Datasets relating to samples collected from the Reef rim physiographic zone on Wistari Reef

Updated: 2014-12-16

Wistari Reef is a lagoonal platform reef, situated on the Tropic of Capricorn, within the Capricorn and Bunker region of the southern Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Surface samples were taken from the reef-rim to determine the mean grainsize and the sorting coefficient and also the proportion of aragonite to calcite within the samples. In this area the average mean grainsize is ~0.21phi, with an average sorting coefficient of 0.62phi. It should be noted that the sediments of the reef edge vary greatly in grainsize and sorting; ranging from moderately well-sorted to poorly sorted coarse sand. The only sediments seen here exist in protected pools and other slightly lower energy environments. Very coarse sediments are common. The proportion of aragonite in each sample varies considerably, with it representing 73% on the leeward reef edge, and only 39% on the windward reef margin.