Abstract
Although the origin of bedded radiolarian cherts in orogenic belts has been widely debated1–15, their geochemistry is still poorly understood. Triassic bedded radiolarian cherts occur extensively in the Japanese Islands and are generally not associated with ophiolitic rocks but rather with clastic rocks. We present here chemical data on the Triassic bedded cherts of Kamiaso in central Japan. The relationship of SiO2 with Al2O3, TiO2 and Zr shows that the bedded cherts have been formed by a simple mixing of biogenic silica derived from radiolarians and sponge spicules with lithogenic materials. The ratios of several elements relative to TiO2 strongly suggest that the shale partings and lithogenic portions of the cherts are consanguineous. Sedimentary structures as well as the geochemical evidence suggest that most Kamiaso cherts are turbidity current deposits. Our geochemical and geological data compared with those of recent marine sediments from various environments, demonstrate that the Triassic cherts and associated shale partings are not deep pelagic in origin but formed in an offshore or marginal sea environment.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Steinmann, G. 14th int. Geol. Congr. 2, 637–668 (1927).
Fagan, J. J. Bull. geol. Soc. Am. 73, 595–612 (1962).
Bailey, E. H., Irwin, W. P. & Jones, D. L. Bull. Calif. Div. Mines Geol. 183 (1964).
Thurston, D. R. Contr. Miner. Petrol. 36, 329–334 (1972).
Kanmera, K. Spec. Publ. Soc. Econ. Paleontol. Miner. 19, 161–173 (1974).
Nisbet, E. G. & Price, I. Spec. Publ. Int. Ass. Sedim. 1, 351–366 (1974).
Garrison, R. E. Spec. Publ. Int. Ass. Sedim. 1, 367–399 (1974).
Kimura, T., Yoshida, S. & Toyohara, F. J. Fac. Sci. Univ. Tokyo, Sec. II 19, 149–177 (1975).
Imoto, N. & Fukutomi, M. Monog. Ass. Geol. Collab. Jap. 19, 35–42 (1975).
Adachi, M. J. Earth Sci., Nagoya Univ. 23/24, 13–55 (1976).
Shimizu, H. & Masuda, A. Nature 266, 346–348 (1977).
McBride, E. F. & Folk, R. L. J. sedim. Petrol. 47, 1261–1276 (1977).
Steinberg, M. et al. Sedimentology 24, 547–563 (1977).
Folk, R. L. & McBride, E. F. J. sedim. Petrol. 48, 1069–1102 (1978).
Iijima, A., Kakuwa, Y., Yamazaki, K. & Yanagimoto, Y. J. Fac. Sci. Univ. Tokyo, Sec. II 19, 369–400 (1978).
Igo, H. & Koike, T. J. geol. Soc. Japan 81, 197–198 (1975).
Nakaseko, K. & Nishimura, A. Sci. Rep. Col. Gen. Educ. Osaka Univ. 28, 61–85 (1979).
Kido, S. Spec. Vol. News Osaka Micropaleontol. (in the press).
Mizutani, S. et al. Proc. Japan Acad. 57B, 194–199 (1980).
Sugisaki, R. Geol. Surv. Japan, Cruise Rep. 9, 65–73 (1978).
Sugisaki, R. Geol. Surv. Japan, Cruise Rep. 13, 75–88 (1979).
Sugisaki, R. Init. Rep. DSDP Leg 58, 719–735 (1980).
Sugisaki, R. & Kinoshita, T. Geol. Surv. Japan, Cruise Rep. 14, 146–158 (1981).
Sugisaki, R. Geol. Surv. Japan, Cruise Rep. 15, 236–244 (1981).
Sugisaki, R. Geol. Surv. Japan, Cruise Rep. (in the press).
Sugisaki, R. & Honza, E. Bull. geol. Surv. Jap. (in the press).
Sugisaki, R. & Kinoshita, T. Geol. Surv. Japan, Cruise Rep. (in the press).
Sugisaki, R. & Yamamoto, K. Geol. Surv. Japan, Cruise Rep. (in the press).
Sugisaki, R., Anno, M., Adachi, M. & Ui, H. Geochem. J. 14, 101–112 (1980).
Kondo, N. & Adachi, M. J. geol. Soc. Japan 81, 373–386 (1975).
Boström, K. & Peterson, M. N. A. Mar. Geol. 7, 427–447 (1969).
Barrett, T. J. Chem. Geol. 34, 289–317 (1981).
Barrett, T. J. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 49, 193–204 (1980).
Taylor, S. R. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 28, 1273–1285 (1964).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sugisaki, R., Yamamoto, K. & Adachi, M. Triassic bedded cherts in central Japan are not pelagic. Nature 298, 644–647 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1038/298644a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/298644a0
This article is cited by
-
Geochemical Characterization of Organic Rich Black Rocks of the Niutitang Formation to Reconstruct the Paleoenvironmental Settings during Early Cambrian Period from Xiangxi Area, Western Hunan, China
Journal of Earth Science (2023)
-
Palaeozoic (Silurian–Devonian) cherts from the Balkan Terrane, western Bulgaria: geochemistry, biostratigraphy and depositional settings
Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments (2023)
-
Origin of the early Ediacaran chert from Infrakrol Formation in Krol Belt, Lesser Himalaya, India
Journal of Sedimentary Environments (2022)
-
The accumulation model of organic matters for the Niutitang Formation shale and its control on the pore structure: a case study from Northern Guizhou
Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology (2022)
-
Lithological and Si–O–S isotope geochemistry: constraints on the origin and genetic environment of the selenium (Se)-rich siliceous rocks in Enshi, Hubei Province, China
Acta Geochimica (2021)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.