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In a pragmatic test conducted on vertical stratigraphic sections in Quaternary platform limestones of San Salvador Island, The Bahamas, gamma-ray spectrometric (GRS) and magnetosusceptibility (κ) data confirmed that characteristic geophysical patterns are coupled with depositional cycle boundaries. These geophysical patterns appear to develop in the early stages of diagenesis and are long lasting, because similar patterns are found both in the very young Bahamian limestones and in very old Devonian (Givetian-Frasnian) platform limestones of Moravia, Czech Republic. Because the Devonian limestones retain gamma ray and magnetic signatures similar to those seen in the Bahamian rocks, these signals are apparently resistant to changes that occur in later diagenetic alteration, including deep-burial diagenesis and 380 million years of rock-fluid interactions. Each sedimentary cycle on the Bahamian carbonate platform is marked by a terra rossa paleosol horizon that represents a lowstand emergent surface. The paleosol is typically characterized by a GRS-spike related to increased Th concentration. There is only a subtle downward infiltration of that GRS signal, but the Th signal may diffuse upward via sediment recycling. Two U-related GRS maxima are regularly developed within short distances below and above the cycle boundary. The lower anomaly reflects U enrichment in the sub-soil cementation zone, whereas the upper anomaly is related to increased U-content in the flooding beds of the next cycle. Such a combination of one Th-spike between two U-anomalies forms a distinctive tripartite GRS pattern.

Blue holes are karst features that were initially described from Bahamian islands and banks, which have been documented for over 100 years. They are water-filled vertical openings in the carbonate rock that exhibit complex morphologies, ecologies, and water chemistries. Their deep blue color, for which they are named, is the result of their great depth, and they may lead to cave systems below sea level. Blue holes are polygenetic in origin, having formed: by drowning of dissolutional sinkholes and shafts developed in the vadose zone; by phreatic dissolution along an ascending halocline; by progradational collapse upward from deep dissolution voids produced in the phreatic zone; or by fracture of the bank margin. Blue holes are the cumulative result of carbonate deposition and dissolution cycles which have been controlled by Quaternary glacioeustatic fluctuations of sea-level.

Banana holes are circular to oval voids with diameters ranging from 2 meters to more than 10 meters, and with depths up to 5 meters, which are found throughout the Bahamas. They are named for a specialty crop sometimes grown in the thick moist soils that accumulate in them. They commonly have vertical or overhung walls, and exhibit phreatic dissolutional morphology. Occasionally, banana holes are found with complete or nearly complete roofs.

In Quaternary carbonate units composed mostly of eolianites, paleosols are important stratigraphic markers that help differentiate episodes of carbonate deposition tied to glacio-eustatic sea level fluctuations. Paleosols used in this manner can be misinterpreted, and thus lead to errors in interpretation of the geologic record. Some possible pitfalls include: failure to differentiate between terra-rossa paleosols and calcarenite protosols; failure to recognize that separate paleosols may merge laterally into composite paleosols; failure to recognize that single paleosols may bifurcate in highly weathered bedrock; and failure to recognize soil-derived material that infills karst features. The Quaternary carbonates of the Bahamas are used to illustrate these pitfalls, which may occur in carbonates of any age.