Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-q99xh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T15:43:39.529Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Distribution and Origin of Analcime in Marginal Lacustrine Mudstones of the Green River Formation, South-Central Uinta Basin, Utah

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 April 2024

Robert R. Remy  and
Ray E. Ferrell
Robert R. Remy
Affiliation:
Department of Geology and Geophysics, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803
Ray E. Ferrell
Affiliation:
Department of Geology and Geophysics, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

X-Ray powder diffraction and thin section analyses indicate that marginal lacustrine mudstones of the Green River Formation in the south-central Uinta basin, Utah, contain abundant analcime. The analcime has a low Si/Al ratio (<2.31) and occurs as very fine grained disseminated crystals and, to a lesser extent, as coarser-grained pore-filling cement. Analcime-rich mudstones and associated sandstones, siltstones, and carbonates lack volcanic detritus and zeolites other than analcime, thus making it difficult to support the concept that the analcime formed from precursor zeolites derived from volcanic glass altered in saline, alkaline-lake water. Abundant dolomite, syneresis cracks, and the absence of freshwater pelecypods and gastropods suggest that the lake (Lake Uinta) was moderately saline and alkaline. The restricted illite-illite/smectite clay mineral suite in the analcime-rich mudstones suggests that detrital clays significantly altered in a moderately saline and alkaline environment, thereby providing a source of Si and Al for the formation of analcime.

Red mudstones contain twice as much analcime as green mudstones (14 vs. 7 wt. %). Green mudstones have a day mineral suite consisting of illite (44 wt. %), mixed-layer illite/smectite (35 wt. %), smectite (12 wt. %), and minor kaolinite (4 wt. %) and chlorite (5 wt. %), whereas red mudstones have a more restricted day mineral suite consisting ofillite (68 wt. %) and mixed-layer illite/smectite (26 wt. %) with very minor smectite, chlorite, and kaolinite. Periodic minor fluctuations in lake level probably exposed large areas of shallow lacustrine-interdistributary green mud. Evaporative pumping on the exposed mudflats concentrated the moderately saline and alkaline-lake water, thereby producing Na-rich brines that enhanced the formation of analcime by accelerating the alteration of detrital clays and, perhaps, other minerals. Oxidation of iron from altered iron-bearing minerals stained the analcime-rich mud red with iron hydroxide or oxide (perhaps hematite). The overall reaction from green to red mud (mudstones) was probably: detrital phyllosilicates + Na-brine + iron-bearing minerals + oxygen → analcime + iron hydroxide or iron oxide.

Keywords

AnalcimeDiagenesisIllite/smectiteMudstoneX-ray powder diffractionZeolite
Type
Research Article
Information
Clays and Clay Minerals , Volume 37 , Issue 5 , October 1989 , pp. 419 - 432
Copyright
Copyright © 1989, The Clay Minerals Society

References

Banks, E. Y., 1981 Petrographic characteristics and provenance of fluvial sandstone, Sunnyside oil-impregnated sandstone deposit, Carbon County Utah University of Utah, Salt Lake City.Google Scholar
Boles, J. R., 1971 Synthesis of analcime from natural heulandite and clinoptilolite Amer. Mineral 56 1724 – 1734.Google Scholar
Bradley, W. H., 1929 The occurrence and origin of analcite and meerschaum beds in the Green River Formation of Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Pap. .CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bradley, W. H. (1931) Origin and microfossils of the oil shale of the Green River Formation of Colorado and Utah: U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Pap. 168, 56 pp.Google Scholar
Brobst, D. A. and Tucker, J. D. (1973) X-ray mineralogy of the Parachute Creek Member, Green River Formation, in the northern Piceance Creek basin, Colorado: U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Pap. 803, 53 pp.Google Scholar
Brobst, D. A. and Tucker, J. D., 1974 Composition and relation of analcime to diagenetic dawsonite in oil shale and tuff in the Green River Formation, Piceance Creek basin, northwestern Colorado U.S. Geol. Surv. J. Res 2 35 – 39.Google Scholar
Cashion, W. B. and Donnell, J. R., 1974 Revision of nomenclature of the upper part of the Green River Formation, Piceance Creek basin, Colorado, and eastern Uinta basin, Utah U.S. Geol. Surv. Bull 1394–G G1 – G9.Google Scholar
Cole, R. D. and Picard, W. D., 1978 Comparative mineralogy of nearshore and offshore lacustrine lithofacies, Parachute Creek Member of the Green River Formation, Piceance Creek basin, Colorado, and eastern Uinta basin, Utah Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull 89 1441 – 1454.2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Collinson, J. D. and Thompson, D. B., 1982 Sedimentary Structures London George Allen & Unwin.Google Scholar
Cook, H. E., Johnson, P. D., Matti, J. C. and Zemmels, I., 1975 Methods of sample preparation and X-ray diffraction data analysis, X-ray Mineralogy Laboratory, Deep Sea Drilling Project, University of California, Riverside Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project 28 999 – 1007.Google Scholar
Coombs, D. S. and Whetten, J. T., 1967 Composition of analcime from sedimentary and burial metamorphic rocks Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull 78 269 – 282.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Desborough, G. A., 1975 Authigenic albite and potassium feldspar in the Green River Formation, Colorado and Wyoming Amer. Mineral 60 235 – 239.Google Scholar
Dickinson, W. R., Lawton, T. F. and Inman, K. F., 1986 Sandstone detrital modes, central Utah foreland region: Stratigraphic record of Cretaceous-Paleogene tectonic evolution J. Sed. Petrol 56 276 – 293.Google Scholar
Dyni, J. R. (1976) Trioctahedral smectite in the Green River Formation, Duchesne County, Utah: U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Pap. 967, 14 pp.Google Scholar
Dyni, J. R., 1985 Clay mineralogy of the Green River Formation Clays and Clay Minerals, Western Colorado & Eastern & Central Utah Denver, Fieldtrip Guidebook R. B. Hall, compiler, Int. Clay Conf. 5 – 8.Google Scholar
Eugster, H. P., Hardie, L. A. and Lerman, A., 1978 Saline lakes Lakes Chemistry, Geology, Physics New York Springer-Verlag 237 – 293.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ferrell, R. E., Carpenter, P. K., Mackinnon, I. D. W. and Mumpton, F. A., 1989 Application of the electron microprobe and image analyzer in the study of clays Electron Beam Techniques for the Study of Clay Minerals Indiana The Clay Mineral Society, Bloomington.Google Scholar
Fouch, T. D., Cashion, W. B., Ryder, R. T. and Campbell, J. A., 1976 Field guide to lacustrine and related non-marine depositional environments in Tertiary rocks, Uinta basin, Utah Studies in Colorado Field Geology 8 358 – 385.Google Scholar
Fouch, T. D., Hanley, J. H., Forester, R. M., Keighin, C. W., Pitman, J. K. and Nichols, D. J. (1987) Chart showing lithology, mineralogy, and paleontology of the nonmarine North Horn Formation and Flagstaff Member of the Green River Formation, Price Canyon, central Utah: A principal reference section: U.S. Geol. Surv. Map I–1797–A.Google Scholar
Franczyk, K. J., Pitman, J. K., Cashion, W. B., Dyni, J. R., Fouch, T. D., Johnson, R. C., Chan, M. A., Donnell, J. R., Lawton, T. F. and Remy, R. R. (1989) Evolution of Resource-Rich Foreland and Intermontane Basins in Eastern Utah and Western Colorado: American Geophysical Union, Washington, D.C., 28th Int. Geol. Cong. Field Trip Guidebook T-324, 53 pp.Google Scholar
Goodwin, J. H., 1973 Analcime and K-feldspar in tuffs of the Green River Formation, Wyoming Amer. Mineral 58 93 – 105.Google Scholar
Goodwin, J. H. and Surdam, R. C., 1967 Zeolitization of tuffaceous rocks of the Green River Formation, Wyoming Science 157 307 – 308.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hay, R. L. (1966) Zeolites and zeolitic reactions in sedimentary rocks: Geol. Soc. Amer. Spec. Paper 85, 130 pp.Google Scholar
Hay, R. L., 1970 Silicate reactions in three lithofacies of a semi-arid basin, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania Mineral. Soc. Amer. Spec. Pap 3 237 – 255.Google Scholar
Hay, R. L. and Mumpton, F. A., 1977 Geology of zeolites in sedimentary rocks Mineralogy and Geology of Natural Zeolites Washington, D.C. Reviews in Mineralogy 4, Mineralogical Society of America 53 – 64.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hay, R.L., Sand, L. B. and Mumpton, F. A., 1978 Geologic occurrence of zeolites Natural Zeolites: Occurrence, Properties, Use Elmsford, New York Pergamon Press 135 – 143.Google Scholar
Hay, R. L. and Guldman, S. G., 1986 Silicate diagenesis in sediments of Searles Lake, California: in Prog, and Abstracts 15.Google Scholar
Hay, R. L. and Moiola, R. J., 1963 Authigenic silicate minerals in Searles Lake, California Sedimentology 2 312 – 332.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hosterman, J. W. and Dyni, J. R., 1972 Clay mineralogy of the Green River Formation, Piceance Creek basin, Colorado–A preliminary study U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Pap 800–D D159 – D163.Google Scholar
Hsü, K. J. and Siegenthaler, C., 1969 Preliminary experiments on hydrodynamic movement induced by evaporation and their bearing on the dolomite problem Sedimentology 12 11 – 25.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Iijima, A. and Hay, R. L., 1968 Analcime composition in tuffs of the Green River Formation of Wyoming Amer. Mineral 53 184 – 200.Google Scholar
Jacob, A. F., 1969 Delta facies of the Green River Formation (Eocene), Carbon and Duchesne Counties, Utah Boulder, Colorado University of Colorado.Google Scholar
Johnson, R. C., Flores, R. M. and Kaplan, S. S., 1985 Early Cenozoic history of the Uinta and Piceance Creek basins, Utah and Colorado, with special reference to the development of Eocene Lake Unita Cenozoic Paleogeography of the West-Central United States 247 – 276.Google Scholar
Jones, B. F., Bowser, C. J. and Lerman, A., 1978 The mineralogy and related chemistry of lake sediments Lakes Chemistry, Geology, Physics New York Springer-Verlag 203 – 235.Google Scholar
Keller, W. D., 1952 Analcime in the Popo Agie Member of the Chugwater Formation J. Sediment. Petrol 22 70 – 82.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kelts, K., Hsü, K. J. and Lerman, A., 1978 Freshwater carbonate sedimentation Lakes Chemistry, Geology, Physics New York Springer-Verlag 295 – 323.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mariner, R. H. and Surdam, R. C., 1970 Alkalinity and formation of zeolites in saline alkaline lakes Science 170 977 – 980.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pipkin, B.W. (1967) Mineralogy of 140-foot core from Wilcox Playa, Cochise, Arizona: Amer. Assoc. Pet. Geol. Bull. 51, 478-79 (abstract).Google Scholar
Pitman, J. K., Fouch, T. D. and Goldhaber, M. B., 1982 Depositional setting and diagenetic evolution of some Tertiary unconventional reservoir rocks, Uinta basin, Utah Amer. Assoc. Pet. Geol. Bull 66 1581 – 1596.Google Scholar
Pollastro, R. M. and Schenk, C. J., 1986 Characterizing and evaluating tar-sand reservoirs with scanning electron microscope–An example from Sunnyside Utah: Amer. Assoc. Pet. Geol. Bull 70 633 – 634.Google Scholar
Ratterman, N. G. and Surdam, R. C., 1981 Zeolite mineral reactions in a tuff in the Laney Member of the Green River Formation, Wyoming Clays & Clay Minerals 29 365 – 377.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Remy, R. R., Nummedal, D. and Remy, R. R., 1989 Deltaic and lacustrine facies of the Green River Formation, southern Uinta basin, Utah Cretaceous Shelf Sandstones and Shelf Depositional Sequences, Western Interior Basin, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico–With an Auxiliary Trip to the Lacustrine Green River Formation Washington, D. C American Geophysical Union 1 – 11 in press.Google Scholar
Remy, R. R., 1989 Deltaic sedimentation and transgres-sive/regressive cycles in Green River Formation, southern Uinta basin, Utah Amer. Assoc. Pet. Geol. Bull 73 404.Google Scholar
Remy, R. R. and Ferrell, R. E., 1987 Origin of analcime in marginal lacustrine mudstones of the Green River Formation, southern Uinta basin, Utah Geol. Soc. Amer. Abstracts with Programs 19 816.Google Scholar
Roehler, H. W., 1972 Zonal distribution of montmorillonite and zeolites in the Laney Shale Member of the Green River Formation in the Washakie basin, Wyoming U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Pap 800–B B121 – B124.Google Scholar
Ryder, R. T., Fouch, T. D. and Elison, J. H., 1976 Early Tertiary sedimentation in the western Uinta basin Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull 87 496 – 512.2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Saha, P., 1959 Geochemical and X-ray investigations of natural and synthetic analcites Amer. Mineral 44 300 – 313.Google Scholar
Saha, P., 1961 The system NaAlSiO4 (nepheline)-NaAl-Si3Os (albite)-H2O Amer. Mineral 46 859 – 884.Google Scholar
Schultz, L. G. (1964) Quantitative interpretation of mineralogical composition from X-ray and chemical data for the Pierre Shale: U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof Pap. 391–C, 31 pp.Google Scholar
Sheppard, R. A., 1971 Zeolites in sedimentary deposits of the United States–A review Molecular Sieve Zeolites-1 101 279 – 310.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sheppard, R. A., 1973 Zeolites in sedimentary rocks U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Pap 820 689 – 695.Google Scholar
Sheppard, R. A. and Gude, A. J. 3rd (1968) Distribution and genesis of authigenic silicate minerals in tuffs of Pleistocene Lake Tecopa, Inyo County, California: U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Pap. 597, 38 pp.Google Scholar
Sheppard, R. A. and Gude, A. J. 3rd (1969) Diagenesis of tuffs in the Barstow Formation, Mud Hills, San Bernardino County, California: U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Pap. 634, 35 pp.Google Scholar
Smith, J. W. and Milton, C., 1966 Dawsonite in the Green River Formation of Colorado Econ. Geol 61 1029 – 1042.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smoot, J. P., 1978 Origin of the carbonate sediments in the Wilkins Peak Member of the lacustrine Green River Formation (Eocene), Wyoming, U.S.A. Modern and Ancient Lake Sediments 2 109 – 127.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stanley, K. O. and Collinson, J. W., 1979 Depositional history of Paleocene-lower Eocene Flagstaff Limestone and coeval rocks, central Utah Amer. Assoc. Pet. Geol. Bull 63 311 – 323.Google Scholar
Surdam, R. C. and Mumpton, F. A., 1977 Zeolites in closed hydrologic systems Mineralogy and Geology of Natural Zeolites Washington, D.C. Reviews in Mineralogy 4, Mineralogical Society of America 65 – 79.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Surdam, R. C. and Eugster, H. P., 1976 Mineral reactions in the sedimentary deposits of the Lake Magadi region, Kenya Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull 87 1739 – 1752.2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Surdam, R. C. and Parker, R. D., 1972 Authigenic aluminosilicate minerals in the tuffaceous rocks of the Green River Formation, Wyoming Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull 83 689 – 700.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Surdam, R. C., Sheppard, R. A., Sand, L. B. and Mumpton, F. A., 1978 Zeolites in saline, alkaline-lake deposits Natural Zeolites: Occurrence, Properties, Use Elmsford, New York Peramon Press 145 – 174.Google Scholar
Surdam, R. C. and Stanley, K. O., 1979 Lacustrine sedimentation during the culminating phase of Eocene Lake Gosiute, Wyoming (Green River Formation) Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull 90 93 – 110.2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tank, R., 1969 Clay mineral composition of the Tipton Shale Member of the Green River Formation (Eocene) of Wyoming J. Sediment. Petrol 39 1593 – 1595.Google Scholar
Van Houten, F. B., 1962 Cyclic sedimentation and the origin of analcime-rich Upper Triassic Lockatong Formation, west-central New Jersey and adjacent Pennsylvania Amer. J. Sci 260 561 – 576.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wu, D. C., 1970 Origin of mineral analcite in the upper Flowerpot Shale, northwestern Oklahoma Trans. Kansas Academy Sci 73 247 – 251.CrossRefGoogle Scholar