CLAY MINERALOGY OF MISSISSIPPI RIVER DELTAIC SEDIMENTS

Abstract

Research Article| May 01, 1960 CLAY MINERALOGY OF MISSISSIPPI RIVER DELTAIC SEDIMENTS M. S TAGGART, JR.; M. S TAGGART, JR. PRODUCTION RESEARCH DIVISION, HUMBLE OIL & REFINING COMPANY, HOUSTON, TEXAS Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar A. D KAISER, JR. A. D KAISER, JR. PRODUCTION RESEARCH DIVISION, HUMBLE OIL & REFINING COMPANY, HOUSTON, TEXAS Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information M. S TAGGART, JR. PRODUCTION RESEARCH DIVISION, HUMBLE OIL & REFINING COMPANY, HOUSTON, TEXAS A. D KAISER, JR. PRODUCTION RESEARCH DIVISION, HUMBLE OIL & REFINING COMPANY, HOUSTON, TEXAS Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 24 Nov 1958 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Copyright © 1960, The Geological Society of America, Inc. Copyright is not claimed on any material prepared by U.S. government employees within the scope of their employment. GSA Bulletin (1960) 71 (5): 521–530. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1960)71[521:CMOMRD]2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 24 Nov 1958 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation M. S TAGGART, A. D KAISER; CLAY MINERALOGY OF MISSISSIPPI RIVER DELTAIC SEDIMENTS. GSA Bulletin 1960;; 71 (5): 521–530. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1960)71[521:CMOMRD]2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Late Quaternary Mississippi River deltaic sediments off the coast of Louisiana were studied to obtain information on possible clay-mineral alteration in a marine environment. The samples utilized were cores from four foundation test borings and included clays which had been deposited in several environments. For comparison, studies were also made of the clay minerals transported by the Mississippi and Red rivers.The results support the conclusion that clay minerals do not alter appreciably as a result of diagenesis in a marine environment and that the clay-mineral composition of source sediments determines the clay-mineral content of marine sedimentary rocks. All the deltaic samples contained montomorillonite, illite, kaolinite, and chlorite. The most noticeable variation among the samples was in montmorillonite content. Montmorillonite was the most abundant clay mineral in most of the deltaic samples but was much less concentrated in some of the remaining samples. Variations in montmorillonite content did not correspond with differences in depositional environment. Clays with high montmorillonite content occurred in both essentially marine and fresh-water facies.Analyses of samples of Mississippi River and Red River sediments indicated that these rivers carry the same suite of clay minerals as is present in deltaic sediments. Furthermore, samples of Red River sediment, characteristically reddish-brown, were predominantly low in montmorillonite content, whereas samples of the gray Mississippi River sediment were high in montmorillonite content. These differences in clay-mineral composition and color correlate substantially with corresponding variations in samples of deltaic sediment. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.