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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Introduction to carbonate sediments and rocks

Book ·
OSTI ID:5365028
The first chapter has a brief introduction to carbonate minerals and chemistry. Carbonate grains, deposition processes, and diagenesis are included in chapters 2 through 4 respectively. Chapter 5 is about carbonate environments and describes how carbonate sediments are formed in terrestrial and various marine conditions. Ancient limestones are discussed in chapter 6 and examples of representative carbonate sequences from the geologic record are included. The Permian limestone reef complex in the Guadalupe Mountains of midwestern US is included as a classic ancient limestone example in chapter 6. The book concludes with an appraisal of the economic aspects of carbonate sediments and rocks. Carbonate rocks and minerals are important as building stones, as raw materials in the manufacture of cement, and as reservoir rocks for oil and natural gas accumulation. About 40% of the world's oil is produced from carbonate rocks. In addition, valuable deposits of lead, zinc, and other metals are found in carbonate host rocks.
OSTI ID:
5365028
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English