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Late cretaceous quartz geodes after anhydrite from Burgos, Spain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 May 2009

J. J. Elorza  and
J. Rodriguez-Lazaro
J. J. Elorza
Affiliation:
Departamento de Geologia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Pais Vasco, Apartado 644, Bilbao, Spain
J. Rodriguez-Lazaro
Affiliation:
Departamento de Geologia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Pais Vasco, Apartado 644, Bilbao, Spain
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Abstract

The present work describes the quartz geodes (cauliflower-like) that appear in a specific level of the Late Cretaceous (north of Burgos). Due to their special characteristics, principally anhydrite relicts and spherulitic quartz (length-slow chalcedony), they are considered as pseudomorphs of anhydrite nodules, formed during early diagenesis. At the same level compact chert nodules sporadically appear, presenting a considerable amount of sponge spicules with fibrous texture (length-fast chalcedony). The silicification of the anhydrite nodules took place before total compaction and cementation of the sediment. The source of silica is principally biogenic (sponge spicules). We offer a hypothesis to explain the formation of the anhydrite nodules since there is no link between the depositional environment and the existence in itself of anhydrite nodules. Indirectly it is possible to see the effects of an arid climate, which have not been recorded in the lithologic column here described.

Type
Articles
Information
Geological Magazine , Volume 121 , Issue 2 , March 1984 , pp. 107 - 113
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1984

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