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Mudrock Facies
Diagenesis
Mudrock Facies
Diagenesis
September 27, 2004 September 27, 2004
Geology 355, Sedimentology 2004, Ron Parker Geology 355, Sedimentology 2004, Ron Parker Geology 355, Sedimentology , 2002, Ron Parker
A facies is defined as
A body of rock with specified characteristics (Reading, 1986).
Associations of sedimentary rock that share some aspect of
appearance (Blatt, Middleton and Murray, 1980).
Lithofacies refers specifically to a consistent lithologic
character within a formation.
A formation is defined as a mappable rock unit.
A facies is defined as
A body of rock with specified characteristics (Reading, 1986).
Associations of sedimentary rock that share some aspect of
appearance (Blatt, Middleton and Murray, 1980).
Lithofacies refers specifically to a consistent lithologic
character within a formation.
A formation is defined as a mappable rock unit.
The Facies Concept
Geology 355, Sedimentology , 2002, Ron Parker
Depositional environments with:
Abundant fine mud
Feldspar-rich source rocks.
Crushing and grinding processes.
Low energy suspension deposition
Lagoons Behind barrier islands.
Tidal flats Away from tidal channels.
Deltas Away from distributary channels.
Lakes In deeper water away from shore.
Marine environments near
continents below storm wave base.
Depositional environments with:
Abundant fine mud
Feldspar-rich source rocks.
Crushing and grinding processes.
Low energy suspension deposition
Lagoons Behind barrier islands.
Tidal flats Away from tidal channels.
Deltas Away from distributary channels.
Lakes In deeper water away from shore.
Marine environments near
continents below storm wave base.
Shale Occurrence
Geology 355, Sedimentology , 2002, Ron Parker
Clay mineral type depends upon
The composition of the precursor mineral.
The rate and intensity of weathering.
Diagenetic history.
Depositional environment.
Type
Gibbsite Mg hydroxides
Kaolinite Prolonged and intensive weathering
Illite K-rich mini-muscovite micas
Smectites Expandable Na
+
and Ca
2+
clays
Chlorite Fe and Mg hydroxide interlayers.
Vermiculite Expandable water-bearing clay.
Clay mineral type depends upon
The composition of the precursor mineral.
The rate and intensity of weathering.
Diagenetic history.
Depositional environment.
Type
Gibbsite Mg hydroxides
Kaolinite Prolonged and intensive weathering
Illite K-rich mini-muscovite micas
Smectites Expandable Na
+
and Ca
2+
clays
Chlorite Fe and Mg hydroxide interlayers.
Vermiculite Expandable water-bearing clay.
Mineralogy and Provenance
Geology 355, Sedimentology , 2002, Ron Parker
Green 2:1 clay mineral
Contains both oxidized (Fe
3+
) and
reduced (Fe
2+
) iron.
Often concentrated in pellets called
greensand.
Form only in water that is
Oxidized
Agitated
Normal marine salinity
Sediment starved.
They indicate long periods of
exposure at the seafloor.
Green 2:1 clay mineral
Contains both oxidized (Fe
3+
) and
reduced (Fe
2+
) iron.
Often concentrated in pellets called
greensand.
Form only in water that is
Oxidized
Agitated
Normal marine salinity
Sediment starved.
They indicate long periods of
exposure at the seafloor.
Glauconite
Geology 355, Sedimentology , 2002, Ron Parker
Mixture of 2:1 smectites.
Contain euhedral minerals
Biotite
Magnetite
Zircon
Sanidine (volcanic K-spar)
Form from water-lain volcanic ash.
Mixture of 2:1 smectites.
Contain euhedral minerals
Biotite
Magnetite
Zircon
Sanidine (volcanic K-spar)
Form from water-lain volcanic ash.
Bentonite
They record igneous activity in the vicinity of the depositional basin.
Commonly interbedded with marine lithofacies.
Important as time markers across wide regions.
Abundant in Late Ordovician and Mid Devonian Appalachian rocks.
They record igneous activity in the vicinity of the depositional basin.
Commonly interbedded with marine lithofacies.
Important as time markers across wide regions.
Abundant in Late Ordovician and Mid Devonian Appalachian rocks.
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Geology 355, Sedimentology , 2002, Ron Parker
Black Shales
Ettensohn and Barron, 1981
Black Shales
Ettensohn and Barron, 1981
Geology 355, Sedimentology , 2002, Ron Parker
Black Shales
Ettensohn and Barron, 1981 Geology 355, Sedimentology , 2002, Ron Parker
As sediments are buried, they are transformed into rock
by diagenetic alteration.
Diagenesis The chemical, physical and mineralogical
alteration of deposited sediments at low P and T
conditions (between weathering and metamorphism).
T < 300 C
P < 1 kb
Burial to 3000 m
As sediments are buried, they are transformed into rock
by diagenetic alteration.
Diagenesis The chemical, physical and mineralogical
alteration of deposited sediments at low P and T
conditions (between weathering and metamorphism).
T < 300 C
P < 1 kb
Burial to 3000 m
Diagenesis
Geology 355, Sedimentology , 2002, Ron Parker
Sediments immediately after deposition:
Unconsolidated (not cemented)
Loosely packed
High porosity
Large water contents
Pore water chemistry reflects the depositional fluid
These all change.
Sediments immediately after deposition:
Unconsolidated (not cemented)
Loosely packed
High porosity
Large water contents
Pore water chemistry reflects the depositional fluid
These all change.
Diagenesis
Geology 355, Sedimentology , 2002, Ron Parker
Sediments immediately after deposition:
Cement slowly crystallizes in pore spaces
Grains are compacted
Porosity decreases
Water is expelled from pores
Pore waters increase in TDS
These changes result in lithification.
Sediments immediately after deposition:
Cement slowly crystallizes in pore spaces
Grains are compacted
Porosity decreases
Water is expelled from pores
Pore waters increase in TDS
These changes result in lithification.
Diagenesis
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Geology 355, Sedimentology , 2002, Ron Parker
Dissolution and recrystallization is the most
significant diagenetic change.
Solid phases are in disequilibrium and chemical
reactions occur to re-establish equilibrium.
Requires the presence of water.
Dissolution and recrystallization is the most
significant diagenetic change.
Solid phases are in disequilibrium and chemical
reactions occur to re-establish equilibrium.
Requires the presence of water.
Diagenesis
Geology 355, Sedimentology , 2002, Ron Parker
Unstable minerals are removed by dissolution
Feldspars
Carbonates
Sulfates
Halides
Mineral removal creates secondary porosity.
Long-standing porosity increases are rare,
however, due to
Unstable minerals are removed by dissolution
Feldspars
Carbonates
Sulfates
Halides
Mineral removal creates secondary porosity.
Long-standing porosity increases are rare,
however, due to
Dissolution
Geology 355, Sedimentology , 2002, Ron Parker
With time there is usually a porosity decrease.
Pores become infilled by chemical precipitation
of new (stable) mineral phases.
With time there is usually a porosity decrease.
Pores become infilled by chemical precipitation
of new (stable) mineral phases.
Precipitation
Geology 355, Sedimentology , 2002, Ron Parker
Eodiagenesis Shallow burial
Compaction and fluid expulsion
Formation of Fe-oxides (oxidizing) or pyrite
(reducing)
Precipitation of mineral
overgrowths (quartz, calcite,
k-spar)
Dissolution of soluble phases
Eodiagenesis Shallow burial
Compaction and fluid expulsion
Formation of Fe-oxides (oxidizing) or pyrite
(reducing)
Precipitation of mineral
overgrowths (quartz, calcite,
k-spar)
Dissolution of soluble phases
Shallow Burial
Geology 355, Sedimentology , 2002, Ron Parker
Mesodiagenesis Deep burial
Pore waters become saline (high TDS)
Compaction / Pressure solution Grain contacts
etch
Cementation Calcite ppts at hi T; Quartz ppts at lo T
Dissolution Continued removal of
Replacement One mineral replacing another
Dewatering - Smectite to illite transition
Mesodiagenesis Deep burial
Pore waters become saline (high TDS)
Compaction / Pressure solution Grain contacts
etch
Cementation Calcite ppts at hi T; Quartz ppts at lo T
Dissolution Continued removal of
Replacement One mineral replacing another
Dewatering - Smectite to illite transition
Deep Burial
Geology 355, Sedimentology , 2002, Ron Parker
Telodiagenesis Exposure to meteoric (rain) water
following uplift.
Pore waters flushed with fresh water
Lo T and P minerals favored
Cements and deep burial minerals may dissolve
Telodiagenesis Exposure to meteoric (rain) water
following uplift.
Pore waters flushed with fresh water
Lo T and P minerals favored
Cements and deep burial minerals may dissolve
Uplift
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Geology 355, Sedimentology 2004, Ron Parker Geology 355, Sedimentology 2004, Ron Parker
Next Class:
Diagenesis Continued
Carbonate Rocks
Next Class:
Diagenesis Continued
Carbonate Rocks