Diagenetic transformation of clinoptilolite to analcime in silicic tuffs of Hokkaido, Japan

Diagenetic clinoptilolite and analcime are present in the diagenesis of Tertiary marine silicic tuffs in the MITI-Toyokoro borehole, Hokkaido, Japan. Chemical analysis, SEM and petrographic observations show the mechanism of clinoptilolite to analcime transformation. Na-K clinoptilolite (NaK=6:4), an alteration product of volcanic glass, is detected at depths of 1230 to 2710m. A more Na-rich clinoptilolite (Na: K = 9:1) discovered at depths between 2590 and 2710 m is a result of a cation exchange mechanism. The formation of analcime at greater depths is due to a microdissolution-precipitation mechanism, that is Na-rich clinoptilolite dissolved and analcime precipitated as a result of increasing burial. At 2710 m analcime occurs next to the Na-rich clinoptilolite and it is assumed that the Na-rich clinoptilolite is an intermediate phase.