紫云晚石炭世叶状藻礁发育在碳酸盐台地边缘。叶状藻礁体具有多样性,有叶状藻点礁、多层迭置叶状藻礁和大型叶状藻礁体。叶状藻礁体的建造过程是由叶状藻群落的发展和沉积环境所决定的,叶状藻具有主动建造礁体的能力,构成骨架礁灰岩。礁体建造过程大体上分为三个阶段:①生物碎屑滩的形成;②叶状藻生长及礁体建造;③造礁结束。多层迭置叶状藻礁为以上三个阶段的多次重复;大型叶状藻礁是在礁体发育过程的第二阶段由连续生长的叶状藻五次集中发育建造而成。
Late Carboniferous phylloid algal reefs developed on the carbonate platform margin in Ziyun County, Guizhou (South China). Phylloid algal reefs are morphologically diverse, including isolated small patches, complex superposed bodies, and large-sized reefs. The constructional role of algal was decisive in contributing to build frameworks. Three growth stages with distinct parts were recognized by our investigations : ( 1 ) the reef base consisting of a bioclastic shoal, (2) the reef core, when phylloid algae proliferated and contributed to reef growth, and ( 3 ) the reef cover indicating the termination of phylloid algal growth. In one of the studied case, five phases of algal blooms were recognized during the growth of a large-sized phylloid algal reef, as indicated by clearly marked intervals separating these phases of algal proliferation.