Carbonate compensation depth
DEPTH IN THE OCEANS BELOW WHICH NO SEDIMENT PARTICLES ARE PRESERVED THAN CONSIST OF CALCIUM CARBONATE
Carbonate Compensation Depth; Calcite compensation depth; Aragonite compensation depth
Carbonate compensation depth (CCD) is the depth in the oceans below which the rate of supply of calcite (calcium carbonate) lags behind the rate of solvation, such that no calcite is preserved. Shells of animals therefore dissolve and carbonate particles may not accumulate in the sediments on the sea floor below this depth.