Focus on Sedimentary Environments

Modern subtropical carbonate beach

Sombrero Beach, Marathon, Florida Keys, USA

	1. A bivalve mollusc shell, exterior view

	2. Interior of the mollusc shell seen above

	3. Another bivalve shell, exterior view

	4. Interior view of the bivalve shell above

Modification of carbonate grains

Both the shells seen above have been modified on the sea floor, since the death of the bivalves.

Examine the shells, and list the processes which may have been responsible for these modifications.

Page © ; last updated 29 July, 2002