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Diagenesis

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Biogenic Sedimentary Rocks in a Cold, Cenozoic Ocean

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Abstract

As a result of late Miocene tectonics alteration occurred in two different settings, pre-uplift and post-uplift. Pre-uplift diagenesis during passive margin subsidence was largely characterized by seafloor carbonate dissolution, omission surface precipitation (hardgrounds) and burial alteration, there was no significant meteoric alteration. This latter aspect was largely due to the fact that there were few aragonitic components in the sediment and there was likely seafloor aragonite dissolution similar to that taking place today. Dolomite formation was present but only locally. By contrast, post-uplift diagenesis was typified by extensive meteoric alteration. Widespread karst, both surface and subsurface, formed in the uplifted and Pleistocene carbonates. The most impressive karst is that on and beneath the Nullarbor Plain. The semi-arid climate also led to extensive pedogenic carbonate in the form of calcrete. The exposed Pleistocene carbonates were rapidly cemented because of abundant aragonite particles that were quickly blown into aeolianites from the nearby offshore.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kingston, ON, Canada

    Noel P. James

  2. Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Yvonne Bone

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  1. Noel P. James
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  2. Yvonne Bone
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Correspondence to Noel P. James .

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James, N.P., Bone, Y. (2021). Diagenesis. In: Biogenic Sedimentary Rocks in a Cold, Cenozoic Ocean. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63982-2_6

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