Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-wq484 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-26T20:29:22.665Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Clay Petrology of Sediments

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2024

Charles E. Weaver
Charles E. Weaver*
Affiliation:
Shell Oil Company, Houston, Texas, USA
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Studies of the Recent indicate that, at the most, somewhat less than half the clay minerals are altered to any extent in a marine environment. Probably most of this alteration is in the form of cation adsorption or reconstitution of slightly weathered illites and chlorites to their original form. There appears to be little if any evidence that the detrital basic lattice is being altered to a measurable extent in Recent marine sediments. In the near-shore environments there is usually a coincidence of clay mineral suites and environments.

A major change in the clay mineral composition of sedimentary rock occurs within the Mississippian. Illite is the dominant clay mineral of the pre-Upper Mississippian sediments. Post-Lower Mississippian clay suites are more variable in composition; illite becomes less abundant and montmorillonite and kaolinite more abundant. This change is best related to a change in regional tectonics. The clay minerals seem to have no preferred lithologie associations, although owing to epigenetie alterations porous sandstones commonly have different clay mineral suites from those of adjacent shales and carbonate rocks.

In many instances clay mineral facies coincide with environmental facies. As the clay mineral criteria for distinguishing any given type environment are extremely variable, it is thought that segregation of clay mineral suites by sorting is usually more effective than by diagenesis.

Expanded clay minerals appear to be partially contracted by the time they have been buried to 10,000–15,000 ft. It remains to be proved whether this is caused by chemical modification of the basic lattice with burial or if the detrital clay lattice has the inherent ability to contract, without chemical rearrangement, when buried to a sufficient depth.

Type
Article
Information
Clays and Clay Minerals (National Conference on Clays and Clay Minerals) , Volume 6 , February 1957 , pp. 154 - 187
Copyright
Copyright © Clay Minerals Society 1957

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Adams, J. A. S., and Weaver, C. E. (1958) Thorium-to-uranium ratios as indicators of sedimentary processes: Example of concept of geochemical facies: Amer. Assoc. Petroleum Geol. Bull., v. 42, pp. 387–430.Google Scholar
Baker, C. L. (1950) Role of bentonite in Great Plains and Rockies: Amer. Assoc. Petroleum Geol. Bull., v. 34, pp. 1897–1909.Google Scholar
Bates, T. F., and others (1957) An investigation of the mineralogy, petrology and paleobotany of uranium-bearing shales and lignites: Annual Progress Report, Pennsylvania State Univ., Project No. E—32.Google Scholar
Belous, N. Kh. (1952) Conditions of formation of iron ores during sedimentation: Trud. Gorn.—Geol. Inst. Zapad. Sibir. Filiol. Alead. Nauk SSSR no. 12.Google Scholar
Bokman, J. (1953) Lithology and petrology of the Stanley and Jackfork formations: J. Geol., v. 61, pp. 152–170.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brindley, G. W., and Gillery, F. H. (1956) x-Ray identification of chlorite species: Amer. Min., v. 41, pp. 169–186.Google Scholar
Burst, J. F. Jr. (1958) Postdiagenetic clay mineral-environmental relationships in the Gulf Coast Eocene: These Proceedings.Google Scholar
Byström, A. M. (1956) Mineralogy of the Ordovician bentonite beds at Kinnekulle, Sweden: Sveriges Geologiska Undersökning Arsbok 48, N: O 5, pp. 1–62.Google Scholar
Chilingar, G. Y. (1955) Review of Soviet literature on petroleum source-rocks: Amer. Assoc. Petroleum Geol., Bull., v. 39, pp. 764–768.Google Scholar
Chilingar, G. V. (1956) Joint occurrence of glauconite and chlorite in sedimentary rocks: A review: Amer. Assoc. Petroleum Geol., Bull., v. 40, pp. 394–398.Google Scholar
Correns, C. W. (1937) Scientific Results of the German Atlantic Expedition on the Exploration Ship “Meteor,” Bd. 3, pp. 135–295.Google Scholar
Correns, C. W. (1939) Pelagic sediments of the North Atlantic Ocean; in Recent marine sediments, a symposium: S.E.P.M. Special Pub. No. 4, pp. 373–395.Google Scholar
Degens, E. T., Williams, E. G., and Keith, M. L. (1957) Environmental studies of Carboniferous sediments, Part I: Geochemical criteria for differentiating marine from fresh-water shales: Amer. Assoc. Petroleum Geol., Bull., v. 41, pp. 2427–2455.Google Scholar
Dietz, R. S. (1941) Clay minerals in Recent marine sediments: Ph.D. Thesis, Univ. Illinois.Google Scholar
Dodd, C. G., Conley, F. R., and Barnes, P. M. (1955) Clay minerals in petroleum reservoir sands and water sensitivity effects, in Clays and Clay Minerals, Natl. Acad. Sc .— Natl. Res. Council pub. 395, pp. 221–238.Google Scholar
Eardley, A. J. (1951) Structural Geology of North America; Harper & Brothers, New York, 624 pp.Google Scholar
Earley, J. W., Brindley, G. W., McVeagh, W. J., and Vanden Heuvel, R. C. (1956) A regularly interstratified montmorillonite-chlorite: Amer. Min., v. 41, pp. 258–267.Google Scholar
Folk, R. L. (1952) Petrology and petrography of the Lower Ordovician Beekmantown carbonate rocks in the vicinity of State College, Pennsylvania: Ph.D. Thesis, Pennsylvania State College.Google Scholar
Folk, R. L. (1956) The role of texture and composition in sandstone classification: J. Sedimentary Petrology, v. 26, pp. 166–171.Google Scholar
Foster, M. D. (1954) The relation between “illite,” beidellite and montmorillonite: in Clays and Clay Minerals, Natl. Acad. Sci.—Natl. Res. Council pub. 327, pp. 386–397.Google Scholar
Fothergill, C. A. (1955) The cementation of oil reservoir sands and its origin: 4th World Petroleum Congress, Proc., Soc. 1/B, pp. 1–13.Google Scholar
Gilluly, J. (1949) Distribution of mountain building in geologic time: Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull., v. 60, pp. 561–590.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Glass, H. D. (1951) Clay mineralogy of the Coastal Plain formations of New Jersey: Ph.D. Thesis, Columbia Univ.Google Scholar
Glass, H. D. (1958) Clay mineralogy of Pennsylvanian sediments in southern Illinois, in Clays and Clay Minerals, Natl. Acad. Sci.—Natl. Res. Council pub. 566, pp. 227–241.Google Scholar
Glass, H. D., Potter, P. E., and Siever, Raymond (1956) Clay mineralogy of some basal Pennsylvanian sandstones, clays and shales: Amer. Assoc. Petroleum Geol., Bull., v. 40, pp. 750–754.Google Scholar
Gorbunov, N. I. (1956) Patterns in the distribution of clay minerals in the main soil types of U.S.S.R.: Pochvovedenie (Moscow), no. 2, pp. 75–89.Google Scholar
Greene-Kelly, R., (1955) Dehydration of the montmorillonite minerals: Min. Mag., v. 30, pp. 604–615.Google Scholar
Griffin, G. M., and Ingram, R. L. (1955) Clay minerals of the Neuse River Estuary: J. Sedimentary Petrology, v. 25, pp. 194–200.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Griffiths, J. C., Bates, T. F., and Shadle, H. W. (1956) Guide to field trip of Fourth National Clay Conference: Clay minerals in sedimentary rocks, in Clays and Clay Minerals, Natl. Acad. Sci.—Natl. Res. Council pub. 456, pp. 1–20.Google Scholar
Griffiths, J. C., Cochran, J. A., Groff, D. W., and Kahn, J. S. (1954) Petrographical investigations of the Salt Wash sediments: Atomic Energy Commission Progress Report, 63 pp.Google Scholar
Grim, R. E. (1936) The Eocene sedimonts of Mississippi: Mississippi State Geol. Survey Bull., 30, 240 pp.Google Scholar
Grim, R. E. (1953) Clay Mineralogy; McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., 384 pp.Google Scholar
Grim, R. E., and Bradley, W. F. (1955) Structural implications in diagenesis: Sonderdruck aus der Geologischen Rundschau, Band 43, pp. 469–474.Google Scholar
Glim, R. E., Bradley, W. F., and White, W. A. (1957) Petrology of the Paleozoic shales of Illinois: Illinois Geol. Survey, Rep. of Investigations 203, 35 pp.Google Scholar
Grim, R. E., Dietz, R. S., and Bradley, W. F. (1949) Clay mineral composition of some sediments from the Pacific Ocean off the California coast and the Gulf of California: Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull., v. 60, pp. 1785–1808.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grim, R. E., and Johns, W. D. (1954) Clay mineral investigation of sediments in the northern Gulf of Mexico: in Clays and Clay Minerals, Natl. Acad. Sci.—Natl. Res. Council pub. 327, pp. 81–103.Google Scholar
Grim, R. E., and Johns, W. D. (1954a, 1955, 1956) Studies of nearshore Recent sediments and their environments in the northern Gulf of Mexico: Amer. Petroleum Inst. Research Project 51, Amer. Petroleum Nos. XV, pp. 29–32; XVIII, pp. 15-21; XIX, pp. 16-18; and XX, pp. 20-22.Google Scholar
Grim, R. E., Lamar, J. E., and Bradley, W. F. (1937) The clay minerals in Illinois limestones and dolomites: J. Geol., v. 45, pp. 829–843.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grim, R. E., and Rowland, R. A. (1942) Differential thermal analyses of clay minerals and other hydrous materials: Amer. Min., v. 27, pp. 746–761, 801-818.Google Scholar
Gude, A. J. (1950) Clay minerals of Laramie formation, Golden, Colorado, identified by x-ray diffraction: Amer. Assoc. Petroleum Geol. Bull., v. 34, pp. 1699–1717.Google Scholar
Hooks, W. G., and Ingram, R. L. (1955) The clay minerals and the iron oxide minerals of the Triassic “ red beds “ of the Durham Basin, North Carolina: Amer. J. Sci., v. 253, pp. 19–25.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jonas, E. C. (1958) Clay-size minerals in Ellenburger rocks: Texas Bureau Econ. Geol. Pub., In press.Google Scholar
Keller, W. D. (1953) Clay minerals in the type section of the Morrison formation: J. Sedimentary Petrology, v. 23, pp. 93–105.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Keller, W. D. (1956) Clay minerals as influenced by environments of their formation: Amer. Assoc. Petroleum Geol. Bull., v. 40, pp. 2689–2710.Google Scholar
Kelley, W. P., and Liebig, G. F. Jr. (1934) Base exchange in relation to composition of clay with special reference to effect of sea water: Amer. Assoc. Petroleum Geol., Bull., v. 18, pp. 358–367.Google Scholar
Krynine, P. D. (1940) Petrology and genesis of the Third Bradford sand: Pennsylvania State Univ. Mineral. Ind. Exp. Station, Bull. 29, 134 pp.Google Scholar
Krynine, P. D. (1948) The megascopic study and field classification of sedimentary rocks: J. Geol., v. 56, pp. 130–165.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Krynine, P. D. (1950) Petrology, stratigraphy, and origin of the Triassic sedimentary rocks of Connecticut: Conn. Geol. and Nat. History Survey Bull. 73, 247 pp.Google Scholar
Krynine, P. D. (1951) A critique of geotectonic elements: Amer. Geophys. Union Trans., v. 32, pp. 743–748.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kunze, G. W., Templin, E. H., and Page, J. B. (1955) The clay mineral composition of representative soils from five geological regions of Texas: in Clays and Clay Minerals, Natl. Acad. Sci.—Natl. Res. Council pub. 395, pp. 373–383.Google Scholar
Lemeke, K., von Engelhardt, Wölk, and Fuchthaven, Hans (1953) Geologische und Sedimentpetro-graphische Untersuchungen im Westteil der ungfalteten Molasse des sudden-tschen Alpenvarlandes: Beihafte Geol. Jahrb., v. 11, pp. 56–57.Google Scholar
Lippmann, Freidrich (1956) Clay minerals from the Röt member of the Triassic near Göttingen, Germany: J. Sedimentary Petrology, v. 26, pp. 125–139.Google Scholar
Merrell, H. W., Jones, D. J., and Sand, L. B. (1957) Sedimentation features in Paradox shales, southeastern Utah (Abstract): Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull., v. 68, p 1766.Google Scholar
Millot, Georges (1949) Relations entre la constitution et la genèse des roches sédimentaires argileuses: Géol. Appl, et Prospection Minière, v. 2, l'Univ. de Nancy, 352 pp.Google Scholar
Millot, Georges (1953) Héritage et néoformation dans la sédimentation argileuse: C. R., Congr. Géol. Intern., 19th Session, 1952, Algiers, fascicule 18, pp. 163–17.Google Scholar
Milne, I. H., and Earley, J. W. (1958) Effect of source and environment on clay minerals: Amer. Assoc. Petroleum Geol., Bull., v. 42, pp. 328–338.Google Scholar
Murray, H. H. (1954) Genesis of clay minerals in some Pennsylvanian shales of Indiana and Illinois: in Clays and Clay Minerals, Natl. Acad. Sci.—Natl. Res. Council pub. 327, pp. 47–67.Google Scholar
Murray, H. H., and Harrison, J. L. (1956) Clay mineral composition of Recent sediments from Sigsbee deep: J. Sedimentary Petrology, v. 26, pp. 363–368.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Murray, H. H., and Sayyab, A. S. (1955) Clay mineral studies of some Recent marine sediments off the North Carolina coast, in Clays and Clay Minerals, Natl. Acad. Sci.— Natl. Res. Council pub. 395, pp. 430–441.Google Scholar
Nelson, B. W. (1955) Mineralogy of the Bedford formation and related rocks in northern Ohio: Ph.D. Thesis, Univ. Illinois.Google Scholar
Pettijohn, F. J. (1957) Sedimentary Bocks; Harper & Brothers, New York, 718 pp.Google Scholar
Potter, P. E., and Glass, H. D. (1958) Petrology and sedimentation of the Pennsylvanian sediments in southern Illinois: A vertical profile: Illinois Geol. Survey, Kept, of Investigations 204, 60 pp.Google Scholar
Powers, M. C. (1954) Clay diagenesis in the Chesapeake Bay area,, in Clays and Clay Minerals, Natl. Acad. Sci.—Natl. Res. Council pub. 327, pp. 68–80.Google Scholar
Powers, M. C. (1957) Adjustment of land derived clays to the marine environment: J. Sedimentary Petrology, v. 27, pp. 355–372.Google Scholar
Powers, M. C. (1958) Adjustment of clays to chemical change and the concept of the equivalence level: These Proceedings.Google Scholar
Quaide, W. L. (1956) Petrography and clay mineralogy of Pliocene sedimentary rocks from the Ventura Basin, California: Ph.D. Thesis, Univ. Calif.Google Scholar
Reitemeier, R. F. (1951) The chemistry of soil potassium: in Advances in Agronomy, Academic Press, v. 3, pp. 113–159.Google Scholar
Rovelle, R. R. (1944) Marine bottom samples collected in the Pacific Ocean by the “ Carnegie “ on its seventh cruise2 Carnegie Inst, of Wash., pub. 556, 182 pp.Google Scholar
Rivière, André (1953) Sur l'origine des argiles sédimentaires: Congr. Géol. Intern., Algiers, Comptes Rendu, 19th Session, fascicule 18, pp. 177–180.Google Scholar
Rivière, André, and Visse, L. (1954) Origin of the minerals in marine sediments: Société géologique de France, v. 4, pp. 467–473.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Robbins, Carl, and Keller, W. D. (1952) Clay and other non-carbonate minerals in some limestones: J. Sedimentary Petrology, v. 22, pp. 146–152.Google Scholar
Roberson, H. E. (1957) Petrology of the Carrizo and Recklow formations, Leon County, Texas: M.A. Thesis, Univ. of Texas.Google Scholar
Ross, C. S., and Hendricks, S. B. (1945) Minerals of the montmorillonite group, their origin and relation to soils and clays: U.S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 205-B, pp. 23–79.Google Scholar
Ross, C. S., Miser, H. D., and Stephenson, L. W. (1929) Water-laid volcanic rocks of early Upper Cretaceous age in southwestern Arkansas, southeastern Oklahoma, and northeastern Texas: U.S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 154-F, pp. 175–202.Google Scholar
Schmalz, R. P. (1957) Quantitative x-ray modal analysis of sediments from the PeruChile Trench (Abstract): Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull., v. 68, p. 1793.Google Scholar
Siever, Raymond (1953) Petrology and sedimentation of upper Chester sandstones: J. Sedimentary Petrology, v. 23, pp. 207–219.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Simons, L. H., and Taggart, M. S. Jr. (1954) Clay mineral content of Gulf Coast outcrop samples, in Clays and Clay Minerals, Natl. Acad. Sci.—Natl. Res. Council pub. 327, pp. 104–110.Google Scholar
Smithson, Frank, and Brown, George (1954) The petrography of dickitic sandstones in North Wales and Northern England: Geol. Mag., v. 91, pp. 177–188.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smithson, Frank, and Brown, George (1957) Dickite from sandstones in northern England and North Wales: Min. Mag., v. 31, pp. 381–391.Google Scholar
Strakhov, N. M. (1953) Diagenesis of sediments and its significance in sedimentary ore formation: Izvest. Akad. Nauk SSSR Ser. Geol., no. 5, pp. 12–49.Google Scholar
Swineford, Ada (1955) Petrography of upper Permian rocks in south-central Kansas: Kansas Geol. Survey Bull. Ill, 179 pp.Google Scholar
Tank, R. W. (1956) Clay mineralogy of Morrison formation, Black Hills area, Wyoming, and South Dakota: Amer. Assoc. Petroleum Geol., Bull., v. 40, pp. 871–878.Google Scholar
Teodorovich, G. I. (1954) A contribution on the study of petroleum source beds: Biulleten Moscovskogo Obschestva Ispytatelei Prirody, v. 29, pp. 59–66.Google Scholar
Todd, T. W., and Folk, R. L. (1957) Basal Claiborne of Texas, record of Appalachian tectonism during Eocene: Amer. Assoc. Petroleum Geol., Bull., v. 41, pp. 2545–2566.Google Scholar
Van Andel, Tj., and Postma, H. (1954) Recent sediments of the Gulf of Paria: Verhandelingen Oer Koninklyke Nederlandse Akademie Van Wetenschapper, Afd. Natuurkunde Herste Reeks, Bull. 20, no. 5, 245 pp.Google Scholar
Van Houten, F. B. (1948) Origin of red-banded early Cenozoic deposits in Rocky Mountain region: Amer. Assoc. Petroleum Geol., Bull., v. 32, pp. 2083–2136.Google Scholar
Van Houten, F. B. (1953) Clay minerals in sedimentary rocks and derived soils: Amer. J. Sci., v. 251, pp. 61–82.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Waagé, K. M. (1955) Dakota group in northern Front Range foothills, Colorado: U.S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 274-B, pp. 15–51.Google Scholar
Wear, J. I., and White, J. L. (1951) Potassium fixation in clay minerals as related to crystal structure: Soil Sci., v. 77, pp. 1–14.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Weaver, C. E. (1953a) A lath-shaped non-expanded dioctahedral 2: 1 clay mineral: Amer. Min., v. 38, pp. 279–289.Google Scholar
Weaver, C. E. (1953b) Mineralogy and petrology of some Ordovician K-bentonites and related limestones: Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull., v. 64, pp. 921–943.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Weaver, C. E. (1955) Mineralogy and petrology of the rocks near the Quadrant-Phos- phoria boundary in southwest Montana: J. Sedimentary Petrology, v. 25, pp. 163–193.Google Scholar
Weaver, C. E. (1956) The distribution and identification of mixed-layer clays in sedimentary rocks: Amer. Min., v. 41, pp. 202–221.Google Scholar
Weaver, C. E. (1958a) Geologic interpretation of argillaceous sediments: Amer. Assoc. Petroleum Geol. Bull., v. 42, pp. 254–309.Google Scholar
Weaver, C. E. (1958b) A discussion on the origin of clay minerals in sedimentary rocks, m Clays and Clay Minerals, Natl. Acad. Sci.—Natl. Res. Council pub. 566, pp. 159–173.Google Scholar
Weaver, C. E. (1958c) The effects and geologic significance of potassium “ fixation “ by expandable clay minerals derived from muscovite, biotite, chlorite, and volcanic material: Amer. Min., In press.Google Scholar
Weaver, C. E., Wright, H. D., and Bates, T. F. (1952) An investigation of the mineralogy and petrography of “uranium-bearing shales: A.E.C. Progress Report, Contract No. At(30-1)-102, Pennsylvania State Univ., 39 pp.Google Scholar
Whitehouse, U. G. (1951, 1952) Progress reports for the Amer. Petroleum Inst., Project 51, Texas A. & M. College, Oceanographie Dept.Google Scholar
Whitehouse, U. G., and Jeffrey, L. M. (1955) Peptization resistance of selected samples of kaolinitic, montmorillonitic, and illitic clay materials, in Clays and Clay Minerals, Natl. Acad. Sci.—Natl. Res. Council pub. 395, pp. 260–281.Google Scholar
Yoder, H. S., and Eugster, H. P. (1955) Synthetic and natural muscovites: Geochim. et Cosmochim. Acta, v. 8, pp. 225–280.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zaporozhtseva, A. S. (1954) About joint occurrence of glauconite and chamosite in rocks: Doki. Akad. Nauk SSSR, Tom 97, pp. 903–905.Google Scholar