How detrital mica affects compactional porosity loss?

Abstract

ABSTRACTDetrital micas are moderately abundant components in lithic sandstones. Examples from the Törtel and Szolnok Formations (Pannonian basin) and from the Lower Freshwater Molasse and Upper Marine Molasse (Swiss Molasse basin) show that the response of micas to increasing effective stress due to burial is substantially different from that of true ductile particles: the mica plates bend, but their thickness remains essentially constant. Based on this observation, a new model is proposed to describe the relationship between porosity loss and the ratio of mica‐thickness and grain size. The results of calculations emphasize the importance of this latter parameter, as opposed to porosity loss from deformation of true ductile grains which is independent of the relationship between the grain sizes of deforming and rigid components.