Illite K–Ar dating and crystal growth processes in diagenetic environments: a critical review

K–Ar dating of illitic minerals is commonly used in studies of diagenetic series applied to oil prospecting. In spite of a great number of specialized papers, some problems remain unresolved. These are mostly due to a misunderstanding of the argon accumulation process during illitization. Criteria for identifying detrital–authigenic mineral mixtures, crystal ripening, fast precipitation or continuous nucleation‐growth processes are discussed using K–Ar data available in the literature. Using different parameters, such as Δ_age (age_K–Ar ? age_strati), Δ_cryst (diagenetic age_K–Ar ? age_strati) or Δ_frac (age_{K–Arfraction} ?age_K–Arfinest), it is shown that the K–Ar age significance depends on the illite nucleation–growth processes. A ‘diagenetic age’ is obtained when these processes are rapid (the K₂O accumulation period is shorter than 2σ). If lower than this value, the K–Ar ratio depends on the proportions of new and old particles, respectively, which are controlled by the relative rates of nucleation, crystal growth and ripening.     

The presence of anomalous trace element levels in present day Jamaican soils and the geochemistry of Late-Miocene or Pliocene phosphorites

High levels of Cd and Zn in Jamaican soils observed in geochemical surveys are related to the presence of phosphorites of possible Late-Miocene or Pliocene age. The trace element and REE geochemistry of the phosphorites, together with SEM studies, indicate a guano origin for the phosphorites. No specific host minerals for Cd could be identified in the fossiliferous phosphorite which is characterized by uniquely high levels of Cd, Zn, Ag, Be, U and Y. However, in the soil Cd is present in lithiophorite and a complex history of pedological development is preserved in the aluminous–goethite present in the soil. The unique guano signature is preserved in the soil despite the fact that guanos themselves have either not been observed or have been destroyed by continuing karst and soil development. The phosphorite geochemical signature can be traced in the data of a 1988 island-wide soil geochemical survey, identifying areas where the Palaeo-environment that supported bird ‘rookeries’ existed in the Late-Miocene or Pliocene.     

Iron and manganese micro-precipitates within a cretaceous biosiliceous ooze from the Arctic Ocean: possible hydrothermal source

The oldest sediment most recently recovered from the Arctic Ocean is a biosiliceous ooze nearly devoid of nonbiogenic particles and exhibiting small-scale color changes. Color variations are due to changes in iron and manganese content. These elements are probably of local hydrothermal origin, and the Mn precipitation may be bacteria-mediated. An iron silicate phase seems to form at the expense of biogenic silica. The ooze deposited slowly until a sudden sediment input, probably a volcanigenic deposit now weathered to clay minerals, induced dissolution of siliceous microfossils. This clay layer contains calcium phosphate microspheres enriched in rare earth elements.     

The role of schizogenesis in population dynamics of Timarete filigera (Polychaeta: Cirratulidae): 2-years observations in the Port of Bari (South Adriatic Sea)

Different aspects of reproductive biology of the polychaete Timarete filigera (Delle Chiaje) were studied during a period of 2 years (from September 2002 to August 2003 and from September 2004 to August 2005). Timarete filigera specimens were collected monthly in the port of Bari (South Adriatic Sea, Mediterranean Sea). For population analysis, regenerating and entire specimens were separately analyzed, the regenerating individuals were assigned to different categories related to the region of the body from which they derived. Regenerating individuals were present throughout the year. There were three to four times more individuals deriving from the middle part than the anterior and posterior regenerating portions. From the high percentage of regenerating individuals observed in the T. filigera population, it can be supposed that this species reproduces mainly asexually by schizogenesis. However, histological analysis revealed the presence of female gametes in a few individuals. In contrast, males were never collected, probably due to the limited number of reproductive individuals collected. The abundance has shown wide fluctuations during the year, with a decrease from Winter to Spring. The analysis of the size‐frequency histograms has shown a growing phase of whole specimens from Spring to Winter. The life cycle of the investigated species is discussed with the hypothesis that strategies could be linked to the colonized environments, agamic reproduction coupled with sexual reproduction assures the presence and expansion of the population after the colonization by a limited number of larvae.