Shallow water marine environment

[2] The most common evaporite minerals found within modern and ancient deposits are gypsum, anhydrite, and halite.

[2] Approximately 75% of surface sediments are in shallow marine environments, holding most Phanerozoic and Precambrian sedimentary rock.

However, shallow marine sediment quantity varies significantly over geologic time due to supercontinent breakup and shifting tectonic plate processes.

These processes include increasing temperature, intense evaporation, and mixing water that is high in CO3 and low in calcium cations with seawater.

Changes in the Mg/Ca ratio over geologic time, influenced by seafloor spreading and tectonic plate movement, have also increased aragonite abundance.

[1] Shallow marine environments, particularly the intertidal zone, are home to a diverse range of organisms, including starfish, sea anemones, sponges, marine worms, clams, mussels, predatory crustaceans, barnacles and small fish.

Species of isopods and amphipods are found in intertidal zones, creating complex burrows and surface tracks in the sediment.