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Burial dolomitization and dedolomitization of the late Cambrian Wagok Formation, Yeongweol, Korea

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Abstract

The Cambrian Wagok Formation in Yongweol, Korea, involved two stages of dolomitization, separated by an intermediate phase of dissolution, dolomite cementation, and dedolomitization. Textural, isotopic, and chemical investigations of the dolomites and calcite indicate that they all formed or recrystallized in a burial diagenetic environment. Cathodoluminescence petrography shows two stages of dolomitization (Types I & II). Type I dolomite is non- to dully luminescent with a heavily corroded outre rim, comprising more than 90% of the whole sequence, whereas Type II dolomite is brightly luminescent and overgrew mostly on the corroded Type I dolomite. Replacement of Type I dolomite by calcite before the Type II dolomitization is supported by the following textural evidences: 1) the tip of Type I dolomite is heavily corroded; 2) relic crystal boundaries as well as ghosts of Type I dolomite can be observed within calcite; 3) calcite contains relic crystals of Type I dolomite; and 4) Type II dolomites always show sharp crystal surfaces, and cross-cut into calcite. Carbon isotopic compositions of Type I dolomite are in the range of −0.6 to +0.8‰ (PDB), which suggests that carbon isotopes were buffered by preexisting marine carbonates. Lighter oxygen isotopic values (−9.3 to −8.2‰, PDB) as well as xenotopic texture indicate that Type I dolomites formed in a burial diagenetic environment. Type I & II dolomites and dedolomite are Fe-, Mn-, Na-, and Sr-poor, all less than 300 ppm. Thus, similar trace and minor elemental contents of the three phases suggest that the diagenetic fluids responsible for all the phases were chemically similar in terms of trace and minor elements. The higher initial87Sr/86Sr ratio of Type I dolomite (0.7102–0.7105) than that of Cambrian seawater (0.7088–0.7092) suggests that the dolomitizing fluids were basin-derived.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Kangwon National University, 200-701, Chuncheon, Kangwondo, Korea

    Kyung Sik Woo

  2. Applied Carbonate Research Program, Louisiana State University, 60803, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.A.

    Clyde H. Moore

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  1. Kyung Sik Woo
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Woo, K.S., Moore, C.H. Burial dolomitization and dedolomitization of the late Cambrian Wagok Formation, Yeongweol, Korea. Carbonates Evaporites 11, 104–112 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03175789

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