Radiaxial-fibrous calcites of shallow subsurface diagenetic origin

Conference · Wed Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · AAPG Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5880302

Mazzullo, S J; Bischoff, W D; Lobitzer, H

Radiaxial-fibrous calcites (RFC) in marine carbonates are generally considered syndepositional cements. In Upper Triassic and basal Liassic reef and platform limestones in Austria (Steinplatte complex), however, isopachous RFC is demonstrably a postdepositional diagenetic component that precipitated in shallow-burial phreatic environments during a time of periodic meteoric exposure. Isopachous RFC occurs solely within solution cavities and is interlayered with internal red sediment; discontinuities due to leaching separate sequential generations of RFC in the rocks. Accordingly, one possibility is that the RFC was originally low-magnesium calcite that precipitated in the meteoric phreatic zone during lowstands. Such calcites contain relatively low magnesium concentrations (average 0.87 mole % MgCO/sub 3/) and are /sup 18/O depleted (average - 5.81 /per thousand/ PDB). However, most other RFC cements in the sequence average slightly higher magnesium comparable to crinoidal calcites (1.13 mole % MgCO/sub 3/), are less depleted in /sup 18/O (average - 1.88 /per thousand/ PDB), and are partly dolomitized. Additionally, all the RFC cements are enriched in /sup 13/C to values similar to that of Triassic and Jurassic seawater (+ 2.86 /per thousand/ PDB) and are nonluminescent. Trace element studies indicate alteration of the rocks in partly closed, rock-dominated diagenetic systems. By these facts, the authors favor a precursor high-magnesium calcite mineralogy for the RFC cements, which possibly precipitated during highstands when meteoric pore waters were replaced by marine fluids. Thus, the geochemical trends observed are likely due to variations in the degree of meteoric alteration of high-magnesium calcite RFC rather than to differences in original mineralogy.

• Research Organization: Wichita State Univ., KS (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5880302
• Report Number(s): CONF-890404-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AAPG Bull.; (United States) Journal Volume: 73:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
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CARBONATE MINERALS
CARBONATE ROCKS
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DIAGENESIS
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