Weathering events recorded in uppermost Hauterivian–lower Barremian clay-dominated continental successions from the NW Iberian Range: climatic vs. tectonic controls

AbstractThe facies and clay mineral study of clay/marl-rich levels from the Torrelapaja Formation (latest Hauterivian–early Barremian, NW Iberian Range, NE Spain) allowed to establish the palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental conditions under they were generated. The muddy levels and pisoids contained therein of two logs were sampled and studied by X-ray diffraction and optical and electron microscopy. A similar mineralogical upwards trend is recorded in both logs, with a decrease in calcite coupled with an increase in quartz and orthoclase content and constant proportions in goethite, hematite, diaspore, anatase, rutile, ilmenite, and clay mineral content. The lower muddy levels have higher kaolinite content than the upper levels, where illitic phases are the dominant clay minerals. Smectite and intergrowths of illitic phases and kaolinite are also detected upwards. The kaolinite and smectite textures indicate an authigenic origin, whereas the illitic phases are former phases acting as a substrate for kaolinite crystallization. Pisoids mineralogy and texture show an in-situ origin, but some are fractured, indicating reworking processes. The mineral association found in the muddy levels is characteristic of oxisols formed under warm and humid conditions. The upward decrease in kaolinite content is coeval with an increase in the illitic phases and quartz content, related to siliciclastic input, but is also coeval with the presence of authigenic smectite. This indicates a decrease in chemical weathering, not fully registered due to the siliciclastic contribution, which was possibly associated with a change to colder, drier conditions during the latest Hauterivian–early Barremian in the studied area.

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Clay content of a clayeydiatomite, the Early Eocene Fur Formation, Denmark

Bulletin of the Geological Society of Denmark ◽

10.37570/bgsd-2004-51-11 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 51 ◽

pp. 159-177

Author(s):

Gunver Krarup Pedersen ◽

Stig A. Schack Pedersen ◽

Jacob Steffensen ◽

Christian Schack Pedersen

Keyword(s):

Clay Mineral ◽

Mineral Content ◽

Clay Content ◽

Chemical Compositions ◽

Early Eocene ◽

X Ray Diffraction ◽

Mineral Phase ◽

Thin Sections ◽

X Ray ◽

Dominant Phase

The Early Eocene Fur Formation is a clayey diatomite interbedded with layers of volcanic ash. The diatomite is non-calcareous, laminated or structureless, and thin sections show that the proportion of clay-sized particles to diatom frustules varies between laminae. The clay mineral phase has been isolated and its chemical composition has been determined by X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Clay mineralogical analyses based on X-ray diffraction (XRD) show that the dominant phase is smectite. A general formula for the clay mineral phase is: X0.1K0.2(Mg0.3Fe(III)0.3–0.7Al1.1–1.4)Si4O10(OH)2.The investigation indicates that the clayey diatomite of the Fur Formation comprises three components: diatom frustules, clay minerals and volcanic dust. The chemical compositions of bulk samples have been determined. The clay mineral content is calculated to be 30–45% (by weight). Volcanic dust constitutes c. 10% of the diatomite, and the rest is diatoms (opal-A). The diatom frustules contain some Al2O3 that is either of primary or diagenetic origin.

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Mud deposition and diagenesis within an Early Palaeozoic clinothem: Power Steps Formation, Newfoundland, Canada

Geological Magazine ◽

10.1017/s0016756819000402 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 157 (2) ◽

pp. 134-148

Author(s):

Kathryn C. Denommee ◽

Dario Harazim ◽

Samuel J. Bentley ◽

James H. Macquaker ◽

Stefanie Lode ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clay Mineral ◽

Significant Proportion ◽

X Ray Diffraction ◽

Deep Soil ◽

X Ray ◽

Mineral Data ◽

Textural Attributes ◽

Early Palaeozoic ◽

Mudstone Facies

AbstractThe early Ordovician (∼385 Ma) Power Steps Formation, Newfoundland, Canada, exposes a well-preserved mudstone-dominated clinothem that serves as an excellent archive for understanding how mud has been produced, transported and converted into mudstone prior to the evolution of globally widespread, deep soil horizons. Sedimentological analysis of four sandstone and five mudstone facies, along the Ochre Cove clinothem, reveal that mud and sand were delivered by unidirectional currents and experienced episodic reworking by storm waves. Petrographic examination and X-ray diffraction from described mudstone facies reveal significant variability in the distribution of illite versus chlorite between the lower and upper part of the Ochre Cove clinothem. This research highlights that in the present-day clay mineral fraction, illite is often detrital whereas chlorite originated via the alteration of silt-sized, highly unstable, mafic (volcanoclastic?) grains. Throughout all sedimentologic facies, albeit in different proportions, these mafic lithic grains were diagenetically altered via in situ weathering before significant compaction occurred, resulting in the precipitation of significant volumes of pore-bridging, silica- and iron-rich chlorite cement. Compositional, diagenetic and textural attributes across the Ochre Cove mud clinothem vary as a function of starting composition, hydrodynamic sorting and grain density. Given that a significant proportion of clay minerals has been generated via in situ transformation of a mafic, non-stable precursor assemblage, we recommend future studies to incorporate detailed petrographic description along with X-ray diffraction analyses when aiming to employ trends in whole-rock clay mineral data as a proxy in provenance and palaeoclimate studies of very old (pre-Devonian) mudstones and sandstones.

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The Use of Advanced Analytical Techniques for Characterization of the Chemical, Physical, and Crystallographic Nature of a Surface

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100071107 ◽

1973 ◽

Vol 31 ◽

pp. 132-133 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

R. E. Herfert

Keyword(s):

Surface Characterization ◽

Analytical Techniques ◽

X Ray Diffraction ◽

Depth Of Penetration ◽

X Ray ◽

The Past ◽

Transmission Electron ◽

Scanning Electron

Studies of the nature of a surface, either metallic or nonmetallic, in the past, have been limited to the instrumentation available for these measurements. In the past, optical microscopy, replica transmission electron microscopy, electron or X-ray diffraction and optical or X-ray spectroscopy have provided the means of surface characterization. Actually, some of these techniques are not purely surface; the depth of penetration may be a few thousands of an inch. Within the last five years, instrumentation has been made available which now makes it practical for use to study the outer few 100A of layers and characterize it completely from a chemical, physical, and crystallographic standpoint. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) provides a means of viewing the surface of a material in situ to magnifications as high as 250,000X.

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High Resolution Replication of Organoclay Surfaces

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100055126 ◽

1982 ◽

Vol 40 ◽

pp. 576-577

Author(s):

W. W. Barker ◽

W. E. Rigsby ◽

V. J. Hurst ◽

W. J. Humphreys

Keyword(s):

Clay Mineral ◽

Organic Molecule ◽

Organic Molecules ◽

X Ray Diffraction ◽

Xrd Pattern ◽

X Ray ◽

Naturally Occurring ◽

Silicate Layers ◽

Mineral Identification

Experimental clay mineral-organic molecule complexes long have been known and some of them have been extensively studied by X-ray diffraction methods. The organic molecules are adsorbed onto the surfaces of the clay minerals, or intercalated between the silicate layers. Natural organo-clays also are widely recognized but generally have not been well characterized. Widely used techniques for clay mineral identification involve treatment of the sample with H2 O2 or other oxidant to destroy any associated organics. This generally simplifies and intensifies the XRD pattern of the clay residue, but helps little with the characterization of the original organoclay. Adequate techniques for the direct observation of synthetic and naturally occurring organoclays are yet to be developed.

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