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Clinoptilolite, paragenesis and stratigraphy
Author(s) -
NATHAN YAACOV,
FLEXER AKIVA
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
sedimentology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.494
H-Index - 108
eISSN - 1365-3091
pISSN - 0037-0746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3091.1977.tb01919.x
Subject(s) - authigenic , paragenesis , geology , clinoptilolite , palygorskite , geochemistry , clay minerals , montmorillonite , silicate , silicate minerals , marl , mineralogy , diagenesis , paleontology , zeolite , metamorphic rock , chemistry , biochemistry , organic chemistry , structural basin , catalysis
Clinoptilolite, a zeolite of the heulandite group, occurs commonly in sediments as an authigenic mineral. In the Middle Eocene of southern Israel, it constitutes from a few per cent up to 80 per cent of the insoluble residue of the chalks and limestones. It is associated with opal C‐T, montmorillonite and palygorskite. These chalks and limestones overlie the Danian‐Palaeocene Taqiya marls which also contain a well‐established clay mineral sequence consisting of opal C‐T, montmorillonite, palygorskite, sepiolite, and clinoptilolite. This paragenesis of minerals is shown to be typical of the Upper Cretaceous to Eocene times. It is world‐wide, occurs in deep‐sea sediments as well as in shallow water sediments, and results from the abundance of silica which probably reflects a warmer climate during this time period. The concentration of magnesium in the sea‐water and its ratio to the other cations seem to determine which authigenic silicate will be formed.