The Fabric of Carbonate Cement and Matrix and its Dependence on the Salinity of Water

  • Gerald M. Friedman
Conference paper

Abstract

Lithification of carbonate sediments occurs under both marine and freshwater conditions. Mineralogically, texturally, and genetically four different types of cement and matrix are recognized. These are: 1. marine aragonite as fibrous cement or micrite, 2. marine highmagnesian calcite micrite, 3. freshwater low-magnesian calcite drusy mosaic or wedge-shaped crystals or as fibrous cement or rods, and 4. freshwater low-magnesian calcite micrite. Aragonite and high-magnesian calcite are the minerals which form cement or matrix in the marine environment, whereas low-magnesian calcite makes up cement or matrix in the freshwater environment. Aragonite forms fibrous cements under hypersaline or very shallow marine conditions, such as in deep-sea carbonate sediments of the Red Sea, or in beachrocks or reefs. It may also be deposited as micrite, as in grapestones. High-magnesian calcite forms a micrite cement in the deep-sea environment or in beachrocks or a fibrous cement in reefs. Low-magnesian calcite forms a drusy calcite mosaic under fresh water conditions or occurs in the shape of rods or wedge-shaped crystals in freshwater limestones, such as in tufa or cave pearls. It occurs as a cement in marine rocks in which it has been emplaced post-depositionally by fresh water. Low-magnesian calcite micrite is formed in fresh water, such as in lakes, where it makes up oncolites or massive limestones. Texturally fresh water lowmagnesian calcite micrite is indistinguishable from aragonite micrite or from marine highmagnesian calcite micrite or its low-magnesian diagenetic equivalent.

Keywords

Carbonate Sediment Carbonate Cement Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Fibrous Cement Aragonite Cement 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Berner, R. A.: Chemical diagenesis of some modern carbonate sediments. Am. J. Sci. 264, 1–36 (1966).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  2. CuLLis, C. G.: The mineralogical changes observed in the cores of the Funafuti borings. In: The Atoll of Funafuti. Roy. Soc. London, Coral Reef Comm., Rept., p. 392–420 (1904).Google Scholar
  3. Friedman, G. M.: Early diagenesis and lithification in carbonate sediments. J. Sediment. Petrol. 34, 777–813 (1964).Google Scholar
  4. Friedman, G. M.: Carbonate sediments, reefs, and beachrocks, Gulf of Aqaba (Elat), Red Sea. J. Sediment. Petrol. (In press).Google Scholar
  5. Gevirtz, J. L., and G. M. Friedman: Deep-sea carbonate sediments of the Red Sea and their implications on marine lithification. J. Sediment. Petrol. 36, 143–151 (1966).Google Scholar
  6. Gross, M. G.: Carbonate sedimentation and diagenesis of Pleistocene limestones in the Bermuda islands. Unpublished Ph. D. thesis. California Institute of Technology, 244 p. 1961.Google Scholar
  7. Gross, M. G.: Variations in the 018/016 ratios of diagenetically altered limestones in the Bermuda Islands. J. Geol. 72, 170–194 (1964).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  8. Kolesar, P.: In preparation. The fabrics of freshwater limestones. Unpubl. M. S. THESIS, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.Google Scholar
  9. Lees, A.: The structure and origin of the Waulsortian (lower carboniferous) “reefs” of west-central Eire. Roy. Soc. London. Philos. Trans. Ser. B, 247, 483–531 (1964).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  10. Milliman, J. D.: Submarine lithification of carbonate sediments. Science 153, 994–997 (1966).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  11. Nesteroff, W. D.: Sur la formation des grès de plage ou “beach-rock” en Mer Rouge. C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris 238, 2547–2548 (1954).Google Scholar
  12. Pray, L. C.: Limestone clastic dikes in Mississippian bioherms, New Mexico, p. 154–155. In: Geol. Soc. America, Abstracts for 1964. Geol. Soc. Am. Spec. Papers 82, 400 p. (1965).Google Scholar
  13. Schoerrle, M.: Die Sedimente des Gnadensees. Ein Beitrag zur Sedimentbildung im Bodensee. Unpublished Ph. D. thesis, University of Heidelberg, 104 p. 1967.Google Scholar
  14. Stoddart, D. R., and J. R. Cann: Nature and origin iof beachrock. J. Sediment. Petrol. 35, 243–247 (1965).Google Scholar
  15. Fischer, A. G., and R. E. Garrison: Carbonate lithification on the sea-floor. J. Geol. 75, 488–496 (1967).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  16. Ginsaurc, R. N., E. A. Shinn, and J. H. Schroeder: Submarine cementation and internal sedimentation within Bermuda reefs. Geol. Soc. America Program, Annual Meeting, 78–79 (1967).Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag Berlin · Heidelberg 1968

Authors and Affiliations

  • Gerald M. Friedman
    • 1
  1. 1.Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteTroyUSA

Personalised recommendations