Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Are Marine Phosphorites Forming Today ?

  • Letter
  • Published:

From Nature

View current issue Submit your manuscript

Abstract

PHOSPHORITES are sedimentary rocks in which apatite, usually carbonate-fluor-apatite, is the major component. The origin of phosphorites, although widely discussed in the literature, is still far from being settled1. Mass mortality, volcanism and bacterial activity have been mentioned in the past as responsible for phosphorite formation, and Kazakov's2 “chemical” hypothesis has probably gained the widest recognition3,4. This hypothesis essentially claims that up welling deep and cold water, rich in phosphate and dissolved carbon dioxide and depleted in oxygen, is warmed at the surface and that the resulting decrease of pCO2 and increase of pH. cause the solubility of Ca-phosphate to decrease. Apatite may then be precipitated by organic or inorganic processes. Others1,5,6 suggest that many phosphorites are the result of the replacement of originally carbonate sediments.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bushinskii, G. I., Lithology and Mineral Resources, 3, 292 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Kazakov, A. V., Sci. Inst. Fertilizers and Insectofungicides (USSR), 142, 93 (1937).

    Google Scholar 

  3. McKelvey, V. E., US Geol. Survey Bull., 1252 (1967).

  4. Sheldon, R. P., US Geol. Surv. Prof. Pap. 501-C, 106 (1964).

  5. Ames, L. L., Econ. Geol., 54, 829 (1959).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. D'Anglejan, B. F., Canad. J. Earth Sci., 5, 81 (1968).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Librovich, V. L., Geologia i Geofizika, 1, 136 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Wetherill, G. W., and Tilton, G. R., Res. Geochem., 2, 1–28.

  9. Kolodny, Y., and Kaplan, I. R., Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta (in the press).

  10. Altschuler, Z. S., Clarke, R. S., and Young, E. Y., US Geol. Surv. Prof. Pap. 314-D (1958).

  11. Emery, K. O., The Sea off Southern California (Wiley, 1960).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Cayeux, L., South African Mus. Ann., 31, 105 (1934).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Norris, R. M., New Zealand DSIR (1964).

  14. Schwarzbach, M., Climates of the Past (Von Nostrand, 1963).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Durham, J. W., Bull. Geol. Soc. Amer., 61, 1243 (1950).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Kramer, J. R., Science, 146, 637.

  17. Sillen, L. G., Amer. Acad. Adv. Sci., Publ. 67, 567 (1961).

  18. Goldberg, E. D., and Parker, R. H., Bull. Geol. Soc. Amer., 71, 631 (1960).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. YEHOSHUA KOLODNY

    Present address: Department of Geology, Hebrew University, Jerusalem

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California, Los Angeles

    YEHOSHUA KOLODNY

Authors
  1. YEHOSHUA KOLODNY
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

KOLODNY, Y. Are Marine Phosphorites Forming Today ?. Nature 224, 1017–1019 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1038/2241017a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/2241017a0

  • Springer Nature Limited

This article is cited by

Search

Navigation