Palygorskite and eustatism during Mid-Cretaceous in the Maiella Mountain (Abruzzi, Central Italy)

The clay mineralogy of Mid-Cretaceous carbonate pelagic sediments of the Maiella Mountain, a transition zone between the Abruzzi platform and the Umbrian basin, have been studied by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The clay assemblages are composed of chlorite, illite, smectite, illite/smectite mixed-layers and detrital palygorskite. The palygorskite occurs only in sediments deposited during anoxic periods. These periods are associated with sea-level rises, and therefore it is suggested that during Mid-Cretaceous, in the basin of the Maiella Mountain, palygorskite was derived from the reworking of pedogenic crusts or chemical sediments which were deposited on the adjacent platform areas during transgressive events.Deconinck Jean-François, Accarie H. Palygorskite and eustatism during Mid-Cretaceous in the Maiella Mountain (Abruzzi, Central Italy). In: Proceedings of the 9th international Clay Conference, Strasbourg, 1989. Vol IV : Clays in sediments. Diagenesis and hydrothermalism. Strasbourg : Institut de Géologie – Université Louis-Pasteur, 1990. pp. 15-22. (Sciences Géologiques. Mémoire, 88