Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-p9bg8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T20:39:28.748Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

An alternative to the ‘clastic trap’ interpretation of oolitic ironstone facies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 May 2009

M. Brookfield
Affiliation:
Department of Soil Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Summary

The rarity or absence of clastic grains in oolitic ironstones is often explained by the hypothesis of a ‘clastic trap’ in which the clastic grains are deposited before reaching the zone of iron oolith formation. If the hydrodynamic behaviour of the iron ooliths and clastic grains is considered, this is unnecessary. The two components are spatially separated due to their different densities and different behaviour, depending on whether they are in suspension or saltating, or rolling. Iron ooliths can be rolled more easily than the equivalent clastic grain size, whereas clastic grains are more easily saltated or moved in suspension than the equivalent size of iron oolith. These differences cause spatial separation of the two facies.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1971

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

Berry, L. G. & Mason, B. 1959. Mineralogy. Freeman and Co. San Francisco, 630 pp.Google Scholar
Brockamp, B. 1942. Die paläogeographische Stellung der Eisenablagerungen; in Brockamp, B. (Ed.): Zur Entstehung deutscher Eisenerzlagerstätten. Archiv, für Lagerstättenforschung 75, 181–6.Google Scholar
Bubenicek, L. 1962. Étude Sédimentologique de la Minéralization Ferrifère Oolithique de Lorraine. Ann. Soc. géol. Belgique 86, 181211.Google Scholar
Chowns, T. M. 1966. Depositional environment of the Cleveland Ironstone Series. Nature, Lond. 211, 1286–7.Google Scholar
Folk, R. L. 1964. Petrology of Sedimentary Rocks. Hemphills, Austin, Texas, 154 pp.Google Scholar
Giresse, P. 1965. Oolithes ferrugineuses en voie de formation au large du Cap Lopez (Gabon). C.R. Acad. Sci. Paris 260, 2550–2.Google Scholar
Gross, G. A. 1965. Geology of Iron Deposits in Canada. Vol. 1.; General Geology and Evaluation of Iron Deposits. Geol. Surv. Can., Econ. geol. Rep. 22, 165 pp.Google Scholar
Gross, G. A. 1967. Geology of Iron Deposits in Canada. Vol. 2; Iron Deposits in the Appalachian and Grenville Regions of Canada. Geol. Surv. Can., Econ. geol. Rep. 22, 111 pp.Google Scholar
Hallam, A. 1966. Depositional environment of the British Liassic Ironstones considered in the context of their facies relationship. Nature, Lond. 209, 1306–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hallam, A. 1967. An environmental study of the Upper Domerian and Lower Toarcian in Great Britain. Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc., Ser. B, 252, 393445.Google Scholar
Hallimond, A. F. 1925. Iron ores: bedded ores of England and Wales. Petrography and chemistry. Geol. Surv. Gt Br., Spec. Rep. Min. Resources, 29, 139 pp.Google Scholar
Hemingway, J. E. 1951. Cyclic sedimentation and the deposition of Ironstones in the Yorkshire Lias. Proc. Yorks. geol. Soc. 28, 6774.Google Scholar
Huber, N. K. & Garrels, R. M. 1953. Relation of pH and oxidation potential to sedimentary iron formations. Econ. Geol. 48, 337–57.Google Scholar
Nakla, F. M. & Shehata, M. R. N. 1967. Contributions to the mineralogy and geochemistry of some iron-ore deposits in Egypt (U.A.R.). Mineralium Depositum 2, 357–71.Google Scholar
Porrenga, D. H. 1967. Glauconite and chamosite as depth indicators in the marine environment. Mar. Geol. 5, 495501.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Petranek, J. 1964. Shallow-water origin of early Palaeozoic Oolitic Iron Ores, in Van Straaten, L. M. J. U. (Ed.): Deltaic and Shallow Marine Deposits. Elsevier, Amsterdam, 319–22.Google Scholar
Sundbourg, A. 1956. The river Klaralven. A study of fluvial processes. Geog. Annaler 38, 316 pp.Google Scholar
Taylor, J. H. 1949. Petrology of the Northampton Sands Ironstone. Mem. geol. Surv. U.K. 111 pp.Google Scholar
Taylor, J. H. 1951. Sedimentation problems of the Northampton Sands Ironstone. Proc. Yorks. geol. Soc. 28, 7485.Google Scholar
Whitehead, T. H., Anderson, W., Wilson, V. & Wray, D. A. 1952. The Liassic Ironstones. Mem. geol. Surv. U.K.Google Scholar
Wilson, I. G. 1966. Chamosite ooliths in the Raasay Ironstone. Scott. J. Sci. 1, 4757.Google Scholar