Focus on Sedimentary Environments

Modern subtropical carbonate beach

Sombrero Beach, Marathon, Florida Keys, USA

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shell exterior
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1. A bivalve mollusc shell, exterior view
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shell interior
 
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2. Interior of the mollusc shell seen above
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shell exterior
 
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3. Another bivalve shell, exterior view
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shell interior
 
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4. Interior view of the bivalve shell above
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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.

 


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