Silicificaciones selectivas en Thalassinoides y otras estructuras biogénicas asociadas a calizas de plataforma marina y hardground (Albiense inferior, Sonabia, Cantabria)

Abstract

In this work different types of chert from the Orinon Limestone Formation (upper Aptian-lower Albian) are studied. This formation outcrops in the eastern coast of Cantabria (Liendo-Castro Urdiales area) and includes outstanding and abundant cherty nodules, lenticular layers and crusts. The host rock is mainly a biocalcarenite (wackestone/packstone) of pellets, echinoids fragments, oysters, foraminifers and calcareous or calcified siliceous sponge spicules. The Orinon Limestone Formation was deposited in a marine open-shelf environment and preserves a hardground of regional extent with particular chert crusts. The silica source is associated to the dissolution of siliceous sponge spicules or to their calcification. Most of the chert is constituted by mosaics of micro-cryptocrystalline quartz and calcedonite, and it is generated by the selective silicification of biogenic structures, mainly dwelling trace fossils ( Thalassinoides isp.) because of the higher amount of organic matter and the higher porosity and permeability of the burrow infill. In the hardground , selective silicification affects body fossils such as belemnites, oysters and echinoids, and trace fossils (feeding burrows and borings) where in addition cherts is accumulated as an indeterminate crust. The silicification of the biogenic structures firstly occurred in form of opaline phases during the early diagenesis while the oxidation of the organic matter was active. Thus, Thalassinoides trace fossils affected by silicification preserve filaments and cocoids that might have had a microbial origin. Neoformation of dolomite and calcite occur only within the Thalassinoides trace fossils which indicates that diagenetic processes taking place within these burrows differed from those affecting the host rock and other biogenic structures. Dwelling trace fossils would have supposed a close micro-environment where the oxidation conditions changed from high to low rate.