Bedding and bedding surfaces in carbonate and mixed carbonate–siliciclastic successions part 1: a critical evaluation of biases in identification and interpretation across disciplines and schools

Carbonate sedimentary rocks are crucial for understanding Earth's geological history, ecosystems and climate dynamics. However, their study is complicated by diagenetic processes that can alter original bedding and surfaces, leading to potential misinterpretations, for example of palaeoecological and sedimentological settings as well as the time represented by these surfaces and the overall succession of deposits. This study examines the varied definitions and interpretations of bedding and associated surfaces in carbonate rocks, highlighting differences across geoscientific disciplines and regions. Through a survey, we aim to clarify the usage of the terminology in bedding and associated surfaces to improve communication and reduce misunderstandings within the geoscientific community. The survey results highlight the highly diverse, but restrictive, individual perceptions of the term ‘bedding’ in carbonate rocks. Significant differences exist between disciplines, a researcher's main region of education and the main region of work. This study underscores the potential for miscommunication and misunderstandings among geoscientists regarding bedding and associated surfaces, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary and international exchange to recognize the varied origins of ‘bedding’ in carbonate successions.