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Mixed-Layer Illite/Smectite Minerals in Tertiary Sandstones and Shales, San Joaquin Basin, California

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 April 2024

Karl Ramseyer  and
J. R. Boles
Karl Ramseyer
Affiliation:
Department of Geological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106
J. R. Boles
Affiliation:
Department of Geological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106
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Abstract

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The southern San Joaquin Valley contains more than 7 km of sedimentary fill, largely Miocene and younger in age. Ancient depositional environments ranged from alluvial fans at the basin margins to turbidite fans toward the basin center. Mixed-layer illite/smectite (I/S) dominates the <2-μm fraction of Miocene shales, and kaolinite is abundant in Miocene sandstones. I/S from carbonate-cemented sandstones contains 5–20% more smectite layers than I/S from uncemented sandstones. The timing of cementation correlates with the proportion of smectite layers in the I/S, suggesting that cementation slowed the illitization process. Smectite and I/S with > 80% expandable layers occur at present burial temperatures of 120°-l 40°C in Miocene sandstones and shales. This highly expandable I/S is restricted to areas covered by thick deposits (1000-2500 m) of Pleistocene sediments. Rocks of similar age and at equivalent temperatures, but covered by <900 m of Pleistocene sediments, contain I/S having low expandabilities (<30%).

Microprobe analyses of 16 discrete smectite and smectite-rich I/S clays indicate an average montmorillonite composition of:

$$\left( {C{a_{0.2}}{K_{0.15}}N{a_{0.1}}} \right)\left( {A{l_{3.0}}F{e^{3 + }}_{0.35}M{g_{0.75}}T{i_{0.03}}} \right)\left( {S{i_{7.7}}A{l_{0.3}}} \right){O_{20}}{\left( {OH} \right)_4} \cdot n{H_2}O.$$
Smectite in I/S-rich clays of Gulf Coast shales has a similar composition except for lower octahedral Al/ Fe ratios (Al/FeVI = 3.1), compared with the San Joaquin samples (Al/FeVI = 8.6).

Residence time at different temperatures appears to be an important influence on the percentage of smectite layers in I/S from the San Joaquin basin. Areas containing I/S with high expandabilities (e.g., 95% smectite layers) have a time-temperature index (TTI) of 4.0-4.5 at 120°C, whereas areas containing I/S with low expandabilities (e.g., 30% smectite layers) have a TTI of 5.0. Present data suggest that highly expandable I/S changed to slightly expandable I/S over a narrow temperature interval (10°-20°C). Differences in the potassium availability from detrital components and in the K+/H+ activity ratios of pore water do not appear to be related to the differences in the percentage of smectite layers of these I/S clays.

Keywords

Carbonate cementationIllite/smectiteMicroprobe analysisMixed layerSmectiteTime-temperature index
Type
Research Article
Information
Clays and Clay Minerals , Volume 34 , Issue 2 , April 1986 , pp. 115 - 124
Copyright
Copyright © 1986, The Clay Minerals Society

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