Fathi Allouche, Amina Ammous, Ali Tlili, Nejib Kallel
{"title":"Geological setting, geochemical, textural, and genesis of palygorskite in Eocene carbonate deposits from Central Tunisia","authors":"Fathi Allouche, Amina Ammous, Ali Tlili, Nejib Kallel","doi":"10.1007/s13146-024-00943-8","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p>The Eocene deposits belonging to the Khanguet Rheouis area, North–South Axis, Central Tunisia, consist of three lithological units deposited in a shallow water environment that is congruent to the Eocene regression. The middle unit represents a massive white dolomitic clay with gypsum intercalations that increase towards the top, containing significant amounts of palygorskite. SEM–EDX, XRD, and XRF analytical techniques were deployed to better understand the mineralogical and geochemical properties of the collected samples. Microtextural characteristics were analyzed using SEM and polarizing microscopy. Mineral spectral characteristics were determined by the Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The XRD analysis results show the predominance of dolomite with variable amounts of palygorskite and low quartz contents. Samples contained low concentrations of Nb, Th, Zr, Y, Rb, Zn, Cr, and V, which showed a positive correlation with the major oxides SiO<sub>2</sub>, Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, K<sub>2</sub>O, and TiO<sub>2</sub>, and a negative correlation with MgO and CaO, indicating that trace elements were exclusively retained in palygorskite rather than dolomite. SEM observations of palygorskite showed dense mats of short, interwoven fibers that bridged and filled the pore spaces between the dissolved dolomite. These textural characteristics suggest that the formation of palygorskite is post-dates dolomitization. Petrographic observations illustrate the existence of micro-tectonic structures such as stylolites and microcracks, playing an important role in the distribution of palygorskite. The obtained results are consistent with the hypothesis of a neoformed origin of palygorskite by direct chemical precipitation from solution, after partial dissolution of the dolomite.</p>","PeriodicalId":9612,"journal":{"name":"Carbonates and Evaporites","volume":"284 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1000,"publicationDate":"2024-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Carbonates and Evaporites","FirstCategoryId":"89","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-024-00943-8","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"GEOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The Eocene deposits belonging to the Khanguet Rheouis area, North–South Axis, Central Tunisia, consist of three lithological units deposited in a shallow water environment that is congruent to the Eocene regression. The middle unit represents a massive white dolomitic clay with gypsum intercalations that increase towards the top, containing significant amounts of palygorskite. SEM–EDX, XRD, and XRF analytical techniques were deployed to better understand the mineralogical and geochemical properties of the collected samples. Microtextural characteristics were analyzed using SEM and polarizing microscopy. Mineral spectral characteristics were determined by the Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The XRD analysis results show the predominance of dolomite with variable amounts of palygorskite and low quartz contents. Samples contained low concentrations of Nb, Th, Zr, Y, Rb, Zn, Cr, and V, which showed a positive correlation with the major oxides SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, K2O, and TiO2, and a negative correlation with MgO and CaO, indicating that trace elements were exclusively retained in palygorskite rather than dolomite. SEM observations of palygorskite showed dense mats of short, interwoven fibers that bridged and filled the pore spaces between the dissolved dolomite. These textural characteristics suggest that the formation of palygorskite is post-dates dolomitization. Petrographic observations illustrate the existence of micro-tectonic structures such as stylolites and microcracks, playing an important role in the distribution of palygorskite. The obtained results are consistent with the hypothesis of a neoformed origin of palygorskite by direct chemical precipitation from solution, after partial dissolution of the dolomite.
期刊介绍:
Established in 1979, the international journal Carbonates and Evaporites provides a forum for the exchange of concepts, research and applications on all aspects of carbonate and evaporite geology. This includes the origin and stratigraphy of carbonate and evaporite rocks and issues unique to these rock types: weathering phenomena, notably karst; engineering and environmental issues; mining and minerals extraction; and caves and permeability.
The journal publishes current information in the form of original peer-reviewed articles, invited papers, and reports from meetings, editorials, and book and software reviews. The target audience includes professional geologists, hydrogeologists, engineers, geochemists, and other researchers, libraries, and educational centers.