Geochemical and Mineralogical Characteristics of Pleistocene Lignites and Associated Sediments of Marathousa Coal Field,Central Peloponnese,Greece

The mineralogy and geochemistry data are presented for thirty-seven shales,four concretions,two carbonate sediments and seven lignites from the Marathousa coal field of the Megalopolis Basin in Greece.The argillaceous rocks consist of chlorite,illite,kaolinte,albite,quartz.opal-A,calcite and dolomite;the concretions of aragonite,gypsum and pyrite;and the carbonate rocks of calcite,quartz and illite.The mineral matter in the lignites consists of gypsum,quartz,albite,chlorite,illite,opal-A,dolomite,pyrite,and rarely calcite and kaolinite Athree-factor model explains the total variaition of major and trace elements in the argillaceous sediments.The first factor is an aluminosilicate factor and involves the following elements:Al,Si,Mg,Na,K,Ti,Mn,Nb,Y,Rb,Zn,Cu,Ni,Cr,Nband V,associated with chlorite,albite and illite.The second factor involves the elements Ca,Sr,Ba,Znand Sc and is related to carbonate lithology and mainly the carbonate concretions with gypsum.The third factor involves Fe and Ce with a weak association with Mn.The diagenesis of the Marathousa sediments and lignites was not very advanced as indicated by (a) the total thickness of the sequence (500m),(b) the presence of biogenic silica(opal-A) and (c) the age of the deposit(Pleistocene).FOr these reasons the rpresence of chlorite,illite and kaolinite in the sediments and lignite is due not to diagenetic reactions but to weathering of the flysch and metamorphic rocks at the edges of the Megalopolis Basin and transport of the weathering products(illite,chlorite,kaolinite)into the basin of deposition.The diagenetic minerals of the Marathousa sequence include pyrite,gypsum,dolomite and aragonite.     

兰州市取暖期可吸入颗粒物中单颗粒矿物组成特征

为研究兰州市2005年冬季大气可吸入颗粒物(PM10)中单颗粒的矿物组成,用能谱扫描电镜识别和统计了兰州市区(东方红广场)和郊区(榆中县)两个采样点的单矿物颗粒。结果在市区样品中识别出方解石、伊/蒙混层、石英、斜长石、伊利石、石膏、绿泥石、高岭石、浊沸石和钾长石等21种矿物,前7种占统计总量的75%以上;郊区样品中识别出20种矿物,以方解石、石英、伊利石、绿泥石、斜长石和伊/蒙混层为主(占70%以上),与市区相比缺少钾石膏、金红石和水铝酸钙而增加了硫酸镁和磷灰石。总体来看,大气PM10中的矿物颗粒可分为粘土类、长石类、碳酸盐类、硫酸盐类、氧化物类和其他六类,以粘土类和碳酸盐类矿物为主(约占60%);冬季市区颗粒物表面的“硫化”现象较郊区严重;这些矿物颗粒主要来自地表土,人为排放和大气中二次化学反应生成的矿物的贡献较小。     

Relations Between Paleoclimatological Conditions and Mineralogical Characteristics of Clays in Miocene Sediments at Linxia Basin,China

Linxia Basin is a late Cenozoic fault-block basin along the border between the Tibet plateau and the Loess plateau in Northwestern China. Its formation and sediments record may be directly affected by the structural dynamics and the uplift of the Tibet Plateau. For this reason, we studied the mineral characteristics of the Maogou formation of Miocene sediments using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The XRD results showed that quartz, chlorite, illite, calcite, plagioclase, orthoclase, kaolinite, and trace palygorskite are present throughout the sequence of the cross-section in Linxia basin. In contrast, gypsum and ankerite occur occasionally in the upper portion of the Miocene deposits. The content of calcite varied with layers in the profile and was relatively concentrated in mudstone. Chlorite and illite were observed transforming into palygorskite under SEM observation. Based on the mineral characteristics and the change of mineral composition, especially the clay minerals, it could be inferred that an arid environment prevailed in the region with warm and cold intervals during Miocene time.     

Organic petrology, mineralogy and depositional environment of the Kipra lignite seam, Maritza-West basin, Bulgaria

The aim of the present study is to provide additional information about the properties and depositional environment of the Kipra lignite seam, which was deposited during the regressive stage of development of the Maritza-West basin. Petrographical and mineralogical data, along with ash yields and sulphur contents of 24 samples from a seam profile, have been used to study the vertical variation of the depositional settings during peat accumulation and subsequent coalification.The Kipra lignite is characterized by high ash yields and sulphur contents. It formed in a rheotrophic, low-lying mire with alkaline pH value. Vegetation with low preservation potential dominated within the palaeomire. During peat formation, frequent changes of the water level controlled the depositional environment. During the deposition of units 1 and 2, high water energy caused the transportation of high amounts of inorganic material into the mire, resulting in the formation of weakly gelified mineral-rich lignite. The organic matter from units 3 and 4 is characterized by enhanced gelification, which probably reflects the decreasing energy of the system. Good positive correlation between sulphur contents and the GI values was established in units 4, indicating that the gelification of the tissues was probably mainly controlled by the bacterial activity. In contrast, the gelification of the samples from unit 3 of the Kipra seam was probably governed by the redox conditions. The organic matter deposited under relatively wet conditions, in which the thermal and oxidative destruction of the tissues, was limited.A variety of major, minor and accessory minerals are present in Maritza-West lignite. The mineral composition is dominated mainly by pyrite, gypsum and calcite, and to a lesser extent limonite, quartz, kaolinite, montmorillonite, illite, chlorite and plagioclase. Jarosite, hematite, halloysite, mica, K-feldspar, aragonite, siderite, and dolomite were also determined in very low concentrations. These minerals formed syngenetically and epigenetically. The syngenetic stage is characterized mainly by the formation of pyrite, carbonates, silicates and sulphates, whereas the Fe-oxyhydroxides, partially the carbonates and almost all silicates are of detrital origin. During the epigenetic stage, carbonates, sulphates, clay minerals, pyrite, and Fe-oxyhydroxides were formed. Alteration products like gypsum, jarosite, limonite, chlorite, kaolinite, illite, mica, and calcite were generated due to the transformation of detrital and authigenic minerals.     

内蒙古阿刀亥矿晚古生代煤中矿物的赋存状态及成因

运用偏光显微镜、低温灰化+X射线衍射仪、带能谱的扫描电镜对内蒙古大青山煤田阿刀亥矿晚古生代CP2煤层中矿物的赋存状态及其成因进行了研究.研究表明阿刀亥矿CP2煤层中矿物包括硬水铝石、勃姆石、磷钡铝石、高岭石、铵伊利石、方解石、白云石、菱铁矿、锐钛矿、氟磷灰石、石英和黄铁矿.硬水铝石、勃姆石、磷钡铝石、高岭石和铵伊利石一般充填在丝质体、半丝质体、结构镜质体胞腔中或者分布在基质镜质体中.方解石和白云石主要充填在裂隙中.硬水铝石、勃姆石和磷钡铝石是由来源于本溪组铝土矿风化壳的物质在泥炭聚集时沉积形成的.铵伊利石是由于花岗岩侵入体的影响形成的.方解石和白云石可能来源于岩浆热液.     

甘肃临泽正北山凹凸棒石黏土矿物学及形成机制

甘肃省临泽县凹凸棒石黏土矿储量丰富,是重要的天然纳米矿物资源。本文采用X-射线衍射（XRD）、扫描电镜（SEM）以及透射电镜（TEM）等纳米矿物学的研究手段,对甘肃省临泽县正北山矿区凹凸棒石黏土矿床的矿物组成和微观形貌、结构特征进行了分析。结果表明,不同矿层的矿物成分相似,主要有石英、长石、白云石、方解石、石盐、石膏以及黏土矿物,其中黏土矿物以凹凸棒石和伊利石为主,含有少量的高岭石、绿泥石、蒙脱石以及伊蒙混层矿物。各矿层矿物含量差别较大,其中碎屑矿物石英含量介于12.35%~64.34%之间,凹凸棒石含量为10.31%~37.93%。根据主要矿物组合及含量将矿石划分为5种类型：凹凸棒石黏土、伊利石型凹凸棒石黏土、碳酸盐型凹凸棒石黏土、富石膏型凹凸棒石黏土以及石膏矿石。SEM和TEM观察发现矿层中普遍存在的凹凸棒石具有长、短纤维两种形态以及由其组成的束状和席状结构,且矿石中发育大量凹凸棒石覆盖或包裹的菱面体白云石和片状伊蒙矿物颗粒边缘外延生长的凹凸棒石微结构,表明凹凸棒石具水溶液沉淀以及前驱体转化等多种形成机制。本研究对甘肃省临泽县地区低品位凹凸棒石黏土资源的综合开发利用具有重要意义。     

乌兰图嘎超大型锗矿床含锗煤的矿物学

内蒙古乌兰图嘎锗矿是我国近年来发现的产在煤层中的超大型锗矿床,锗金属储量达1600 t。以乌兰图嘎超大型锗矿床的含锗煤为研究对象,利用X射线衍射(XRD)、带能谱的扫描电镜(SEM-EDX)和电子探针(EPMA)详细研究了乌兰图嘎含锗煤及其同时代的红旗煤矿无矿煤的矿物学特征。分析结果表明,乌兰图嘎含锗煤中的主要矿物包括石英、蒙脱石;次要矿物包括长石、高岭石、伊利石;另含少量三水铝石、角闪石、叶蜡石、石膏、绿泥石、锐钛矿、黄铁矿、方解石、白云石和草酸钙石;微量的锆石、闪锌矿、白钨矿、重晶石、黄铜矿、卤化物、磷酸盐以及含Pb、Bi、Cr、As和Sb矿物。未发现含锗矿物。推测含锗煤中的锗可能主要呈有机结合,而Ba、Zn、Ti、W、Pb、Bi、Cr、Fe、As、Zr、Sb、Cu和REE可能主要与矿物相结合。此外,首次在乌兰图嘎含锗煤及红旗煤矿无矿煤中发现含银颗粒或自然银,推测胜利煤田的褐煤可能有相当规模的Ag矿化。     

Mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of Miocene pelitic sedimentary rocks from the south-western part of the Pannonian Basin System (Croatia): Implications for provenance studies

Fifty-two samples of Miocene pelitic sedimentary rock from outcrops on Medvednica,Moslavacka Gora and Psunj Mts.,and boreholes in the Sava Depression and the Pozega Sub-depression were investigated.These sediments formed in different marine(with normal and reduced salinity),brackish,and freshwater environments,depending on the development stage of the Pannonian Basin System.Carbonate minerals,clay minerals and quartz are the main constituents of all pelitic sedimentary rocks,except in those from Moslavacka Gora Mt in which carbonate minerals are not present.Feldspars,pyrite,opal-CT,and hematite are present as minor constituents in some rocks.Besides calcite,dependent on the sedimentary environment and diagenetic changes,high-magnesium calcite,aragonite,dolomite and ankerite/Cadolomite are also present.Smectite or illite-smectite is the main clay minerals in the samples.Minor constituents,present in almost all samples,are detrital illite and kaolinite.In some samples chlorite is also present in a low amount.Major elements,trace elements and rare earth elements patterns used in provenance analysis show that all analysed samples have a composition similar to the values of the upper continental crust(UCC).The contents of major and trace elements as well as SiO_2/Al_2O_3,K_2O/Al_2O_3,Na_2O/K_2O,Eu/Eu~*,La/Sc,Th/Sc,La/Co Th/Co,Th/Cr,Ce/Ce~* and LREE/HREE ratios,show that the analysed pelitic sedimentary rocks were formed by weathering of different types of mostly acidic(silicic),i.e.felsic rocks.     

Diagenetic processes in cretaceous sandstones from occidental Brazilian Equatorial Margin

Despite a great interest in Brazilian Equatorial Margin exploration, very little was published on the diagenesis of sandstones from that area. A wide recognition petrographic study was performed to identify the major diagenetic processes that impacted the porosity of Lower Cretaceous sandstones of the Pará-Maranhão, São Luís, Bragança-Viseu and Barreirinhas basins. Arkoses from the Pará-Maranhão Basin show neoformed or infiltrated clay coatings, mica replacement and expansion by kaolinite and vermiculite, and precipitation of grain-replacive and pore-filling quartz, kaolinite, albite, chlorite, calcite, dolomite, siderite, pyrite and titanium oxides. Compaction, quartz and calcite cementation were the main porosity-reducing processes. Barreirinhas Basin lithic arkoses and subarkoses display clay coatings, compaction of metamorphic fragments into pseudomatrix, and precipitation of grain-replacive and pore-filling kaolinite, quartz, albite, chlorite, calcite, dolomite, TiO₂ and pyrite. The main porosity-reducing processes were calcite cementation in the subarkoses, and compaction and quartz cementation in lithic arkoses. Quartzarenites from this basin were early- and pervasively cemented by dolomite. Arkoses and lithic arkoses of the São Luís and Bragança-Viseu basins show clay coatings, pseudomatrix from mud intraclasts compaction, and precipitation of pore-filling and grain-replacive kaolinite, vermiculite, smectite, quartz, albite, chlorite, illite, calcite, dolomite, hematite, TiO₂ and pyrite. Compaction of mud intraclasts and dissolution of feldspars and heavy minerals were the main porosity-modification processes. These preliminary results may contribute to the understanding of the spatial and temporal distribution of the diagenetic processes and their impacts on the porosity of the sandstones from these basins.     

Mineralogy and chemical composition of the clay fraction of Neogene shales from the Surma Group in the Bengal basin,Bangladesh

Mineralogical and chemical investigations (<2μm clay separates) of shale samples from the Neogene-age Surma Group obtained from four wells (Habiganj-11, Shahbazpur-1, Titas-11, Titas-15) in the Bengal basin, Bangladesh, were carried out in order to reveal the clay mineral composition as reservoir exploration and exploitation requires a good understanding of the clay minerals. The samples were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-Ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF). Mineralogically, the sub-surface Surma Group shales comprise predominantly quartz, plagioclase, illite, chlorite, kaolinite, with lesser amounts of K-feldspar, dolomite and smectite, and minor to trace amounts of calcite, siderite and pyrite. The chemical composition of the <2 μm clay separates also suggests an illite and chlorite-rich composition. With increasing burial depth, the Surma Group shales are enriched in illite. The gradual decreasing of the smectite clays with depth and ultimate disappearance at greater depths (≥ 3000 m) may have been responsible for the presence of the diagenetic illite. Based on the mineralogical composition it is most likely that the illite-chlorite associations together with quartz and feldspar were predominantly detrital in origin and thus reflect the presence of a rapidly-rising source terrain not subjected to intense weathering.     

Phase–mineral and chemical composition of composite samples from feed coals,bottom ashes and fly ashes at the Soma power station,Turkey

The phase–mineral and chemical composition of feed coals (FCs) and their bottom ashes (BAs) and fly ashes (FAs) produced in the Soma thermo-electric power station (TPS), Turkey, was characterized. FCs are high-ash Soma subbituminous coals abundant in moisture and Ca, and depleted in S. The inorganic composition (in decreasing order of significance) of FCs includes calcite, quartz, kaolinite, illite+muscovite, chlorite, plagioclase, gypsum, pyrite, montmorillonite, K-feldspar, dolomite, siderite, ankerite, opal, and volcanic glass. The results for 57 elements studied show that Ca>Nb>Cs>(V, Li) have significantly higher contents in FC ashes than the respective Clarke values for coal ashes. The water-soluble residues isolated from FCs include gypsum, calcite, inorganic amorphous matter, Ca–Mg–Na–K phase, and opal. These residues are enriched in Na>Se>S>B>Mg>Mo>Sr>Ca>K. The phase–mineral composition of BAs and FAs includes mainly glass, quartz, char, mullite, plagioclase, calcite, and portlandite; and, to a lesser extent, illite+muscovite, melilite, hematite, anhydrite, lime, cristobalite, kaolinite, and magnetite. Minor amounts of K-feldspar, dolomite, ankerite, Fe-spinel, gypsum, and Ca–K–Na phase also occur in BAs and FAs. FAs are enriched in inorganic matter, glass, cristobalite, mullite, Fe oxides, lime, and anhydrite, and depleted in mineral matter, char, quartz, clay minerals, melilite, portlandite, and carbonates in comparison with BAs. Only Se is significantly enriched in BAs and FAs compared to FC ashes. Most of the trace elements (in particular As, Bi, Cd, Ge, Pb, Sn, Tl, and W) are more abundant in FAs, while BAs are more enriched in Ca, Cs, Fe, Ho, Mn, P, Sc, Se and Tb. Significant percentages (11–59%) of elements initially present in FCs, namely S>Sb>Sn>Ta>Mo>Bi>Zn>Ni>Na>(Lu, Tm)>B, were emitted by stack emissions and not captured by the cleaning equipment in the Soma TPS. Some genetic features, properties, possible environmental concerns, and potential utilization directions related to FCs, BAs, and FAs are also discussed.     

Rock composition and origin of the Duwi Formation calcareous rocks, Upper Egypt

Upper Cretaceous phosphorite beds of the Duwi Formation, Upper Egypt, are intercalated with limestone, sandy limestone, marl, calcareous shales, and calcareous sandstone. Calcareous intercalations were subjected to field and detailed petrographic, mineralogical and geochemical investigations in order to constrain their rock composition and origin. Mineralogically, dolomite, calcite, quartz, francolite and feldspars are the non-clay minerals. Smectite, kaolinite and illite represent the clay minerals. Major and trace elements can be classified as the detrital and carbonate fractions based on their sources. The detrital fraction includes the elements that are derived from detrital sources, mainly clay minerals and quartz, such as Si, Al, Fe, Ti, K, Ba, V, Ni, Co, Cr, Zn, Cu, Zr, and Mo. The carbonate fraction includes the elements that are derived from carbonates, maily calcite and dolomite, such as Ca, Mg and Sr. Dolomite occurs as being dense, uniform, mosaic, very fine-to-fine, non-ferroan, and non-stoichiometrical, suggesting its early diagenetic formation in a near-shore oxidizing shallow marine environment. The close association and positive correlation between dolomite and smectite indicates the role of clay minerals in the formation of dolomite as a source of Mg^2＋ -rich solutions. Calcareous rocks were deposited in marine, oxidizing and weakly alkaline conditions, marking a semi-arid climatic period. The calcareous/argillaceous alternations are due to oscillations in clay/carbonate ratio.     

Alteration mineralogy of eocene volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks from Sivas basin in Turkey

The study area covers volcanic-volcanosedimentary units of Eocene age in the Sivas-Ula? area from Turkey. The pyroclastic (tuffaceous claystone/siltsone/sandstone, crystal ash tuff) and volcanic (basalt, basaltic andesite, andesite) rocks of the Karacalar member from the Kaleköy Formation include volcanogenic (plagioclase, augite, hornblende, biotite), diagenetic (K-feldspar, mixed-layered chlorite-smectite/C-S, chlorite, analcime) and post-volcanic (calcite, dolomite, quartz) minerals. The volcanogenic (plagioclase), diagenetic (K-feldspar, C-S, chlorite), postvolcanic (quartz, calcite, dolomite) and detrital (illite) minerals were observed in the epiclastic (shale, siltstone, calcareous siltstone, sandstone, calcareous sandstone) and chemical (limestone, gypsum) rocks of the Yapali member from this formation. C-S + K-feldspar zoning is widely developed by due to the interaction between sea-water and volcanic glass in basic-intermediate composition, on the basis of optic and electron microscopes and also X-rays data. This zone corresponds to the deeper parts of the Sivas basin in the Eocene period and show vertically a transition into zeolite zone in approximately northern parts of the basin (Yavu area).     

黄骅坳陷三马地区中-深部储层成岩作用及主控因素分析

黄骅坳陷三马地区储集岩样品的显微特征及成岩矿物的组合关系分析结果表明，三马地区下第三系中深层储层主要处于晚成岩A期，成岩现象包括石英、长石的次生加大、碳酸盐矿物胶结作用、矿物交代作用、溶解作用和粘土矿物转化作用等。其中石英次生加大于2700m左右开始出现，随埋深增大，石英增生加强；长石次生加大现象不十分普遍；碳酸盐胶结作用包括早期自生泥晶方解石胶结作用、连晶方解石和晚期白云石(或铁方解石)的胶结作用。在扫描电镜下可见到方解石与含铁方解石集合体充填在粒间孔隙中或与石英、钠长石及粘土矿物共生，白云岩多呈菱形粒状分布于粒间；常见的交代现象主要有方解石交代长石、石英及粘土矿物，粘土矿物交代长石、石英等；溶解作用主要有长石的溶解、碳酸盐颗粒的溶解和方解石胶结物的溶解等，粘土矿物的转化主要为蒙脱石、高岭石向伊利石(或绿泥石)转化。还讨论了储层岩相、岩性特征、孔隙水中有机酸含量、早期方解石的充填、烃类早期注入等因素对储层成岩演化的控制作用。     

Quantitative analysis of the clay minerals in the Shurijeh Reservoir Formation using combined X-ray analytical techniques

The Shurijeh Reservoir Formation of Neocomian age is represented by a sandstone sequence, occasionally interbedded with shale, in the Gonbadli gas field, Kopet-Dagh Basin, Northeastern Iran. In this study X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) techniques were used together to characterize the Shuirjeh clay minerals in 76 core samples collected from two deep Gonbadli wells. The results of XRF analysis showed high percentages of silicon and moderate to low percentages of aluminum, sulfur, calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, and iron in both wells. The XRD analysis indicated that the above elements were concentrated in the form of quartz, anhydrite, dolomite, calcite, plagioclase, K-feldspar, hematite, and clay minerals. Further XRD examination of the clay fraction revealed that illite, chlorite, and kaolinite were the major types of clay minerals. Unlike, glauconite, smectite, and a mixed layer clays of both the illite–smectite and chlorite–smectite types were observed only in very few samples. The percentages of individual clay minerals were determined using external standard calibration curves and successfully validated by a system of simultaneous linear equations acquired from detailed elemental information based on the XRF analysis. The error reached ± 5% for the main mineral constituent and ± 15% for minor minerals. A local regression relationship was also derived, based on the XRF elemental information, which can be used to estimate the clay contents of other Shurijeh drilled wells with data of pulsed-neutron spectroscopy tools. According to the proposed quantitative approach, the amount of illite varied considerably, reaching 18.3%. In contrast, the amounts of kaolinite and chlorite were generally small, i.e., less than 8.4%. The amount of total clay minerals changed greatly from a minimum of 5% to a maximum of 32.5%. An increase in illite with increasing burial depth and temperature was an obvious indication of deep burial diagenesis in this formation.     

Characteristics of Clay Minerals in the Luohe Formation in Zhenyuan Area,Ordos Basin,and its Uranium Prospecting SignificanceEI北大核心CSCD

Industrial uranium orebodies have recently been found through in-depth uranium exploration in the Luohe Formation in the southwestern Ordos Basin, which is an important breakthrough in deep prospecting for sandstone-type uranium deposits. The composition, content and characteristics of clay minerals in the Luohe Formation in the Zhenyuan area were systematically studied by means of thin section identification, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and altered mineral spectral scanning. Unlike the most important uranium-bearing rock series in the Zhiluo Formation in the northeast and southwest of the basin, the ore-bearing Luohe Formation sandstone has low contents of clay minerals while the clay mineral assemblages vary in different sand bodies. Among them, the main types of mudstone, oxidized sandstone, calcareous sandstone and mineralized sandstone are illite-smectite mixed-layer mineral and illite, followed by kaolinite and chlorite, the main types uranium-rich sandstone and gray-green sandstone are kaolinite and illite-smectite mixed-layer mineral, followed by illite and chlorite. Even though adsorption of clay minerals, such as chlorite, illite-smectite mixed-layer mineral, kaolinite, and illite may contribute to U enrichment and uranium mineral precipitation, no correlation between clays and uranium minerals have been observed, indicating that clay minerals are not the main factor affecting uranium enrichment during the deep metallogenic process. The study of clay minerals in the Luohe Formation sandstone demonstrated that there are at least two phases of chlorite and one phase of kaolinite in the study area, which respectively represent two phases of alkaline fluid and one phase of acid fluid activities, revealing a fluid phase transition of alkaline-acidic-alkaline. Therefore, the clay minerals can be used as an important indicator for uranium mineralization. © 2020, Science Press. All right reserved.     

Mineral and chemical composition of Karak mudstone, Kohat Plateau, Pakistan: implications for smectite-illitization and provenance

The Karak mudstone interbedded in an Eocene evaporite sequence, is dominated by R-1 ordered illite-smectite with a 20 to 30% expandable component. Minor phases include kaolinite, chlorite, illite/muscovite, plagioclase, potash feldspar, quartz, dolomite and pyrite. The present illite-smectite was probably originally smectite or highly expandable illite-smectite which underwent conversion to illite-smectite with a low expandable component in a comparatively low-temperature (ca. 100°C) closed-system sedimentary basinal diagenetic environment at a depth of ca. 5 km. Al³⁺ and K⁺ necessary for the conversion reaction were provided through the breakdown of potash feldspar. Burial under a 5 km thick pile of sediments produced some of the observed structures. Whole-rock chemistry presented here suggests that the mudstone formed by severe weathering of acidic source rocks. The influx of freshwater probably flushed out Ba, Rb, Ca and Mn from the restricted basin.     

Mineralogy of Holocene Sediments from the Southwestern Black Sea Shelf (Turkey) in Relation to Provenance, Sea-level and Current Regimes

Grain size and mineral composition of core sediments were used to investigate influences of various terrestrial and marine conditions, which have prevailed on the southwestern Black Sea shelf during the Holocene. Siliciclastic mud with small amounts of sand and gravel from nearby coastal hinterland is the principal sediment type, whereas sediments deposited near the shelf edge and the Istanbul Strait and off the Duru Lake （a paleo-river mouth） constitued large quantities of sand and gravel of both biogenic and terrigenic origin. Variable amounts of aragonite, 1 nmmicas, quartz, feldspars, calcite and dolomite constitute the dominant non-clay minerals in bulk sediments. The clay mineral assemblage in the 〈 2 μm fraction is made up of smectite, illite, kaolinite and chlorite. Aragonite and calcite are mainly derived from benthic accumulations, whereas feldspars （mainly plagioclase） and smectite reflect magmaticvolcanic provenance and the distribution of 1 nm-micas and chlorite correlate with nearby metamorphic sources onland. Nevertheless, grain size and mineral distribution generally indicate a combination of effects of wind and wave climate, longshore and offshore cyclonic currents, changing sea-level stands and nearby source rock and morphological conditions. It is also suggested that at least part of clay minerals could be derived from the northwesterly Danube River input.     

Effect of diagenesis on clay mineralogy and organic matter in the Tunisian southern subsurface

This study aims to follow the effect of the diagenetic transformations on the clayey fraction and the organic matter of the Tunisian southern sub-surface. 61 samples from oil well named NWA-1 were recuperated for series of analyses. This study follows a comparative approach between the mineralogical, geochemical and petrographic studies. To discuss results from a statistical viewpoint, the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied in order to find out any correlation between different components. The associated minerals quartz, feldspar, calcite, pyrite, anhydrite, gypsum, dolomite and olivine are also detected. These associated minerals remove by-products by the illitization reaction. The Index of Crystallinity (IC) of illite shows that, except some anomalies, the studied samples are between the epizone and the anchizone. Downward, samples show the effect of diagenetic processes and weak signs of low-grade metamorphism. As regards to the organic matter, values of Tmax range between 333°C and 463°C. On the other hand, potential hydrocarbon compounds (S2) show low values compared to those of (S1); but they maintain a similar variability from 0.63 to 21.12. SEM observations and X-ray microanalyses supported the formation of authigenic micro-quartz. The PCA of clay minerals, chemical components, and the depth shows three different populations. Feldspar, chlorite and quartz make up a population positively correlated with the depth. The second population seems to be indifferent to depth variation; it is made up of two sub-populations: the population of illite, gypsum and anhydrite, which is obtained by a counter clock rotation of depth population; and the population of pyrite, kaolinite, olivine phyllosilicate, which is obtained by an anticlockwise rotation of depth population. Third, the population of smectite, calcite and dolomite is inversely proportional to the depth variation. On the other hand, the PCA of TOC, Tmax, HI, S1, S2 and the depth make up a homogenous statistical population following the depth evolution.     

Preliminary mineralogical investigation of Leicestershire low-rank coal

A preliminary mineralogical/geochemical investigation of low-rank coals from Leicestershire, England, has been carried out with a view to their future beneficiation. Analytical scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) have been used to identify and assess the distribution of mineral phases likely to give corrosion-producing or slag-forming materials during combustion, and those minerals which would be potentially valuable by-products of beneficiation processes. Differences in the mineral petrography of borehole samples from the Vale of Belvoir Prospect and coal from Bagworth Colliery are compared. Samples from both areas contain substantial amounts of epigenetic minerals: calcite, dolomite, kaolinite and fluor-apatite are important phases in the Bagworth sample, whilst gypsum, illite, quartz, kaolinite, barytocelestine, pyrite, chalcopyrite, anatase, galena and sphalerite occur in the Vale of Belvoir samples. Whereas the presence of halides in the Bagworth coal would seem to be a possible source of boiler-corrosion problems, the major undesirable characteristic of the Vale of Belvoir coal is the presence of significant amounts of metal sulphides. However, extraction of sulphides from this coal prior to combustion could provide a valuable source of metals as a by-product. Certain trace element concentrations in the Vale of Belvoir samples have also been determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and higher levels of lanthanide elements are present in the whole coal relative to mineral veins (mainly gypsum). Trace-element signatures may provide a useful distinction between syngenetic and epigenetic mineral formation.