Iron Content of Modern Deposits in the Sonoran Desert: A Contribution to the Origin of Red Beds

Abstract

Research Article| March 01, 1969 Iron Content of Modern Deposits in the Sonoran Desert: A Contribution to the Origin of Red Beds T. R WALKER; T. R WALKER Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar R. M HONEA R. M HONEA Department of Geology, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information T. R WALKER Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado R. M HONEA Department of Geology, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 13 Aug 1968 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Copyright © 1969, The Geological Society of America, Inc. Copyright is not claimed on any material prepared by U.S. government employees within the scope of their employment. GSA Bulletin (1969) 80 (3): 535–544. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1969)80[535:ICOMDI]2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 13 Aug 1968 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation T. R WALKER, R. M HONEA; Iron Content of Modern Deposits in the Sonoran Desert: A Contribution to the Origin of Red Beds. GSA Bulletin 1969;; 80 (3): 535–544. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1969)80[535:ICOMDI]2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Surface weathering on the Sonoran desert produces iron-bearing clay minerals which are concentrated in fine-grained sediments eroded from the desert. The clay fraction of the desert soils and desert-derived alluvium contains an average of about 4.5 percent total iron. An average of less than 1.0 percent iron occurs in oxide coatings on grains; the remainder is held in the clay-mineral lattices. It is inferred that under favorable interstitial chemical conditions the iron oxide coatings age to hematite and the clay undergoes postdepositional alteration, yielding additional iron which ultimately forms additional hematite pigment. Biotite, another important source of iron, commonly is associated with the clay and undergoes similar intrastratal alteration. It is concluded that the characteristic concentration of iron and hematite pigment in mudstones and shales in many ancient red beds, particularly in red beds that are associated with evaporites or aeolian sandstones, or both, reflects initial concentration of iron-bearing clay minerals and biotite in fine-grained sediments derived from desert source areas. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.