Are spherulitic lacustrine carbonates an expression of large-scale mineral carbonation? A case study from the East Kirkton Limestone, Scotland

Rogerson, Mike; Mercedes Martín, Ramón; Brasier, Alexander T.; McGill, Rona A. R.; Prior, Timothy J.; Vonhof, Hubert; Fellows, Simon M.; Reijmer, John J. G.; McClymont, Erin; Billing, Ian; Matthews, Anna; Pedley, H. Martyn

Abstract

Lacustrine carbonate deposits with spherulitic facies are poorly understood, but are key to understanding the economically important “Pre-Salt” Mesozoic strata of the South Atlantic. A major barrier to research into these unique and spectacular facies is the lack of good lacustrine spherulite-dominated deposits which are known in outcrop. Stratigraphy and petrography suggest one of the best analogue systems is found in the Carboniferous of Scotland: the East Kirkton Limestone. Here we propose a hydrogeochemical model that explains why the CaCO₃, SiO₂, Mg-Si-Al mineral suite associated with spherular radial calcite facies forms in alkaline lakes above basaltic bedrock. Demonstrating links between igneous bedrock chemistry, lake and spring water chemistry and mineral precipitation, this model has implications for studies of lacustrine sediments in rift basins of all ages. Using empirical and theoretical approaches, we analyze the relationship between metal mobilization from sub-surface volcaniclastic rocks and the potential for precipitation of carbonate minerals, various Mg-bearing minerals and chalcedony in a lacustrine spherulitic carbonate setting. This suite of minerals is most likely formed by in-gassing of CO₂ to a carbon-limited alkaline spring water, consistent with the reaction of alkali igneous rocks in the subsurface with meteoric groundwater. We suggest that an analogous system to that at East Kirkton caused development of the ‘Pre-Salt’ spherulitic carbonate deposits.

Citation

Rogerson, M., Mercedes Martín, R., Brasier, A. T., McGill, R. A. R., Prior, T. J., Vonhof, H., …Pedley, H. M. (2017). Are spherulitic lacustrine carbonates an expression of large-scale mineral carbonation? A case study from the East Kirkton Limestone, Scotland. Gondwana Research, 48, 101-109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2017.04.007

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 7, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Apr 26, 2017
• Publication Date: 2017-08
• Deposit Date: Apr 28, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 10, 2018
• Journal: Gondwana research
• Print ISSN: 1342-937X
• Electronic ISSN: 1878-0571
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 48
• Pages: 101-109
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2017.04.007
• Keywords: Palaeozoic; Magnesium silicate; Calcite; Hydrolysis; Pre-Salt; Palaeogeography; Lake; PHREEQC; Europe; Sediment mineralogy
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/450910
• Publisher URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1342937X17301235
• Additional Information: This is the accepted manuscript of an article published in Gondwana research, 2017. The version of record is available at the DOI link in this record.