Cause and Control of Dolomite Distribution by Rock Selectivity

Abstract

Research Article| January 01, 1967 Cause and Control of Dolomite Distribution by Rock Selectivity R. C MURRAY; R. C MURRAY University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar F. J LUCIA F. J LUCIA Shell Development Company, Houston, Texas Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information R. C MURRAY University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico F. J LUCIA Shell Development Company, Houston, Texas Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 31 Jan 1966 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Copyright © 1967, 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 (1967) 78 (1): 21–36. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1967)78[21:CACODD]2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 31 Jan 1966 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation R. C MURRAY, F. J LUCIA; Cause and Control of Dolomite Distribution by Rock Selectivity. GSA Bulletin 1967;; 78 (1): 21–36. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1967)78[21:CACODD]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 Many sections of carbonate rocks exhibit abrupt changes from limestone to dolomite both vertically and laterally. The distribution pattern may be controlled by either the availability of a dolomitizing water or the physical-chemical character of the rock. The Turner Valley Formation exposed at Moose Mountain, Alberta, Canada, has been dolomitized where the original sediment was deposited as a carbonate mud with varying amounts of floating sand-sized and larger particles. Partially dolomitized limestones and possibly some completely dolomitized rocks were deposited as carbonate sands with interparticle lime mud. Those limestones which received less than 15 per cent dolomite were deposited as mud-free carbonate sands. The selectivity is believed to be due to permeability differences after predolomitization diagenesis or the greater reactivity to dolomitizing water of fine-grained sediment.Dolomite distribution is controlled by the distribution of lime mud. To understand the sedimentologic factors relating to the distribution of the lime mud, we have divided the carbonate rocks into two general categories depending on whether or not the sand-sized and larger particles show evidence of current transport. The mud-free carbonate sands in this study are considered to have been deposited from tidal currents. The sand-sized and larger particles of the mud-bearing dolomitic limestones and dolomites are interpreted as having been deposited essentially at their place of origin—noncurrent deposited. The ratio of sand-sized and larger particles to lime mud within the noncurrent-deposited sediments was controlled by the competing roles of particle production and lime-mud deposition.The current-deposited crinoidal sands and the noncurrent-deposited muddy sediments are visualized as being deposited contemporaneously. The current-deposited sands were derived from the reworking of noncurrent-deposited sediments by northeast-southwest-trending tidal currents. The crinoids and blastoids grew in greatest abundance near the edge of the areas of current deposition. The reduction in their population and the reduction in current velocity away from the areas of current deposition resulted in the reduced number of sand-sized particles and the increased amount of mud deposition. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. 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.