Biogenic characteristics of Mesozoic cherts in southern Tibet and its significance

Abstract

The Xialu chert, which contains abundant biological information, were investigated by major element analysis, micro-Raman, SEM and EPMA. The results show that SiO₂ content of chert is 84.12%–93.08%, averaging 89.84%. The close packed structures of low degree crystallinity of quartz indicate the hydrothermal origin. SiO₂ of modern hot springs exhibit loose silica pellets and nodular, beaded structures. Under polarization microscope, the presence of biological skeleton structures indicate that biological activities are involved in the hydrothermal deposition, which correspond to the geochemical characteristics: w(SiO₂)/ w(K₂O+Na₂O), w(SiO₂)/w(Al₂O₃) and w(SiO₂)/w(MgO), with average values of 295.29, 68.88 and 284.45, respectively. SiO₂ is enriched in the organism (radiolarian) centers, the degree order of SiO₂ within the biologic structures is much higher than that of outside. The impurity minerals albites are formed earlier than the original deposition. Kaolinites, feldspars and mixture of organic materials display lower degree of crystallinities and accumulate as vermicular aggregates.

Keywords

yialu profile / chert / biological texture / hot spring / southern Tibet

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