An approach to the genesis of palygorskite in a Neogene-Quaternary continental basin using principal factor analysis

Abstract

The Carrión lacustrine basin (≈10 km²), central Spain, is filled with Neogene-Quaternary sediments (20–25 m thick) rich in palygorskite. Two clay units of ∼15 m thick are of particular interest in the basin. The lower one contains over 75% phyllosilicates (palygorskite up to 90%, smectites and illite) in marginal areas (facies A), and it is laterally bound by a distal facies (B) also rich in clay minerals (smectites and illite, and some palygorskite) and gypsum, and includes dolomitic marl intercalations. The composition at the top is primarily marly, with some gypsum (C). The upper clay unit, mainly clay-size material, (D) is rich in smectites, palygorskite and sepiolite, and contains carbonate intercalations near the top. A statistical treatment of the mineralogical and chemical composition data from 120 samples, using principal factor analysis, suggests that: (a) illite and smectite are detrital in origin; (b) palygorskite was formed by transformation of illite and smectite involving reaction with Mg; and (c) sepiolite was a neoformation product favoured by evaporation of silica- and Mg-bearing waters.