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Marine Clastic Sedimentology pp 108–123Cite as

Mineralogical Consequences of Organic Matter Degradation in Sediments: Inorganic/Organic Diagenesis

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Abstract

A significant fraction of the products of organic matter diagenesis is water soluble. Some products react directly to precipitate sedimentary minerals: carbonates, sulphides and phosphates. Low-temperature reactions are mostly microbial whereas later (deeper) reactions are thermally induced. Most of the soluble products are acidic and do not, by themselves, stimulate carbonate mineral precipitation. Reduction of Fe(III) by organic matter, however, causes massive increase in alkalinity. The balance between this and the microbial reactions is a major controlling influence on patterns of mineral diagenesis. Organic acids are produced during catagenesis and can cause mineral dissolution, both of carbonates and silicates. The permeability and porosity of sedimentary rocks may be modified with obvious consequences for petroleum geology. The amounts and types of acids generated are not well known. Equally poorly documented are the Fe(III)-organic matter reactions, yet these must affect both mineral authigenesis and organic maturation.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Beaumont Building, The University, Sheffield, S3 7HF, UK

    Charles Curtis

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  1. Charles Curtis
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Imperial College, Royal School of Mines, London, UK

    J. K. Leggett

  2. Istituto di Geologia e Paleontologia, dell’Università, Bologna, Italy

    G. G. Zuffa

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© 1987 J. k. Leggett & G. G. Zuffa (Graham and Trotman)

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Curtis, C. (1987). Mineralogical Consequences of Organic Matter Degradation in Sediments: Inorganic/Organic Diagenesis. In: Leggett, J.K., Zuffa, G.G. (eds) Marine Clastic Sedimentology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3241-8_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3241-8_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7954-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-3241-8

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