Optimized similarity matrices applied to the study of carbonate rocks

The primary and early diagenetic components of carbonate rocks are commonly arranged systematically in a sort of ‘relay’ along a gradient formed by one or several environmental factors. Such a relay, if present, can be revealed by the optimization of a matrix of similarity coefficients. The technique presented uses presence/absence data and is simple and rapid. An illustration is given using data from some Dinantian limestones in southwest Britain.