Oxygenation of shallow marine environments and chemical sedimentation in Palaeoproterozoic peritidal settings: Frere Formation,Western Australia

The Palaeoproterozoic Frere Formation (ca 1.89 Gyr old) of the Earaheedy Basin, Western Australia, is a ca 600 m thick succession of iron formation and fine‐grained, clastic sedimentary rocks that accumulated on an unrimmed continental margin with oceanic upwelling. Lithofacies stacking patterns suggest that deposition occurred during a marine transgression punctuated by higher frequency relative sea‐level fluctuations that produced five parasequences. Decametre‐scale parasequences are defined by flooding surfaces overlain by either laminated magnetite or magnetite‐bearing, hummocky cross‐stratified sandstone that grades upward into interbedded hematite‐rich mudstone and trough cross‐stratified granular iron formation. Each aggradational cycle is interpreted to record progradation of intertidal and tidal channel sediments over shallow subtidal and storm‐generated deposits of the middle shelf. The presence of aeolian deposits, mud cracks and absence of coarse clastics indicate deposition along an arid coastline with significant wind‐blown sediment input. Iron formation in the Frere Formation, in contrast to most other Palaeoproterozoic examples, was deposited almost exclusively in peritidal environments. These other continental margin iron formations also reflect upwelling of anoxic, Fe‐rich sea water, but accumulated in the full spectrum of shelf environments. Dilution by fine‐grained, windblown terrigenous clastic sediment probably prevented the Frere iron formation from forming in deeper settings. Lithofacies associations and interpreted paragenetic pathways of Fe‐rich lithofacies further suggest precipitation in sea water with a prominent oxygen chemocline. Although essentially unmetamorphosed, the complex diagenetic history of the Frere Formation demonstrates that understanding the alteration of iron formation is a prerequisite for any investigation seeking to interpret ocean‐atmosphere evolution. Unlike studies that focus exclusively on their chemistry, an approach that also considers palaeoenvironment and oceanography, as well the effects of post‐depositional fluid flow and alteration, mitigates the potential for incorrectly interpreting geochemical data.     

震旦纪灯影组磷块岩及其生成特点

灯影组磷块岩有四种类型,即泥晶磷块岩、内碎屑磷块岩、藻磷块岩和细晶磷块岩。组成磷块岩的主要矿物是磷灰石、白云石、石英和少量伊利石等。磷块岩主要沉积在陆缘海内,它的沉积环境是与深水有联系的浅水地区。深水和浅水环境的地质背景分别为构造拗陷和碳酸盐岩台地。前者提供成矿物质,后者提供有利于磷质成矿的沉积环境。     

Sedimentology, geochemistry and origin of phosphatic chalks: the Upper Cretaceous deposits of NW Europe

Santonian-Lower Campanian and Lower Maastrichtian phosphatic chalks in northern France, southern England and Belgium are Europe's largest sedimentary phosphatc deposits. The stratigraphy, sediment-ology, petrography, mineralogy and geochemistry of the lithofacies are reviewed and new data presented. Depositional and diagenetic models for phosphatic chalk deposits are developed using published experimental work and from observations of modern high- and low-productivity phosphogenic systems. It is concluded that phosphatic chalks were deposited in well-oxygenated, current-swept environments. Phosphatization required a delicate balance to be maintained between moderate organic carbon and carbonate sedimentation rates, reduced bulk sediment accumulation rate and an enhanced rate of bioturbation. Precipitation of carbonate-fluorapatite (francolite) accompanied the bacterially mediated decomposition of organic matter, occurring within centimetres of the sediment-seawater interface, and taking place preferentially within microbial bodies and coatings. In addition to the organically derived component, pore water phosphate levels were enhanced by phosphate absorbed on ferric oxyhydroxides which was liberated during iron reduction. Mineralization was probably a dominantly post-oxic process, but occurred in a thick sediment mixed layer in which marine organic matter was undergoing intense mixed aerobic and anaerobic microbial degradation. Phosphogenesis occurred predominantly on the NE margins of the Anglo-Paris Basin where shallower sea floors and suitable palaeoceanographic conditions prevailed. Phosphogenic episodes were limited by sea level fluctuations'which controlled the effectiveness of the erosional currents that formed and maintained the phosphatic basins and may have stimulated local productivity.     

埃迪卡拉纪全球成磷事件沉积地球化学模型探讨:以扬子板块不同相区陡山沱组含磷岩层研究为实例

埃迪卡拉纪是地球第二次大规模成磷时期,全球各大陆均有这次成磷事件的记录。目前对于该时期成磷事件的形成 尚未有广泛接受的地球化学模型解释。而磷酸盐的沉积受海水氧化还原条件的控制,因此通过该时期磷块岩沉积与海水氧 化还原条件演变之间关系的研究可为全球大规模成磷事件的沉积地球化学模型建立提供验证。文章通过对扬子板块埃迪卡 拉纪不同相区磷块岩中碳酸盐组分稀土元素分析,结果表明磷块岩形成时底层海水处于次氧化-接近氧化的不稳定状态, 氧化还原界面沿浅海-大陆架呈现动态变化的特征,为磷块岩的大规模形成提供最佳沉积地球化学条件。合适的海水化学 条件及丰富的磷质来源,大大增加了磷块岩沉积的空间和机会,导致了地质历史时期第二次全球规模成磷发生。     

Architecture and morphodynamics of a 1·6 Ga fluvial sandstone: Ellice Formation of Elu Basin,Arctic Canada

Precambrian fluvial deposits have been traditionally described as architecturally simple, forming shallow and wide braidplains with sheet‐like geometry. The varied architecture and morphodynamics of the 1·6 Ga Ellice Formation of Elu Basin, Nunavut, Canada, are examined from detailed studies of section and planform exposures along coastal platforms and stepped cliffs. The Ellice Formation overlies older Proterozoic sandstones and Archean crystalline rocks, recording sedimentation in fluvial, aeolian, coastal and nearshore‐marine environments. The fluvial deposits display palaeoflow towards the west/north‐west, while overlying shallow‐marine deposits record transgression towards the east/south‐east. The Ellice Formation displays dispersed palaeoflow at its base, and also at higher stratigraphic levels, where fluvial and aeolian deposits are associated. Elsewhere, mainly unimodal palaeoflow points to extensive low‐sinuosity fluvial deposition. Within the terrestrial deposits, fluvial, fluvial–aeolian and coastal architectural elements are recognized. Fluvial elements comprise cross‐bedded sandstone and minor conglomerate, exhibiting an overall fining‐upward trend with associated decrease in preservation, dimension and amalgamation of channel bodies. These motifs are interpreted to portray a shift in depositional environment from proximal trunk rivers to distal alluvial plains. Low‐sinuosity fluvial elements are the most common, and include major channel bodies, elongate side bars and mid‐channel bars with well‐developed scroll topography. High‐sinuosity channel‐bar complexes exhibit upbar‐flow rotation and yield evidence of bar expansion coupled with rotation and translation. Fluvial–aeolian elements are composed of aeolian dunes juxtaposed with isolated channel bodies and bank‐attached bars. Minor mixed fluvial–aeolian sheets record local deposition in unconfined settings (possibly floodbasins) or inter‐distributary highlands. Finally, coastal elements comprise small deltaic complexes composed of sand‐rich distributary‐channel bodies feeding heterolithic mouth bars. Overall, the sedimentary record of the Ellice Formation demonstrates an example from the Precambrian where alluvium was locally characterized by a higher geomorphic variability than previously recognized.     

Aeolian/fluvial interactions and high-resolution sequence stratigraphy of a non-marine lowstand wedge: the Avilé Member of the Agrio Formation (Lower Cretaceous), central Neuquén Basin, Argentina

Abstract Accumulation within the unconformity‐based Hauterivian Avilé Sandstone of the Neuquén Basin, Argentina, was characterized by a close interaction between fluvial and aeolian processes developed after a major relative sea‐level drop that almost completely desiccated the entire basin and juxtaposed these non‐marine deposits on shallow‐ and deep‐marine facies. Aeolian deposits within the Avilé Member include dune (A1) and sand sheet (A2) units that characterize the lower part of the unit. Fluvial deposits comprise distal flood units (F1) interbedded with aeolian dune deposits in the middle part of the succession, and low‐ (F2) and high‐sinuosity (F3) channels associated with floodplain deposits (F4) towards the top. The internal characteristics of the aeolian system indicate that its accumulation was strongly controlled by water‐table dynamics, with the development of multiple horizontal deflation super surfaces that truncate dune deposits and form the basal boundary of flood deposits and sand sheet units. A long‐term wetting‐upward trend is recorded throughout the entire unit, with an increase in fluvial activity towards the top and the development of a more permanent fluvial system overlying a major erosion surface interpreted as a sequence boundary. The upward increase in water‐table influence might be related to relative sea‐level rise, which controlled the position of the water table and allowed the accumulation of tabular aeolian units bounded by horizontal deflation surfaces. This high‐frequency, eustatically driven process acted together with a long‐term climatic change towards wetter conditions.     

黔中地区震旦系洋水组地球化学特征及其对古海洋环境的指示*

为重建黔中地区震旦纪陡山沱期古海洋环境,选取小河磷矿(XH)、息烽磷矿(XF)含磷岩系剖面,通过系统采样及岩矿鉴定、扫描电镜、微量元素和稀土元素分析,揭示古海洋环境对磷块岩沉积的影响作用。结果表明,磷矿成矿受黔中古陆长期剥蚀夷平形成的无障壁海岸海滩环境控制。陡山沱期洋水组磷块岩Sr/Ba值一般大于1,均值分别为1.90(XH)和0.95(XF),而澄江组沉积物Sr/Ba值均小于1,均值分别为0.11(XH)和0.18(XF),说明沉积环境由澄江期的湖泊相转变为陡山沱期的海相。小河剖面V/Cr和Ni/Co均值分别为1.77和2.17,息烽剖面V/Cr和Ni/Co均值分别为1.26和2.83,均位于弱氧化—氧化区间。息烽磷矿磷块岩δCe为0.75~0.95,均值0.85,小河磷矿磷块岩δCe为0.74~1.09,均值0.88,Ce负异常由底部至顶部逐渐增大,显示沉积环境由次氧化—氧化的转变。这种氧化转变不仅造成了浅水富磷海岸大洋生产力的提升,进一步促使与生物作用相关的磷块岩沉积,同时造成的生命演化也改变了大洋含氧结构,因此成磷环境的氧化转变是对新元古代氧化事件与生命演化的响应。     

黔中地区陡山沱期开阳、瓮安磷矿区成矿作用研究现状探讨

在震旦纪陡山沱期,扬子地台发生了大规模的成磷事件,广泛发育磷质岩和碳酸盐岩沉积;磷质岩在黔中、鄂西等地构成了超大型矿床,代表了地球历史中最早出现的成磷事件。文章通过分析总结瓮安、开阳地区陡山沱期形成磷矿床的古地理环境、物质来源、成矿机制、成矿模式等,旨在于讨论磷块岩成因的研究现状,分析研究中存在歧义的原因,以此探讨成矿模式构建的具体研究方向,提出适宜的研究方法。陡山沱期黔中地区磷块岩研究主要有以下焦点:1)沉积环境的氧化-还原性质,海水氧化-还原分层模式;2)成矿物质来源存在多种观点,没有证据否定任何一种物质来源,但也没有直接证据证明磷的来源;3)多种成磷机制的观点并存,成磷作用为生物成磷作用、海相热水成磷作用、机械成磷作用和生物化学/化学成磷作用,但其相互作用之间关系不清楚。目前的成矿模式观点有"上升洋流成矿模式"、"沉积-成岩成矿模式",两种成矿模式仍需要进一步完善。因此,如何采取新的研究方法,展开对古地理环境、物质来源、成矿机制方面的研究值得深入讨论。构建黔中地区完整的海相沉积磷块岩的成矿模式,将在今后的扬子地台成矿系统讨论和矿床的找寻中发挥重要作用。     

Aeolian sand sea development along the mid‐Cretaceous western Tethyan margin (Spain): erg sedimentology and palaeoclimate implications

The existence of a mid‐Cretaceous erg system along the western Tethyan margin (Iberian Basin, Spain) was recently demonstrated based on the occurrence of wind‐blown desert sands in coeval shallow marine deposits. Here, the first direct evidence of this mid‐Cretaceous erg in Europe is presented and the palaeoclimate and palaeoceanographic implications are discussed. The aeolian sand sea extended over an area of 4600 km². Compound crescentic dunes, linear draa and complex aeolian dunes, sand sheets, wet, dry and evaporitic interdunes, sabkha deposits and coeval extradune lagoonal deposits form the main architectural elements of this desert system that was located in a sub‐tropical arid belt along the western Tethyan margin. Sub‐critically climbing translatent strata, grain flow and grain fall deposits, pin‐stripe lamination, lee side dune wind ripples, soft‐sediment deformations, vertebrate tracks, biogenic traces, tubes and wood fragments are some of the small‐scale structures and components observed in the aeolian dune sandstones. At the boundary between the aeolian sand sea and the marine realm, intertonguing of aeolian deposits and marine facies occurs. Massive sandstone units were laid down by mass flow events that reworked aeolian dune sands during flooding events. The cyclic occurrence of soft sediment deformation is ascribed to intermittent (marine) flooding of aeolian dunes and associated rise in the water table. The aeolian erg system developed in an active extensional tectonic setting that favoured its preservation. Because of the close proximity of the marine realm, the water table was high and contributed to the preservation of the aeolian facies. A sand‐drift surface marks the onset of aeolian dune construction and accumulation, whereby aeolian deposits cover an earlier succession of coastal coal deposits formed in a more humid period. A prominent aeolian super‐surface forms an angular unconformity that divides the aeolian succession into two erg sequences. This super‐surface formed in response to a major tectonic reactivation in the basin, and also marks the change in style of aeolian sedimentation from compound climbing crescentic dunes to aeolian draas. The location of the mid‐Cretaceous palaeoerg fits well to both the global distribution of other known Cretaceous erg systems and with current palaeoclimate data that suggest a global cooling period and a sea‐level lowstand during early mid‐Cretaceous times. The occurrence of a sub‐tropical coastal erg in the mid‐Cretaceous of Spain correlates with the exposure of carbonate platforms on the Arabian platform during much of the Late Aptian to Middle Albian, and is related to this eustatic sea‐level lowstand.     

Sedimentary and microbial record of the Middle/Late Ordovician phosphogenetic episode in the northern Holy Cross Mountains,Poland

Numerous phosphorite beds and phosphatic nodules occur in the upper Middle and lower Upper Ordovician carbonate-shale succession of the Bukowiany Formation outcropping in the northern Holy Cross Mountains, central Poland. The vertical stacking pattern of this succession indicates that phosphatic and accompanying strata reflect a conformable sedimentary succession accumulated during a rise of relative sea level. The base of the Bukowiany Formation is marked by a conspicuous phosphorite horizon revealing a low net sediment accumulation rate reflecting a switch into a mesotrophic ecological system. This horizon was produced by reworking and redeposition of pristine phosphate sediment (e.g. by currents activity) during the late Darriwilian transgression. The overlying sedimentary record appears to reflect nucleation of the phosphate phase in the sediment–water interface and its subsequent burial by the accompanying sediment. The phosphatized tiny stromatolites and nodules preserved within the Bukowiany Formation indicate that benthic microbial communities played an important role in redistribution and concentration of phosphate during deposition of this succession.     

鲕粒,豆粒磷块岩的显微结构和生成特点

晚震旦世陡山沱组和早寒武世渔户村组、辛集组磷矿中有各种鮞粒、豆粒磷块岩。豆粒、鮞粒内核的成分和结构复杂,有来自陆地的各种岩石砂屑、细砾,也有盆内沉积物破碎成的各种内碎屑。鮞粒、豆粒的壳层是同心纹层状磷灰石,它是内核在富磷海水扰动中逐层淀积而成。大部分豆粒、鮞粒在滨海高能浅水中与陆源砂、砾和岔内碎屑沉积在一起,少量鮞粒则沉积在滨外深水低能环境巾。豆粒、鮞粒和碎屑等沉积后又被不同物质胶结。     

Phosphogenesis of phosphorite from the Sinian Doushantuo Formation in Guizhou Province and its coupling relation with the Neoproterozoic Oxygenation Event

Phosphate deposits of the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation accumulated in the central Guizhou Province are the typical phosphate-rich sediments during the Neoproterozoic Phosphogenic Episodes,which occurred after the “Snowball Earth”period and Neoproterozoic Oxygenation Event. However,the mechanisms of phosphate enrichment in seawater have always been hotly debated,and the research for correlations between phosphogenesis and transition of Ediacaran palaeo-ocean environments is still unsubstantial. This study focused on the sedimentological,petrological,mineralogical and geochemical analyses on the Doushantuo pristine phosphorite in Weng'an,Zunyi and Danzhai area. Documented by spherulitic phosphorites in the Lower Phosphorite beds from Weng'an area that contain abundant autogenetic Fe-bearing minerals such as pyrite and glauconite and show weak Ce negative anomaly,Fe-redox pumping in low-oxygen environments are the important phosphogenesis mechanism but only limited in coastal waters in the Early Doushantuo Period. Phosphorite in the Upper Phosphorite beds deposited within organic-rich beds and contain massive biological fossils suggests that phosphogenesis might have been triggered by degradation of organic matter and biological action in the Late Doushantuo Period,and distribution of phosphatic sediments extended to the deeper shelf to slope setting. Obvious Ce negative anomaly implies the increase of oxygen content in seawater. The transition of phosphogenesis mechanisms and the expansion of phosphorite deposits are the sedimentary response of ocean oxygenation,and the associated evolution of metazoans also changed the redox conditions of the deep seawater. These sedimentary and geochemistry data reflect the closed coupling relation between Doushantuo phosphorite in Guizhou Province and the Neoproterozoic Oxygenation Event.     

贵州震旦系陡山沱组磷块岩成磷作用及与新元古代末期氧化事件(NOE)的耦合*

新元古代末期历经“雪球地球”和大气、海洋增氧事件后,发生了全球性成磷事件,贵州省震旦系陡山沱组大规模磷矿床沉积是本次成磷事件的典型代表。然而现阶段对贵州陡山沱组磷块岩成磷作用机制研究存在诸多争议,成磷事件与同期古海洋环境转变之间的关联研究也较为薄弱。作者以贵州省瓮安、遵义和丹寨地区陡山沱组原生磷块岩为研究对象开展的沉积学、岩石学、矿物学和地球化学特征研究表明: 陡山沱早期成磷作用被限制在浅水海岸,瓮安地区A矿层球粒磷块岩中大量的含铁自生矿物黄铁矿、海绿石以及无Ce负异常指示的贫氧沉积水体环境均表明,Fe-氧化还原泵成磷模式在富磷过程中发挥了重要作用;陡山沱晚期磷块岩分布扩散至较深水陆棚—斜坡沉积相区,磷块岩与富有机质岩层共生,矿物晶体形态特征与矿石内富含的大量生物化石均表明,有机质沉降聚磷作用和生物成磷作用促使磷块岩大量沉积,较明显的Ce负异常值也指示了海水氧气含量的提升。成磷作用模式的转变和磷块岩分布的扩展是对海洋增氧事件的沉积响应,同时造成的多细胞动物演化也影响了深部水体的氧化还原状态,进而反映了贵州省陡山沱组磷块岩大规模沉积与新元古代末期氧化事件(NOE)密切的耦合关系。     

Aeolianites reveal Pleistocene marine history of Bermuda

Bermuda is a reef atoll along the northern edge of Caribbean coral province. Although investigated by seismic and some shallow drilling, the Pleistocene marine depositional geohistory is poorly constrained. Islands along the southern rim are built by tropical calcareous aeolianites that range in age from Holocene to early Pleistocene (ca 880 kyr). These dunes are composed of particles that were derived from adjacent Pleistocene marine environments at the time of formation. Thus, the aeolianites should contain a record of marine deposition through the Early to Late Pleistocene. Carbonate grains from all aeolian deposits can, via Ward cluster analysis, be separated into two distinct groups: (i) a Halimeda‐rich group; and (ii) a crustose coralline‐rich group. Distribution of these two groups is interpreted to broadly reflect low‐energy (lagoonal) and high‐energy marginal reef (coralline algae and cup‐reef) environments, respectively. Unlike the beach sources, coral particles are perplexingly absent in the aeolianites. This conundrum is interpreted to partly reflect the domal nature of Bermudan corals, which are not incorporated into aeolian deposits due to their relatively large size. Aeolianites from Marine Isotope Stages 7, 9 and 11 record sediments produced in adjacent shallow marine settings that were similar to those present today. The spatially consistent sediment trends are not, however, present in aeolianites from Marine Isotope Stage 5E, where the aeolian bioclastic components are uniformly rich in Halimeda along both southern and northern shores. Such a distribution, where coralline‐rich sediments would be expected, suggests an extrinsic oceanographic control, interpreted herein to be elevated seawater temperature brought in by the Gulf Stream. This interpretation is consistent with palaeozoological studies of Bermuda, as well as North America, the Mediterranean, Japan and Western Australia.     

滇东寒武系磷矿成因新见解——风暴成矿模式初探

近年来,随着风暴流和风暴岩的新理论、新概念的不断引入,在分析沉积环境、沉积成矿作用时,不断提出了许多新思路,也不断地冲击和修正以往的传统认识,作者于1986年随同成都地矿所寒武系磷矿专题组对滇东一带包括昆阳梅树村、海口、鸣矣河、晋宁王家湾、二街、八街、安宁白登、江川清水沟、宜良大滴水、寻甸先锋等矿区的磷矿进行了详细的研究,在下寒武统中谊村段及其相当的地层中发现了多层磷质风暴沉积物。本文拟概略介绍磷质风暴沉积物的标志、特征、剖面结构并初步探讨磷矿富集与风暴事件关系的沉积演化模式。     

贵州瓮安陡山沱组含磷岩系沉积序列及磷块岩的形成

贵州瓮安陡山沱组磷块岩为碳酸盐岩型含磷岩系,属于浅海碳酸盐岩台地沉积区。对瓮安磷矿大塘剖面进行沉积环境研究,将Marinoan冰期后沉积的陡山沱组地层分为6个向上变浅的沉积序列。瓮安含磷岩系大部分为多旋回的叠置体,其常见的交错层理、波状层理、透镜状层理等表明了磷块岩形成于水体较浅的高能环境。南沱冰期后,陡山沱期剧烈的海侵作用引发上升洋流,携带富磷海水涌入浅水区,在海平面间歇性波动的条件下,为磷块岩的形成提供了物源与动力条件。     

Sequence stratigraphic framework for mixed aeolian,peritidal and marine environments: Insights from the Pennsylvanian subtropical record of Western Pangaea

Due to difficulties in correlating aeolian deposits with coeval marine facies, sequence stratigraphic interpretations for arid coastal successions are debated and lack a unifying model. The Pennsylvanian record of northern Wyoming, USA, consisting of mixed siliciclastic–carbonate sequences deposited in arid, subtropical conditions, provides an ideal opportunity to study linkages between such environments. Detailed facies models and sequence stratigraphic frameworks were developed for the Ranchester Limestone Member (Amsden Formation) and Tensleep Formation by integrating data from 16 measured sections across the eastern side of the Bighorn Basin with new conodont biostratigraphic data. The basal Ranchester Limestone Member consists of dolomite interbedded with thin shale layers, interpreted to represent alternating deposition in shallow marine (fossiliferous dolomite) and supratidal (cherty dolomite) settings, interspersed with periods of exposure (pedogenically modified dolomites and shales). The upper Ranchester Limestone Member consists of purple shales, siltstones, dolomicrites and bimodally cross‐bedded sandstones in the northern part of the basin, interpreted as deposits of mixed siliciclastic–carbonate tidal flats. The Tensleep Formation is characterized by thick (3 to 15 m) aeolian sandstones interbedded with peritidal heteroliths and marine dolomites, indicating cycles of erg accumulation, preservation and flooding. Marine carbonates are unconformably overlain by peritidal deposits and/or aeolian sandstones interpreted as lowstand systems tract deposits. Marine transgression was often accompanied by the generation of sharp supersurfaces. Lags and peritidal heteroliths were deposited during early stages of transgression. Late transgressive systems tract fossiliferous carbonates overlie supersurfaces. Highstand systems tract deposits are lacking, either due to non‐deposition or post‐depositional erosion. The magnitude of inferred relative sea‐level fluctuations (>19 m), estimated by comparison with analogous modern settings, is similar to estimates from coeval palaeotropical records. This study demonstrates that sequence stratigraphic terminology can be extended to coastal ergs interacting with marine environments, and offers insights into the dynamics of subtropical environments.     

Anatomy and origin of a Cretaceous phosphorite-greensand giant, Egypt

Late Cretaceous epicontinental phosphorites, porcelanites/cherts, dark-coloured shales, glauconitic sandstones and bioclastic and fine-grained carbonate rocks in Egypt are examined in terms of their overall depositional and diagenetic framework and stable isotopic and organic geochemical characteristics. Two main depositional realms are interpreted and correlated through sequence stratigraphic analysis: (1) a shallow hemipelagic environment accompanying initial stages of marine transgression and conducive to the formation of organic carbon-rich shales, biosiliceous sediments and thick phosphorites, and (2) a relatively high energy depositional regime accompanying sea-level fall during which deltas advanced, glauconites were reworked seaward and prograding oyster banks became periodically exposed to episodes of fresh water diagenesis, thereby promoting solution-collapse phenomena in associated cherts. Lenticular to massive phosphorites are viewed as the result of current winnowing and concentration of authigenic grains initially precipitated in associated reducing shales and biosiliceous sediments. In eastern Egypt the phosphorites form winnowed lag layers, some of which may have been redeposited down slope in structural lows. In the west, these sands were concentrated into giant phosphorite sand waves built by reworking of penecontemporaneously deposited phosphatic muds during marine transgression. Carbon isotopic results substantiate interpretations from modern deposits for limitation of phosphate mineral precipitation with depth in sediments as a result of lattice poisoning. However, direct desorption of phosphorus to pore waters from detrital iron-oxyhydroxide phases also may have been important in the Cretaceous setting, the iron reduced in this process being available for incorporation in glauconites. The main locus for authigenic glauconite precipitation appears to be where iron fluxes from regions of lateritic weathering were highest and near the boundary between oxygenated and reduced waters. This study suggests a model for the common coexistence of glauconites and phosphorites in the geological record. Although upwelling is often advocated as the origin of nearly all giant phosphorite deposits, we suggest that some of these may have been strongly influenced by fluvially derived phosphorus borne on particulates and desorbed from these compounds upon flocculation and/or reduction in bottom waters or pore waters.     

Forms of Iron in the Phosphorites of Abu—Tartur Area,Egypt

The Campanian-Maastrichtian phosphatic deposits in Egypt,called the Duwi Forma-tion,comprise a part of the extensive Middle East to North African phosphogenic province of Late Cretaceous to Paleogene age.The province holds the greatest accumulation of phosphorites in the geological history,possibly in excess of 70 billion metric tons.The phosphate resources in Egypt alone exceed 3 billion metric tons.Two-third of these three billions occur only in the Abu-Tartur area.Among the phosphorite deposits in Egypt,the phosphorites of the Abu-Tartur area are characterized by high contents of iron ranging from 3% to 7% with an average of 5%.The detailed mineralogical and geochemical studies on the Abu-Tartur phosphorites revealed that iron is found in the form of pyrite,ankerite,clay minerals,microinclusions,and iron oxide.Pyrite,which is the major fraction,occurs as filling cement and partial to complete teplacement of phosphatic grains and confined to the fresh phosphorites while iron oxide occurs as cryp-tocrystalline aggregates of red to brown particles and is confined to the weathered outcrops.Ex-clusive relations between pyrite in the fresh phosphorite samples inside the Abu-Tartur mine and iron oxide in the equivalent horizon of the weathered exposure indicated that iron oxide was formed by the oxidation of pyrite as a result of weathering.All of these forms harm the quality of ore,manufacturing processes,and the produced phosphoric acid and fertilizers.