Key to the Identification of Carbonate Rocks

Page One
PURE
MICRITE
No MICRITE
allochems

Fossils few
widely Micrite
Fossil
scattered BIO
< 10 % matrix MICRITE
< 50%
Fossils matrix
frequently seen
supported
broken and in
cross-section
Fossils
moderately Micrite Sparce
A l l ochems scattered
and not touching abundant matrix BIO
10 - 50 % MICRITE
FOSSILS
PRESENT Packed
Micrite
matrix
BIO
> 50% MICRITE
grain
supported
Sparite Packed
Fossils closely spaced
and supporting interstitial BIO
each other;
supporting contacts
material SPARITE
not always seen in
cross section

FOSSILS > BIO OO-

MICRITE or
Oolites SPARITE
Fossils and
Oolites
both present
OOLITES > OO BIO-
MICRITE or
Fossils SPARITE

In OO-
SPARITE SPARITE
OOLITES
PRESENT
In OO-
Millimeter size; MICRITE MICRITE
Concentrically
layered pearl-
like spheres

L.S. Fichter, 1993

 Key to the Identification of Carbonate Rocks
Page Two
Dull irregular Intraclasts Medium
chunks of INTRA-
micrite or
dolomite
4 - 16 mm MICRITE
INTRA- Intraclasts Coarse
CLASTS 16 -64 mm INTRA-
PRESENT MICRITE

Intraclasts Vry Crs

INTRA-
> 64 mm MICRITE

Intraclasts
INTRA
PEL-
> Pellets MICRITE
Intraclasts
& Pellets
both present PEL
Pellets >
Intraclasts INTRA-
MICRITE

In PEL-
SPARITE SPARITE
FECAL
PELLETS
PRESENT
In PEL-
Dull, oval to round; MICRITE MICRITE
no concentric layering
millimeter sizes

Allochem 1
size
CALCAR-
Allochems < 1mm ENITE
too small
or abraded
to identify Allochem 1
size
CALCI-
> 1mm RUDITE

1 The names calcarenite and calcirudite are used when more specific identification is not possible. They are
a fall back to a simple size description. If interstitial material can be identified, these rocks can be named as
"sparry calcarenite (calcirudite)" or "micritic calcarenite (calcirudite)." Size descriptions can also be used,
such as "coarse micritic calcarenite."
L.S. Fichter, 1993