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Discussion of the Occurrence and Origin of Sedimentary Palygorskite-Sepiolite Deposits

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 July 2024

Wayne C. Isphording
Wayne C. Isphording*
Affiliation:
Department of Geology-Geography, University of South Alabama, U.S.A.
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Abstract

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Marine and non-marine palygorskite-sepiolite deposits are found throughout the world and occur interbedded with chert, dolomite, limestone, phosphates and other non-detrital sedimentary rocks. The origin of these high-magnesium clays has long been attributed to either alteration of volcanic ash or the structural transformation of smectite clays. More recently, others have argued origin by direct crystallization (neo-formation). Recent laboratory studies support this latter concept, particularly in environments where the concentration of alumina is low, the silica concentration high, and the pH alkaline. Such an origin is proposed for the Georgia-Florida deposits in southeastern United States, since major obstacles exist against formation by alteration of volcanic ash or by transformation of smectites. Lateritic weathering during the Miocene would have favored direct precipitation of these clays in the shallow, marginal seas. The basinward increase in the MgO: Al2O3 ratio is further support.

Deep weathering of crystalline rocks in northern British Honduras and Guatemala would have produced similar high silica, low alumina conditions on the adjacent submerged Yucatan Platform during the late Tertiary. The seaward increase in the MgO: A12O3 ratio, the lack of associated detrital constituents, and the absence of associated smectites strongly indicate a similar origin by direct crystallization of these Yucatan palygorskite-sepiolite clays.

Some occurrences of palygorskite and sepiolite may well be related to the alteration of smectite clays or volcanic ash. However, many of the large sedimentary deposits are more probably the result of direct crystallization adjacent to areas undergoing tropical or subtropical weathering.

Résumé

Résumé

Les dépôts marins et non marins de palygorskite-sépiolite existent partout dans le monde et se présentent en mélange avec des chailles, de la dolomite, du calcaire, des phosphates et d’autres roches sédimendaires non détritiques. L’origine de ces argiles à haute teneur en magnésium a longtemps été attribuée soit à l’altération de cendres volcaniques, soit à la transformation structurale de smectites. Plus récemment d’autres auteurs ont défendu l’hypothèse d’une origine par cristallisation directe (néoformation). Des travaux de laboratoire récents confirment ce dernier concept, notamment dans le cas des environnements à concentration en alumine basse, à concentration en silice élevée et à pH alcalin. Une telle origine est proposée pour les dépôts de Georgie et Floride dans le sud-est des Etats-Unis, puisque des obstacles majeurs s’y opposent à l’altération d’une cendre volcanique ou à la transformation de smectites. Une altération latéritique pendant le miocène aurait favorisé la précipitation de ces argiles dans des mers marginales peu profondes. L’augmentation du rapport MgO: A12O3 en allant vers la cuvette est un argument supplémentaire.

L’altération profonde de roches cristallines dans le nord du Honduras britannique et au Gautemala aurait produit des conditions similaires—richesse en silice et pauvtreé en alumine—sur la plateforme voisine submergée du Yucatan pendant la fin du tertiaire. L’augmentation du rapport MgO: A12O3 en allant vers la mer, l’absence de constituants détritiques et de smectites associés indiquent avec force une origine comparable par cristallisation directe de ces palygorskites-sépiolites du Yucatan.

Certains gisements de palygorskite et de sépiolite sont sans doute reliés à l’altération de smectites ou de cendres volcaniques. Cependant, la plupart des grands dépôts sédimentaires est beaucoup plus probablement le résultat d’une cristallisation directe adjacente à des zones ayant subi une altération tropicale ou subtropicale.

Kurzreferat

Kurzreferat

Marine und nichtmarine Palygorskit-Sepiolit-Lagerstätten werden in der ganzen Welt gefunden und treten eingebettet in Quarzit, Dolomit, Kalkstein, Phosphate und andere nichtdetritische Sedimentgesteine auf. Die Entstehung dieser hochmagnesiumhaltigen Tone wurde lange entweder der Umbildung vulkanischer Aschen oder der Strukturumwandlung von Smectiten zugeschrieben. Neuerdings wurde von anderen Autoren eine Entstehung durch direkte Kristallisation (Neoformation) erörtert. Neuere Laboruntersuchungen stützen das letztgenannte Konzept besonders für Umweltbedingungen, in denen die Aluminiumkonzentration gering, die Kieselsäurekonzentration hoch ist und der pH-Wert im alkalischen Bereich liegt. Eine solche Entstehung wird für die Georgia-Florida-Lagerstätten in den südöstlichen Vereinigten Staaten vorgeschlagen, da hier einer Bildung durch Umsetzung vulkanischer Aschen oder durch Umwandlung von Smectiten größere Hindernisse entgegenstehen. Lateritische Verwitterung während des Miozäns würde in den flachen Randseen eine direkte Fällung dieser Tonminerale begünstigt haben. Der beckenwärts erfolgende Anstieg im MgO: Al2O3-Verhältnis ist eine weitere Stütze.

Tiefgründige Verwitterung kristalliner Gesteine im nördlichen Britisch-Honduras und Guatemala würden während des späten Tertiärs ähnliche kieselsäurereiche, aluminiumarme Bedingungen in der benachbarten überschwemmten Yucatan-Plattform hervorgerufen haben. Der seewärts erfolgende Anstieg im Mg0:Al203-Verhältnis, das Fehlen von Beimengungen detritischer Bestandteile und die Abwesenheit von Smectit deuten stark darauf hin, daß diese Yukatan-Palygorskit-Sepiolit Tone in ähnlicher Weise durch direkte Kristallisation entstanden sind.

Einige Vorkommen von Palygorskit und Sepiolit mögen wohl mit der Umwandlung von smectitischen und vulkanischen Aschen in Beziehung stehen, jedoch sind viele der großen sedimentären Lagerstätten mit großer Wahrscheinlichkeit das Ergebnis direkter Kristallisation in der Nachbarschaft von Gebieten, in denen tropische und subtropische Verwitterung ablief.

Резюме

Резюме

Морские и неморские отложения палыгорскита-сепиолита находят по всему свету и они встречаются залегающими между пластами кремнистого сланца, доломита, известняка, фосфора и других необломочных осадочных горных пород. Происхождение этих глин с высоким содержанием магния давно уже предписывалось или изменениям вулканического пепла или структурной трансформации смектитных глин. Недавно выдвинули мнение, что происхождение это является непосредственной кристаллизацией (новонаслоением). Современные лабораторные исследования подтверждают последнюю консепцию, особенно, если в окружающих условиях концентрация глинозема низка, а концентрация кварца высока и при этом рН щелочный. Считают, что отложения в Джорджии-Флорида в Южных Соединенных Штатах такого происхождения, так как существуют важные возражения против изменения вулканического пепла или трансформации смектитов. Латеритовое выветривание в период миоцена повело бы к непосредственному осаждению этих глин в мелководных побережных морях. Увеличение отношения МgО: Al2O3 по направлению к бассейну является добавочным подтверждением.

Глубокое выветривание кристаллических горных пород в Британских Гондурас и Гватемала создали бы такие условия высокого содержания кварца и низкого содержания глинозема на смежной погруженной платформе Юкатана во воремя позднего третичного периода. Повышение отношения МgO: Al2O3 по направлению к морю, отсутствие ассоциированных наносных компонентов и отсутствие ассоциированных смектитов явно указывают на непосредственную кристаллизацию этих юкотанских палыгорских-сепиолитных глин.

Иногда происхождение палыгорскита и сепиолита может быть связано с изменениями смектитных глин или вулканического пепла. Однако многие крупные осадочные отложения являются, наверно, результатом непосредственной кристаллизации рядом с областями подвергающихся тропическому или субтропическому выветриванию.

Type
Research Article
Information
Clays and Clay Minerals , Volume 21 , Issue 5 , October 1973 , pp. 391 - 401
Copyright
Copyright © 1973 The Clay Minerals Society

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