Ankerite is a frequent but usually minor burial diagenetic phase in sandstones. It can also be present in early diagenetic mudrock-hosted concretions, and rarely as a replacive or void filling burial precipitate in limestones. Ankerite precipitation may result from local (bed-scale) to regional mass transfer, particularly during interaction of compositionally and thermally distinct subsurface fluids.
Mineralogy and chemistry
Ankerite has a general formula Ca (Mg, Fe2+, Mn) (CO3)2 and is part of a solid solution series resulting from substitution of Fe2+ (±subordinate Mn2+) for Mg2+ in the dolomite lattice. It is usually defined as having a Mg2+:Fe2+ ratio of ≦4:1, and diagenetic ankerite typically contains 10–25 percent FeCO3. Ankerite in sedimentary rocks commonly contains up to 10 mol percent excess CaCO3, particularly where it has replaced calcite. Ankerite is more stable than both calcite and dolomite in many iron-rich fluids, even if they have relatively high Ca2+/Mg2+ ratios.
Chem...
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© 1978 Dowden, Hutchinson & Ross, Inc.
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Hendry, J.P. (1978). Ankerite (in sediments). In: Sedimentology. Encyclopedia of Earth Science. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg . https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-31079-7_8
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