Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-vdxz6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T15:57:42.608Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

“Retrograde Diagenesis” of Clay Minerals in the Precambrian Freda Sandstone, Wisconsin

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2024

Gengmei Zhao ,
Donald R. Peacor  and
S. Douglas Mcdowell
Gengmei Zhao
Affiliation:
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105-1063
Donald R. Peacor
Affiliation:
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105-1063
S. Douglas Mcdowell
Affiliation:
Department of Geological Engineering and Sciences, Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, Michigan 49931
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.

Siltstones from the Precambrian Freda Formation in Wisconsin have been studied by scanning, scanning-transmission and analytical electron microscopy (SEM, STEM and AEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). XRD data for drill core samples show a change from smectite-rich Illite-Smectite (I-S) in shallow samples to illite in deeper samples, implying a transition during burial diagenesis.

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations of shallow samples reveal the presence of three clearly distinguishable kinds of dioctahedral clay minerals: (1) detrital grains of micrometer-sized, mature muscovite; (2) small packets in the matrix consisting of dominant (Reichweite) R1 I-S or (3) small packets of illite. The illite and I-S stacks occur separately and have similar textures, with packet thicknesses averaging ∼400 Å, within the range of anchizonal illite. Illite and detrital muscovite commonly display strain features typical of the effects of tectonic stress. Void space within I-S or illite packets is inferred to be a strain feature, and to have served as pathways for fluids. Detrital muscovite shows abundant alteration features including (001) boundaries which are continuous with parallel packets of I-S; individual layers commonly show along-layer transitions of muscovite to smectite or I-S. Trioctahedral clays consist primarily of detrital chlorite which commonly shows direct alteration to R1 I-S and smectite, as with detrital muscovite.

Deep samples contain only unaltered, coarse detrital muscovite, and thin packets of illite forming stacks and comprising most of the matrix. The texture of the illite appears to be identical to that of shallow samples, with characteristics such as packet size typical of anchizonal illite. Trioctahedral clays consist almost entirely of detrital grains of chlorite and corrensite. They occur as separate grains with rather constant composition, without signs of alteration.

The data imply that all of the studied rocks have been subjected to a uniform anchizonal grade of metamorphism in which detrital grains were largely unchanged but matrix clays were transformed to packets of illite. The unusually abrupt transition with depth from highly expandable I-S to illite is inferred to actually be the result of subsequent alteration of authigenic illite and detrital chlorite and muscovite to R1 I-S and smectite in shallow rocks. This late overprinting of the anchimetamorphic clay mineral assemblage is inferred to have been locally caused by fluids with temperatures less than those of peak metamorphism. This process, called “retrograde diagenesis”, gave rise to a sequence of dioctahedral I-S and illite which mimics classic prograde sequences. Interpretations of such sequences as being prograde, especially in cases of ancient rocks, should be interpreted with caution when high-resolution images of textures are not available.

Keywords

Analytical Electron MicroscopyChloriteFreda FormationIlliteI-SMuscoviteRetrograde DiagenesisScanning Electron MicroscopySmectiteTransmission Electron Microscopy
Type
Research Article
Information
Clays and Clay Minerals , Volume 47 , Issue 2 , April 1999 , pp. 119 - 130
Copyright
Copyright © 1999, The Clay Minerals Society

References

Ahn, J.H. and Peacor, D.R., 1985 Transmission electron microscopic study of diagenetic chlorite in Gulf Coast argillaceous sediments Clays and Clay Minerals 33 228–236 10.1346/CCMN.1985.0330309.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Arkai, P. Merriman, R.J. Roberts, B. Peacor, D.R. and Tom, M., 1996 Crystallinity, crystallite size and lattice strain of illite-muscovite and chlorite: Comparison of XRD and TEM data for diagenetic to epizonal pelites European Journal of Mineralogy 8 1119–1137 10.1127/ejm/8/5/1119.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cannon, W.E. Green, A.G. Hutchinson, D.R. Lee, M. Milkereit, B. Behrendt, J.C. Halls, H.C. Green, J.C. Dickas, A.B. Morey, G.B. Sutcliffe, R. and Spencer, C., 1989 The North American Midcontinent rift beneath Lake Superior from GLIMPCE seismic reflection profiling Tectonics 8 305–332 10.1029/TC008i002p00305.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cannon, W.E. Peterman, Z.E. and Sims, P.K., 1990 Structural and isotopic evidence for middle Proterozoic thrust faulting of Archean and early Proterozoic rocks near the Gogebic range, Michigan and Wisconsin Institute on Lake Superior Geology Proceedings 36 11–113.Google Scholar
Davis, D.W. and Sutcliffe, R.H., 1985 U-Pb ages from the Nipigon Plate and Northern Lake Superior Geological Society of America Bulletin 96 1572–1579 10.1130/0016-7606(1985)96<1572:UAFTNP>2.0.CO;2.2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Davis, D.W. and Paces, J.B., 1990 Time resolution of geologic events on the Keweenaw Peninsula and implications for development of the Midcontinent Rift system Earth and Planetary Science Letters 97 54–64 10.1016/0012-821X(90)90098-I.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dong, H. and Peacor, D.R., 1996 TEM observations of coherent stacking relations in smectite, I/S and illite of shales: Evidence for MacEwan crystallites and dominance of 2M1 polytypism Clays and Clay Minerals 44 257–275 10.1346/CCMN.1996.0440211.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Evans, M.A. Battles, D.A., Hendry, J.P. Carey, F.E. Parnell, J. Ruffell, A.H. and Worden, R.H., 1997 Regional syn-orogenic fluid migration in the central Appalachians: Fluid geochemistry and fluid migration pathways Contributions to the Second International Conference on Fluid Evolution, Migration and Interaction in Sedimentary Basins and Orogenic Belts, Belfast, Northern Ireland 85–88.Google Scholar
Gordon, M.B. and Hempton, M.R., 1986 Collision induced rifting: The Grenville orogeny and Keweenawan rift of North America Tectonophysics 127 1–25 10.1016/0040-1951(86)90076-4.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Guthrie, G.D. Jr. and Veblen, D.R., 1989 High-resolution transmission electron microscopy of mixed-layer illite/smectite: Computer simulations Clays and Clay Minerals 37 1–11 10.1346/CCMN.1989.0370101.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Guthrie, G.D. Jr. and Veblen, D.R., 1990 Interpreting one-dimensional high-resolution transmission electron micrographs of sheet silicates by computer simulation American Mineralogist 75 276–288.Google Scholar
Hedgman, C.A., 1992 Provenance and tectonic setting of the Jacobsville Sandstone, from Ironwood to Keweenaw Bay, Michigan. M.S. thesis, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio .Google Scholar
Hower, J. Eslinger, E.V. Hower, M.E. and Perry, E.A., 1976 Mechanism of burial metamorphism of argillaceous sediments: Mineralogical and chemical evidence Geological Society of America Bulletin 87 725–737 10.1130/0016-7606(1976)87<725:MOBMOA>2.0.CO;2.2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hutchinson, D.E. White, R.S. Cannon, W.E. and Schultz, K.J., 1990 Keweenawan hot spot: Geophysical evidence for a 1.1 Ga mantle plume beneath the Midcontinent rift system Journal of Geophysical Research 95 10869–10884 10.1029/JB095iB07p10869.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jiang, W.T. Peacor, D.R. Merriman, R.J. and Roberts, B., 1990 Transmission and analytical electron microscopic study of mixed-layer illite/smectite formed as an apparent replacement product of diagenetic illite Clays and Clay Minerals 38 449–468 10.1346/CCMN.1990.0380501.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jiang, W.T. Peacor, D.R. and Essene, E.J., 1994 Clay minerals in the MacAdams sandstone, California: Implications for substitution of H3O+ and H2O and metastability of illite Clays and Clay Minerals 42 35–45 10.1346/CCMN.1994.0420105.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jiang, W.T. Peacor, D.R. Arkai, P. Toth, M. and Kim, J.W., 1997 TEM and XRD determination of crystallite size and lattice strain as a function of illite crystallinity in pelitic rocks Journal of Metamorphic Geology 15 267–281 10.1111/j.1525-1314.1997.00016.x.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kim, J.W. Peacor, D.R. Tessier, D. and Elsass, 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.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Li, G. Mauk, J.L. and Peacor, D.R., 1995 Preservation of clay minerals in the Precambrian (1.1 Ga) Nonesuch Formation in the vicinity of the White Pine Copper Mine, Michigan Clays and Clay Minerals 43 361–376 10.1346/CCMN.1995.0430311.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Merriman, R.J. Roberts, B. Peacor, D.R. and Hirons, S.R., 1995 Strain-related differences in the crystal growth of white mica and chlorite: a TEM and XRD study of the development of metapelitic microfabrics in the Southern Uplands thrust terrane, Scotland Journal of Metamorphic Geology 13 559–576 10.1111/j.1525-1314.1995.tb00243.x.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nicholson, S.W. and Shirey, S.B., 1990 Midcontinent rift volcanism in the Lake Superior region: Sr, Nd, and Pb isotopic evidence for a mantle plume origin Journal of Geophysical Research 95 10851–10868 10.1029/JB095iB07p10851.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nieto, E. Velilla, N. Peacor, D.R. and Huertas, M.O., 1994 Regional retrograde alteration of sub-greenschist faces chlorite to smectite Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 115 243–252 10.1007/BF00310765.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Palmer, H.C. and Davis, D.W., 1987 Paleomagnetism and U-Pb geochronology of Michipicoten Island: Precise calibration of the Keweenawan polar wander track Precambrian Research 37 158–171 10.1016/0301-9268(87)90077-5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Price, K.L. and McDowell, S.D., 1993 Illite/smectite geo-thermometry of the Proterozoic Oronto group, Midcontinent rift system Clays and Clay Minerals 41 134–147 10.1346/CCMN.1993.0410203.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Price, K.L. Huntoon, J.E. and McDowell, S.D., 1996 Thermal history of the 1.1-Ga Nonesuch Formation, North American mid-continent rift. White Pine, Michigan American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin 80 1–15.Google Scholar
Veblen, D.R. Guthrie, G.D. Jr Livi, K.J.T. and Reynolds, R.C. Jr., 1990 High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction of mixed-layer illite/smectite: experimental results Clays and Clay Minerals 38 1–13 10.1346/CCMN.1990.0380101.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ziegler, K. Longstaffe, F.J., Hendry, J.P. Carey, P.F. Parnell, J. Ruffell, A.H. and Worden, R.H., 1997 Hydrogen isotopes from clay minerals and fluid flow along Precambrian/Cambrian unconformity in SW Ontario, Canada Contributions to the Second International Conference on Fluid Evolution, Migration and Interaction in Sedimentary Basins and Orogenic Belts. Belfasts, Northern Ireland 343–346.Google Scholar