Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The isotopic composition and diagenetic history of pleistocene carbonates, North Qatar

  • Published:
Carbonates and Evaporites Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Field, petrographic, and geochemical data for Pleistocene oolitic carbonates from North Qatar suggest that the ooids formed in a marine environment separating the open Gulf from the coastal sabkhas. Locally, the more homogeneous granulometry and abundant cross-bedding of these rocks reveal an aeolian depositional environment. Petrographic examination shows that theserrocks are ooid grainstones with low-Mg calcite cements. The sequence of petrographic features suggests a progression of diagenetic fluids from more marine to more meteoric. Early marine cementation was followed by partial dissolution of the ooids and cements. Dissolution and cementation processes redistributed the primary porosity. After mineralogical stabilization was completed, subsequent meteoric flow caused very localized cementation. The final diagenetic phase precipitated was a low-Mg calcite spar cement, representing diagenesis in a fresh-water zone. There is no indication for the presence of dolomites. This sequence of diagenetic features was the result of a fall in eustatic sea-level following deposition.

Stable isotopic evidence suggests that diagenetic fluids dominated by meteoric water were responsible for dissolution and cementation processes. Oxygen isotopes of ooid grains and low-Mg calcite cements range from +0.9%. to −2.1%. PDB and from −3.6%. to −8.0%. PDB, respectively. The δ13C values of the ooid grains (+4.8%. to +2.5%.PDB) are slightly heavier than those of the low-Mg cacite cements (+3.4%. to −1.7%. PDB). This may suggest that the diagenetic system was closed with respect to carbon, with little introduction of carbon from a non-carbonate source.

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

  • AMIEL, A.J., 1975, Progressive pedogenesis of eolianites:Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, v. 45, p. 513–519.

    Google Scholar 

  • BAKER, P. and BURNS, S., 1985, Occurrence and formation of dolomite in organic rich continental margin sediments:Bulletin of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, v. 69, p. 1917–1930.

    Google Scholar 

  • BOTHA, G.A. and HUGHES, J.C., 1992, Pedogenic palygorskite and dolomite in a Late Neogene sedimentary succession, northwestern Trausvel, South Africa:Geoderma, v. 53, p. 139–154.

    Google Scholar 

  • BUDD, D.A. and LAND, L.S., 1990, Geochemical imprint of meteoric digenesis in Holocene ooid sands, Schooner Cays, Bahamas: Correlation of calcite cement geochemistry with extant groundwaters:Journal of Sedimentary Petroleum, v. 60, p. 361–378.

    Google Scholar 

  • CAVELIER, C., 1970, Geologic description of the Qatar Peninsula (Arabian Gulf):Publications of the Government of Qatar, Department of Petroleum Affairs, 39 p.

  • CHAFETZ, H.S. and RUSH, P.F., 1995, Two-phase diagenesis of Quaternary carbonates, Arabian Gulf: Insights from δ13C and δ18O data:Journal of Sedimentary Research, v. 65, p. 294–305.

    Google Scholar 

  • CHAFETZ, H.S. and RUSH, P.F., 1994, Diagenetically altered sabkha-type Pleistocene dolomite from the Arabian Gulf:Sedimentology, v. 41, p. 490–421.

    Google Scholar 

  • CHAFETZ, H.S., MCINTOSH, A.G. and RUSH, P.F., 1988, Freshwater phreatic diagenesis in the marine realm of Recent Arabian Gulf carbonates:Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, v. 58, p. 433–440.

    Google Scholar 

  • CHAMLEY, H., 1989, Clay Sedimentology. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 620 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • CLAYTON, R.N. and MAYEDA, T.K., 1963, The use of bromine pentafluoride in the extraction of oxygen from oxides and silicates for isotopic analysis:Geochemica Cosmochimica Acta, v. 22, p. 43052.

    Google Scholar 

  • CRAIG, H., 1961, Isotopic variations in meteoric waters:Science, v. 133, p. 1701–1703.

    Google Scholar 

  • CRAIG, H., 1957, Isotopic standards for carbon and oxygen and correction factors for mass spectrometric analyses of carbon dioxide:Geochemica Cosmochimica Acta, v. 12, p. 133–149.

    Google Scholar 

  • DEMICCO, R.V. and HARDIE, L.A., 1994, Sedimentary structures and early diagenetic features of shallow marine carbonate deposits:Society of Economic Paleontology and Mineralogy Altas Series, v. 1.

  • EPSTEIN, S. and MAYEDA, T.K., 1953, Variations of18O of waters from natural sources:Geochemica Cosmochimica Acta, v. 4, p. 213–224.

    Google Scholar 

  • EVANS, C. and GINSBURG, R.N., 1987, Fabric-selective diagenesis in the Late Pleistocene Miami limestone:Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, v. 57, p. 311–318.

    Google Scholar 

  • EVANS, G., MURRAY, J.W., BIGGS, H.E., BATE, R. and BUSH, P.R., 1973, The oceanography, ecology, sedimentology and geomorphology of parts of the Trucial coast barrier island complex, Persian Gulf.In Purser, B.H., ed., The Persian Gulf, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, p. 233–277.

    Google Scholar 

  • GARDNER, R.M., 1988, Eolianites and marine deposits of the Wahiba Sands: Character and paleoenvironments:Journal of Oman Studies Special Report, v. 3, p. 75–95.

    Google Scholar 

  • GAVISH, E. and FRIEDMAN, G., 1969, Progressive diagenesis in Quaternary to Late Tertiary carbonate sediments: sequence and time scale:Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, v. 39, p. 980–1006.

    Google Scholar 

  • GLENNIE, K.W., PUGH, J.M. and GOODALL, T.M., 1994, Late Quaternary Arabian desert models of Permian Rotliegend reservoirs:Shell Exploration Bulletin, v. 274, p. 1–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • GROSSMAN, E.L. and KU, T.L., 1981, Aragonite-isotopic paleotemperature scale based on the benthic foraminifera Hoeglundina elegans.Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 13, p. 464.

    Google Scholar 

  • HALLEY, R.B. and HARRIS, P.M., 1979, Fresh-water cementation of a 1,000-year old oolites:Journal of Sedimentary Petroleum, v. 49, p. 969–988.

    Google Scholar 

  • HARRIS, W.H. and MATTHEWS, R.K., 1968, Subaerial diagenesis of carbonate sediments: efficiency of the solution-reprecipitation process:Science, v. 160, p. 77–79.

    Google Scholar 

  • HARMON, R.S., MITTERER, R.M., KRIAUSAKUL, N., LAND, L.S., SCHWARCZ, H.P., GARRETIE, P., LARSON, G.J., VACHER, H.L. and ROWE, M., 1983, Useries and amino-acid racemization geochronology of Bermuda: implication for eustatic sea-level fluctuation over the past 250,000 years:Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, and Palaeoecology, v. 44, p. 41–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • HOLAIL, H., 1993, Diagenetic trends of the Pleistocene calcareous ridges, Mersa Matruh area, Egypt:Chemical Geology, v. 106, p. 375–388.

    Google Scholar 

  • HOLAIL, H., AL-HAJARI, S. and AL-MAHMOUD, S. 1994, Elemental and isotopic composition of Middle Eocene dolomite, Qatar. 14th International Sedimentological Conference, Brazil, p. 121–124.

  • HUDSON, J.D., 1977, Stable isotopes of limestone lithification:Journal of the Geological Society of London, v. 133, p. 637–660.

    Google Scholar 

  • HUMPHERY, J.D., 1988, Late Pleistocene mixing-zone dolomitization, southeastern Barbados, West Indies:Sedimentology, v. 39, p. 327–348.

    Google Scholar 

  • IRWIN, H., CURTIS, C., and COLEMAN, M., 1977, Isotopic evidence for source of diagenetic carbonates formed during burial of organic-rich sediments:Nature, v. 269, p. 209–213.

    Google Scholar 

  • JACKSON, M.L., 1975, Soil, chemical analysis, advanced course. Department of Soil, University of Wisconsin, 3rd edition, 251 p.

  • KENDALL, C.G. and SKIPWITH, P.A., 1969, Holocene shallow-water carbonate and evaporite sediments of Khor Al Bazam, Abu Dhabi, southwest Persian Gulf:American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 53, p. 841–869.

    Google Scholar 

  • KINDLER, P. and HEARTY, P.J., 1996, Carbonate petrography as an indicator of climate and sea-level changes: new data from Bahamian Quatermary units:Sedimentology, v. 43, p. 381–399.

    Google Scholar 

  • KINSMAN, D.J., 1969, Modes of formation, sedimentary associations and diagnostic features of shallow-water and supratidal evaporites:American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 53, p. 830–840.

    Google Scholar 

  • KLAPPA, C.F., 1980, Rhizoliths in terrestrial carbonates: classification, recognition, genesis and significance:Sedimentology, v. 27, p. 613–629.

    Google Scholar 

  • LLOYD, R.M., 1966, Oxygen isotope enrichment of sea water by evaporation:Geochemica Cosmochimica Acta, v. 30, p. 801–814.

    Google Scholar 

  • LLOYD, R.M., 1964, Variations in the oxygen and carbon isotope ratios of Florida Bay molluscs and their environmental significance:Journal of Geology, v. 72, p. 84–111.

    Google Scholar 

  • LONGMAN, M.W., 1980, Carbonate diagenetic textures from near surface diagenetic environments:American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 64, p. 461–487.

    Google Scholar 

  • LOREAU, J-P. and PURSER, B.H., 1973, Distribution and ultrastructure of Holocene ooids in the Persian Gulf.In Purser, B.H., ed., The Persian Gulf. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, p. 279–328.

    Google Scholar 

  • MCKENZIE, J.A., 1981, Holocene dolomitization of calcium carbonate sediments from the coastal sabkhas of Abu Dhabi, U.A.E: a stable isotope study:Journal of Geology, v. 89, p. 185–198.

    Google Scholar 

  • MCKENZIE, J.A., HSU, K.J., and SCHNEIDER, J.F., 1980, Movement of subsurface waters under the sabkha, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E., and its relation to evaporite dolomite genesis.In Zenger, D.H., Dunham, J.B., and Ethington, R.L., eds., Concepts and Models of Dolomitization: Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists Special Publication v. 28, p. 11–30.

  • MCLAREN, S.J., 1991, Vadose Diagenesis of Late Quaternary Coastal Sediments. Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis, London University, 213 p.

  • MORSE, J.W. and Mackenzie, F.T., 1990, Geochemistry of Sedimentary Carbonates: Developments in Sedimentology 48. Elsevier, Amsterdam, 705 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’NEIL, J.R., CLAYTON, R.N., and MAYEDA, T.K., 1969, Oxygen isotope fractination of divalent metal carbonates:Journal of Chemical Phys., v. 30, p. 5547–5558.

    Google Scholar 

  • PAQUET, H., 1983, Stability, instability and significance of attapulgite in the calcretes of Mediterranean and tropical areas with marked dry season:Scientific Geology Bulletin, v. 72, p. 131–140.

    Google Scholar 

  • PICHA, F., 1978, Depositional and diagenetic history of Pleistocene and Holocene oolitic sediments and sabkhas in Kuwait, Persian Gulf:Sedimentology, v. 25, p. 427–449.

    Google Scholar 

  • PURSER, B.H. and SEIBOLD, E., 1973, The principal environmental factors influencing Holocene sedimentation and diagenesis in the Persian Gulf.In Purser, B.H., ed., The Persian Gulf. New York, Springer-Verlag, p. 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • SALLER, A.H. and MOORE, C.H., 1991, Geochemistry of meteoric calcite cements in some Pleistocene limestones:Sedimentology, v. 38, p. 601–621.

    Google Scholar 

  • SHACKLETON, N., 1987, Oxygen isotopes, ice volume and sea level:Quaternary Science Review, v. 6, p. 183–190.

    Google Scholar 

  • SHACKLETON, N., 1967, Oxygen isotope analyses and Pleistocene temperatures reassessed:Nature, v. 215, p. 15–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • SHINN, E.A., 1969, Submarine lithification of Holocene carbonate sediments in the Persian Gulf:Sedimentology, v. 12, p. 109–144.

    Google Scholar 

  • STRASSER, A. and DAVAUD, E., 1986, Formation of Holocene limestone sequences by progradation, cementation, and erosion: two examples from the Bahamas:Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, v. 56, p. 422–428.

    Google Scholar 

  • TAYLOR, J.C. and ILLING, L.V., 1969, Holocene intertidal calcium carbonate cementation, Qatar, Arabian Gulf:Sedimentology, v. 12, p. 69–107.

    Google Scholar 

  • VEIZER, J., 1983, Chemical diagenesis of carbonate: Theory and application of trace element technique.In Stable Isotopes in Sedimentary Geology, Arthur, M.A. et al., eds., Short Course Notes of the Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, Tulsa, v. 10, chapter 3, 100 p.

  • VOLLBRECHT, R. and MEISCHNER, D., 1993, Sea level and diagenesis: a case study on Pleistocene beaches, Whalebone Bay, Bermuda:Geologische Rundschau, v. 82, p. 248–262.

    Google Scholar 

  • WYRTKI, K., 1971, Oceanographic Atlas of the International Indian Ocean Expedition. National Science Foundation, Washington, D.C., 345 p.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

    Hanafy Holail

Authors
  1. Hanafy Holail
    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

Holail, H. The isotopic composition and diagenetic history of pleistocene carbonates, North Qatar. Carbonates Evaporites 14, 41–55 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03176147

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03176147

Keywords

Search

Navigation