Search results for "diagenesis"
showing 10 items of 129 documents
Calcareous nannofossil response to Late Cretaceous climate change in the eastern Tethys (Zagros Basin, Iran)
2020
Abstract Coniacian to Maastrichtian changes in calcareous nannofossil assemblages have been investigated in the eastern Tethyan Shahneshin section (central Zagros Basin, Iran). The nannofossil assemblages are mainly composed of Watznaueria spp. (avg. 54%), Retecapsa spp (avg. 7.9%), Cribrosphaerella ehrenbergii (avg. 7.7%) and Micula spp. (avg. 5.7%). Throughout the late Campanian, there is a trend to lower abundances in Watznaueria spp. together with increasing abundances of C. ehrenbergii and Arkhangelskiella cymbiformis, which are considered in this basin as the main cool-water taxa. Our results reveal that, despite a diagenetic impact on calcareous nannoflora, a number of primary paleoe…
230Th/U dating of Last Interglacial brain corals from Bonaire (southern Caribbean) using bulk and theca wall material
2016
Abstract We compared the suitability of two skeletal materials of the Atlantic brain coral Diploria strigosa for 230Th/U-dating: the commonly used bulk material comprising all skeletal elements and the denser theca wall material. Eight fossil corals of presumably Last Interglacial age from Bonaire, southern Caribbean Sea, were investigated, and several sub-samples were dated from each coral. For four corals, both the ages and the activity ratios of the bulk material and theca wall agree within uncertainty. Three corals show significantly older ages for their bulk material than for their theca wall material as well as substantially elevated 232Th content and (230Th/238U) ratios. The bulk mat…
Microbial origin for pedogenic micrite associated with a carbonate paleosol (Champagne, France)
1999
Abstract Micro-rods have been observed in indurated carbonate horizons (30 cm thick) that overlie a periglacial chalk formation, in contact with the present-day soil (Champagne, France). They are numerous in the upper part of the hardened layers. Variations in micro-rod morphologies are related to progressive biomineralization of organic matter, transforming purely organic rods into calcite. Mineralized rods undergo diagenesis and their arrangement evolves from a random mesh fabric to recrystallized micritic platelets to microsparite. Two types of organic micro-rods have been observed: bacilliform and thread-like bacteria. Mineralogically, micro-rods are low-magnesian calcite. Crystallograp…
Sedimentological and diagenetic influences on low permeability properties of the Middle Jurassic limestones (Paris Basin, France)
2009
A detailed sedimentological, geochemical and mineralogical study is carried out on the Early Bajocian to Early Callovian (Middle Jurassic) limestones of the Paris Basin. Deposits include 18 lithofacies which are stacked into 10 third-order depositional sequences. Our geochemical study including a compilation of bibliographic data allows us to refine the existing sea surface palaeotemperature pattern. A cooling from the latest Early Bajocian to the Late Bajocian and a subsequent warming from the earliest Callovian to the Early/Middle Callovian transition are described using a proxy of sea surface temperatures. Together with δ13C and mineralogical data, our new δ18O values suggest a palaeo-cl…
‘Not All That Is White Is Lime’-White Substances from Archaeological Burial Contexts: Analyses and Interpretations
2019
Archaeological burial contexts may include a variety of white substances, but few analyses have been published. This study reports on the physico‐chemical characterization of such residues from seven archaeological sites. It is often assumed that white materials from burial contexts are lime. Our findings demonstrate that they can be gypsum, calcite (chalk), aragonite, brushite, degraded metal, natural (gum) resins or synthetic polymer–based products. These may be present as the result of diagenetic processes, funerary practices or modern contamination. This paper provides an analytical approach for the holistic investigation of white materials encountered in burial contexts.
The Early-Cambrian Boho volcano of the El Graara massif, Morocco: Petrology, geodynamic setting and coeval sedimentation
2006
15 pages; International audience; A major volcanic episode is recorded across the Neoproterozoic-Cambrian transition in the Moroccan Anti-Atlas. Several volcanic cones are still preserved in the El Graara massif, laterally correlatable with volcanic flows dated as Early Cambrian (U/Pb date of 534 ± 10 Ma). Volcanic ashes and flows are interbedded with the uppermost part of the Adoudou dolostones, whereas the best-preserved volcano (the Boho Jbel) is onlapped by the overlying Lie-de-vin strata. Available petro-geochemical data from the Boho volcano suggest an alkaline magmatism probably derived from low-grade melting of a garnet–lherzolite mantle source, followed by fractional crystallizatio…
The Opportunity Rover's Athena Science Investigation at Meridiani Planum, Mars
2004
The Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity has investigated the landing site in Eagle crater and the nearby plains within Meridiani Planum. The soils consist of fine-grained basaltic sand and a surface lag of hematite-rich spherules, spherule fragments, and other granules. Wind ripples are common. Underlying the thin soil layer, and exposed within small impact craters and troughs, are flat-lying sedimentary rocks. These rocks are finely laminated, are rich in sulfur, and contain abundant sulfate salts. Small-scale cross-lamination in some locations provides evidence for deposition in flowing liquid water. We interpret the rocks to be a mixture of chemical and siliciclastic sediments formed by e…
Micro-PIXE/PIGE analysis of Palaeolithic mammoth ivory: Potential chemical markers of provenance and relative dating
2014
Abstract Micro-Proton Induced X-ray and Gamma-ray Emission (micro-PIXE/PIGE) provide non-destructive methods for the evaluation of the major, minor and trace element compositions of archaeological material. The current study applies micro-PIXE/PIGE analysis to mammoth ivory artefacts from four Palaeolithic sites (Abri Castanet, Vogelherd Cave, Grottes de la Verpilliere I and II) in France and Germany in order to assess the effectiveness of this approach to material older than 30,000 y BP. It has thus far not been established whether such methods of analysis can yield results of scientific and archaeological interest on ivory material that has undergone such extended periods of diagenesis. T…
Geochemistry and mineralogy of travertine deposits of the SW flank of Mt. Etna (Italy): Relationships with past volcanic and degassing activity
2007
Abstract Travertine deposits outcropping in the lower SW flank of Mt. Etna were studied for their mapping, as well as for their chemical, mineralogical and isotopic compositions. These deposits are dated to about 24 to 5 ka in the Adrano area, located at the western limit of the study area. In this area travertines show high Mg contents and are composed mostly of dolomite, thus apparently ruling out any primary deposition in favour of a diagenetic origin. Travertines outcropping near Paterno, in the east part of the study area, should be younger than 18 ka. Those located to the SSW of Paterno (Paterno–Diga) show high Sr contents and aragonite as dominant mineralogical phase, thus suggesting…
Mise en évidence d'un Sénonien gypseux sous la série phosphatée du bassin des Ouled Abdoun: un nouveau point de départ pour l'origine des zones déran…
2013
In the Ouled Abdoun sedimentary basin (Morocco), the phosphatic series is composed of regular interbedded phosphatic and marly limestone layers. Exploitation of the phosphate in some deposits in this basin collides frequently with problems bound to the existence, in the phosphatic series, of disturbed areas (sterile bodies) qualified as derangements by the mining engineers of the Office Cherifian Phosphate Group (OCP). Their presence in the phosphatic layers causes two kinds of problems: (1) since the whole phosphatic sequence is overlain by a Quaternary cover, we do not know their volume proportion in the phosphatic layers, and therefore the reserves estimations can be wrong (2) they are g…