Immobile and mobile elements during the transition of volcanic ash to bentonite – An example from the early Palaeozoic sedimentary section of the Baltic Basin

Abstract

In order to check the immobility and mobility of elements during conversion of acidic volcanic glass to bentonites in normal marine environments, we studied the composition of three altered volcanic ash layers from the Palaeozoic of the Baltoscandian Region, correlated through different facies. Regular changes in element concentrations in accordance with loss and gain of material during the transformation of volcanic ash indicate that Al, Nb, Ti, Zr, Sn, Pt, Ta, Hf and Th were generally immobile and can be used for the interpretation of source magma and correlation of ash layers. Cd behaves similarly with immobile elements and this can be explained with preservation only of the immobile portion of Cd that is fixed in phenocrysts. In bentonites in shales during the formation of kaolinite, the data indicate small-scale mobility of Al and Cd. In lime muds where K-feldspar forms from volcanic ash, Ta, Hf and Th reveal some small scale mobility. These slightly mobile elements must be used with caution for interpretation of thin ash layers with thicknesses of <1cm. Sc, V, Ga, Y and Rare Earth Elements widely used for the interpretation of bentonites have noticeable mobility and can thus be used only semi-quantitatively or qualitatively in the bulk bentonite.