Shallow burial diagenesis of chalks and related sediments at Site 550 on the Goban Spur.

Abstract

Four diagenetic 'facies' were described from SEM analysis of the chalks; in order of increasing depth they are 1) mechanical compaction facies, 2) a transitional facies with both mechanical and chemical compaction features, 3) a chemical compaction facies, and 4) a cement-inhibited facies. It appears that advanced stages of cementation and lithification can occur in pure chalks at relatively shallow depths of burial (100-700m) but can be inhibited by the presence of clays and coarser grained detritus. -from Authors