Depositional and diagenetic signatures of Late Eocene–Oligocene sediments, South Carolina

Abstract

Abstract Surficial and near-surface soils of the South Carolina Coastal Plain reflect a variety of lithologies and depositional environments that are difficult to differentiate because of intense leaching and abrupt or laterally inconsistent facies changes. Binocular microscopic examination, scanning electron microscopic/energy dispersive X-ray (SEM/EDX) observations, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses indicate that onshore Late Eocene to Late Oligocene Barnwell Group sediments are transitional facies ranging from high-energy fluvial deposits to offshore siliciclastic shelf sands. Interfingering of the units results in alternation of mineralogic signatures within a low-gradient fluvial/transitional/marine depositional system. Late Eocene and Early Oligocene offshore sediments were deposited in a mixed carbonate–siliciclastic, middle- to outer-shelf environment that was subjected to periods of erosion or non-deposition during transgressive events. Detrital and diagenetic characteristics of the onshore kaolinite-enriched, Late Oligocene Upland Unit sediments reflect deposition in a high- to low-energy fluvial system. Differentiation between these uppermost sediments and the underlying low-energy fluvial deposits of the Late Eocene Tobacco Road Sand is based on distinctive hydroxy-interlayered vermiculite (HIV) signatures. Intervals of HIV-enrichment are coincident with accumulations of carbonaceous material and identified as paleosols; these “soils” are used to infer offshore transgressive periods. Onshore sediments of the Late Eocene Dry Branch Formation contain high concentrations of smectite and flocculated, relatively poorly crystallized kaolinite flakes reflective of marine depositional conditions. At the base of this unit, authigenic Ca-minerals (Ca-zeolites and calcite) and quartz lepispheres (opal-CT) form coatings on and between sand grains. Late Eocene siliceous microfossils that contribute to opal-CT formation are identified in southwestern North Atlantic continental margin shelf, slope and rise deposits and are a valuable correlation tool for onshore sediments.