Origin of the clay mineral assemblages in the Germanic facies of the English Trias : application of the spore colour index method

Jeans, C.V.; Fisher, M.J.; Merriman, R.J.. 2005 Origin of the clay mineral assemblages in the Germanic facies of the English Trias : application of the spore colour index method. Clay Minerals, 40 (1). 115-129. https://doi.org/10.1180/0009855054010160

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Abstract/Summary

The origin of the regional and stratigraphical variation in the Triassic authigenic clay assemblages of England is discussed in relation to new estimates of the palaeotemperatures experienced by their host sediments and a preliminary study by transmission electron microscopy of their microtextural features. Spore colour index measurements, based on the spore type Deltoidospora s.l. occurring in the sediments (Penarth Group) at the very top of the Triassic sequence, give estimated palaeotemperatures ranging from 60–74°C (south Devon) to 89–97°C (northeast Yorkshire). Calculated palaeotemperatures, based on a gradient of 25°C/km, for the main one of authigenic clay minerals range from 63–77°C to 89–97°C for the top to 71–85°C to 94–104°C for the base. Irregular mixed-layer smectite-chlorite, corrensite and Mg-rich chlorite are associated with calculated palaeotemperatures of 66–86°C, 66–104°C and 75–104°C respectively. The suggestion that elsewhere in the UK corrensite and Mg-rich chlorite were formed at temperatures in excess of 100°C finds no support. Geothermal gradients would have to have been of the order of at least 100–300°C/km to obtain these temperatures within the Triassic sediments; such values are associated typically with high-level magmatic intrusions or geothermal systems of which there is no geological evidence. The balance of evidence suggests that the Triassic authigenic clay assemblages formed by neoformation during the early stages of sediment diagenesis under the influence of variation in the alkalinity of the depositional environments.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1180/0009855054010160
Programmes:	BGS Programmes > Economic Minerals
ISSN:	0009-8558
Date made live:	06 Jul 2012 15:06 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/18663

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1180/0009855054010160

Programmes:

BGS Programmes > Economic Minerals

ISSN:

0009-8558

Date made live:

06 Jul 2012 15:06 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/18663