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Chemical Characteristics and Origin of Ordovician K-Bentonites along the Cincinnati Arch

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 July 2024

Warren D. Huff
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221
Asuman Günal Türkmenoglu*
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221
*
1Present address: Department of Geological Engineering, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey

Abstract

K-bentonites of the Middle Ordovician High Bridge Group along the Cincinnati arch are characterized by interstratified illite/smectite (I/S) clays with rectorite-type ordering. Approximately 20% of the layers are expandable. They are structurally similar to I/S formed at temperatures exceeding 100°C during burial diagenesis, however stratigraphic evidence and a color alteration index of < 1.5 for conodonts in associated carbonates reveals they have never been deeply buried or subjected to temperatures greater than 80°C.

Whole-rock samples of K-bentonites contain ∼8% K2O and ∼4% MgO, whereas the <0.1-µm size fraction contains 6–7% K2O and 5% MgO. By comparison with a hypothetical parent ash, these values represent a net gain of K and Mg and a net loss of Si, Fe, Ca, and Na during post-depositional alteration. K-fixation is accounted for by a layer charge imbalance arising primarily out of octahedral substitution of Mg+2 for Al+3, indicating that the interstratification evolved from a montmorillonite precursor. The chemical characteristics of I/S layers in K-bentonites developed early during the alteration of volcanic ash to montmorillonite. Relatively high contents of K and Mg probably reflect both seawater and parent material composition at the time of formation. The composition and ordered stacking in K-bentonites was determined by the composition of the original smectite rather than by the pressure-temperature conditions of burial diagenesis.

Резюме

Резюме

К-бентониты из Группы Средней Ордовикской Высокий Мосе вдоль Синсинатской дуги характеризируются наличием переслаивающихся иллито-смектитовых (И/С) глин, упорядоченных по типу ректорита. Приблизительно 20% слоев способно расширяться. По структуре они схожи с И/С, формированными при температурах, превышающих 100°С во время глубинного диагенеза. Однако стратиграфические данные и показатель изменения цвета <1,5 для конодонтов в ассоциированных карбонатах показывают, что они никогда глубоко не залегали или не подверголись воздействию температур выше 80°С.

Цельные образцы скальной породы К-бентонитов содержат ~8% K2O и 4% MgO в то время, как фракция размером <0,1 µm содержит 6–7% K2O и 5% MgO. По сравнению с гипотетическим пепелом эти величины говорят о приобретении K и Mg и о потере Si, Fe, Са, и Na в результате послеосадочных изменений. Фиксация К рассчитивалась по увеличению дисбаланса заряда слоя, в основном, путем октаэдрического замещения ионов Аl3+ ионами Mg2+, указывая на то, что промежуточные напластование развивалось от монтмориллонитового предшественника. Химические характеристики И/С слоëв в К-бентонитах формировались ранее во время преобразования вулканического пепела в монтмориллонит. Относительно высокое содержание К и Mg, возможно, является отражением как морской воды, так и состава исходного материала во время образования. Состав и упорядоченная укладка в К-бентонитах определялась скорее составом первоначального смектита, чем условиями температуры и давления при диагенезе. [Е.С.]

Resümee

Resümee

K-Bentonite der mittel-ordovizischen High Bridge Gruppe entlang des Cincinnati-Bogens sind durch Illit/Smektit-Wechsellagerungen (I/S) mit einer Ordnung vom Rektorit-Typ charakterisiert. Ungefähr 20% der Lagen sind expandierbar. Sie sind strukturmäßig den I/S-Wechsellagerungen ähnlich, die bei Temperaturen über 100°C während der Versenkungs-Diagenese gebildet wurden. Die Stratigraphie und ein Farb-Umwandlungs-Index von < 1,5 füt Konodonten in benachbarten Karbonaten zeigen jedoch, daß sie niemals tief versenkt oder einer Temperatur über 80°C ausgesetzt wurden.

Gesamtgesteinsproben der K-Bentonite enthalten ∼8% K2O und ∼4% MgO, während die Kornfraktion <0,1 µm, 6–7% K2O und 5% MgO enthält. Durch den Vergleich mit einer hypothetischen Ausgangsasche bedeuten diese Werte einen Nettogewinn yon K und Mg und einen Nettoverlust von Si, Fe, Ca, und Na während der Umwandlung nach der Ablagerung. Die K-Fixierung erklärt sich aus einem Ladungsungleichgewicht der Lagen, das vor allem durch die oktaedrische Substitution von Mg für Al hervorgerufen wird. Dies deutet darauf hin, daß die Wechsellagerung aus einem Montmorillonit-Vorläufer entstanden ist. Die chemischen Charakteristika der I/S-Lagen in den K-Bentoniten entwickelten sich zu Beginn der Umwandlung der vulkanischen Asche zu Montmorillonit. Relativ hohe Gehalte an K und Mg spiegeln wahrscheinlich sowohl die Zusammensetzung des Meerwassers als auch die der Ausgangssubstanz zur Zeit der Bildung wieder. Die Zusammensetzung und die regelmäßige Anordnung in den K-Bentoniten wurde eher durch die Zusammensetzung des ursprünglichen Smektit bestimmt als durch die Druck-Temperatur-Bedingungen einer Versenkungs-Diagenese. [U.W.]

Résumé

Résumé

Des bentonites-K du groupe Ordovicien Moyen High Bridge le long de l'arche de Cincinnati sont caractérisées par des argiles interstratifiées illite/smectite (I/S) avec un rangement du type rectorite. Approximativement 20% des couches sont expansibles. Structuralement, elles sont semblables aux I/S formées à des températures excédant 100°C pendant la diagénèse d'ensevelissement, l’évidence stratigraphique, cependant, et un indexe d'altération de couleur < 1,5 pour les conodontes dans des carbonates associés révèlent qu'elles n'ont jamais été profondément enterrées ou soumises à des températures plus é1evées que 80°C.

Des échantillons de roche entière de bentonites-K contiennent ∼8% K2O et ∼4% MgO, alors que la fraction de taille <0, l-µm contient 6–7% K2O et 5% MgO. En comparaison avec une cendre hypothétique apparentée, ces valeurs représentent un gain net de K et Mg et une perte nette de Si, Fe, Ca, et Na pendant l'altération produite après déposition. La fixation de K est expliquée par un déséquilibre de charge de couche produit par la substitution octaèdre de Mg +2 à Al +3, indiquant que l'interstratification avait évolué d'un précurseur montmorillonite. Les caractéristiques chimiques des couches I/S dans les bentonites-K se sont développées tôt pendant l'altération de la cendre volcanique en montmorillonite. Des contenus relativement é1evés en K et Mg réflétent probablement à la fois l'eau de mer et la composition de la matière parente au moment de la formation. La composition et l'ordre d'empilement dans les bentonites-K étaient déterminées par la composition de la smectite d'origine plutôt que par les conditions de pression et de température pendant la diagénèse d'enterrement. [D.J.]

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © 1981, The Clay Minerals Society

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