Quick Search:    advanced search

GSW Home   GeoRef Home   My GSW Alerts   Contact GSW   About GSW   Journals List   Help

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (3) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Polyak, V. J. Articles by Güven, N. Search for Related Content GeoRef GeoRef Citation

AUTHIGENESIS OF TRIOCTAHEDRAL SMECTITE IN MAGNESIUM-RICH CARBONATE SPELEOTHEMS IN CARLSBAD CAVERN AND OTHER CAVES OF THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS, NEW MEXICO

¹ Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico, Northrop Hall, 200 Yale Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA
² Department of Geosciences, Texas Tech University, P.O. Box 41053, Lubbock, Texas 79409-1053, USA

E-mail of corresponding author: polyak{at}unm.edu

Trioctahedral smectite is a constituent of Mg-rich carbonate crusts and moonmilks (pasty deposits) in caves of the Guadalupe Mountains of southeastern New Mexico. Energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis of individual crystallites and their aggregates along with the X-ray diffraction analysis indicates that the smectite is probably stevensite. Saponite is likely present in some samples also. The smectite is intimately associated with dolomite crusts and huntite moonmilks in Carlsbad Cavern, Lechuguilla Cave, and other dolostone caves. Clay particles appear as fibers and films, with aggregates comprising decimicron-sized filamentous masses that envelop crystals of dolomite, huntite, and magnesite. The occurrence of smectite is related to the genesis of the Mg-rich carbonate minerals. In water films, progressive evaporation and carbon dioxide loss results in the sequential precipitation of Mg-rich calcite, aragonite, dolomite, huntite, and magnesite. This sequence of carbonate precipitation removes Ca and greatly increases the Mg/Ca ratio in the solutions. Silica is commonly available probably because of high pH conditions, and consequently, smectite forms in the Mg-rich alkaline environment. Along with the Mg-rich carbonate minerals, opal, quartz, and uranyl vanadates may precipitate with the smectite.

Key Words: Authigenesis • Carlsbad Cavern • Caves • Dolomite • Huntite • Moonmilk • Stevensite • Trioctahedral Smectite

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. Petit, D. Righi, and A. Decarreau TRANSFORMATION OF SYNTHETIC Zn-STEVENSITE TO Zn-TALC INDUCED BY THE HOFMANN-KLEMEN EFFECT Clays and Clay Minerals, December 1, 2008; 56(6): 645 - 654. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. YENIYOL Characterization of a Mg-rich and low-charge saponite from the Neogene lacustrine basin of Eskisehir, Turkey Clay Minerals, December 1, 2007; 42(4): 541 - 548. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. C. Hover, V. C. Hover, and G. M. Ashley GEOCHEMICAL SIGNATURES OF PALEODEPOSITIONAL AND DIAGENETIC ENVIRONMENTS: A STEM/AEM STUDY OF AUTHIGENIC CLAY MINERALS FROM AN ARID RIFT BASIN, OLDUVAI GORGE, TANZANIA Clays and Clay Minerals, June 1, 2003; 51(3): 231 - 251. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. J. Levelle, R. J. Leveille, F. J. Longstaffe, and W. S. Fyfe KEROLITE IN CARBONATE-RICH SPELEOTHEMS AND MICROBIAL DEPOSITS FROM BASALTIC CAVES, KAUAI, HAWAII Clays and Clay Minerals, August 1, 2002; 50(4): 514 - 524. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]