| title: | Clay mineral diagenesis in the Baltic Basin: implications for the basin tectono-thermal evolution and smectite-to-illite transformation |
|---|---|
| reg no: | ETF5372 |
| project type: | Estonian Science Foundation research grant |
| subject: |
1.10-1.16. Bio-Geo Sciences |
| status: | accepted |
| institution: | TU Faculty of Biology and Geography |
| head of project: | Kalle Kirsimäe |
| duration: | 01.01.2003 - 31.12.2006 |
| description: | The major objective of this project is to study the diagenetic clay mineral evolution and its reasons in the Baltic Basin. Our aims are: (1) to investigate and characterize the smectite-to-illite transformation advance in clay facies rocks and K-bentonites in different stratigraphical positions all over the basin; (2) the reconstruction of the time-temperature conditions which prevailed in the basin by applying the isotope dating and kinetic numerical modeling of the illitization; (3) the identification and interpretation of the supposed thermal/fluidal anomalies and their influence upon clay digenesis; and (4) the understanding of smectite-to-illite transformation mechanism(s) in kinetically controlled low temperature illitization process in shallowly buried areas of the basin. The kinetic modelling of the illitization will be based upon a tentative reconstruction of the subsidence/ erosion and thermal histories in the basin. We will test the different hypotheses assuming first, solely burial diagenesis; secondly, (multiple) brine event(s) and, thirdly, a mixed burial/brine diagenesis models. The result of this project is a first comprehensive overview of the clay mineral diagenetic evolution in the Baltic Basin. This enables the reconstruction of the tectono-thermal evolution of the sedimentary sequences in the Baltic Basin based on clay mineral transformation advance, which would significantly improve the knowledge about the basin's development. Another important expected result of this project is the understanding of the possibly unique smectite-to-illite transformation mechanism(s) in the low-temperature diagenetic environment, which would enhance a lot of our knowledge on illitization and its possible uses for geothermometry in old (Palaeozoic and Early Mesozoic) sedimentary basins. |
| project group | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| no | name | institution | position | |
| 1. | Argo Jõeleht | TU BGGL | Research Sci. | |
| 2. | Ruth Kikas | TU BGGL | PhD. Student | |
| 3. | Kalle Kirsimäe | TU Faculty of Biology and Geography | Professor | |
| 4. | Albertas Paplauskas | TU BGGL | PhD. Student | |