Is there a way to descriminate detrital from biogenic calcite on an polarization microscope?
Regarding a sediment sample (sampled from >500 mbsf) of well sorted subrounded to rounded -calcareous fine silt sized- grains.
Major presence (~90% on a smear slide) of trigonal-rhomboedral calcite (3-10 microns, fine silt to clay) minerals with no associated microfossil fragments or individuals
*The area is sourounded by limestones and marl lithologies of equivalent age estimated (indicate possible detrital crabonate provinence)
Dear Dr. Tow,
I totally agree , but i assume that reworked, eroded calcite grains from the terrestrial formations (older bedrock, mainly crystaline) might have some morphological/optical differences comparing the calcite grains corresponding to more recent (in comparison with the terrestrial formations) skeletal remains of organisms that lived in the environment that now comprises the sediment layer i examinate
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