Chemistry and mineralogy of Precambrian paleosols in northern Michigan

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-1975

Abstract

Paleosol profiles can be recognized on a basement terrain of granodiorite, peridotite, and diabase that underlie the upper Keweenawan (?) Jacobsville sandstone. The main characteristics of the granodiorite and peridotite profiles are a substantial loss in SiO2, Al2O3, and alkaline earths; a smaller loss in Fe2O3 and NiO; the concentration of dolomite and quartz in paleocaliche horizons; and the strong pigmentation of some of the primary minerals at the lower fringe of weathering. The granodiorite paleosol consists of a mixture of secondary and primary minerals: sericite, chlorite, vermiculite, biotite, muscovite, K-feldspar, dolomite, quartz, hematite, and rutile. The paleosol on peridotite contains chlorite, vermiculite, dolomite, quartz, hematite, and talc. The paleosol profiles resemble present-day ones developed under semi-arid to arid conditions. © 1975 Geological Society of America.

Publication Title

Bulletin of the Geological Society of America

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