<p>The sedimentary environment and mechanisms of formation of giant ooids (&gt; 2&#xa0;mm) are not well understood. Here, we use petrographical, mineralogical and geochemical data of giant ooids from the Lower Triassic Buntsandstein Formation of central Germany to develop a coherent formation model. Structural preservation of calcite crystallites in ooid cortices in combination with comparatively low strontium concentrations (&lt; 545&#xa0;μg/g) and the absence of dolomite in the cortex suggest a primary low-Mg calcite composition. Shale-normalised rare earth elements plus yttrium (REE + Y) patterns lack a pronounced heavy REE over light REE enrichment and show a positive cerium anomaly (Ce/Ce*<sub>SN</sub> = 1.9–3.9). Together with a missing yttrium anomaly and low Y/Ho ratios (&lt; 40), these data are largely consistent with ooid formation in a lacustrine environment. Positive cerium and lanthanum anomalies further point to formation and deposition in an alkaline to hypersaline playa-lake environment. Based on our findings, a five-stage formation model is proposed. We suggest nucleus formation by microbial spheres, followed by calcite crystal nucleation on biofilm templates at the sediment–water interface, and crystal/cortex growth inside the sediment pile. The spherical ooid form is achieved by wave-induced physical rolling motion after exhumation. Ooid growth ceases when the ooid reaches a critical size (here 4&#xa0;mm), depending on local hydrodynamic properties. Inhomogeneous crystal growth and the inclusion of exogenous particles lead to structural and geochemical anomalies in the ooid cortex. Results presented here have far-reaching implications for the application of REE and other trace elements as environmental proxies in ancient carbonates.</p>

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Palaeoenvironmental implications and genesis of lacustrine Lower Triassic giant ooids

  • Phyllis Mono,
  • René Hoffmann,
  • Niels Jöns,
  • Andreas Klügel,
  • Kevin Stevens,
  • Thomas C. Brachert,
  • Adrian Immenhauser

摘要

The sedimentary environment and mechanisms of formation of giant ooids (> 2 mm) are not well understood. Here, we use petrographical, mineralogical and geochemical data of giant ooids from the Lower Triassic Buntsandstein Formation of central Germany to develop a coherent formation model. Structural preservation of calcite crystallites in ooid cortices in combination with comparatively low strontium concentrations (< 545 μg/g) and the absence of dolomite in the cortex suggest a primary low-Mg calcite composition. Shale-normalised rare earth elements plus yttrium (REE + Y) patterns lack a pronounced heavy REE over light REE enrichment and show a positive cerium anomaly (Ce/Ce*SN = 1.9–3.9). Together with a missing yttrium anomaly and low Y/Ho ratios (< 40), these data are largely consistent with ooid formation in a lacustrine environment. Positive cerium and lanthanum anomalies further point to formation and deposition in an alkaline to hypersaline playa-lake environment. Based on our findings, a five-stage formation model is proposed. We suggest nucleus formation by microbial spheres, followed by calcite crystal nucleation on biofilm templates at the sediment–water interface, and crystal/cortex growth inside the sediment pile. The spherical ooid form is achieved by wave-induced physical rolling motion after exhumation. Ooid growth ceases when the ooid reaches a critical size (here 4 mm), depending on local hydrodynamic properties. Inhomogeneous crystal growth and the inclusion of exogenous particles lead to structural and geochemical anomalies in the ooid cortex. Results presented here have far-reaching implications for the application of REE and other trace elements as environmental proxies in ancient carbonates.