Limestone

BIOGENIC, BIOCHEMICAL AND ORGANIC

SEDIMENTS
c) Classification based on the texture.
(Dunham classification (1962)

Dr. M. Galmed

Limestone
The photos on this page are all under crossed polarizers.
The two pictures above show fossiliferous limestones
(biosparudites) with abundant fragments of calcite fossil
shells. On the left below is a recrystallized limestone
consisting entirely of sparry calcite, and on the right is an
oolitic limestone with small ooliths showing concentric
growth, and minor replacement of calcite by chert.
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Limestone

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Limestone

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Dolomite
(CO3)2

Ca

Mg

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Dolostone

Dolostone is a sedimentary rock consisting

principally of dolomite. The photograph, under
crossed
polarizers,
shows
the
extreme
birifringence and twinning characteristics of
dolomite. Dolomite is difficult to distinguish from
calcite in thin section, without special treatment.

Marble

Marbles are metamorphosed limestone or

dolostone. The photo (crossed polarizers)
shows strongly twinned and highly cleaved
calcite.
Dr. M. Galmed

BIOGENIC, BIOCHEMICAL AND ORGANIC

SEDIMENTS

Phosphorites
Sedimentary
phosphate
deposits
or
phosphorites are important natural resources.
Phosphates are one of the chief constituents of
fertilizer and they are used widely in the
chemical industry.
The most common sedimentary phosphate
minerals are varieties of apatite.
Dr. M. Galmed

BIOGENIC, BIOCHEMICAL AND ORGANIC

SEDIMENTS

Phosphorites
APATITE
Dahlite,
crystalline
(carbonate
hydroxylapatite). colourless, brown to
yellowish and
grey 1st order.
Francolite,
crystalline
(carbonate
flourapatite). colourless, brown to yellowish
and grey 1st order.
Collophane, cryptocrystalline, brown,
yellowish brown, black and isotropic.
Dr. M. Galmed

BIOGENIC, BIOCHEMICAL AND ORGANIC

SEDIMENTS

Phosphorites
Microscopically, Phosphorites

have nearly the same

constituents of carbonates (allochems, matrix, and
cement). In phosphorite the constituents can be
differentiated into:
a) Phosphatic allochemical components which include
non- skeletal (collophanic pellets, coprolites and
intraclasts) and skeletal dahlitic or francolitic (bones,
skull, scales, spines and teeth).
b) Non-phosphatic allochemical components (quartz
grains, clays, pyrite and allochemical carbonate
fragments).
Dr. M. Galmed

BIOGENIC, BIOCHEMICAL AND ORGANIC

SEDIMENTS

Phosphorites

Shark teeth

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BIOGENIC, BIOCHEMICAL AND ORGANIC

SEDIMENTS

Phosphorites

Dr. M. Galmed

CHEMICAL
SEDIMENTS

(EVAPORITES, IRONSTONE AND IRON FORMATION)

Evaporites are mainly chemical sediments, which have
been precipitated from water following the evaporative
concentration of dissolved salts.
If a volume of ocean water is concentrated by
continued evaporation, several salts will precipitate
one after the other according to their solubility
products:
first carbonates (calcite)
calcium sulphate (gypsum),
sodium chloride (halite)
potassium chloride (potash).
Dr. M. Galmed

CHEMICAL
SEDIMENTS

EVAPORITES

The principal evaporite minerals are:

gypsum, CaSO4.2H2O
Monoclinic, low relief and weak birefringence and grey 1st order.

Anhydrite, CaSO4
Orthorhombic, moderate birefringence, higher relief and 2nd order.

Halite, NaCl.
Cubic, low relief and isotropic.

Rocks of gypsum-anhydrite possess distinctive

textures such as lamination, nodular texture.
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CHEMICAL
SEDIMENTS

(EVAPORITES)

Gypsum

odular texture

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CHEMICAL
SEDIMENTS

(EVAPORITES)

Gypsum

Lamination texture

Dr. M. Galmed

CHEMICAL
SEDIMENTS

(EVAPORITES)

Gypsum

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CHEMICAL
SEDIMENTS

(EVAPORITES)

Anhydrite

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CHEMICAL
SEDIMENTS
(EVAPORITES)

Halite

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CHEMICAL
SEDIMENTS

(IRONSTONE AND IRON FORMATION)

Banded Iron Formation, BIF

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GOOD LUCK

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Ferroan
Calcite

Non-ferroan
Calcite

Ferroan
Dolomite

Non-ferroan
Dolomite

Alizarin
Red-s

Yes Red

Yes Red

No

No

Potassium
Ferricyanide
Blue

Yes Blue

No

Yes Blue

No

Combined
Stains

Purple

Red

Blue

Clear

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Quartz

Orthoclase

Plagioclase
>3%An

Plagioclase
<3% An

No stains

Clear

Clear

Clear

Clear

Sodium
Cobaltnitrate

Clear

Yellow

Clear

Clear

Rhodizonate
Solution

Clear

Clear

Pink to Red

Clear

Both Stains

Clear

Yellow

Pink to Red

Clear

Dr. M. Galmed