MINERAL PHILLIPSIT

DISCOVERY

Between June 18-July 16, 1998, the MD III - IMAGES IV Expedition was held by
the Government of Indonesia and France using research vessel Marion Dufresne.
This ship is able to take samples of sediments with huge suction peers (giant
piston cores). The purpose of this expedition is to compile biostratigraphy based
on nanoplankton and various accompanying events during sediment deposition in
drilling in the studied location.
The expedition research location was drilling point MD 982156 which was
located at coordinates 11˚ 33.31 ’S and 112˚ 19.72 ’T, in Tinggian Roo, Indian
Ocean, South East Java, outside the Java Trench. The French Chief Scientist is Dr.
Franck Bassinot, who was assisted by his representatives, François Guichard and
Luc Beaufort, while from Indonesia, Safri Burhanuddin from Hasanudin
University, Makassar. In drilling at this sea, 29 sediment samples have been
collected with a length of more than 35 m. Three of them, more than 50 m, and
the longest core reached 55.40 m (MD 982172).
Previous research, as reported by Nishida (1987), states that the areas to the north
of the Java Trench are biostratigraphically based on nanoplankton, all of which
are interconnected. Adisaputra and Hartono (2004) analyzed the results of the
study on MD 982156 and peeled the biostratigraph based on plankton
foraminifera. As a result, they stated that the drilling section at this location could
be divided into five zones and six subzonations.
Furthermore, in 2007, still continuing the results of research on MD 982156,
Adisaputra and Hartono suggested the discovery of the Phillipsite mineral by
adding data on some forms of the mineral based on examinations using Scanning
Electron Microscope (SEM). With magnifications ranging from 1000 x for photo
collections and up to 20,000 x. for individual photos, the matrix of the Phillipsite
mineral is clearly visible.
In the SEM image, it appears that the Phillipsite mineral is actually bound by clay
sediments containing nanoplankton, while the mineral itself actually has a
monoclinic shape. The variation in shape is more reflected by the conditions at the
time of sedimentation, which may be influenced also by current conditions or
factors
other mechanics. Below, Phillipsit's identification mainly refers to Rothwell
(1989).
Identification of Philipsites So far, Phillipsites are believed by researchers such as
Kastner and Stonecipher (1978) and others, to come from extreme changes from
basaltic glass shards that exist on the surface of the seabed, through the
acceleration stage of the solution, perhaps smectite or palagonite. However,
Petzing and Chester (1979) estimated previously that Phillipsites are volcanic
glasses originating from terrestrial volcanoes based on the correlation between the
distribution patterns of Phillipsites in the Pacific Ocean and the current global
volcanic activity.
According to Bemat and Goldberg (1969) and others, Phillipsites are believed to
form rapidly at the meeting of sediments / seawater and continue to grow in the
sedimentary column, although they begin to dissolve at depths indicated by etched
crystal faces, and reduced frequency of contact. With increasing depth, Phillipsites
are increasingly rare at depths of more than 500 m. Clinoptilolite is found at
deeper depth than Phillipsite. lijima (1978), doubts whether Phillipsites can turn
into clinoptilolites in older or deeper buried sediments. The indication may
indicate the speed of basaltic volcanism with low sedimentation rates.
Thus, the depth of carbonate compensation (CCD, carbonate compensation depth)
at the research location is more than 3914 m, because nanoplankton are still very
well preserved. While the fossil-forming material is composed of compact
limestone, unlike the foraminifera which is much porous, it is more resistant to
dissolution.
According to Cronan (1980), Phillipsites are widespread on the seabed, especially
in areas with low sedimentation rates and below the calcium compensation depth.
Usually, this mineral is found in altered tefra, red clay, side sediments, silicates
and oxygenated mud. However, Stonecipher (1976) statistically recorded a
sequence of the number of Phillipsites which was reduced as a lithological
function: clay> vukanik> gampingan> silikatan.
Some researchers suspect that the Phillipsite is more abundant in the sediments of
the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean than in the Atlantic Ocean, while Petzing and
Chester (1979) record high concentrations containing more than 50% Phillipsite
on carbonate-free bases from the central Pacific Ocean and South. The presence of
Phillipsite in the Indian Ocean is in the Central Indian Basin, part of the Central
Indian Ocean, and the Ninety East ridge. In the Atlantic Ocean it is rarely
reported, but Phillipsite-rich sediments have been described from the Cape and
Verde Basin, from the southern part of the Abisal Sohm Plain and from the Kings
Trench.

Some researchers have noted phillipsites as semen, as cavity and fracture fillings,
and as replacements (replacement) of plagioclase. Phillipsite crystals often contain
abundant inclusions which indicate rapid crystal growth. Bonatti (1963) suspected
that a very good crystal shape showed in-situ growth.
As a Characterist
In general, sediments at the location of MD 982156 consist of lean clay and silt,
brownish white or grayish white. The other constituent is tuffaceous clay,
containing abundant nanoplankton along the depth of drilling.
Adisaoutra and Hartono (2004 and 2007) report that at the bottom, at a depth of
30.30 m to 30.00 m (T-21), the sediment consists of the Phillipsite mineral
derived from the Zeolite group which has varied forms, and other forms of
cryptocrystalline times like Gibsit or Hidrargilit. The thickness and dispersion of
this layer is still unknown. To find out it needs to be done some more drilling
around the research location.
By taking fossil photos using a SEM tool, it is clear that various Phillipsite
minerals are bound by cement as a matrix dominated by nanoplankton. Forms of
bonds that occur vary such as straight, T shape, transverse and so on. According to
Adisaputra and Hartono (2007), this mineral is only found as authigenic origin in
the deep sea, which probably originates from sediment from the results of
volcanic activity. Previously, Husaini (2005) stated that this mineral was not
found in Indonesia. This is possible because his research was carried out on
sediments originating from land.
After it was discovered that this section contained a lot of nanoplankton, the
author tried to examine the upper sediment that covered it. As a result, it turns out
that the Phillipsit fossils are also found in very abundant quantities up to the very
top of the cross section. So in this study the sequence of stratigraphy can be
investigated based on nanoplankton, with a stratigraphic sequence based on
plankton foraminifera as a comparison.
At the bottom of the cross section between the depths of 30.30 m - 30 m below the
sea floor (below sea floor / bsf), the sediments are composed of Phillipsite
minerals, many accumulated nanoplankton are found, but do not contain
foraminifera at all. This section is composed of a collection of nanoplankton from
the Paleocene age which is characterized by the dominance of multiradiatus
Discoaster species.
Above 30 m bsf to the upper part of the cross section, there are eight important
events that can be expressed through nanoplankton in the period between the Late
Miocene and the Holocene in the study area. First, First Appearance (PP) from the
Discoaster prepentaradiatus, which ranges from Late Miocene to Early Pliocene to
Early Pliocene. Second, PP from Discoaster asymmetricus, which is associated
with Discoaster pentaradiatus and D. prepentaradiatus, and is found above the first
appearance of D. prepentaradiatus.

Third, the Final Appearance (PA) of the Discoaster prepentaradiatus, contained in

the CN 8b. Fourth, PP from Pseudoemiliania lacunosa, is present in T12 and is
associated with a Discoaster prepentaradiatus. Fifth, PA from Discoaster
asymmetricus, is on CN 12c / NN 17. Sixth, PA from Discoaster brouweri, is in
CN 12d. Seventh, PP from Gephyrocapsa oceanica, is found to the lower part of
the CN 15 or above the first appearance of Emiliania huxleyi, Helicosphaera
hyalina and Gephyrocapsa muellerae. Eighth, PP from Emiliania huxleyi, starts to
appear on CN 14b / NN 20 and CN 15 / NN 15 limits.

Implications and Benefits

The appearance of the Phillipsite at the very bottom of the core M D982156 is
thought to originate from volcanic activity during the Paleocene. This mineral is
formed autigenically in the deep sea. From the results of the stratigraphic
sequence, it was also stated that in the studied area there was a time / hiatus or
irregularity of sediment deposition time, which if based on plankton foraminifera
as discussed by Adisaputra and Hartono (2004), it was not seen.
Overlapping at that time occurred at Eocene until at least the lower part of the
Late Miocene. The mulberry was thought to be a result of volcanic activity, as
indicated by the large number of Phillipsite minerals, which swept the sediment
above the Paleocene resulting in changes in the seabed structure, or sediment
subduction into the Java Trench. After the incident, at the top, sediments were
deposited directly in the Late Miocene age.
In the level of utilization, the Philipsit mineral can be used as a sign of the
presence of oil. This can be seen, for example, from the accumulation of
nanoplankton that has been known as host rock outside the study area that is
prospective to produce oil, the Northeast Java Basin. This basin is now operated
and is considered the prima donna of Exxon Oil company. Possibly the study area
can also be considered as parent sediment when viewed in terms of age
(Paleocene based on the presence of a multiradiatus Discoaster).
On the other hand, Hardjatmo and Husaini (1997) state that Phillipsite has an
important meaning that is equivalent to other minerals such as clinoptilolite,
kabazite, mordenite and ironite. Husaini (2006) mentions the benefits of this
mineral inside
the plastic industry, among others, can be used in the manufacture of thermoactive
resins and as a booster in the hardening process. The Zeolite group is also used to
eliminate hardness in the detergent industry, purify oil palm, absorb dyes in shark
liver oil, as a catalyst in the gasification process of coal with high levels of sulfur
and or nitrogen which produces clean gas. (Mimin K. Adisaputra)