The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

Multiple mechanisms of remagnetization involving sedimentary greigite (Fe3S4)

Multiple mechanisms of remagnetization involving sedimentary greigite (Fe3S4)
Multiple mechanisms of remagnetization involving sedimentary greigite (Fe3S4)
Sedimentary greigite (Fe3S4) is being increasingly implicated as the carrier of late diagenetic remagnetizations in fine-grained marine and terrestrial sediments. We have conducted detailed scanning electron microscope observations on polished sections from such sediments, coupled with elemental microanalysis, to identify greigite and to characterize the mode of occurrence and the relationships between the observed greigite and other authigenic and detrital mineral phases. This detailed observational work, in conjunction with recently published work, has enabled identification of several mechanisms for remagnetization involving greigite: (1) neoformation of greigite on the surfaces of early diagenetic framboidal and nodular pyrite; (2) greigite growth within cleavages of detrital sheet silicate grains; (3) neoformation of greigite on the surfaces of authigenic clays (smectite, illite); (4) greigite nucleation on the surfaces of siderite; (5) greigite growth on the surface of gypsum that resulted from earlier oxidation of nodular pyrite. Many other mechanisms for greigite neoformation are conceivable. The key variables are appropriate redox conditions for generation of sulphide and availability of iron from the dissolution of a wide range of possible reactive detrital and authigenic iron-bearing minerals. Documentation of a wide range of mechanisms for neoformation of greigite provides compelling evidence that sediments containing greigite should be routinely suspected of remagnetization, which will complicate or compromise studies of environmental magnetism and geomagnetic field behaviour.
greigite, iron sulphide, pyrite, diagenesis, remagnetization, silicate, siderite, gypsum
0012-821X
263-277
Roberts, Andrew P.
4f062491-5408-4edb-8dd1-140c6a42e93f
Weaver, Richard
e438904c-c573-4f32-b84e-3ef6d95a9dbe
Roberts, Andrew P.
4f062491-5408-4edb-8dd1-140c6a42e93f
Weaver, Richard
e438904c-c573-4f32-b84e-3ef6d95a9dbe

Roberts, Andrew P. and Weaver, Richard (2005) Multiple mechanisms of remagnetization involving sedimentary greigite (Fe3S4). Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 231 (3-4), 263-277. (doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2004.11.024).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Sedimentary greigite (Fe3S4) is being increasingly implicated as the carrier of late diagenetic remagnetizations in fine-grained marine and terrestrial sediments. We have conducted detailed scanning electron microscope observations on polished sections from such sediments, coupled with elemental microanalysis, to identify greigite and to characterize the mode of occurrence and the relationships between the observed greigite and other authigenic and detrital mineral phases. This detailed observational work, in conjunction with recently published work, has enabled identification of several mechanisms for remagnetization involving greigite: (1) neoformation of greigite on the surfaces of early diagenetic framboidal and nodular pyrite; (2) greigite growth within cleavages of detrital sheet silicate grains; (3) neoformation of greigite on the surfaces of authigenic clays (smectite, illite); (4) greigite nucleation on the surfaces of siderite; (5) greigite growth on the surface of gypsum that resulted from earlier oxidation of nodular pyrite. Many other mechanisms for greigite neoformation are conceivable. The key variables are appropriate redox conditions for generation of sulphide and availability of iron from the dissolution of a wide range of possible reactive detrital and authigenic iron-bearing minerals. Documentation of a wide range of mechanisms for neoformation of greigite provides compelling evidence that sediments containing greigite should be routinely suspected of remagnetization, which will complicate or compromise studies of environmental magnetism and geomagnetic field behaviour.

This record has no associated files available for download.

More information

Published date: 15 March 2005
Keywords: greigite, iron sulphide, pyrite, diagenesis, remagnetization, silicate, siderite, gypsum

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 24025
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/24025
ISSN: 0012-821X
PURE UUID: 35ae0de3-3665-4b2b-8703-4e01d7bd2986

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 17 Mar 2006
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 06:51

Export record

Altmetrics

Contributors

Author: Andrew P. Roberts
Author: Richard Weaver

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×