Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jn8rn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-24T03:18:48.579Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A Microtexture Study of Palygorskite-Rich Sediments from the Hawthorne Formation, Southern Georgia, by Transmission Electron Microscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2024

Mark P. S. Krekeler ,
Stephen Guggenheim  and
John Rakovan
Mark P. S. Krekeler*
Affiliation:
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
Stephen Guggenheim
Affiliation:
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
John Rakovan
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio 45056, USA
*
*E-mail address of corresponding author: [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

A microtexture analysis by TEM and AFM of palygorskite deposits from the Hawthorne Formation, southern Georgia is given. Palygorskite is the dominant mineral comprising an average of 65–70% of the sample volume with smaller volumes of smectite, illite and kaolinite. Morphologic observations indicate that the palygorskite formed in an unconfined environment, such as in the water column or in open-pore space. Some palygorskite textures appear to be secondary growths filling voids. An unusual texture is observed where smectite or illite-smectite (Reichweite, R = 0) form epitaxially on detrital illite and kaolinite particles. Oxides of Fe and Ti are common, and authigenic cassiterite is present but rare. Apatite is a common trace mineral in these sediments and occurs in a variety of textures. Apatite occurs as clusters which are believed to be small fecal pellets. These clusters have been partially dissolved and recrystallized and the crystals in the clusters are 50–100 µm in diameter. Other apatite crystals occur either as single crystals or in clusters that are not associated with fecal pellets.

The textural data of this study suggest that there was an evolving and complex mineralogical and geochemical system during and after deposition of the palygorskite deposits in the Hawthorne. The epitaxial overgrowths of smectite on detrital illite and kaolinite particles indicate an intermittent stratified water column occurring in the system. Freshwater was introduced into the system from the northeast of the Apalachicola embayment and overrode more saline water in the southwest portion of the embayment. The results of this study are consistent with previous environmental interpretations and provide additional details.

Keywords

AFMGeorgiaHawthorne FormationPalygorskiteTEM
Type
Research Article
Information
Clays and Clay Minerals , Volume 52 , Issue 3 , June 2004 , pp. 263 - 274
Copyright
Copyright © 2004, The Clay Minerals Society

References

Arthur, M.A. and Sagemon, B.B., (1994) Marine black shales: A review of depositional mechanisms and significance of ancient deposits Annual Review Earth and Planetary Sciences 22 499–551 10.1146/annurev.ea.22.050194.002435.Google Scholar
Bickmore, B. Bosbach, D. Hochella, M.F. Jr. Charlet, L. and Rufe, E., (2001) In situ atomic force microscopy study of hectorite and nontronite dissolution: Implications for phyllosilicate edge surface structures and dissolution mechanisms American Mineralogist 86 411–423 10.2138/am-2001-0404.Google Scholar
Bremner, J.M. (1975) Faecal pellets, glauconite, phosphorite and bedrock from the Kunene-Walvis continental margin. Technical Report — South African National Committee for Oceanographic Research, Marine Geology Programme, 7. Progress Report for the Year, pp. 59–67.Google Scholar
Brown, W.E., (1960) Behaviour of slightly soluble calcium phosphate as revealed by phase equilibrium calculations Soil Science 90 51–57 10.1097/00010694-196007000-00008.Google Scholar
Canfield, D.E., (1994) Factors influencing organic carbon preservation in marine sediments Chemical Geology 114 315–329 10.1016/0009-2541(94)90061-2.Google Scholar
Chamley, H., (1989) Clay Sedimentology New York Springer-Verlag 10.1007/978-3-642-85916-8 623 pp.Google Scholar
Demaison, G.J. and Moore, G.T., (1980) Anoxic environments and oil source bed genesis American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin 64 1179–1209.Google Scholar
Galán, E. and Carretero, M.I., (1999) A new approach to compositional limits for sepiolite and palygorskite Clays and Clay Minerals 47 399–409 10.1346/CCMN.1999.0470402.Google Scholar
Gimsing, A.L. and Borggaard, O.K., (2002) Competitive adsorption and desorption of glyphosate and phosphate on clay silicates and oxides Clay Minerals 37 509–515 10.1180/0009855023730049.Google Scholar
Gimsing, A.L. and Borggaard, O.K., (2002) Effect of phosphate on the adsorption of glyphosate on soils, clay minerals and oxides International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry 82 545–552 10.1080/0306731021000062964.Google Scholar
Grim, R.E. and Johns, W.D., (1954) Clay mineral investigations of sediments in the northern Gulf of Mexico Clays and Clay Minerals New York Pergamon 81–103.Google Scholar
Huggett, J.M., (1996) Aluminosilicate diagenesis in a Tertiary sandstone-mudrock sequence from the central North Sea, UK Clay Minerals 31 523–536 10.1180/claymin.1996.031.4.10.Google Scholar
Huggett, J.M. and Shaw, H.F., (1997) Field emission electron microscopy — a high resolution technique for the study of clay minerals in sediments Clay Minerals 32 197–203 10.1180/claymin.1997.032.2.03.Google Scholar
Jones, B. Galán, E. and Bailey, S.W., (1988) Sepiolite and palygorskite Hydrous Phyllosillicates Washington, D.C Mineralogical Society of America 631–674 10.1515/9781501508998-021.Google Scholar
Kim, J. Peacor, D.R. Tessier, D. and Elass, F., (1995) A technique for maintaining texture and permanent expansion of smectite interlayers for TEM observations Clays and Clay Minerals 43 51–57 10.1346/CCMN.1995.0430106.Google Scholar
Krekeler, M.P.S., (2004) Improved constraints on sedimentary environments of palygorskite deposits of the Hawthorne Formation, southern Georgia, from a detailed study of a core Clays and Clay Minerals 52 253–262 10.1346/CCMN.2004.0520301.Google Scholar
Lamboy, M., (1982) Importance des pelotes fecales comme origine des grains de phosphate; l’exemple du gisement de Gafsa (Tunisie) Comptes-Rendus des Seances de l’Academie des Sciences, Serie 2: Mecanique-Physique, Chimie, Sciences de l’Univers, Sciences de la Terre 295 595–600.Google Scholar
Merkl, R.S., (1989) A sedimentological, mineralogical, and geochemical study of the fuller’s earth deposits of the Miocene Hawthorne group of south Georgia-north Florida Bloomington, Indiana Indiana University PhD dissertation.Google Scholar
Murphy, A.E. Sagemon, B.B. Holander, D.J. Lyons, T.T. and Brett, C.E., (2000) Black shale deposition and faunal overturn in the Devonian Appalachian basin: Clastic starvation, seasonal water-column mixing and efficient biolimiting nutrient cycling Paleoceanography 15 280–291 10.1029/1999PA000445.Google Scholar
Nagy, K.L., Nagy, K.L. and Blum, A., (1994) Application of morphological data obtained using scanning force microscopy to quantification of fibrous illite growth rates Scanning Probe Microscopy of Clay Minerals Bloomington, Indiana The Clay Minerals Society 204–239.Google Scholar
Nagy, K.L. and Blum, A.E., (1994) editors () Scanning Probe Microscopy of Clay Minerals. Clay Minerals Society Workshop Lectures, 7, 239 pp.Google Scholar
Patterson, S.H. (1974) Fuller’s earth and industrial mineral resources of the Meigs-Attapulgus-Quincy district, Georgia and Florida. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper, P0828, 45 pp.Google Scholar
Penderson, T.F. and Calvert, S.E., (1990) Anoxia vs. Productivity: What controls the formation of organic-carbon-rich sediments and sedimentary rocks? American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin 74 454–466.Google Scholar
Polubesova, T. Nir, S. Gerstl, Z. Borisover, M. and Rubin, B., (2002) Imazaquin adsorbed on pillared clay and crystal violet-montmorillonite complexes for reduced leaching in soil Journal of Environmental Quality 331 1657–1664 10.2134/jeq2002.1657.Google Scholar
Porrenga, D.H., (1966) Clay minerals in recent sediments of the Niger Delta Clays and Clay Minerals New York Pergamon 221–233 10.1016/B978-0-08-011908-3.50021-9.Google Scholar
Porter, K.G. and Robbins, E.I., (1981) Zooplankton fecal pellets link fossil fuel and phosphate deposits Science 212 931–933 10.1126/science.212.4497.931.Google Scholar
Robbins, E.I. and Porter, K.G., (1980) Geologic importance of zooplankton fecal pellets in black shale associated with phosphate deposits Proceedings of the Eleventh Annual Meeting of the American Association of Stratigraphic Palynolgists Arizona, United States Phoenix 249–250 October, 1978.Google Scholar
Shepard, F.P. and Moore, D.G., (1954) Central Texas coast sedimentation: Characteristics of sedimentary environment, recent history and diagenesis American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin 39 1463–1593.Google Scholar
Solomon, D.H., (1968) Clay minerals as electron acceptors and/or electron donors in organic reactions Clays and Clay Minerals 16 31–39 10.1346/CCMN.1968.0160105.Google Scholar
Solomon, D.H. and Rosser, M.J., (1965) Reactions catalyzed by minerals, Part I Journal of Applied Polymer Science 9 1261 10.1002/app.1965.070090407.Google Scholar
Solomon, D.H. Loft, B.C. and Swift, J.D., (1968) Reactions catalysed by minerals IV. The Mechanism of the benzidene blue reaction on silicate minerals Clay Minerals 7 389–397 10.1180/claymin.1968.007.4.02.Google Scholar
Solomon, D.H. Swift, J.D. and Murphy, A.J., (1971) The acidity of clay minerals in polymerizations and related reaction Journal of Macromolecular Science — Pure and Applied Chemistry A5 587–601 10.1080/00222337108061046.Google Scholar
Theng, B.K.G., (1974) The Chemistry of Clay-Organic Reactions New York John Wiley & Sons 343 pp.Google Scholar
Tyson, R.V. Pearson, T.H., Tyson, R.V. and Pearson, T.H., (1991) Modern and ancient continental shelf anoxia: An overview Modern and Ancient Continental Shelf Anoxia London Geological Society 1–24.Google Scholar
Weaver, C.E., Singer, A. and Galán, E., (1984) Origin and geologic implications of the palygorskite deposits of the S.E. United States Palygorskite-Sepiolite: Occurrences, Genesis, and Uses New York Elsevier 39–58.Google Scholar
Weaver, C.E. and Beck, K.C., (1977) Miocene of the S.E. United States: a model for chemical sedimentation in a perimarine environment New York Elsevier 234 pp.Google Scholar