A.V.

Mozherovsky
V.I. Ill’ichev Pacific Oceanological Institute. Far East Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences
(POI FEB RAS), Vladivostok, Russia
Features of the transformation of layered silicates in the Mesozoic-Cenozoic sediments of
the northeastern part of the transition zone from the Asian continent to the Pacific Ocean

The study of the processes of transformation of the sedimentary matter in transition zone
from the Asian continent to the Pacific Ocean is necessary to solve the fundamental problems of
lithogenesis associated with the assessment and use of the energy and mineral potential of
volcanic-sedimentary rocks widespread in this region. Layered silicates are sensitive indicators
of sedimentation conditions, changes in the paleogeographic environment and the nature of
diagenetic transformations of sedimentary material. Its make possible to solve the problems of
stratigraphic constructions and clarify features of the geologic history. The most important
indicative features, in our case, are possessed by the layered silicates. They are smectite,
corrensite, hectorite, kaolinite, mica and chlorite.
Spatial and temporal distribution of these minerals in the Mesozoic-Cenozoic sedimentary
and volcanogenic-sedimentary rocks of the bottom of the Japan and Okhotsk seas, Primorsky
Region, Sakhalin Island, Small Kuril Island Arc and the underwater Vityaz Ridge was studied by
the author [1, 3, 4, 5]. The time (Early Cretaceous - Paleogene), latitudinal (from the Sea of
Japan to Kamchatka) and thicknesses (1.5-3 km) interval of existence of highly ordered mixed-
layer (corrensite-like and rectorite-like) minerals have been identified. It was concluded that in
all studied ancient sedimentary basins, which formed a scattered network on the continental
margin of northeast Asia and developed in a unified sedimentation regime, the same authigenic
minerals were formed in rocks of the same age. Three mineral zones have been identified -
chlorite-mica (Lower Cretaceous and older rocks), transitional - corrensite-rectorite (Lower
Cretaceous-Paleogene) and smectite (from the Oligocene to the present), which characterize the
main direction and stages of mineral transformations of sediments and rocks in the process
marginal-marine sedimentogenesis and epigenesis. It is noted that layered silicates are
transformed in two directions - the transformation of smectite into mica (with an excess of
potassium) through a series of mixed-layer formations of the mica-smectite (rectorite-like) type,
reflecting epigenetic transformations, and into chlorite (with an excess of magnesium) through a
series of mixed-layer formations of the chlorite-smectite (corrensite-like), which characterizes
the sedimentation environment. The study of the mineral composition of the cement of volcanic-
sedimentary rocks in the south of Primorsky Krai made it possible to distinguish in more detail
the time stages of epigenetic transformations, based on the degree of crystalline perfection of
corrensite and rectorite and mineral associations [2]. The initial chloritization falls on the
Oligocene time (33–23 Ma); the formation of corrensite mixed with a corrensite-like mineral,
presumably of the Eocene age (56–33 Ma); Corrensite without chlorite, but with the presence of
trace amounts of mica (Paleocene-Eocene temperature maximum - 56 Ma); Well crystallized
corrensite with the initial appearance of chlorite may be of Maastrichtian-Danish age (66 Ma),
and association with chlorite, mica, and laumontite may be of Lower Cretaceous and older age.
The studied Mesozoic-Cenozoic volcanic-sedimentary and sedimentary rocks of the bottom of
the marginal seas of the north-western part of the Pacific Ocean and adjacent territories were
formed synchronously and have at least two transgressive cycles. One began in the Early
Cretaceous, and the second, in the Paleocene, with basal conglomerates formed in (tectonically
calm) shallow marine environments. Moreover, the source was mainly acidic and intermediate
igneous rocks, characteristic for the continental crust. The total thickness of sediments in the
studied basins could exceed 2–3 km. Authigenic mineral formation in all studied basins has
similar features and indicates the same conditions for the formation of rocks, which is consistent
with the data of other research methods. In coastal marine environment some minerals are
formed, which, as a result of further transformations, transform into the corrensite and rectorite.
The sandstones are dominated by corrensites, while siltstones and siltstones are characterized by
rectorite-like formations. In the studied basins, minerals have indicative properties - smectite,
corrensite, rectorite, chlorite, and mica. The finding of corrensite and rectorite in sedimentary
rocks may indicate that: a) the age of these rocks is not younger than the Eocene and the
assumed thickness of the sediments was not less than 2–3 km; b) a connection with deposits
close to evaporitic is possible.
It is assumed that in the Early Cretaceous and Paleogene time the studied sedimentary
basins, forming a scattered network on the continental margin of Northeast Asia, were developed
in a unified sedimentological regime (minerals which were formed in the accumulating
sediments, were transformed into corrensite and corrensite-like minerals as a result of
epigenesis).
Since the corrensite-like and rectorite-like minerals are probably associated with the
evaporation of seawater and the salinization of sedimentary basins, the rocks containing them
can be reference in stratigraphic constructions for the correlation of similar deposits in the Far
Eastern marginal seas and on the adjacent land. It is possible that the Lower Cretaceous and
Paleocene strata of other sedimentary basins also contain deposits close to evaporatic.
A mineralogical, tectono-sedimentological relationship between the Yamato Seamount
and the southern part of Primorsky Krai is established. Probably, these territories in the Early
Cretaceous and Paleocene time covered a single sedimentation cycle, which manifested itself in
the formation of deposits of the same type with the same authigenic minerals.
 The work was carried out within the framework of the state budgetary theme of the POI
FEB RAS, N. registration AAAA-A17-117030110033-0.
Literature
1. Mozherovsky A.V. Authigenic mineral formation as an indicator of the formation
conditions of Meso-Cenozoic volcanic-sedimentary complexes of the Far Eastern seas. Author's
abstract diss. … Dr. Geol.-min. Sciences // V.I. Ill’ichev Pacific Oceanologycal Institute FEB
RAS. Vladivostok, 2016.45 p. (in Russian)
2. Mozherovsky A.V. Geology and stratigraphy of the Posiet peninsula (South
Primorye) from a mineralogical point of view // Bulletin of the Kamchatka regional organization
Educational and scientific center. Ser .: Earth Sciences. 2019. No. 3 (43). S. 26-37. (in Russian)
3. Mozherovsky A.V., Terekhov E.P. Authigenic minerals in cement of the Early
Cretaceous and Paleocene sedimentary rocks of the Yamato Rise (Sea of Japan) // Pacific
Geology. 1999. T. 18.No. 1. S. 59-70. (in Russian)
4. 4. Terekhov E.P., Mozherovsky A.V., Gorovaya M.T. et al. Composition of the
Cretaceous-Paleogene sedimentary rocks of the Kotikovskaya series of the Terpeniya Peninsula
(Sakhalin Island) //Pacific Geology. 2010. T. 29. No. 3. S. 97-110. (in Russian)
5. 5. Terekhov E.P., Mozherovsky A.V., Tsoi I.B. et al. Upper Cretaceous and
Cenozoic complexes of volcanogenic-sedimentary rocks of the Vityaz Ridge (island slope of the
Kuril-Kamchatka trench) and the history of its development // Pacific Geology. 2012. T. 31. No.
3. S. 24-31. (in Russian)