PhD Carbonate Factory Systems in the Quaternary: integration of production, hydrodynamics, and stratigraphic architecture

Abstract

The Quaternary represents a singular stratigraphic interval in marine and coastal geosciences, characterized by high temporal resolution, pronounced environmental variability, and strong hydrodynamic sensitivity. In this context, the interpretation of carbonate systems is often constrained by conceptual fragmentation between sediment production, hydrodynamic processes, and stratigraphic preservation. This paper presents an integrated review of the stratigraphy and hydrosedimentology of Quaternary marine carbonates, aiming to organize concepts, processes, and scales of analysis within a systemic framework. Building upon a reassessment of the classical concept of carbonate factories, we propose the use of Carbonate Factory Systems (CFS) as a conceptual expansion that explicitly incorporates hydrodynamics, sediment redistribution, and the selective nature of the stratigraphic record. Process, system, and stratigraphic scales are examined, emphasizing the dominant role of episodic events, persistent currents, and rapid relative sea-level reorganizations in shaping Quaternary carbonate architectures. We demonstrate that, within CFS, carbonate production is frequently decoupled from stratigraphic accumulation, resulting in selective records, hiatuses, and key stratigraphic surfaces. The Quaternary is thus presented as a privileged interval for observing these processes and for developing integrated models applicable to older stratigraphic analogues.