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Assessing the robustness of carbonate‐associated sulfate during hydrothermal dolomitization of the Latemar platform, Italy
Author(s) -
Schurr Simon Lukas,
Strauss Harald,
Mueller Mathias,
Immenhauser Adrian
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
terra nova
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.353
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-3121
pISSN - 0954-4879
DOI - 10.1111/ter.12554
Subject(s) - dolostone , dolomitization , geology , hydrothermal circulation , carbonate , diagenesis , geochemistry , carbonate platform , dolomite , carbonate rock , mineralogy , paleontology , sedimentary rock , sedimentary depositional environment , chemistry , facies , organic chemistry , structural basin
Abstract Carbonate‐associated sulfate (CAS) is an important proxy for reconstructing marine sulfur cycling throughout Earth's history. In order to assess the impact of carbonate neomorphism on δ 34 S CAS data, a mineralogical‐spatial transect from early diagenetic limestone into low‐temperature hydrothermal dolostone was analyzed in the middle Triassic Latemar platform interior, northern Italy. This study addresses the yet unconstrained question whether hydrothermal dolostone preserves a marine δ 34 S CAS signature and, hence, might represent an archive for past seawater sulfate. In this study, δ 34 S CAS values were measured in low‐temperature hydrothermal dolostone and compared with data from their corresponding precursor limestone. Results shown here reveal that δ 34 S CAS values for dolostone and precursor limestone are indistinguishable. This points to a rock‐buffered middle Triassic marine δ 34 S signature not affected by hydrothermal alteration. Hence, hydrothermal dolostone represents, under favorable conditions, an archive for unraveling past marine sulfur cycling.