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LectureOutline
Chemistry,Dolomitization reaction,andFabrics Directprecipitation Dolomitesediments Cements Replacement ModelsofDolomitization Evaporative SeepageReflux Mixingzone Burial Seawater

DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2

DolomiteCrystalStructure
Orderedcrystalformrequiresalotoftime tocrystallizeandhasnotbeensynthesized inlaboratoryexperiments.

OriginsofDolomite
1. DirectPrecipitation 2. Replacement

DirectPrecipitation
Ca2++Mg2++2(CO3)2 =CaMg(CO3)2 IftheMg/Caratio>.67thereactionshouldgoto therightanddolomiteisprecipitated Mg/Caseawater=5.2,Thusmarineseawateris supersaturatedwithrespecttodolomite(several ordersofmagnitudemore),butdolomitedoes notprecipitatereadilyfromseawater.Why?

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Dolomitedoesntprecipitatefromseawater becauseofkinematicfactorssuchas:
1.Fastprecipitationrates,Dolomitecan'tgetorderedthat fast. 2.HydrationofMg2+ions(associatedwithwatermolecule) Caionsmorereadilyabsorbedintothecrystalstructureand calciteoraragoniteisformed.Mghydrationismoreeasily calciteoraragoniteisformed Mghydrationismoreeasily overcomebyhighertemps that'swhyburialdolomitization ispopularwaytodolomitize. 3.LowactivityofCO32 SeawatercontainsmostlyHCO3 and H2CO3.DolomiteformsfromtheCO3 ionandnottheHCO3 anion,thereforehighalkalinityandhighpHsolutionsfavor dolomite.

Atanyonetimethesolutionwillcontain:H2CO3,HCO3,CO3,H, andOH. WhichofthesespeciesisthedominantonedependsonpH

Dolomitemicrite sediment
InmodernSabhkas Mg/Ca=6areprecipitating dolomiteinverysmallamounts. Sulfatereductionfoundindecomposingalgalmats leadstoalkalinefluids,conducivetolocaldolomite precipitation. Producesprotodolomite orprimarydolomite crystal structurepoorlyordered.

DolomiteCements
Describeusingsametermsutilizedforcalcitecements Clear,"limpid"orrhombic,drusy sparliningcavities. TypicalofMixingZonedolomitecements

BaroqueDolomite BaroqueDolomiteorSaddleDolomiteCements
Mayalsoformasareplacementdolomite Haswarpedcrystallatticecausingthecrystalfacesandcleavage planestobecurved.Irregularcrystalboundaries. Resultsinundulose extinction. Typicallyhavecloudyappearanceinthinsectionandapearly lusterinhandspecimenduetofluidinclusions. CommonlyhashighFecontent. Formsindeep,burialconnateenvironment. Commonlyassociatedwithhydrocarbons,sothoughttoformat lowtemperatures(60150C)inconnectionwithSO4 releasedby organicsinthehydrocarbons

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DolomiteReplacementofCalciteorAragonite
2CaCO3 +Mg2+=CaMg(CO3)2 +Ca orallCaused: CaCO3 +Mg2++CO32 =CaMg(CO3)2

DolomiteCrystalMorphology
1.Pseudomorph aftercrystalreplaced 2.Planare:euhedral 3.Planars:subhedral 4.Nonplanar

Importantfactorscontrollingreplacementfabric:
1.Grainoriginalmineralogy pseudomorphs commoninhigh Mgcalcite;lowMgcalcitetendstoresistdolomitization for examplebrachiopodsoftennotreplaced. 2.Grainoriginalcrystalsizepseudomorphs commoninlarge originalcrystals(echinodermovergrowths)andveryfine grainedmaterial(limemuds)withmanynucleationsites. Retainsoriginalsedimentarystructures. 3.Timingofdolomitizationamountofcementationthathas takenplaceordissolution,basicallywhatotherdiagenetic processeshaveoccurred 4.Natureofdolomitizing fluids saturationstateand temperature

NatureofDolomitizing Fluids
Saturationstate:
supersaturated pervasivedolomitization thatreplaceseverything saturated selectivereplacementofmostsusceptable grains. Temperature: Lowtemperature planar,euhedral crystals Hightemperature(50100C) irregularanhedral crystalsand Baroquereplacementdolomite

Crystalsoftenhavecloudycentersfromimpuritiesinthe crystalsthey'rereplacingandfluidinclusions.

Termsfordescribingreplacement dolomitetextures:
1.Dolomitecrystalsize:unimodal orpolymodal 2.Dolomitecrystalshape:planar,nonplanar,pseudomorphic 3.Degreeofpreservationoforiginalfabric:mimic(fabric preserving)ornonmimic(fabricdestroying) i ) i i (f b i d i ) 4.Whats beenreplacedandhowmuch:grains,matrix,cement; partialorcomplete. 2. 1.

ModelsofDolomitization
Allmodelsmustexplain: SourceofMg2+
Generallyseawaterisassumed,meteoricwatershaveverylow Mgconcentrations(LowMgcalcite) y y g Transformationofsmectite claystoillitic claysduringburial releasesMg2+ Formationwaterbrines highlyvariablemineralogy

Methodofpumpingdolomitizing fluidsthroughporespace

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EvaporativeModel 5GeneralModels
1.Evaporative 2.SeepageReflux 3.Mixingzone 3 Mixing zone 4.Burial 5.Seawater
Supratidal Sabhka ppt.fromhighMg/Cawaters. Mostmodernformingdolomitesofthistype Mgconcentratedthroughevaporation Waterrechargedthrough: 1.periodicflooding,sinksintosediment. 2.tidalpumping 3.intenseevaporationofwaterinthecapillaryzone f causesupwardflowofgroundwater"evaporativepumping". Commonlygetreplacementofaragoniteandassociatedgypsumppt. whichraisestheMg/Caratio. Intenseevaporationofsmallpools,lakes,lagoonsformshighMg/Cabrines thatareverydenseandsinkordescendintothesedimentsandsubsurface. ProposedforCapitanReefComplex lagoonal seds dolomitized,reefnot dolomitized. Hasbeenappliedtomanyimportantcarbonatereservoirs(Ex:Permian Zechstein ,NorthernEngland;CretaceousEdwardsFm,Texas)

MixingZoneModel
Mixingofmarinemeteoricwaters SeawatersuppliestheMgandmixingdilutesthewaterto overcomekineticfactors. Groundwateristhepumpingsystem Producescoarse,rhombicclearsparwithplanar boundariesandcommonlyreplacesaragonite.

BurialModel
ExpulsionofMg2+fromshales duringburial dewateringandfromsubsurfacebrineswith elevatedtemps. Problemmovingfluidsthrough,mostfluids moveupnotlaterallyduringcompaction. Baroquedolomitecommonlyascribedtoburial

SeawaterModel
Mgfromseawater Pumpedthroughseds byoceancurrent pumpingsystem convectioncelldueto differentialtemperaturesofplatforms(warm) versusopenoceanwaters(cold)