Sedimentary Minerals and Particles - Clastic Minerals and Particles

Part 3. Sedimentary Minerals and Particles.
3A. Textural Attributes. 1. Basic Textural Attributes. 2. Graphical and Quantitative Treatment of Grain Size Data.
3B. Clastic Minerals and Particles.
1. Review of Macroscopic Properties of Common Clastic Minerals. 2. Quartz. 3. Feldspars. 4. Rock Fragments. 5. Accessory Minerals.
3C. Carbonate Minerals and Particles. 1. Carbonate Minerals. 2. Basic Carbonate Chemistry. 3. Carbonate Particles. 3D. Clay Minerals. 1. Common Clay Minerals and Their Crystal Structure. 2. Stability and Properties of Clays. 3. Clay Mineral Sources. 1/5/2014 Geology 3153 Part 3B.

3B. Clastic Minerals and Particles. 3B.1. Review of Macroscopic Properties of Common Clastic Minerals. See notes; review from Physical Geology Lab.
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Geology 3153 Part 3B.

3B. Clastic Minerals and Particles. 3B.2. Quartz. Recall from our discussion of weathering, quartz is the most common framework grain of the average sandstone. a. Types of Quartz. 1) monocrystalline quartz = single crystal unit 2) polycrystalline quartz with straight boundaries = multiple crystal units with straight contacts 3) polycrystalline quartz with sutured boundaries = multiple crystal units with sutured contacts 4) quartz framework with abraded quartz overgrowth
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3B. Clastic Minerals and Particles. 3B.2. Quartz. Recall from our discussion of weathering, quartz is the most common framework grain of the average sandstone. a. Types of Quartz. 1) monocrystalline quartz = single crystal unit
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3B. Clastic Minerals and Particles. 3B.2. Quartz. Recall from our discussion of weathering, quartz is the most common framework grain of the average sandstone. a. Types of Quartz. 2) polycrystalline quartz with straight boundaries = multiple crystal units with straight contacts
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3B. Clastic Minerals and Particles. 3B.2. Quartz. Recall from our discussion of weathering, quartz is the most common framework grain of the average sandstone. a. Types of Quartz. 3) polycrystalline quartz with sutured boundaries = multiple crystal units with sutured contacts
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3B. Clastic Minerals and Particles. 3B.2. Quartz. Recall from our discussion of weathering, quartz is the most common framework grain of the average sandstone. a. Types of Quartz. 4) quartz framework with abraded quartz overgrowth
first cycle; abraded original framework
burial; quartz overgrowth cement
recycled; abraded quartz cement

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3B. Clastic Minerals and Particles. 3B.2. Quartz. b. Sources of Quartz Types. monocrystalline acidic to intermediate plutonic or volcanic igneous polycrystalline straight acidic to intermediate plutonic igneous polycrystalline sutured folitated metamorphic quartz with abraded quartz overgrowth cement sedimentary Detrital quartz grains from igneous rocks tend to be equant to slightly blade shaped, and those from metamorphic tend to prolate shaped.
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3B. Clastic Minerals and Particles. 3B.3. Feldspars. Feldspars are less common overall in clastic sedimentary rocks as a framework grain. K-feldspars are more common than Ca- or Na-feldspars. Why? Conditions conducive to producing feldspar framework grains: dry climate; high relief; combinations of dry climate and high relief. Sources of feldspar clastic debris: all igneous rocks, in particular acidic to intermediate plutonic igneous; feldspar-bearing metamorphic (e.g. gneiss); volcanic (look for compositional zoning within grain).
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3B. Clastic Minerals and Particles. 3B.4. Rock Fragments. Rock fragments, also known as lithic fragments, are very useful indicators of the pre-existing rock contributing sediment. Although any type of rock fragment is possible, there is a bias toward finer textured rock fragments: a fundamental size limit for recognition of rock fragments is based on the texture of the original rock: rock fragments can be no smaller than the texture of the pre-existing rock; otherwise mineral fragments result.
Consider clastic grain size diminution and recognition of granitic rock fragments.
Type of rock fragments directly reflect the source rock type(s).
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3B. Clastic Minerals and Particles. 3B.5. Accessory Minerals. Minerals that rarely make up more than 5% of the framework of clastic sedimentary rocks are called accessory minerals. Although accessory mineral framework proportions may be small, some of these minerals are very useful in the identification of the pre-existing rock that contributed sediment. Micas: The platy shape of mica grains make them hydraulically equivalent to finer grained equants such as quartz.
A high proportion of mica framework grains is a good indicator of metamorphic rock source for the sediment.
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3B. Clastic Minerals and Particles. 3B.5. Accessory Minerals. Heavy Minerals: A number of minerals have a density higher than quartz (= 2.65 g/cc). These are given the general name heavy minerals. This fact is utilized to separate the heavy from the light minerals by grain settling through a column of heavy liquid. Most heavy minerals are mechanically stable. However, many are not chemically stable, so they do not fair well under chemical weathering and diagenesis.
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3B. Clastic Minerals and Particles. 3B.5. Accessory Minerals. Heavy minerals, stability and their source rocks.
Heavy Mineral Garnet Rutile Zircon Corundom Kyanite Amphibole Olivine Pyroxene
Stability chemical mechanical M H H H M M L L H H H H M M L L
Source Rock Metamorphic Igneous Sedimentary X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Comments
source from microanalysis rare
type can determine source
type can determine source
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3B. Clastic Minerals and Particles.
Closing Remark: The framework composition of clastic
sediments gives clues to the preexisting rock that was weathered in the uplifted source area (see Rock Cycle) !!
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3B. Clastic Minerals and Particles. 1. Review of Macroscopic Properties of Common Clastic Minerals. 2. Quartz. 3. Feldspars. 4. Rock Fragments. 5. Accessory Minerals.
3C. Carbonate Minerals and Particles.

1. Carbonate Minerals. 2. Basic Carbonate Chemistry. 3. Carbonate Particles.
3D. Clay Minerals. 1. Common Clay Minerals and Their Crystal Structure. 2. Stability and Properties of Clays. 3. Clay Mineral Sources. 1/5/2014 Geology 3153 Part 3B.
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3C. Carbonate Minerals and Particles. Much of what we have focused on is mainly applicable to clastic sediments and sedimentary rocks. Here our attention turns to the minerals and particles that are the principal framework and matrix constituents of biochemical sediments and sedimentary rocks known as carbonates. minerals involve the carbonate ion (C03) as we shall see later, carbonate minerals are sensitive to postdepositional changes (i.e. diagenesis).
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3C. Carbonate Minerals and Particles. 3C.1. Carbonate Minerals. 3 most important minerals: Calcite = CaCO3 higher-order crystal system than aragonite relatively more stable than agragonite Aragonite = CaCO3 lower-order crystal system than calcite (psuedomorph of calcite) relatively unstable compared to calcite with time and higher T&P readily converts to calcite or dolomite Dolomite = CaMg(CO3)2 higher-order crystal system (same as calcite) difficult to precipitate from sea water requires elevated concentrations, particularly Mg
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3C. Carbonate Minerals and Particles. 3C.2. Basic Carbonate Chemistry.
Atmosphere H20 + CO2
CaCO3 + Calcite or Aragonite Sediment
H2CO3 Carbonic Acid Water
Ca+2 + 2HCO3-
From these basic chemical relationships, it is clear that natural processes driving the reactions to a reduction in carbonic acid promotes carbonate sediment production, for example: higher water T drives off CO2 higher water salinity increases Ca and/or Mg concentrations
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3C. Carbonate Minerals and Particles. 3C.3. Carbonate Particles. Carbonate sedimentary rocks are composed of all four components of the generic sedimentary rock. However, carbonates differ from clastics in that carbonate: framework grains are derived at or near site of deposition; matrix is abundant in carbonate sedimentary environments cement occurs early after carbonate sediment deposition; pore systems in carbonates are more complex
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3C. Carbonate Minerals and Particles. 3C.3. Carbonate Particles. 3C.3.a. Carbonate Grains. Carbonate grains come in wide variety of sizes, shapes and bulk densities (= density of combined solid and fluid phases contained within solid). Thus, it is no surprise to find a wide variety of grain sizes deposited together (an another example of hydraulic equivalence). We will consider just some of the more commonly occurring grains.
Intraclasts:
fragments of reworked carbonate sediment
intra = from within
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3C. Carbonate Minerals and Particles. 3C.3. Carbonate Particles. 3C.3.a. Carbonate Grains.
Skeletal:
pieces of the exoskeletons of invertebrate organisms; aragonite or calcite original composition note: scale in figure underrepresents typical size
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Peloid:
silt- to very fine sand-sized grains of microcrystalline calcite (= micrite); usually well rounded blades; roundness not by abrasion origins: -- endolithic algal micritization of grain -- feeding pellets -- fecal pellets note: scale over-represents typical peloid
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Lumps:
composite grain made of peloids covered by thin film of micrite formed by early lithification and/or cohesive attraction of peloids and micrite matrix
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Ooid:
a coated grain with a nucleus (carbonate or non-carbonate grain) covered by a coating; well rounded, equant medium to fine sand size
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Oncolith:
also a coated grain (nucleus + coating); several cms diameter; irregular concentric coating; formed by algal (sticky mat) accretion on upper grain surface ooids and oncoliths form in high-energy environments were grains are nearly constantly agitated (ooids) or occasionally toppled (oncoliths)
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Pisolith:
several mm diameter coated grain; irregular concentric coating; formed by direct or biologically mediated calcite precipitation; found in caverns and soils (e.g. calcrete)
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3C. Carbonate Minerals and Particles. 3C.3. Carbonate Particles. 3C.3.b. Carbonate Matrix. Carbonate matrix is made up of microcrystalline aragonite, which converts to calcite with burial, or calcite. It is commonly referred to as micrite or carbonate mud. in modern sediment, typically <4-m-long needles; in ancient rocks, microcrystalline blades or equants of calcite
Micrite is ubiquitous in carbonate sedimentary environments.

That is, it is every where and in most environments abundant. Although we often visualize carbonate reefs or beaches as being the norm, this is not the case carbonate mud substrates, as well sediment volumes, are far more abundant.
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3C. Carbonate Minerals and Particles. 3C.3. Carbonate Particles. 3C.3.b. Carbonate Matrix.
Origins of micrite:
1) physical abrasion; 2) biological abrasion (think of parrot fish eating coral); 3) disaggregation of peloids; 4) disintegration of calcareous algae needles precipitated in loose array to keep plant upright death algae, needles released; 5) direct chemical precipitation of calcium carbonate. For many years 5) was thought to be the origin of most micrite, but more recent studies indicate that 4) is the most important origin of micrite (modern and ancient).
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3C. Carbonate Minerals and Particles. 3C.3. Carbonate Particles. Carbonate particle framework types and proportion of carbonate matrix provide useful information about carbonate sedimentary environments. As we shall see in Part 4, the understanding of carbonate particle associations allows a means by which carbonate rocks can be classified.
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3B. Clastic Minerals and Particles. 1. Review of Macroscopic Properties of Common Clastic Minerals. 2. Quartz. 3. Feldspars. 4. Rock Fragments. 5. Accessory Minerals.
3C. Carbonate Minerals and Particles. 1. Carbonate Minerals. 2. Basic Carbonate Chemistry. 3. Carbonate Particles.
3D. Clay Minerals.
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1. Common Clay Minerals and Their Crystal Structure. 2. Stability and Properties of Clays. 3. Clay Mineral Sources. Geology 3153 Part 3B.
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3D. Clay Minerals. In sedimentary petrology, the term clay is used in 2 ways:
1) a texture grain size term (<0.004 mm); and

2) a mineral group with particular crystal structures and chemical compositions. In most cases, clay minerals occur as clay texture size in sediments and sedimentary rocks. Clay forms as: detrital matrix (originally as chemical weathering byproduct); and cement (chemically precipitated in pores).
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3D. Clay Minerals. Clay minerals are important, for example:
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solids in well drilling fluids; ultramicroscopic filters; medicines (e.g. Kaopectate); food additives; paper coatings; and soil binders and sealants.
Some biochemist argue that clay crystal structures may have acting as an inorganic template for the first DNA structures. Clay mineralogy is a complex subject. Requires advanced knowledge of crystallography. Identification of specific clay minerals involves detailed lab preparation and analysis, and x-ray difractometry.
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3D. Clay Minerals. 3D. 1. Common Clay Minerals and Their Crystal Structure.
Clay minerals have 2 ideal basic components:
tetrahedral sheet
(abbreviation = t or t-) Si surrounded by O
octahedral sheet
(abbreviation = o or o-) Al surrounded by OH Note the sheet crystal structure clay phyllosilicates.
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3D. Clay Minerals. 3D. 1. Common Clay Minerals and Their Crystal Structure. Various clay minerals are defined by combinations of t- and o-sheets, and ionic substitutions with in and between the sheet structures.
Gibbsite:
single octahedral sheet ( o )
Kaolinite:
octahedral + tetrahedral sheet (o-t) sheets linked by sharing O ions
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Smectite, which also known as Montmorillonite:

2 tetrahedral sheets, octahedral sheet and exchangable cations t-o-t-(cations+H2O) exhangable cations satisfy charge deficiencies from metal substitutions in the t and o sheets why H2O? notorious for swelling (can double in volume)
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Illite:
similar to smectite but different cations between sheets t-o-t-(70-80% K++cations) strong K bonds; lower ion exchange capacity than smectite related to muscovite t-o-t-( K+ )
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Chlorite:
although we think of chlorite as a metamorphic mineral, it is common clay mineral in sedimentary rocks similar structure as smectite and illite, but different intersheet composition t-o-t-( [Mg
+2
, Fe +2]o )
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mixed-layer clays:
mixed-layer clays are random, quasi-regular or regular crystalline interlayering of the basic clay types although almost all types are possible, the most common are: smectite-illite; and illite-chlorite
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3D. Clay Minerals. 3D. 2. Stability and Properties of Clays.
At low pH, such as in tropical soils or acid diagenetic pore waters:

kaolinite and gibbsite develop; kaolinite is stable under many diagenetic conditions (common alteration of feldspar); illite converts to kaolinite. At high pH, such as in semiarid and arid soils and basic diagenetic pore waters: illite stable; and kaolinite converts to illite.
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3D. Clay Minerals. 3D. 2. Stability and Properties of Clays. During chemical weathering and diagenesis of volcanic glass: glass rapid smectite slow with burial illite
Smectite is very expandable when placed in fresh water (or other chemically polar liquids): large H2O molecules readily exchange for cations between sheets can be a very serious problem in drilling and completing smectitebearing reservoirs (formation damage)
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3D. Clay Minerals. 3D. 2. Stability and Properties of Clays. Chlorite: readily weathers at surface conditions; precipitates in Mg-rich waters (e.g. lakes); has an affinity for ammonia will swell becareful in reservoir stimulation treatments (microbes)
can also release Fe+2

oxidizes in pores or in mechanical workings
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3D. Clay Minerals. 3D. 3. Clay Mineral Sources.
As we have been discussing, clastic particles are important byproducts of the weathering of pre-existing rocks.
Clays are byproducts of chemical weathering processes, thus they are associated to a certain extent with climate: kaolinite tropical weathering illite temperate weathering chlorite polar climate and volcanic rock weathering smectite volcanic rock weathering
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Part 3. Sedimentary Minerals and Particles.

3B. Clastic Minerals and Particles.

Part 3. Sedimentary Minerals and Particles.

Geology 3153 Part 3B.

Part 3. Sedimentary Minerals and Particles.

Geology 3153 Part 3B.

Part 3. Sedimentary Minerals and Particles.

Geology 3153 Part 3B.

Part 3. Sedimentary Minerals and Particles.

Geology 3153 Part 3B.

Part 3. Sedimentary Minerals and Particles.

Geology 3153 Part 3B.

Part 3. Sedimentary Minerals and Particles.

first cycle; abraded original framework

burial; quartz overgrowth cement

recycled; abraded quartz cement

Geology 3153 Part 3B.

Part 3. Sedimentary Minerals and Particles.

Part 3. Sedimentary Minerals and Particles.

Part 3. Sedimentary Minerals and Particles.

Part 3. Sedimentary Minerals and Particles.

Geology 3153 Part 3B.

Part 3. Sedimentary Minerals and Particles.

Geology 3153 Part 3B.

Part 3. Sedimentary Minerals and Particles.

Stability chemical mechanical M H H H M M L L H H H H M M L L

Source Rock Metamorphic Igneous Sedimentary X X X X X X X X X X X X X

source from microanalysis rare

type can determine source

type can determine source

Geology 3153 Part 3B.

Part 3. Sedimentary Minerals and Particles.

Closing Remark: The framework composition of clastic

Geology 3153 Part 3B.

Part 3. Sedimentary Minerals and Particles.

3C. Carbonate Minerals and Particles.

Part 3. Sedimentary Minerals and Particles.

Geology 3153 Part 3B.

Part 3. Sedimentary Minerals and Particles.

Part 3. Sedimentary Minerals and Particles.

CaCO3 + Calcite or Aragonite Sediment

H2CO3 Carbonic Acid Water

Part 3. Sedimentary Minerals and Particles.

Geology 3153 Part 3B.

Part 3. Sedimentary Minerals and Particles.

Part 3. Sedimentary Minerals and Particles.

Geology 3153 Part 3B.

Part 3. Sedimentary Minerals and Particles.

Part 3. Sedimentary Minerals and Particles.

Geology 3153 Part 3B.

Part 3. Sedimentary Minerals and Particles.

Geology 3153 Part 3B.

Part 3. Sedimentary Minerals and Particles.

Geology 3153 Part 3B.

Part 3. Sedimentary Minerals and Particles.

Geology 3153 Part 3B.

Part 3. Sedimentary Minerals and Particles.

Micrite is ubiquitous in carbonate sedimentary environments.

Part 3. Sedimentary Minerals and Particles.

Geology 3153 Part 3B.

Part 3. Sedimentary Minerals and Particles.

Geology 3153 Part 3B.

Part 3. Sedimentary Minerals and Particles.

3D. Clay Minerals.