Abstract
The macrotidal muddy deposits around Youngjong Island in the west coast of Korea with a radiocarbon dating of ca. 8000 yr BP contain micro-scale (ca. 150 μm) siderite concretions. The authigenic siderites exhibit the aggregated spherulitic textures with well-developed rhombs on the grain surfaces, which reflects good preservation. Geochemical analyses indicate that the concentrations of Mg (mean 2.6 mol%) and Ca (mean 9.4 mol%) are low whereas those of Fe (mean 70.4 mol%) and Mn (mean 17.6 mol%) are relatively high. The chemical composition suggests that the authigenic siderites might have precipitated in a non-marine environment. The occurrence of such siderites in the early Holocene sediments, considering the stratigraphic level with respect to the well-established sea-level curve helps recognize the non-marine depositional environment existed before the formation of modern tidal flats along the west coast of Korea.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alexander, C.R., Nittrouer, C.A., DeMaster, D.J., Park, Y.A. and Park, S.C., 1991, Macrotidal mudflats of the southwestern Korean coast: a model for interpretation of intertidal deposits. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 61, 805–824.
Baker, J.C., Kassan, J. and Hamilton, P.J., 1996, Early diagenetic siderite as an indicator of depositional environment in the Triassic Rewan Group, southern Bowen Basin, eastern Australia. Sedimentology, 43, 77–88.
Bloom, A.L. and Park, Y.A., 1985, holocene sea-level history and tectonic movements, Republic of Korea. Japanese Quaternary Research, 24, 77–84.
Browne, G.H. and Kingston, D.M., 1993, Early diagenetic spherulitic siderites from Pennsylvanian paleosols in the Boss Point Formation, Maritime Canada. Sedimentology, 40, 467–474.
Cang, S., Li, T. and Dong, T., 1997, The review of sea level changes of Yellow Sea. Yellow Sea Research, 7, 83–90.
Carpenter, S.J., Erickson, J.M., Lohmann, K.C. and Owen, M.R., 1988, Diagenesis of fossiliferous concretions from the Upper Cretaceous Fox Hills Formation, North Dakota. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 58, 706–723.
Chough, S.K., 1983, Marine Geology of Korean Seas. International Human Resources Development Corporation, Boston, 157 p.
Curtis, C.D. and Coleman, M.L., 1986, Controls on the precipitation of early diagenetic calcite, dolomite and siderite concretions in complex depositional sequences. In: Gautier, D.L. (ed.), Roles of Organic Matter in Sediment Diagenesis. Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, Special Publication, 38, Tulsa, 23–33.
Gautier, D.L., 1982, Siderite concretions: indicators of early diagenesis in the Gammon Shale (Cretaceous). Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 52, 859–871.
Hart, B.S., Longstaffe, F.J. and Plint, A.G., 1992, Evidence for relative sea level change from isotopic and elemental composition of siderite in the Cardium Formation, Rocky Mountain Foothills. Bulletin of Canadian Petrology and Geology, 40, 52–59.
Kim, Y.H., Lee, H.J., Chun, S.S., Han, S.J. and Chough, S.K., 1999, Holocene transgressive stratigraphy of a macrotidal flat in the southeastern Yellow Sea: Gomso Bay, Korea. Journal of Sedimentary Research, 69, 328–337.
Lee, C.B., Yoo, H.R. and Park, K.S., 1992, Distribution and properties of intertidal surface sediments of Kyeonggi Bay, west coast of Korea. Journal of Korean Society of Oceanography, 27, 277–289.
Lee, H.J. and Chough, S.K., 1989, Sediment distribution, dispersal and budget in the Yellow Sea. Marine Geology, 87, 195–205.
Lee, H.J. and Yoon, S.H., 1997. Development of stratigraphy and sediment distribution in the northeastern Yellow Sea during Holocene sea-level rise. Journal of Sedimentary Research, 67, 341–349.
Lee, H.J., Chun, S.S., Chang, J.H. and Han, S.J., 1994, Landward migration of isolated shelly sand ridge (chenier) on the macrotidal flat of Gomso Bay, west coast of Korea: controls of storms and typhoon. Journal of Sedimentary Research, 64, 886–893.
Moore, S.E., Ferrell, R.E. Jr. and Aharon, P., 1992, Diagenetic siderite and other ferroan carbonates in a modern subsiding marsh sequence. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 62, 357–366.
Mortimer, R.J.G., Coleman, M.L. and Rae, J.E., 1997, Effect of bacteria on the elemental composition of early diagenetic siderite: implications for palaeoenvironmental interpretations. Sedimentology, 44, 759–765.
Mozley, P.S., 1989, Relation between depositional environment and the elemental composition of early diagenetic siderite. Geology, 17, 704–706.
Mozley, P.S. and Carothers, W.W., 1992, Elemental and isotopic composition of siderite in the Kuparuk Formation, Alaska: effect of microbial activity and water/sediment interaction on early pore-water chemistry. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 62, 681–692.
Park, Y.A. and Choi, K.S., 1998, Recognition of silty tidal rhythmite from the upper Pleistocene sedimentary sequence, western coast of Korea. Journal of Korean Society of Oceanography, 33, 71–79.
Park, Y.A. and Choi, K.S., 1999, Holocene and late Pleistocene tidal deposits off the Youngjong Island, western coast of Korea (Eastern Yellow Sea). In: Saito, Y., Ikehara, K. and Katayama, H. (eds.), Proceedings of an international workshop on sediment transport and storage in coastal sea-ocean system. Geological Survey of Japan, p. 80–84.
Park, Y.A., Choi, J.Y., Lim, D.I., Choi, K.W. and Lee, Y.G., 1995, Unconformity and stratigraphy of late Quaternary tidal deposits, Namyang Bay, west coast of Korea. Journal of Korean Society of Oceanography, 30, 332–340.
Park, Y.A., Lim, D.I., Khim, B.K., Choi, J.Y. and Doh, S.J., 1998, Stratigraphy and subaerial exposure of late Quaternary tidal deposits in Haenam Bay, Korea (southeastern Yellow Sea). Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 47, 523–533.
Pirazzoli, P.A., 1991, World Atlas of Holocene Sea-Level Changes, Amsterdam, Elsevier, 300 p.
Pye, K., 1984, SEM analysis of siderite cements in intertidal marsh sediments, Norfolk, England. Marine Geology, 56, 1–12.
Pye, K., Dickson, J.A.D., Schiavon, N., Coleman, M.L. and Cox, M., 1990. Formation of siderite—Mg—calcite-iron sulphide concretions in intertidal marsh and sandflat sediments, north Norfolk, Engl-and. Sedimentology, 37, 325–343.
Veizer, J., 1983, Chemical diagenesis of carbonates: Theory and application of trace element technique. In: Arthur, M.A. (ed.), Stable Isotopes in Sedimentary Geology. Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists Short Cource Notes No. 10, Tulsa, p. 3-1–3-100.
Zhang, X., Wang, Y. and Lei, H., 1996, Authigenic mineralogy, depositional environments and evolution of fault-bounded lakes of the Yunnan Plateau, south-western China. Sedimentology, 43, 367–380.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Khim, BK., Choi, KS., Park, YA. et al. Occurrence of authigenic siderites in the Early Holocene coastal deposit in the west coast of Korea: an indicator of depositional environment. Geosci J 3, 163–170 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02910272
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02910272