Framboidy pirytowe jako wskaźniki paleośrodowiska

Abstract

Pyrite framboids as paleoenvironmental indicators.A b s t r a c t. The problem of application of pyrite framboids in reconstructions of the redox conditions is presented. The characteristics of pyrite framboids, their origin and principles of application in paleoenvironmental interpretations are given. The pyrite framboid diameter distribution as indicators of redox conditions was presented on the examples of the Middle Jurassic (Upper Bajocian-Lower Bathonian) ore-bearing clays of the Polish Jura, and Upper Devonian (Middle and Upper Famennian) dark grey and black shales from Kowala (Holy Cross Mountains). It has been shown, that during the sedimentation of the ore-bearing clays, the pyrite framboids formed in the sediment, below the oxic water column; however, some episodic oscillation around the dysoxic conditions cannot be entirely excluded. During the sedimentation of the Middle Famennian dark grey shales, the redox conditions at the sea-floor oscillated around dysoxia. In both examples, the framboids are characterized by wide range of their diameters and the presence of large, >10 μm, framboids. On the contrary, the Upper Famennian black shales, representing the Hangenberg event, were deposited below the euxinic conditions in the water column. It is indicated by a high frequency of small-size framboids, far below 6 μm in diameter, and the lack of the large ones. The overlying shales, on the other hand, show the transition to more oxic conditions. The redox conditions interpreted above are in agreement with the independent biomarker analyses and paleontological observations.