Paleoenvironmental implications of authigenic magnesian clay formation sequences in the Barra Velha formation (Santos Basin, Brazil)

The characterization of Mg-clays in rock samples (well P1) from the Barra Velha Formation (Early Cretaceous) allowed the establishment of mineral assemblages on the basis of their kerolite and Mg-smectite (stevensite and saponite) content. Kerolite-rich assemblages (A and B) rarely con-tain saponite. Assemblage B is composed of kerolite-stevensite mixed layers, while assemblage A consists of more than 95% kerolite. Mg-smectite-rich assemblages (C and CB) are made up of both Mg-smectites. The predominance of stevensite in the lower interval of the stratigraphic succession suggests evaporative conditions, higher salinity and pH, which would favor its authigenesis by neoformation. In the upper portion, the occurrence of thick kerolite-rich intervals suggests regular water inputs, contributing with a decreasing in salinity and pH, favoring the neoformation of kero-lite and later kerolite-stevensite mixed layering. The saponite would be the result of the transfor-mation from Al-smectite into Mg-smectite in a Mg2+ rich medium. The results indicate that lake hydrochemical processes would have allowed the establishment of a basic depositional sequence, from base to top, as follows: (i) initial lake expansion stage marked by the occurrence of saponite, (ii) later kerolite neoformation, (iii) formation of kerolite-stevensite mixed layer with increasing sa-linity, and (iv) neoformation of stevensite, marking a final stage of maximum salinity (evaporation) and alkalinity of the lak

Mineralogical Study of Levels with Magnesian Clay Minerals in the Santos Basin, Aptian Pre-Salt Brazil

The object of this study is magnesian clay minerals present in carbonate rocks of the post-rift phase of the pre-salt in the Santos Basin. These rocks developed in an Aptian-age alkaline lacustrine environment. This study summarizes the formation of clay minerals associated with different lithotypes in a range of 19 m and a depth of more than 5100 m. They were characterized from petrographic analysis by optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction (total sample and clay fraction), and modeling by Newmod®; and examined and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. An approach based on identifying lithotypes and characterization of microsites allowed us to understand the occurrence of different clay minerals. Kerolite was the most abundant mineral in the sampled range. It occurs in lamellar aggregates under greater preservation of the original rock lamination and in association with spherulites and shrubs. The Stv/Ker mixed layers occurs in the same association, and formed finer unlaminated aggregates associated with the more intense dolomitization and silicification processes. Saponite occurs associated with detrital minerals forming clayey levels intercalated with microcrystalline carbonates. Fluids with a high Mg/Si and pH < 9 favor the precipitation of kerolite. The increase in pH during diagenesis may be responsible for the formation of Stv/Ker mixed layers