Definition
Red beds is a term referred to sediments or sedimentary rocks composed primarily of sandstone, siltstone, or shale that are predominantly red in color due to the presence of iron oxides. These sedimentary rocks are deposited in hot arid climates under oxidizing conditions. The red color in primary red beds derives from the dehydration of goethite to hematite, the former being unstable at high temperature and in absence of water. Red beds are common in the Proterozoic and Phanerozoic and mark particularly oxidizing periods such as during the Permian and Triassic. Their absence in sedimentary sequences older than 2.65 Ga is often interpreted as an evidence of a reduced atmosphere during the Archean.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2015 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this entry
Cite this entry
Pinti, D.L. (2015). Red Beds. In: Gargaud, M., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-44185-5_1352
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-44185-5_1352
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-662-44184-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-662-44185-5
eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics