Geochemistry of minor elements in the Monterey Formation, California; seawater chemistry of deposition

D.Z. Piper; C.M. Isaacs

doi:10.3133/pp1566

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Geochemistry of minor elements in the Monterey Formation, California; seawater chemistry of deposition

D.Z. Piper·C.M. Isaacs

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Abstract

Approximately 24 samples of the Monterey Formation, Southern California, have been analyzed for their major-element oxide and minor-element content. These analyses allow identification of a detrital fraction, composed of terrigenous quartz, clay minerals, and other Al silicate minerals, and a marine fraction, composed of biogenic silica, calcite, dolomite, organic matter, apatite, and minor amounts of pyrite. The minor-element contents in the marine fraction alone are interpreted to have required, at the time of deposition, a high level of primary productivity in the photic zone and denitrifying bacterial respiration in the bottom water.

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Source-reported bounding extent: 36.58355488335723° to 36.97842095659724° latitude; -122.11578369140626° to -121.78619384765624° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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D.Z. Piper, C.M. Isaacs. 1995. Geochemistry of minor elements in the Monterey Formation, California; seawater chemistry of deposition. https://doi.org/10.3133/pp1566

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