reef flank

The part of the reef that surrounds, interfingers with, and locally overlies the reef core, often indicated by massive or medium beds of reef talus dipping steeply away from the reef core.

Related terms:

• reef knoll
• reef talus
• reef milk
• reef conglomerate
• reef complex
• flank
• patch reef
• reef detritus
• off-reef facies
• wall reef