Magnetic Susceptibility and Natural Gamma Radioactivity as Indirect Indicators of Impurities in Limestones of the Sabinas Basin: Possible Relationships with the Sedimentation Environment

José A Batista Rodríguez,Joaquín A Proenza Fernández,Itzayana Y Zamora Medellín,Mitzué Garza García,Gloria I Dávila Pulido

doi:10.4236/gep.2017.510007

José A Batista Rodríguez, Joaquín A Proenza Fernández + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4236/gep.2017.510007

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Abstract

This study presents an analysis of magnetic susceptibility and natural gamma radioactivity as indirect indicators of impurities in Cretaceous limestones of the Sabinas basin, as well as of the possible relation of these physical properties with the changes in the sedimentation environment. Both of these physical properties indicate changes in the degree of impurities and the mineralogical composition of this rock, principally in its organic matter and detritus content. Considering that the sedimentation environment determines the impurities in these rocks, possible environmental conditions at different levels of the Cretaceous were suggested using the magnetic susceptibility, total gamma radiation and potassium values, as well as the uranium and thorium concentration in the limestones. The analyses suggest variations in the depth of water table of the basin, which are mainly related to transgressions and marine regressions.

Highlights

As carbonate sedimentary rocks predominate in the stratigraphic sequence of the Sabinas Basin, this study presents an analysis of potential magnetic susceptibility (κ) and natural gamma radioactivity (NGR) as indirect indicators of impurities in limestones and possible relationships in the sedimentation environment of this rock sequence of the basin
At the selected measurement points 5 measurements of κ were performed using a KT-Plus made by Terraplus Inc., after which one NGR measurement was taken using an RS-125 super gamma ray Spectrometer made by Radiation Solutions Inc., which has 4 channels: total gamma radiation (TGR in μR/h); potassium concentration (K in %); uranium concentration (U in ppm); and, thorium concentration (Th in ppm)
In the geological formations studied here, the limestones differ in terms of their κ and NGR values, with the highest κ values recorded in the Washita Group and the Taraise Fm., while the Austin and Aurora Formations recorded the lowest values (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

There are various geological structures found in northeast Mexico, which show. The Sabinas Basin, an area with significant mineral resources, is one of these structures. Significant accumulations of metallic and non-metallic ores and hydrocarbons are associated with the rocks that fill this basin [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

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