronts from the Late Cretaceous-Cenozoic. Carbonate deposition on the Chatham Islands is considered to relate to a rather variable and small scale oceanic, high energy, cool-water carbonate ramp setting whose geometry was continually evolving/changing as a consequence of periodic volcanic episodes.

Numerous organisms produce ornately detailed inorganic structures (often known as shells) with features on length scales from 50 nm to several centimeters. One class of such organisms are the diatoms; microscopic algae that form silica frustules. Another group of algae, the coccolithophorids, produce similar calcium carbonate structures. Over 100,000 species comprise these two classes of algae, every one of which is endowed with a unique cytoskeleton structure. Using various types of displacement reactions, the chemistry of the original structure can be modified to produce a new material. Magnesium vapor has been found to displace the silicon in diatom frustules to yield an MgO structure. The conversion has been reported at temperatures from 650°C to 900°C. In the current work, the conversion and processing of silica frustules to MgO was examined in depth. The effect of reaction temperature on grain size and extent of conversion was evaluated. With the goal of obtaining high purity MgO structures, various methods for removing the silicon products of reaction were investigated. Wet chemistry and high temperature vapor etches were evaluated. The MgO reaction served as an intermediate step in the production of magnesium tungstate diatoms, which were imbued with photoluminescent properties. Reactions were identified to allow the conversion of calcium carbonate (calcite) structures to alternative chemistries. Calcite sand-dollars were converted to calcium tungstate or calcium molybdate by aqueous solution chemistry. In this process, sand dollar tests (shells) and coccolithophore frustules were reacted with ammonium para-molybdate or ammonium para-tungstate. The reactions were evaluated for shape preservation, phase purity, and photoluminescence of the structures.