More....on PINNACLE REEFS

What exactly does a pinnacle reef, or bioherm, look like?  The diagrams below show that a pinnacle reef is a tall, cylindrical mass of lime and limestone, coral and other carbonaceous materials.

 

Source:  Photograph by Randy Schaetzl, Professor of Geography - Michigan State University

Below are some models and detailed diagrams of just how these reefs (bioherms) develop and what they look like in cross-section.

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Seen from above, after quarrying, the reef would look like this (below):

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Digging deeper, a quarry in a pinnacle reef would appear like this (below):

Pinnacle reefs and the associated sedimentary rocks are tremendous sources of oil and gas, as illustrated in the diagram below.

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This material has been compiled for educational use only, and may not be reproduced without permission.  One copy may be printed for personal use.  Please contact Randall Schaetzl (soils@msu.edu) for more information or permissions.