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Facies characteristics, diagenetic phenomena, and the impact of clay minerals on the dolomitization of Abu Tartur phosphorites (Western Desert, Egypt)

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Abstract

The present study deals with the microfacies diagnostic features of the Duwi Formation (Western Desert, Egypt). The aim is also to provide some insight into the spatio-temporal occurrence of diagenetic features, especially dolomitization in the different facies and their paragenesis. The clay mineralogy has been studied aiming to recognize its role as a principal source of Mg+2 for dolomitization. Stratigraphically, the Duwi Formation covers unconformably the Quseir Formation and rests conformably under the Dakhla Formation. Sedimentologically, the Duwi Formation includes phosphorite, black shale, glauconite, phosphatic limestone, chalky limestone, fine sandstone to siltstone, and dolomite. These sediments represent the first onset of fully marine conditions and accumulated in a pre-existing depression enclosed by the Dakhla uplift in the west and the Kharga uplift in the east. The presence of dolomites is assigned to strong dolomitization at several horizons. Sometimes, dolomite is represented by scattered rhombs or pockets within other microfacies types. The smectite–illite conversion model is invoked as the supplier of Mg+2 and Ca+2 ions that formed dolomites during the late stages of diagenesis. However, more detailed research work is needed to better characterize the role played by clays during the formation of dolomite in the study area.

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The authors declare that all the obtained data from the present work have been used, inserted, introduced and diagrammed in the present work. No more data are available for more usage. The data have been completely represented in the form of field photos, photomicrographs, tables and figures that appear in the manuscript.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are indebted and grateful to the editor, the editorial board, and anonymous referees for valuable comments which have greatly improved the earlier version of this paper. Funding by Assiut University (EGYT) is highly appreciated.

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  1. Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut, 71516, Egypt

    Abdalla M. El Ayyat & Mahmoud A. Essa

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(A) Abdalla El Ayyat (the first author) (B) Mahmoud Essa (the second author) (A) has collected the samples from the field. (A) and (B) make thin sections. (A) and (B) make X-ray analyses. (A) and (B) make microscope photography. (A) and (B) wrote the manuscript. (A) and (B) draw the figures, tables and plates. (A) wrote the references list. (A) and (B) reviewed the manuscript.

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Communicated by Maria Virginia Alves Martins

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Ayyat, A.M.E., Essa, M.A. Facies characteristics, diagenetic phenomena, and the impact of clay minerals on the dolomitization of Abu Tartur phosphorites (Western Desert, Egypt). J. Sediment. Environ. 9, 1–18 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43217-023-00153-7

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