The nature and origin of authigenic smectites in some recent marine sediments

Abstract

AbstractThree principal modes of formation are apparent for authigenic smectites in Recent marine sediments: alteration of volcanic rocks and glass, low-temperature combination of biogenic silica and Fe-oxyhydroxides, and direct precipitation from hydrothermal fluids. The latter two mechanisms are discussed with reference to new evidence from studies of sediments from the Bauer Deep of the equatorial eastern Pacific and the Atlantis II Deep in the Red Sea. In the Atlantis II Deep sediments, three sub-environments of smectite formation from hydrothermal fluids are recognized. In two of them nontronites are formed, whilst in the third an Fe-poor smectite, intermediate in composition between beidellite and montmorillonite, occurs.