Changes in depositional environments from Ordovician to tertiary of carbonate rocks in Tak-Mae Sod area, Northwest Thailand

Abstract

Carbonate rocks ranging in age from Ordovician to Tertiary along the Tak-Mae Sod and Mae Sod-Umphang highways were analysed mineralogically, petrographically, and geochemically. The study revealed the depositional environment of the mainly chemical precipitated Ordovician carbonate rocks to be in shallow (lagoonal?) waters of a warm climate. The Carboniferous carbonates were chemically deposited in moderately deep to deep water as indicated by siliceous limestone composed mainly of calcite and radiolarian chert and/or interbedded chert bands. The environment changed to shallower water during the Permo-Carboniferous as seen in the Pra Woh Limestone. The carbonates are characterized by pale colour dolomite, dolomitic limestone and calcareous sandstone. They are sometimes, fossiliferous, mainly bryozoa, foraminifera, corals, gastropods and bivalves. During Triassic to Jurassic, the carbonates were deposited in comparatively shallow and/or closed basins as indicated by alternating sequences of dark to black limestone, calcareous shale and calcareous sandstone. The rocks are composed of high carbonaceous material and clays with few fossils associated. The environment changed to brackish and eventually to fresh water during the Tertiary indicated by fossiliferous limestone (pelycypods and gastropods) and dolomitic limestone which are chemically precipitated in fresh water.