Authigenic Minerals in Phanerozoic Volcanosedimentary Deposits of the Northern Part of the Asian Continent–Pacific Ocean Transition Zone

Abstract

Authigenic minerals have been studied in Phanerozoic volcanosedimentary deposits in the northern part of the Asian continent–Pacific Ocean transition zone. The following were found: chlorite, mica, corrensite, rectorite, defective chlorite, kaolinite, smectite, calcite, barite, gypsum, epsomite, zeolites, cristobalite, quartz, and goethite. The minerals corrensite and rectorite have significant indicative properties, as do the assemblages corrensite–laumontite, corrensite–epsomite–authigenic calcite and mica–kaolinite–quartz. Such a range of minerals indicates that the thickness of sediments in the studied basins could reach 3–5 km, and their formation temperature could be more than 150°C. The mica–kaolinite assemblage may indicate epicontinental sedimentation conditions associated with coal formation on nearby land, the corrensite–chlorite assemblage may indicate conditions favorable for the evaporation of seawater, and the presence of laumontite in it may indicate periodic calcium supply to the sedimentary basin. The periods of mineral formation, possibly associated with global climatic events, have been identified: 113–120, 110–113, 105–110, 93–95, 72–83, 61–72, 56–61, 33–56 Ma, which can serve as benchmarks to determine sedimentation conditions and the framework for more reliable stratigraphic constructions.