巴布亚新几内亚合恩半岛晚第四纪上升珊瑚礁造礁珊瑚的成岩历史

更新世以来,剧烈的构造运动已将巴布亚新几内亚合恩半岛东北海岸的晚第四纪珊瑚礁阶地抬升上千米.阶地中造礁珊瑚的成岩变化和成岩产物的组构特征反映了该礁的成岩历史,充分体现该区快速构造上升的影响.海水潜流带和淡水渗流带为上升礁的主要成岩环境.生物钻孔、生物碎屑填隙、珊瑚文石针粗化、珊瑚骨骼的溶解和新生变形转化,以及其不同矿物成分和组构的种种胶结物的胶结作用是造礁珊瑚经历的主要成岩作用.地球化学资料表明其成岩变化发生于开放的化学体系之中.     

Effects of differential tectonic uplift on Late Quaternary coral reef diagenesis,Huon Peninsula,Papua New Guinea

Mineralogical, petrological and geochemical analyses of corals and associated skeletal limestones taken from three transects across the Late Quaternary raised coral reefs of the Huon Peninsula, Papua New Guinea, show that tectonic uplift can be related to the degree of subaerial diagenesis of the reefs. Where the uplift rate is high, Pleistocene corals frequently retain their aragonite mineralogy, even though the annual rainfall is relatively high. In contrast, similar age corals from low‐uplift areas are consistently altered neomorphically to calcite. The transformation of reef skeletal limestones shows a similar, but less pronounced, trend to the corals. Chemical analysis shows that the neomorphic calcite crystals of coral skeletons from the low‐uplift areas have relatively higher Sr and Mg concentrations, compared with those in high‐uplift areas. This may indicate that neomorphism of corals in the low‐uplift terraces takes place at a relatively higher rate and an earlier stage than that in the high‐uplift areas. The pattern of diagenesis of the Huon reefs can be explained by the effects of tectonic uplift on the regional hydrological regime. First, lower uplift rates allow a raised reef or any part of it to remain in the meteoric phreatic zone for a relatively long time. Second, river gorge slopes from low‐uplift regions have lower gradients and reef terraces in these areas have more extensive raised lagoon depressions than in high‐uplift areas. Thus, there is less runoff and consequently more extensive vadose percolation in the former areas. Third, the resulting low‐relief topography in low‐uplift areas prompts formation of soils on the terraces, and further increases the ability of interaction between coral reefs and formation water.     

New interpretations of Great Salt Lake ooids and of ancient non-skeletal carbonate mineralogy

Earlier interpretations of textural alteration affecting Great Salt Lake ooids have greatly influenced concepts of ooid diagenesis. Scanning electron microscope study shows, however, that the coarse radial aragonite rays are depositional, that no recrystallization of pellet cores has occurred, and that Great Salt Lake ooids have not suffered noticeable diagenesis. As suggested by Kahle (1974), radial texture in ancient calcitic ooids is probably mainly original, not diagenetic. Retention of such fine textures has been attributed to organic matter (since found to be equivalent in modern skeletal and non-skeletal grains) or to paramorphic replacement (proposed for non-skeletal grains whose original aragonite mineralogy was only inferred from modern analogs). Pleistocene ooids known to have been aragonite alter like aragonite shells to coarse neomorphic calcite, often with aragonite relics. The striking uniformity of that coarse texture in neomorphic calcite replacing known skeletal aragonites throughout the geologic record has been noted for over 100 years. In contrast, Mississippian ooids retain fine texture as do calcite layers of coexisting gastropods, but unlike the strongly altered aragonite layers of these same gastropods. Therefore, inferences of original aragonitic mineralogy of ancient non-skeletal carbonate grains (including muds) which are now calcite but retain fine texture appear unwarranted, as do assumptions of differential diagenetic behaviour of ancient aragonitic skeletal and non-skeletal grains. Accordingly, modern depositional environments of marine ooids and carbonate muds must be rejected as chemically unrepresentative of comparable ancient environments. It is inferred that ancient non-skeletal carbonates were originally predominantly or exclusively calcite because of an earlier lower oceanic Mg/Ca ratio (<2/1) which altered progressively to values favouring aragonite (modern Mg/Ca value = 5/1). Major influencing factors are: selective removal of calcium by planktonic foraminifers and coccolithophorids since Jurassic-Cretaceous time and by abundant younger, Mg-poor aragonite skeletons and an erratic trend toward decreasing dolomite formation (decreasing removal of oceanic Mg). The change to aragonite dominance over calcite for non-skeletal carbonates was probably during early to middle Cenozoic time.     

Aragonite relic preservation in Jurassic calcite-replaced bivalves

Shells of the aragonite bivalve Neomiodon (Great Estuarine Group, Jurassic, Scotland) replaced by coarse neomorphic calcite contain oriented relics of the original aragonite ultrastructure. The presence of these relics in such old altered shells, as well as the high Sr content of the replacement calcite, indicate that the process of calcite replacement of aragonite is not a cumulative slow process involving repeated alteration events, but rather a rapid, one-step process. Aragonite relics, once encased in neomorphic spar, will survive as unequivocal evidence of original aragonite mineralogy, barring total remobilization of the enclosing stable calcite, a generally unlikely event. The retention of this residual aragonite and high-Sr calcite supports recent isotopic studies which suggest that the multiple phases of alteration (‘recrystallization’) invoked in earlier literature are unlikely events in the diagenesis of most undolomitized limestones. Retention of aragonite relics appears to be independent of whether alteration occurs in shallow meteoric or, as in the case of our Neomiodon material, deeper burial environments. Pseudopleochroism of the replaced Neomiodon shells appears to be due to organic, largely graphitic, relics, not to the aragonite relics.     

Microspar development during early marine burial diagenesis: a comparison of Pliocene carbonates from the Bahamas with Silurian limestones from Gotland (Sweden)

Comparison of ultrastructures in Pliocene periplatform carbonates from the Bahamas with Silurian limestones from Gotland (Sweden) reveals that despite the differences in primary sediment composition and age, they reflect a similar mechanism of lithification. In both sequences calcite microspar was formed as a primary cement at an early stage of marine burial diagenesis. Neither significant compression nor meteoric influence are necessary for the formation of calcite microspar. A model is proposed for the process of microsparitic cementation of fine-grained aragonite needle muds comprising four stages: (1) unconsolidated, aragonite-dominated carbonate mud; (2) precipitation of microspar that engulfs aragonite needles; (3) dissolution of aragonite, resulting in pitted surfaces of the microspar crystals; and (4) slight recrystallization. Our results contradict the widespread opinion that microspar necessarily is a product of secondary recrystallization of a previously lithified micrite.     

南海西沙海域西科1井第四系生物礁: 碳酸盐岩成岩作用特征

以西科1井第四系乐东组生物礁-碳酸盐岩地层为研究对象, 通过偏光显微镜观察、茜素红-S和铁氰化钾混合溶液染色、扫描电镜和矿物阴极发光性观察等分析方法研究了生物礁-碳酸盐岩的岩石学和成岩作用特征.西科1井生物礁-碳酸盐岩成岩作用包括较弱的压实作用、新生变形作用、微生物泥晶化作用、溶解作用、胶结作用.以典型胶结物岩相学产状为标志, 结合矿物阴极发光性特征识别出了大气水和海水成岩环境.其中, 大气水成岩环境以典型的新月形或悬垂形方解石胶结物为识别标志, 海水成岩环境以纤维状-针状文石为识别标志.成岩环境的垂向分布表现为: 0~27 m深度内为显著的大气水成岩环境; 27~42 m深度内以大气水成岩环境为主, 其次为海水成岩环境; 42~105 m深度内以大气水成岩环境为主, 海水成岩环境的影响弱; 105~172 m深度内大气水和海水成岩环境均出现; 172.00~214.89 m深度内为海水成岩环境.      

Eocene cool-water carbonate and biosiliceous sedimentation dynamics, St Vincent Basin, South Australia

Middle and Upper Eocene biogenic sediments in the Willunga Embayment along the eastern margin of the St Vincent Basin are a series of warm‐temperate limestones, marls and spiculites. The Middle Eocene Tortachilla Limestone is a thin, coarse grained, quartzose, biofragmental, bryozoan–mollusc calcarenite of stacked metre‐scale depositional cycles with hardground caps. Lithification, aragonite dissolution and the filling of moulds by sediment and cement characterize early marine‐meteoric diagenesis. Further meteoric diagenesis at the end of Tortachilla deposition resulted in dissolution, Fe‐oxide precipitation and calcite cementation. The Upper Eocene Blanche Point Formation is composed of coccolith and spiculite marl and spiculite, all locally rich in glauconite, turritellid gastropods and sponges. Decimetre‐scale units, locally capped by firmgrounds, have fossiliferous lower parts and relatively barren upper parts. Carbonate diagenesis is minor, with much aragonite still present, but early silicification is extensive, except in the spiculite, which is still opal‐A. All depositional environments are interpreted as relatively shallow water: high energy during the Middle Eocene and low energy during the Upper Eocene, reflecting the variable importance of a basin‐entrance archipelago of carbonate highs. Marls and spiculites are interpreted to have formed under an overall estuarine circulation system in a humid climate. Basinal waters, although well mixed, were turbid and rich in land‐derived nutrients, yet subphotic near the sea floor. These low‐energy, inner‐shelf biosiliceous sediments occur in coeval environments across other parts of Australia and elsewhere in the rock record, suggesting that they are a recurring element of the cool‐water, carbonate shelf depositional system. Thus, spiculites and spiculitic carbonates in the rock record need be neither deep basinal nor polar in origin. The paradox of a shallow‐water carbonate–spiculite association may be more common in geological history than generally realized and may reflect a characteristic mid‐latitude, humid climate, temperate water, palaeoenvironmental association.     

Diagenesis of early Permian high‐latitude limestones,Lower Parmeener Supergroup,Tasmania

The Darlington (Sakmarian) and Berriedale (Artinskian) Limestones are neritic deposits that accumulated in high‐latitude environments along the south‐eastern margin of Pangea in what is now Tasmania. These rocks underwent a series of diagenetic processes that began in the marine palaeoenvironment, continued during rapid burial and were profoundly modified by alteration associated with the intrusion of Mesozoic igneous rocks. Marine diagenesis was important but contradictory; although dissolution took place, there was also coeval precipitation of fibrous calcite cement, phosphate and glauconite, as well as calcitization of aragonite shells. These processes are interpreted as having been promoted by mixing of shelf and upwelling deep ocean waters and enabled by microbial degradation of organic matter. In contrast to warm‐water carbonates where meteoric diagenesis is important, the Darlington and Berriedale Limestones were largely unaffected by meteoric diagenesis. Only minor dissolution and local cementation took place in this diagenetic environment, although mechanical compaction was ubiquitous. Correlation with burial history curves indicates that chemical compaction became important as burial depths exceeded 150 m, promoting precipitation of extensive ferroan calcite. This effect resulted from burial by rapidly deposited, overlying, thick, late Permian and Triassic terrestrial sediments. This diagenetic pathway was, however, complicated by the subsequent intrusion of massive Mesozoic diabases and associated silicifying diagenetic fluids. Finally, fractures most probably connected with Cretaceous uplift were filled with late‐stage non‐ferroan calcite cement. This study suggests that both carbonate dissolution and precipitation occur in high‐latitude marine palaeoenvironments and, therefore, the cold‐water diagenetic realm is not always destructive in terms of diagenesis. Furthermore, it appears that for the early Permian of southern Pangea at least, there was no real difference in the diagenetic pathways taken by cool‐water and cold‐water carbonates.     

Controls of facies and sediment composition on the diagenetic pathway of shallow-water Heterozoan carbonates: the Oligocene of the Maltese Islands

Relatively few studies have so far addressed diagenetic processes in Heterozoan carbonates and the role that sediment composition and depositional facies exert over diagenetic pathways. This paper presents a study of Oligocene shallow-water, Heterozoan carbonates from the Maltese Islands. We investigate stratigraphic distribution, abundance and timing of diagenetic features and their relationship to sediment composition and depositional facies. The studied carbonate rocks comprise rud- to packstones of the Heterozoan association predominantly containing coralline red algae, bryozoans, echinoids and benthic foraminifers. XRD analyses show that all high-Mg calcite has been transformed to low-Mg calcite and that no aragonite is preserved. Diagenetic processes include dissolution of aragonitic biota, neomorphism of high-Mg calcitic biota to low-Mg calcite and cementation by fibrous, bladed, epitaxial and blocky cements. Stable isotopes on bulk rock integrated with petrographic data suggest that the study interval was not exposed to significant meteoric diagenesis. We interpret early cementation to have taken place in the marine and marine burial environment. The distribution and abundance of early diagenetic features, determining the diagenetic pathway, can be related to the primary sediment composition and depositional texture. Sorting and micrite content are important controls over the abundance of diagenetic features.     

Shallow-marine carbonate cementation in Holocene segments of the calcifying green alga Halimeda

Early-diagenetic cementation of tropical carbonates results from the combination of numerous physico-chemical and biological processes. In the marine phreatic environment it represents an essential mechanism for the development and stabilization of carbonate platforms. However, diagenetic cements that developed early in the marine phreatic environment are likely to become obliterated during later stages of meteoric or burial diagenesis. When lithified sediment samples are studied, this complicates the recognition of processes involved in early cementation, and their geological implications. In this contribution, a petrographic microfacies analysis of Holocene Halimeda segments collected on a coral island in the Spermonde Archipelago, Indonesia, is presented. Through electron microscopical analyses of polished samples, this study shows that segments are characterized by intragranular cementation of fibrous aragonite, equant High-Mg calcite (3.9 to 7.2 Mol% Mg), bladed Low-Mg calcite (0.4 to 1.0 Mol% Mg) and mini-micritic Low-Mg calcite (3.2 to 3.3 Mol% Mg). The co-existence and consecutive development of fibrous aragonite and equant High-Mg calcite results initially from the flow of oversaturated seawater along the aragonite template of the Halimeda skeleton, followed by an adjustment of cement mineralogy towards High-Mg calcite as a result of reduced permeability and fluid flow rates in the pores. Growth of bladed Low-Mg calcite cements on top of etched substrates of equant High-Mg calcite is explained by shifts in pore water pH and alkalinity through microbial sulphate reduction. Microbial activity appears to be the main trigger for the precipitation of mini-micritic Low-Mg calcite as well, based on the presumable detection of an extracellular polymeric matrix during an early stage of mini-micrite Low-Mg calcite cement precipitation. Radiocarbon analyses of five Halimeda segments furthermore indicate that virtually complete intragranular cementation in the marine phreatic environment with thermodynamically/kinetically controlled aragonite and High-Mg calcite takes place in about 100 years. Collectively, this study shows that early-diagenetic cements are highly diverse and provides new quantitative constraints on the rate of diagenetic cementation in tropical carbonate factories.     

Syntaxial overgrowths in muddy crinoidal limestones: cathodoluminescence sheds new light on an old problem

Lower Carboniferous shallow water limestones of Asbian and Brigantian age in Britain commonly contain abundant interparticle micrite and characteristically display large syntaxial calcite overgrowths on crinoid and echinoid grains. These overgrowths appear to have developed at the expense of the micrite and are widely regarded as neomorphic replacements. However, cathodoluminescence of these has revealed growth features which indicate that they are not neomorphic but originated as passive cement fills of solution voids surrounding echinoderm grains. We introduce the term solution corona for these grain selective voids and consider that three processes may have contributed to their development, namely: high-Mg calcite stabilization of host grains, crystal ripening, and meteoric dissolution. Cyclic subaerial emergence was a critical factor in these processes, and we contrast the morphology of the overgrowths in question with forms produced in basinal limestones which never experienced comparable early meteoric conditions. These early-formed solution coronas around echinoderm grains are therefore a useful indicator of meteoric diagenesis and have important implications for porosity evolution. The syntaxial cements which fill the solution coronas show distinct phases of growth in cathodoluminescence which reflect a progression from near-surface meteoric conditions to deep burial with pressure solution.     

Palaeoenvironmental records from fossil corals: The effects of submarine diagenesis on temperature and climate estimates

The geochemistry of coral skeletons may reflect seawater conditions at the time of deposition and the analysis of fossil skeletons offers a method to reconstruct past climate. However the precipitation of cements in the primary coral skeleton during diagenesis may significantly affect bulk skeletal geochemistry. We used secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) to measure Sr, Mg, B, U and Ba concentrations in primary coral aragonite and aragonite and calcite cements in fossil Porites corals from submerged reefs around the Hawaiian Islands. Cement and primary coral geochemistry were significantly different in all corals. We estimate the effects of cement inclusion on climate estimates from drilled coral samples, which combine cements and primary coral aragonite. Secondary 1% calcite or ∼2% aragonite cement contamination significantly affects Sr/Ca SST estimates by +1 °C and −0.4 to −0.9 °C, respectively. Cement inclusion also significantly affects Mg/Ca, B/Ca and U/Ca SST estimates in some corals. X-ray diffraction (XRD) will not detect secondary aragonite cements and significant calcite contamination may be below the limit of detection (∼1%) of the technique. Thorough petrographic examination of fossils is therefore essential to confirm that they are pristine before bulk drilled samples are analysed. To confirm that the geochemistry of the original coral structures is not affected by the precipitation of cements in adjacent pore spaces we analysed the primary coral aragonite in cemented and uncemented areas of the skeleton. Sr/Ca, B/Ca and U/Ca of primary coral aragonite is not affected by the presence of cements in adjacent interskeletal pore spaces i.e. the coral structures maintain their original composition and selective SIMS analysis of these structures offers a route to the reconstruction of accurate SSTs from altered coral skeletons. However, Mg/Ca and Ba/Ca of primary coral aragonite are significantly higher in parts of skeletons infilled with high Mg calcite cement. We hypothesise this reflects cement infilling of intraskeletal pore spaces in the primary coral structure.     

Geochemical,and stable and radiogenic isotope records in Devonian and Early Carboniferous carbonates from Valle de Tena,central Pyrenees (Spain): evidence for their diagenetic environments

Mineralogical, textural and geochemical investigations were made to determine the post-depositional evolution of Devonian and Early Carboniferous carbonates from Valle de Tena. The carbonate association is made up of low-Mg calcite, which occurs as micrite, spar cements, neomorphic patches and spar filling veinlets. Non-stoichiometric dolomite and ankerite occur as cements (dolomite also as replacements) in the Middle Devonian, post-dating calcite types. All these phases pre-date tectonic stylolites, indicating compaction after stabilization of the carbonate minerals. Strontium concentrations indicate that Early Devonian and Early Carboniferous micrites initially precipitated as aragonite; Middle and Late Devonian micrites precipitated as high-Mg calcites. Both precursors were diagenetically stabilized to low-Mg calcites through interaction with meteoric waters in phreatic environments. Trace elements in dolomite and ankerite indicate precipitation from Sr-enriched meteoric water. All studied carbonates, except Middle Devonian limestones, precipitated in reducing environments, which favoured incorporation of Fe and Mn. Late calcite generations precipitated from more saline waters than micrites. Light ¹⁸O values in micrites suggest alteration mainly in meteoric-phreatic environments. The dolomites and ankerites precipitated from more ¹⁸O-depleted fluids than the calcites, suggesting a greater contribution from meteoric waters. Variations in ¹³C of micrites represent primary secular trends, according to published ¹³C variations. The ¹³C oscillations within each succession probably relate to sea-level oscillations. Strontium isotopes also point to a meteoric origin of diagenetic fluids. Model calculations suggest that O and Sr isotopes equilibrated between calcites and fluid at relatively low water/rock ratios, whereas C isotopic signatures are inherited from limestones.     

Behavior of carbonate-associated sulfate during meteoric diagenesis and implications for the sulfur isotope paleoproxy

Although carbonate-associated sulfate (CAS) is used widely as a proxy for the sulfur isotope composition of ancient seawater, little is known about the effects of diagenesis on retention of primary δ³⁴S signals. Our case study of the Key Largo Limestone, Pleistocene, Florida, is the first systematic assessment of the impact of meteoric diagenesis on CAS properties. Geochemical and petrographic data show that meteoric diagenesis has affected the exposed coralline facies to varying degrees, yielding differences now expressed as sharp reaction fronts between primary and secondary carbonate minerals within individual coral heads. Specifically, analyses across high-resolution transects in the Key Largo Limestone show that concentrations of strontium and sodium decrease across the recrystallization front from original aragonite to meteoric low-magnesium calcite by factors of roughly 5 and 10, respectively. Predictably, δ¹⁸O values decrease across these same fronts. The δ¹³C relationships are more complex, with the most depleted values observed in the latest-formed calcite. Such trends likely reflect carbon isotope buffering capacity that decreased as reaction progressed, as well as protracted development of soil profiles and the associated terrestrial biomass and thus depleted δ¹³C during sea-level lowstand. Conversely, δ³⁴S values of CAS vary within a narrow ‘buffered’ range from 20.6 to 22.6‰ (compared to 20.8-22.0‰ of coeval Pleistocene seawater) across the same mineralogical transition, despite sulfate concentrations that drop in the diagenetic calcite by an average factor of 12. Collectively, these data point to robust preservation of primary δ³⁴S for carbonates that have experienced intense meteoric diagenesis, which is encouraging news for those using the isotopic composition of CAS as a paleoceanographic proxy. At the same time, the vulnerability of CAS concentrations to diagenetic resetting is clear.     

海相碳酸盐矿物的阴极发光性与其成岩蚀变的关系

引言众所周知,原始的海相碳酸盐矿物为文石、高镁方解石和低镁方解石,但它们对成岩蚀变极度敏感,在大气淡水成岩环境中,文石和高镁方解石都会转变为成岩低镁方解石,同时,原始的低镁方解石也会有不同程度的蚀变。在进行古代碳酸盐岩的沉积环境和古海洋学研究时,往往需要测定岩石中的微量元素及氧、碳、锶等同位素组成,用以判断古海水     

西沙群岛晚第四纪碳酸盐岩淡水成岩作用

基于西沙永兴岛上最新钻孔（SSZK1）取得的55.92 m岩芯的 U?Th定年、矿物、薄片、主微量元素及碳氧稳定同位素等资料,开展了西沙群岛晚第四纪碳酸盐岩沉积相和淡水成岩作用的研究。根据不同的矿物组成特征,可将SSZK1钻孔岩芯分为上、中、下三段: 下 段（33.89~55.92 m,主要为低镁方解石）、中 段（18.39~33.89 m,主要为文石和低镁方解石）、上段（0~18.39 m,主要为文石、高镁方解石和低镁方解石）。由于下段碳酸盐岩几乎全为稳定的低镁方解石组成,碳氧同位素值的严重负偏和小幅度变化,可推断其经历了程度较大的淡水成岩作用。中段和上段还存在不稳定的文石和高镁方解石,碳氧同位素值相对下段正偏和高幅高频变化,推测其淡水成岩作用的程度比下段要小。中段碳氧同位素值高幅高频变化同时也说明该段的矿物纵向变化较复杂。这种矿物组成的复杂变化可能是由于晚第四纪海平面频繁变化,该段被大气水渗流带和潜流带交替占据引起的。主微量元素的变化同时受到淡水成岩作用和沉积环境的影响。在中段、下段中可识别出sq1、sq2、sq3、sq4四个完整的相旋回。Na₂O,S,Sr 和碳氧同位素受到的淡水成岩作用而被消耗和负偏,且由于老一期的旋回经历了更长时间的淡水成岩作用,新、老旋回间的 Na₂O,S,Sr含量值和碳氧同位素值有明显差异。利用新、老时期形成的旋回间淡水成岩作用剩余Na₂O,S,Sr含量和碳氧同位素值的差别可以将新、老两个旋回区分开来。     

Diagenesis and geochemistry of porites corals from Papua New Guinea: Implications for paleoclimate reconstruction

Coral proxy records of sea surface temperature (SST) and hydrological balance have become important tools in the field of tropical paleoclimatology. However, coral aragonite is subject to post-depositional diagenetic alteration in both the marine and vadose environments. To understand the impact of diagenesis on coral climate proxies, two mid-Holocene Porites corals from raised reefs on Muschu Island, Papua New Guinea, were analysed for Sr/Ca, δ¹⁸O, and δ¹³C along transects from 100% aragonite to 100% calcite. Thin-section analysis showed a characteristic vadose zone diagenetic sequence, beginning with leaching of primary aragonite and fine calcite overgrowths, transitional to calcite void filling and neomorphic, fabric selective replacement of the coral skeleton. Average calcite Sr/Ca and δ¹⁸O values were lower than those for coral aragonite, decreasing from 0.0088 to 0.0021 and −5.2 to −8.1‰, respectively. The relatively low Sr/Ca of the secondary calcite reflects the Sr/Ca of dissolving phases and the large difference between aragonite and calcite Sr/Ca partition coefficients. The decrease in δ¹⁸O of calcite relative to coral aragonite is a function of the δ¹⁸O of precipitation. Carbon-isotope ratios in secondary calcite are variable, though generally lower relative to aragonite, ranging from −2.5 to −10.4%. The variability of δ¹³C in secondary calcite reflects the amount of soil CO₂ contributing ¹³C-depleted carbon to the precipitating fluids. Diagenesis has a greater impact on Sr/Ca than on δ¹⁸O; the calcite compositions reported here convert to SST anomalies of 115°C and 14°C, respectively. Based on calcite Sr/Ca compositions in this study and in the literature, the sensitivity of coral Sr/Ca-SST to vadose-zone calcite diagenesis is 1.1 to 1.5°C per percent calcite. In contrast, the rate of change in coral δ¹⁸O-SST is relatively small (−0.2 to 0.2°C per percent calcite). We show that large shifts in δ¹⁸O, reported for mid-Holocene and Last Interglacial corals with warmer than present Sr/Ca-SSTs, cannot be caused by calcite diagenesis. Low-level calcite diagenesis can be detected through X-ray diffraction techniques, thin section analysis, and high spatial resolution sampling of the coral skeleton and thus should not impede the production of accurate coral paleoclimate reconstructions.     

Carbon and Oxygen Isotopic Signatures in Albian-Danian Limestones of Cauvery Basin, Southeastern India

The Albian-Danian limestones of Cauvery Basin show a wide range of d¹³C and d¹⁸O values (–13.2 to +1.1% and –9.0 to –2.5%, respectively). The cement samples show negative carbon and oxygen isotope values (–18.9 to –3.9% and –9.0 to –4.3%, respectively). The petrographic study reveals the presence of algae, molluscs, bryozoans, foraminifers and ostracods as major framework constituents. The limestones have microspar and equant sparry calcite cements. The pore spaces and vugs are filled with sparry calcite cement. The bivariate plot of d¹³C and d¹⁸O suggests that most of the samples fall in the freshwater limestone and meteoric field, while few samples fall in the marine limestone and soil calcite fields. The presence of sparry calcite cement, together with negative carbon and oxygen isotope values, indicates that these limestones have undergone meteoric diagenesis.     

The Great Barrier Reef: a 700 000 year diagenetic history

A deep borehole through Ribbon Reef 5 in the Great Barrier Reef off north‐eastern Australia has identified a variety of cements, including epitaxial, radial prismatic and spherular aragonite, together with blocky, prismatic and fibrous calcite. These cements are discontinuously arranged within the sequence that consists predominantly of grainstones but locally includes clotted muddy and filamentous textures that may be of microbial origin. Calcite cements vary in morphology with groups of crystals that include acute scalenohedral, rhombohedral and flattened concordant terminations; these show varying densities of inclusions that locally define growth zones and in some terminations divide in the manner of ‘split crystals’ to form fibrous fringes. Morphological changes in calcite are inferred to reflect changes in water chemistry and crystal growth rates at the time of growth, allied to their relationship to the palaeo‐water table, and linked in turn to changes in sea‐level. Neomorphism and dissolution are widespread and variations in the severity of both imply response to the degree of undersaturation of pore waters that at times were probably balanced within very narrow limits. A total of 10 depositional units are identified. Those units at the base of the borehole reflect deposition and diagenesis within a marine environment. The influence of meteoric waters, indicated by stable isotopes, is first apparent at the top of Unit 1 and in Unit 2 (184 to 155 m below sea floor). Petrographic evidence of vadose conditions appears at the tops of Unit 3 (131 to 99 m below sea floor). Units 4 to 8, all deposited under marine conditions, provide isotopic evidence of meteoric or mixing‐zone waters and petrographic indicators of vadose conditions, typically at the top of the units. Evidence indicates that in Unit 5 the water table was mobile and Units 6a, 6b, 7 and 8, all characterized by ultraviolet fluorescent cements, are capped by sub‐aerial erosion surfaces. Unit 9 (the Holocene) reflects the recent re‐establishment of marine conditions. The extent of alteration of the entire sequence reflects the substantial and pervasive influence of meteoric waters. This effect is interpreted as a result of a greater rainfall and river flow from the mainland during early and late stages of interstadial periods. The study reflects progress in the ability to recognize the diagenetic signal generated by sea‐level change. However, whereas the isotopic results reflect the changing relationships between vadose and phreatic zones in groundwater systems beneath successive emergent surfaces, their correspondence with petrographic features is expressed only weakly and commonly lacks the systematic sequential overprinting implied by the distribution of cathodoluminescent zones of cements in many ancient limestones.     

Diagenesis and Evolution of the Holocene Coquinite from the Haishan Island,Eastern Guangdong,China

The coastal hard rock with a thickness of over 5 m and a distribution area of nearly 200 ha in the Haishan Island,south China,has long drawn researchers' attention.However,there were controversies over its formation and classification,and these controversies in turn lead to the dispute of sea level changes and coastal uplift-subsidence of this area.To investigate its diagenesis and evolution,petrographic analysis,elemental geochemistry,isotopic analysis,and radiocarbon dating were used in the present stu...