Origin of glauconite in the recent bottom sediments of the ocean

There are two general types of sedimentary glauconite in Recent ocean sediments: terrigenous-allogenic and authigenic glauconite. Recent sediments of the oceans contain mainly terrigenous-allogenic glauconite (shelf and continental slope) which is formed from ancient glauconite-bearing rocks on coasts, islands and the ocean floor. The age of terrigenous-allogenic glauconite ranges from 2 to 70 m.y. (8 samples from the Atlantic Ocean, 13 from the Pacific Ocean, 1 from the Indian Ocean). The area of terrigenous-allogenic glauconite distribution correlates very well with the area of distribution of glauconite-bearing rocks on land and does not correlate with the climate and bathymetry.Authigenic glauconite is seldom found in Recent ocean sediments. The sediments with authigenic glauconite form transition zones between sediments with organic carbon, H₂S and sulphide near coasts and oxidized sediments of the ocean floor (red clay and others). The areas of authigenic glauconite distribution are not yet well known. The formation of authigenic glauconite occurs mainly during diagenesis of sediments by synthesis from interstitial solutions and/or alteration of clay minerals.     

古土壤干湿特征指示晚古生代气候演化

古土壤是地质历史时期气候变化的重要记录者,通过古土壤记录的信息,可以定性和定量重建深时古环境和古气候,为认识地质历史时期的各种地质事件提供依据。前人大多对特定区域展开古土壤研究,对全球性古土壤数据的整理和古气候、古环境研究相对较少。基于古土壤的干湿情况对古气候环境的指示作用,我们按照植物根迹、根系结构与根化石、黏土矿物以及古土壤的结构构造等依据,将前人报道的古生代(410～255 Ma)古土壤分为干旱古土壤和湿润古土壤两种类型。将古土壤干湿特征与其他气候敏感性沉积物进行对照,显示为干旱古土壤分布与钙质结核以及蒸发岩等指示干旱气候带的敏感性沉积物分布一致,湿润古土壤分布与高岭石、煤以及铝土矿等指示湿润气候带的敏感性沉积物分布一致。干旱古土壤大都分布在晚古生代中低纬度干旱地区;湿润古土壤大都分布在晚古生代赤道附近及中纬度湿润地区。通过以上分析认为,古土壤干湿特征可以作为一个新的气候敏感指标指示古气候环境,进而作为划分气候带的有力依据。     

古土壤干湿特征指示晚古生代气候演化

古土壤是地质历史时期气候变化的重要记录者,通过古土壤记录的信息,可以定性和定量重建深时古环境和古气候,为认识地质历史时期的各种地质事件提供依据。前人大多对特定区域展开古土壤研究,对全球性古土壤数据的整理和古气候、古环境研究相对较少。基于古土壤的干湿情况对古气候环境的指示作用,我们按照植物根迹、根系结构与根化石、黏土矿物以及古土壤的结构构造等依据,将前人报道的古生代（410~255 Ma）古土壤分为干旱古土壤和湿润古土壤两种类型。将古土壤干湿特征与其他气候敏感性沉积物进行对照,显示为干旱古土壤分布与钙质结核以及蒸发岩等指示干旱气候带的敏感性沉积物分布一致,湿润古土壤分布与高岭石、煤以及铝土矿等指示湿润气候带的敏感性沉积物分布一致。干旱古土壤大都分布在晚古生代中低纬度干旱地区;湿润古土壤大都分布在晚古生代赤道附近及中纬度湿润地区。通过以上分析认为,古土壤干湿特征可以作为一个新的气候敏感指标指示古气候环境,进而作为划分气候带的有力依据。     

Utility of clay Minerals in the Determination of Sedimentary Transport Patterns in the Bay of Cadiz and the Adjoining Continental Shelf (SW-Spain)

The contents and the distribution of clay minerals in modern sediments of the Cadiz bay and the continental shelf have been studied aiming to establish the sedimentary exchange model and the pathways followed by the clay fraction between the bay and the adjoining continental shelf. The most abundant clay minerals in the muddy sediments consist mainly of illite, smectite, interstratified illite-smectite, kaolinite and chlorite. The application of factor analysis method (PCA) to clay minerals data are considered to be useful in the determination of sedimentary transport patterns. The data from clay mineral assemblages, and their distribution map, make possible to establish the fine sediments transport paths in the study area using clay mineral as natural tracers. This model of transport takes in consideration the facies distribution, the supplies sources and the way of fine sediments are incorporated to the marine environment.

Two flows paths have been established: the outflows coming from Cadiz bay and the littoral zones; and the inflows coming from external marine zones of the bay. These flows are controlled by tidal currents and the morphology of the coast. The action of surge and the marine currents, specially the Atlantic Surface Water flow, are also important in the transport of fine sediments coming from sources located to the north of the study zone.     

钱塘江下切河谷SE2孔全新世沉积物黏土矿物特征及其意义*

通过X射线衍射系统分析了杭州湾地区SE2孔全新世沉积物的黏土矿物组成,结果显示研究层段黏土矿物主要由伊利石、绿泥石、高岭石和蒙脱石组成;伊利石结晶度较好,化学风化指数普遍大于0.5,表明以化学风化为主,且风化趋势自下而上呈递减趋势。通过对比中国东南部主要河流沉积物的黏土矿物组成,认为钱塘江下切河谷全新世沉积物的黏土矿物组成具有较好的物源指示意义: 全新世 Ⅰ 段(即古河口湾和河漫滩)沉积物主要来自钱塘江上游,特征黏土矿物为高岭石,河口外物质贡献不大;Ⅱ 段(即现代河口湾和近岸浅海)沉积物包含较多蒙脱石,表明不仅包括钱塘江上游物质,河口外长江物质也开始进入钱塘江河口。黏土矿物中,高岭石对气候有较好的指示作用:中全新世高岭石含量达到最高值,反映气候最为湿热,化学风化程度最高;晚全新世含量逐渐降低,反映气候逐渐回冷,化学风化强度降低。     

青藏高原东北缘早渐新世—早中新世干旱化的粘土矿物学证据——以兰州盆地为例

为揭示青藏高原东北缘早渐新世—早中新世气候环境演化及干旱化事件,采用X射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电子显微分析(SEM)等现代测试技术,对甘肃兰州盆地早渐新世—早中新世沉积物中粘土矿物的微观形貌、相对含量、V(Ill+Chl)/V(Sme)比值等参数进行了系统研究。结果表明,早渐新世—早中新世沉积物中粘土矿物主要有伊利石、绿泥石、蒙脱石以及少量的伊-蒙混层粘土矿物,指示该时间段气候总体以干旱为特征,局部出现相对温暖潮湿的气候。根据粘土矿物相对含量及V(Ill+Chl)/V(Sme)比值变化特征将兰州地区早渐新世—早中新世的气候环境演化划分为以下4个阶段:(Ⅰ)31.5~28.8 Ma相对温干偏湿的气候阶段;(Ⅱ)28.8~26.2 Ma相对冷干的气候阶段;(Ⅲ)26.2~22.1 Ma相对温暖潮湿的气候阶段;(Ⅳ)22.1~16.5 Ma相对温干偏湿的气候阶段。扫描电子显微分析表明,在相对温暖潮湿的时期,粘土矿物溶蚀较明显;在相对干旱的时期,粘土矿物表现显著的物理风化特征。以上粘土矿物学特征所揭示的阶段性干旱可能与青藏高原的阶段性隆升相对应。     

Early Cretaceous Paleoclimate Characteristics of China: Clues from Continental Climate-indicative Sediments

The Cretaceous was one of the most remarkable ‘greenhouse' climate periods in geological history. Most of the reported studies of the Cretaceous paleoclimate are based upon marine sedimentary records. Large spatial scale paleoclimatic reconstruction, which has a higher time resolution based upon continental sediments in China, is rarely found. This study presents paleoclimate reconstruction for the six time periods of the Early Cretaceous in China by employing continental climate-indicative sediments, including calcareous deposits, coal, oil shale, gypsum, halite, desert sedimentary systems, ferruginous deposits and laterite, copper-bearing deposits, limestone and dolomite. Based on the distribution of the association of climate-indicative sediments and the influences of paleotopography and orogenic belts(or important structural belts) on climate, seven climatic zones have been identified: 1) a warm and humid zone; 2) a warm and humid-warm and arid zone; 3) a warm and arid zone; 4) an arid and hot zone; 5) the Tibet hot and humid zone; 6) a hot and arid-semiarid zone; and 7) a hot and humid-hot and arid one. It is found that the Early Cretaceous climatic zones of China were nearly latitudinally distributed from northwest to southeast. The aridhot climatic zone expanded in the Aptian, suggesting that a hotter and drier climate prevailed in later period of the Early Cretaceous. Conversely, the humid climatic zone expanded in the Albian, indicating that a wetter climate appeared at the end of the Early Cretaceous. The overall distribution pattern of the seven climatic zones indicates that a hot-warm and arid climate was predominant in China; this coincides with a global ‘greenhouse climate' background. However, palaeogeographic features and specific geologic events, such as the existence and disappearance of the eastern high plateau, and the uplift and denudation of Yinshan, Yanshan, Tianshan, Qinling and Dabie Mountains, led to distinctive regional climatic features of the Cretaceous in China.     

Trace element mobility during sub-seafloor alteration of basaltic glass from Ocean Drilling Program site 953 (off Gran Canaria)

Trace element concentrations of altered basaltic glass shards (layer silicates) and zeolites in volcaniclastic sediments drilled in the volcanic apron northeast of Gran Canaria during Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) leg 157 document variable element mobilities during low-temperature alteration processes in a marine environment. Clay minerals (saponite, montmorillonite, smectite) replacing volcanic glass particles are enriched in transition metals and rare earth elements (REE). The degree of retention of REE within the alteration products of the basaltic glass is correlated with the field strength of the cations. The high field-strength elements are preferentially retained or enriched in the alteration products by sorption through clay minerals. Most trace elements are enriched in a boundary layer close to the interface mineral-altered glass. This boundary layer has a key function for the physico-chemical conditions of the subsequent alteration process by providing a large reactive surface and by lowering the fluid permeability. The release of most elements is buffered by incorporation into secondary precipitates (sodium-rich zeolites, phillipsite, Fe- and Mn-oxides) as shown by calculated distribution coefficients between altered glasses and authigenic minerals. Chemical fluxes change from an open to a closed system behavior during prograde low-temperature alteration of volcaniclastic sediments with no significant trace metal flux from the sediment to the water column.     

Clay Minerals in Bottom Sediments of the Medvezhii Island Region,Norwegian Sea

Integrated geological and geophysical investigation of bottom sediments in the Medvezhii Island region, southwestern margin of the Barents Sea, has made it possible to characterize sediments of diverse types related to the action of hydrocarbon fluids, hemipelagic sedimentation, slope phenomena, and combined influence of all these factors. Relatively homogeneous (in terms of mechanical composition) sediments are subdivided into several lithogenetic types based on the grain size distribution. Relationships of clay minerals, as well as their morphological and structural peculiarities, are described for each type. It is demonstrated that sediments formed under the substantial influence of hydrocarbon fluid fluxes are characterized by a high (relative to hemipelagic sediments) content of smectites and mixed-layer clay minerals of the illite–smectite series. It is assumed that these minerals are authigenic formations in mud volcanic rocks and diapir material. Based on the comparison of clay minerals contents primary source of the material for redeposited sediments has been reconstructed.     

钱塘江下切河谷SE2孔全新世沉积物黏土矿物特征及其意义*

通过X射线衍射系统分析了杭州湾地区SE2孔全新世沉积物的黏土矿物组成,结果显示研究层段黏土矿物主要由伊利石、绿泥石、高岭石和蒙脱石组成;伊利石结晶度较好,化学风化指数普遍大于0.5,表明以化学风化为主,且风化趋势自下而上呈递减趋势。通过对比中国东南部主要河流沉积物的黏土矿物组成,认为钱塘江下切河谷全新世沉积物的黏土矿物组成具有较好的物源指示意义: 全新世 Ⅰ 段(即古河口湾和河漫滩)沉积物主要来自钱塘江上游,特征黏土矿物为高岭石,河口外物质贡献不大;Ⅱ 段(即现代河口湾和近岸浅海)沉积物包含较多蒙脱石,表明不仅包括钱塘江上游物质,河口外长江物质也开始进入钱塘江河口。黏土矿物中,高岭石对气候有较好的指示作用:中全新世高岭石含量达到最高值,反映气候最为湿热,化学风化程度最高;晚全新世含量逐渐降低,反映气候逐渐回冷,化学风化强度降低。     

Sedimentology,mineralogy, and geochemistry of the Late Quaternary Meyghan Playa sediments,NE Arak,Iran: palaeoclimate implications

Playas are shallow ephemeral lakes that form in arid and semi-arid regions. Iran has a large number of playas such as Meyghan Playa, which is located in the northeast of Arak city that borders the central Iran and Sanandaj-Sirjan zones. This study aims to investigate the mineralogical, sedimentological, and geochemical characteristics of the playa sediments. In order to determine the palaeoenvironment, we carried out X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies. Meyghan Playa sediments consist of very fine-grained sediments and contain both evaporite and clastic minerals. The evaporite minerals include calcite, gypsum, halite, glauberite, and thenardite, whereas clastic minerals are quartz and clay. The calcite abundance decreases from the margin to the central portion of the playa but gypsum and halite abundances show an increasing trend from the margin to the center. This observation is consistent with the general zonation of other playas. Variations of calcite and gypsum concentration profiles present increasing and decreasing trends with depth, which could be ascribed to the changes in climatic factors. These factors include brine chemical modifications owing to changes in evaporation and precipitation rates and variations in relative abundance of anions-cations or in the rate of clastic and evaporite minerals due to variations in the freshwater influx (climatic changes) with time. A decrease in calcite and increase in sulfate minerals (especially gypsum) with depth is probably due to the higher water level and rainfall, a more humid climate, and salinity variations.     

The paleoclimatic interpretation of clay minerals in sediments — a review

The application of paleoclimatic interpretation to clay minerals from continental and marine sediments is reviewed and the advantages of this method are indicated. Levels relatively rich in chlorite, illite, palygorskite and quartz are interpreted as corresponding to relatively dry periods, while more humid periods lead to more intensive weathering and consequently to the dominance of clay minerals more advanced in the relative stability scale, such as kaolinite. Smectite is taken to indicate a climate with contrasting seasons and a pronounced dry season.Using this and similar schemes, the paleoclimates of areas adjoining the Mediterranean Basin, North Sea, North Atlantic, Southern Arctic, Equatorial and North-West Pacific, and North Phillipine Sea are reconstructed.Clay minerals in sediments, particularly marine sediments, can be useful indicators of paleoclimatic conditions. While they do not produce direct indications of climatic parameters, they provide integrated records of overall climatic impact. Occasionally, they may be superior to the more conventional paleoclimatic methods, such as pollen or oxygen-isotope analysis.The limitations imposed on the paleoclimatic interpretation of clay minerals in sediments are discussed on the basis of examples. The distinction between authigenic and detrital clay minerals is shown to be problematic, particularly with regard to smectite. The relationship between climatic parameters and clay-mineral formation is complicated by the intervention of extra-climatic factors such as topography, geomorphology, lithology and time. Post-depositional diagenetic changes may not be recognized. Differentiation during transport, due to size sorting or differential flocculation may overlap climate-induced differentiation. The association of clay-mineral assemblages with specific source areas presents difficulties due to dispersal pathways that are affected by type of transport agency, i.e., water, ice or wind. Transport agencies are not constant with time. By an interdisciplinary approach, with the paleoclimatic information derived from clay minerals being correlated with that obtained from the analysis of microfossils and oxygen isotope data, many of these limitations can be overcome.     

粘土矿物保存海洋沉积有机质研究进展及其碳循环意义

海洋沉积物吸附有机质的量和有机质循环周期与粘土矿物类型和吸附方式密切相关,并在全球碳循环中扮演着不同的角色。粘土吸附有机质有物理吸附和化学吸附之分,前者主要存在于粘土的微孔隙中,参与年、十年或百年尺度的循环;后者主要存在于粘土矿物层间和外表面,稳定性较好,有机质易于保存,可参与百万年或更长时间的循环,这种不同时间尺度内的碳循环,将会改写海洋沉积物有机碳“源”、“汇”的关系。不同类型粘土矿物的性质存在差异,决定了吸附有机质量的多寡,蒙脱石的吸附量远大于伊利石的吸附量,这可能是造成全球不同海域中有机碳“源”、“汇”变化的原因。海洋沉积物处于水圈、生物圈和岩石圈的交汇地带,有机碳的差异和变化,都会对全球碳循环及气候变化产生重要的影响。     

Clay Minerals in Sediments of the Arctic Seas

The distribution of clay minerals in recent sediments on the Arctic shelf off the Eurasian and North American continents is considered. Prominence is given to the East Siberian and Laptev seas. The illite belt established on the basis of the composition of clay minerals in seven Arctic seas stretches from the Beaufort Sea to the White Sea and reveals a mineralogical zonality. The belt can be devided into smectite and chlorite provinces. Factors governing the formation of the Arctic illite belt and features of the distribution of individual clay minerals are discussed. The identification of the illite belt in sediments on the Arctic shelf complements the system of planetary latitudinal zones of clay minerals formulated by previous researchers.     

Mineralogy of low grade metamorphosed manganese sediments of the Urals: Petrological and geological applications

The paper describes mineralogy of the low grade metamorphosed manganese sediments, which occur in sedimentary complexes of the Pai Khoi Ridge and the Polar Urals and volcanosedimentary complexes of the Central and South Urals. The degree of metamorphism of the rocks studied corresponds to PT conditions of the prehnite–pumpellyite (deposits of Pai Khoi and Polar and South Urals) and green schist (deposits of the Central Urals) facies. One hundred and nine minerals were identified in the manganese-bearing rocks on the basis of optical and electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and microprobe analysis. According to the variations in the amount of major minerals of the manganese rocks of the Urals, they are subdivided on carbonate (I), oxide–carbonate–silicate (II), and oxide–silicate (III) types. Carbonates, various Mn^2 +-bearing silicates associated with oxides and carbonates, and braunite (Mn^3 +-bearing silicate) are the major Mn hosts in types I, II, and III, respectively. Because of the different oxidation state of Mn, the rocks of types I and II are termed as “reduced” and the rocks of type III, as “oxidized”. The formation of a certain mineralogical type of metamorphic assemblage is controlled by the content of organic matter in the primary sediments. The sequence type I → type II → type III reflects the decrease in the amount of organic matter in metalliferous sediments. Mineralogical data indicate that manganese in the primary sediments accumulated in a silicate form (MnSi gel, glass, etc). During diagenesis, the Mn–Si phase was transformed to neotokite with subsequent formation of caryopilite and further crystallization of pyroxmangite, rhodonite, tephroite, and other silicates due to reactions involving caryopilite. The hydrated Mn-silicates (caryopilite and/or friedelite) and the spatially associated parsettensite, stilpnomelane, and other minerals are the index minerals of the low grade metamorphism. Under PT conditions of prehnite–pumpellyite facies, nearly 70% of silicate minerals are hydrous. The metamorphosed Mn-bearing sediments are characterized by the low-temperature caryopilite (or tephroite-caryopilite-pyroxmangite ± rhodonite) and the high-temperature caryopilite-free (or tephroite-pyroxmangite ± rhodonite) facies. Their PT conditions correspond to zeolite and prehnite-pumpellyite (the low-temperature) and green schist and higher grade (the high-temperature) facies.     

Postsedimentary lithogenesis of terrigenous complexes in fold systems: Rock fabric and cleavage

The simplest intergranular cleavage and foliation of clayey rocks are typical of postsedimentary lithogenesis of folded terrigenous complexes at passive continental margins if the rocks do not contain metamorphic minerals. Cleavage zones coincide with metagenesis (anchimetamorphism) zones. Cleavage is often superimposed on the rock fabric formed in the process of subsidence lithogenesis (e.g., in the Verkhoyansk terrigenous complex). In other cases, cleavage in terrigenous rocks is regarded as the final stage of the development of their microfabric formation related to folding (e.g., Jurassic sequence of southern Dagestan).     

Hydrogen isotope exchange between clay minerals and sea water

The D/H ratios of separated size fractions of clay minerals in two deep sea sediments taken from depths of 30 and 1100cm in a North Pacific Ocean core were measured to investigate the extent of hydrogen isotope exchange between detrital clay minerals and sea water. The D/H ratio of each size fraction of the shallower sample was compared with that of the corresponding size fraction of the deeper sample. No differences were detected between D/H ratios of corresponding size fractions from the two levels in the core except for the <0.1μm size fraction, which makes up only 5% of the sample. Even in this size fraction only about 8–28% D/H exchange is apparent. This is interpreted as indicating that no significant hydrogen isotope exchange between clay minerals and sea water has occurred during the past 2–3 Myr. Therefore information concerning the provenance and mode of formation of detrital clay minerals can be obtained from the D/H ratios of deep sea sediments younger than 2–3 Myr.     

Clay‐coat diversity in marginal marine sediments

The specific mineralogy of clay grain coats controls the ability of the coat to inhibit quartz cementation in sandstones during prolonged burial and heating. How and why clay‐coat mineralogy varies across marginal marine systems is poorly understood, even though these eogenetic phenomena strongly influence subsequent mesodiagenesis and reservoir quality. The novel development of the ability to predict the distribution of clay‐coat mineralogy would represent an important development for sandstone reservoir quality prediction. In marginal marine sediments, clay minerals occur as grain‐coats, floccules, mud intraclasts, clay‐rich rock fragments or as dispersed material. However, the relationships between clay mineralogy, the amount of clay, and its distribution is poorly understood. This study focused on the Ravenglass Estuary, UK. The key aim was to develop and apply a novel methodology utilising scanning electron microscope – energy dispersive spectrometry, for the first time, on grain coats in modern sediments, to differentiate the clay‐coat mineral signature from that of the bulk sediment, and reveal the distribution of clay minerals across marginal marine sediments. The study showed that marginal marine sediments principally have their clay mineral assemblage present as clay‐coats on sand grains. These clay‐coats have a mixed clay mineralogy and are spatially heterogeneous across the range of marginal‐marine depositional environments. The study further showed that clay‐coat mineralogy is governed initially by the hydrologically‐controlled segregation of the clay minerals within inner estuarine depositional environments, and subsequently by the selective abrasive removal of specific clay mineral types during reworking and transport into the outer estuary and the marine environment. The highest relative abundance of grain‐coating chlorite was in sand‐flat and tidal‐bar depositional environments. The availability of an analogue data set, and an understanding of the controlling processes of clay‐coat mineralogy, offer crucial steps in building a predictive capability for clay‐coat derived elevated reservoir quality in deeply buried sandstones.     

中国南方东部震旦纪碎屑岩和泥质岩成岩作用

中国南方震旦纪碎屑岩的成岩作用主要有压实和压溶、胶结和固结、重结晶、交代作用及自生矿物形成等,泥质岩的成岩作用主要为压实作用和成岩过程中粘土矿物的转化。其成岩过程可分为同生、成岩、后生、表生四个成岩作用阶段。在沉积盆地演化的不同阶段和处在盆地的不同部位,出现了不同的岩石类型,往往呈现各自的成岩作用变化特点。     

广西百色盆地古近系沉积特征及其古气候意义

通过研究广西百色盆地地表斩龙颈剖面、百东河剖面、六吜剖面、那周剖面记录的沉积特征、沉积标志、粘土矿物组合类型及CaCO3指数的古气候信息,再结合ESR测年数据,确定了古近系古新统晚期六吜组一始新统晚期百岗组(63.1～33.7MaBP)地层时间序列,反应该区自晚古新世至始新世晚期气候由半干早、干旱—潮湿(偏凉)—温暖潮湿—潮湿(偏热)—温暖潮湿向偏干转化的6个古气候演变阶段。