Geochemistry of carbonate cements in the Sag River and Shublik Formations (Triassic/Jurassic), North Slope, Alaska: implications for the geochemical evolution of formation waters

• Published in: Sedimentology
• Main Authors: Mozley, Peter S., Hoernle, Kaj
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Blackwell 1990
• Subjects: north slope; Alaska
• Online Access: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/22301/; https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/22301/1/Mozley.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3091.1990.tb01827.x

Carbonate cements (calcite, siderite, dolomite, and ankerite) formed throughout the diagenetic history of the Sag River and Shublik Formations. The trace element and isotopic geochemistry of these cements varies as a function of the timing of precipitation. Earliest calcites, formed prior to significant compaction of the sediment, are relatively enriched in Mg (up to 4·4 mol%), and have 87Sr/86Sr values (mean = 0·707898) compatible with the original marine pore waters. Later calcites are relatively Fe-rich (up to 5·0 mol%) and are characterized by increasing 87Sr/86Sr values (up to 0·712823) and Sr content with decreasing age. The Fe content of zoned siderite and dolomite/ankerite rhombs increases towards the outside of the rhombs (i.e. increasing Fe content with decreasing age). These geochemical variations appear principally to result from changes in pore-water chemistry during diagenesis. The increase in 87Sr/86 Sr and Sr content of the cements is most likely due to interaction between pore waters and 87 Sr-rich clay and possibly feldspar in Ellesmerian mudrocks (whole rock 87Sr/86 Sr signatures for the mudrocks are > 0·716). Pore-water Fe2+ concentration was probably controlled by diagenetic alterations involving Fe-bearing minerals (e.g. pyrite precipitation). A reconnaissance examination of carbonate cements in the overlying Kingak Shale indicates that similar alterations occurred in the Kingak. The low δ18 O value of some calcite cements (-11·96% PDB) suggests that an influx of meteoric water may have occurred in the mid-Neocomian, though the low value could also result from an abnormally high geothermal gradient associated with mid-Neocomian rifting.