Buffering of Marshall Sandstone pore waters by mineral-water interactions in the overlying glacial drift

Conference · Fri Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States)

OSTI ID:6838120

Sibley, D F; Westjohn, D B; Long, D T ^[1]

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1. Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States). Dept. of Geological Sciences Geological Survey, Lansing, MI (United States). Michigan Basin RASA

The salinity of pore waters in the Marshall Sandstone increases by three orders in magnitude from basin margin to center. Chlorite, dolomite-ankerite and kaolinite cements in the Marshall were analyzed to determine if these cements reflect this salinity gradient. One test of the hypothesis that cements reflect the present pore water salinity gradient is the distribution of cements. If kaolinite formed by influx of freshwater into the Marshall from the basin periphery the distribution of kaolinite would parallel distribution of salinity. However, kaolinite is common in brine bearing and freshwater bearing samples. Another consequence of freshwater recharge from the basin periphery could be dissolution of dolomite-ankerite cements. However, SEM analyses of dolomite-ankerite cements show no evidence of dissolution. Lack of apparent mineral alteration in response to the strong salinity gradient can be explained by the fact that freshwater recharges the Marshall Sandstone through glacial drift. As a result of drift-water interactions, recharge to the Marshall Sandstone may be close to equilibrium with the major diagenetic phases.

• OSTI ID: 6838120
• Report Number(s): CONF-9404217--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States) Journal Volume: 26:5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
580000* -- Geosciences
AQUIFERS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INTERSTITIAL WATER
MICHIGAN
MINERALOGY
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
ROCK-FLUID INTERACTIONS
SALINITY
SALINITY GRADIENTS
USA
WATER