Evidence of Carboniferous volcanic ash in Pictou Group (West-phalian D), Sydney Coalfield, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Geological Survey, Reston, VA (United States)
- Atlantic Geoscience Centre, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia (Canada)
Until now, Carboniferous-altered volcanic ash in North America was known only from the Middle Pennsylvanian (upper Westphalian A to lower Westphalian D) of the Appalachian basin. Now, however, mineralogical analysis of thin claystones (8-24 mm thick) in mineable bituminous coal (Hub and Harbour seams) form the P-boreholes in the Donkin submarine areas of the Sydney coalfield, Nova Scotia, indicates the presence of trace amounts of minerals probably derived from a volcanic ash fall of late Westphalian D age. Water-clear to cloudy quartz splinters and euhedral zircon with sharp crystal faces and edges, and length-to-width ratios up to 6:1 - which are typical of Appalachian altered acidic volcanic ash deposits (tonsteins) - were with a dominantly detrital (fluvial ) mineral suite. Fifty to 90% water-laid silt- to sand-size detrital grains of quartz, tourmaline( ), zircon, white mica, and other minerals are found in the HF residum after the removal of the dominant components: clay minerals, pyrite, and coal particles (spores, secretinite, etc.). The fine size of the volcanic minerals and their low concentration indicate a very distant volcanic ash source, perhaps western Europe, where volcanic activity extended into the Stephanian.
- OSTI ID:
- 5744093
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9109238-; CODEN: AABUD
- Journal Information:
- AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States), Vol. 75:8; Conference: American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) eastern section meeting, Pittsburgh, PA (United States), 8-10 Sep 1991; ISSN 0149-1423
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
58 GEOSCIENCES
BITUMINOUS COAL
MINERALOGY
COAL DEPOSITS
STRATIGRAPHY
NOVA SCOTIA
ASHES
CARBONIFEROUS PERIOD
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
QUARTZ
VOLCANISM
VOLCANOES
ZIRCON
BLACK COAL
CANADA
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
COAL
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGY
MATERIALS
MINERAL RESOURCES
MINERALS
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDE MINERALS
PALEOZOIC ERA
RESIDUES
RESOURCES
SILICATE MINERALS
011000* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
580000 - Geosciences