Here is an explanation of why we might find a dolomitize reef at Triceratops.
These reefs are built in shallow marine environments by the small sea animals known as Corals. It is my understanding that these creatures only live in the “shallow” marine areas. These coral reefs are sometimes as much as 2,000 meters thick. The reefs form near the coast in shallow water while the limestone platforms form in deeper water and further off shore.
It is also my understanding that for the coral or limestone reefs to be converted to dolomite they need to be exposed to weathering that might be expected to occur when the reefs are exposed to the wave or splash zone and probably to fresh water or rain water. It is still not clearly understood exactly how this dolomitazation process works. Over a period of many millions of years these reefs might have been exposed to the surface many times and then re-submerged in the ocean and eventually buried thousands of feet below the surface. During the burial process the reef would have been exposed to higher temperature and ground water. Now when these reefs were exposed to the surface the wave action and/or the rain would have eroded off some of the top of the coral reef. When this erosion happened these little shallow water coral creatures (now dead) would have been washed off the top of the reef and they would have been re-deposited in the deep marine environment off shore. If we find shallow marine fossils in a deep marine environment this means they were moved to that location from a higher, up slope location because they do not normally live in this deeper environment. When we find these shallow water creatures in a deep water environment it is an indication that there is a shallow water reef in the area. The seismic tells us where that reef is located.
Now re-look at http://tinyurl.com/pppev9r chart 21 to see if you have a better understanding of what they are saying.
So nearly a year ago they told us that:
1. That we had structural closure. So we have a structural high that looks like a reef.
2. The seismic is analogous to Antelope which we know is a reef.
3. The Petrographic Study sees the same shallow water creatures in the deep water environment (Bwata-1) of Triceratops as was seen at the down slope deep water Antelope-4 location.
Since that time we have acquired additional seismic data at Triceratops which has severed to strengthen and enhance all of the above. The structure looks “bigger and broader”.
I have mentioned several times before that there may be more reef to the West and Northwest of what is shown on http://tinyurl.com/q374x8c chart 17 (Phase 3 map on the right side of the chart). This map may be showing Bwata East and Bwata (Now known as Triceratops). Could the area to the west of this map be Bwata West? (or shall we call it Greater Triceratops and include all three reefal areas?)
See http://tinyurl.com/mbvl2fm chart 24. They said they thought West Bwata had the characteristics of a reef as far back as November 2010.
Have a good day!!
These reefs are built in shallow marine environments by the small sea animals known as Corals. It is my understanding that these creatures only live in the “shallow” marine areas. These coral reefs are sometimes as much as 2,000 meters thick. The reefs form near the coast in shallow water while the limestone platforms form in deeper water and further off shore.
It is also my understanding that for the coral or limestone reefs to be converted to dolomite they need to be exposed to weathering that might be expected to occur when the reefs are exposed to the wave or splash zone and probably to fresh water or rain water. It is still not clearly understood exactly how this dolomitazation process works. Over a period of many millions of years these reefs might have been exposed to the surface many times and then re-submerged in the ocean and eventually buried thousands of feet below the surface. During the burial process the reef would have been exposed to higher temperature and ground water. Now when these reefs were exposed to the surface the wave action and/or the rain would have eroded off some of the top of the coral reef. When this erosion happened these little shallow water coral creatures (now dead) would have been washed off the top of the reef and they would have been re-deposited in the deep marine environment off shore. If we find shallow marine fossils in a deep marine environment this means they were moved to that location from a higher, up slope location because they do not normally live in this deeper environment. When we find these shallow water creatures in a deep water environment it is an indication that there is a shallow water reef in the area. The seismic tells us where that reef is located.
Now re-look at http://tinyurl.com/pppev9r chart 21 to see if you have a better understanding of what they are saying.
So nearly a year ago they told us that:
1. That we had structural closure. So we have a structural high that looks like a reef.
2. The seismic is analogous to Antelope which we know is a reef.
3. The Petrographic Study sees the same shallow water creatures in the deep water environment (Bwata-1) of Triceratops as was seen at the down slope deep water Antelope-4 location.
Since that time we have acquired additional seismic data at Triceratops which has severed to strengthen and enhance all of the above. The structure looks “bigger and broader”.
I have mentioned several times before that there may be more reef to the West and Northwest of what is shown on http://tinyurl.com/q374x8c chart 17 (Phase 3 map on the right side of the chart). This map may be showing Bwata East and Bwata (Now known as Triceratops). Could the area to the west of this map be Bwata West? (or shall we call it Greater Triceratops and include all three reefal areas?)
See http://tinyurl.com/mbvl2fm chart 24. They said they thought West Bwata had the characteristics of a reef as far back as November 2010.
Have a good day!!
