Acta Geologica Hungarica
Volume/Issue:
Volume 45: Issue 3
Micromorphology and mineralogy of the Eocene calcrete gravel from the Mecsek Mountains (S Hungary)
Authors:
Andrea Varga Department of Petrology and Geochemistry, Eötvös Loránd University H-1117 Budapest, Pázmány P. sétány 1/c, Hungary

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György Szakmány Department of Petrology and Geochemistry, Eötvös Loránd University H-1117 Budapest, Pázmány P. sétány 1/c, Hungary

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Béla Raucsik Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Veszprém H-8201 Veszprém, Egyetem u. 10, Hungary

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Pages:
287–299
Online Publication Date:
22 Jul 2005
Publication Date:
01 Oct 2002
Article Category:
Research Article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1556/ageol.45.2002.3.6
Keywords:
micromorphology; micromorphology; micromorphology; mineralogy; biological activity; beta calcrete; Eocene; Western Mecsek Mts
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Redeposited Eocene calcrete gravel was found in a Miocene conglomerate sequence in the Western Mecsek Mountains, S Hungary. The purpose of this paper is to describe the micromorphological and mineralogical characteristics of these rocks. A large number of calcrete thin sections were analyzed using a petrographic microscope. This study was supplemented by microchemical staining, cathode luminescence examination and X-ray diffraction methods.  The diagnostic features identified are rhizoliths (rhizocretion, root cast and root petrifaction), alveolar textures, in situ Microcodium grains, peloids, coated grains and pedogenic voids. According to these micromorphological results the studied calcrete belongs to the group of beta calcretes. The biofabric of this calcrete reflects an extensive vegetation cover and a relatively high degree of biological activity. Micromorphology and mineralogical composition of the calcrete gravels (i.e. dominance of calcite, quartz, illite±muscovite and illite/smectite) suggest a semi-arid/subhumid climate during calcrete pedogenesis. Within the Eocene calcrete gravel two main cement types have been distinguished: a meteoric vadose cement (vadose silt) and a phreatic one (drusy ferroan calcite spar). Drusy sparite is the typical cement of near-surface diagenesis, and this, together with its ferroan nature, leads to the conclusion that the main site of cementation of the Eocene calcrete was the meteoric phreatic zone.

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Cover Acta Geologica Hungarica
Acta Geologica Hungarica
Print ISSN:
0236-5278
Online ISSN:
1588-2594

Acta Geologica Hungarica
Language English
Size  
Year of
Foundation		 1952
Publication
Programme		 changed title
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per Year		  
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per Year		  
Founder Magyar Tudományos Akadémia  
Founder's
Address		 H-1051 Budapest, Hungary, Széchenyi István tér 9.
Publisher Akadémiai Kiadó
Publisher's
Address		 H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
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Publisher		 Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN 0236-5278 (Print)
ISSN 1588-2594 (Online)

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