Characterization of Herringbone Calcite from an Eocene Carbonate Platform, Egypt

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9972994Sumner Herringbone calcite, a distinctive calcite cement with macroscopic banding and specific crystallographic properties, may derive its distinctive morphology from the presence of Fe2+ or Mn2+ in the precipitating solution. Extremely well preserved herringbone calcite present in fissures and caves in a Middle Eocene carbonate platform, Egypt, will provide the opportunity to test previously proposed models for herringbone calcite precipitation based on Archean marine occurrences. If the conditions promoting herringbone calcite precipitation can be constrained, a better understanding of ancient ocean chemistry can be developed, and results will lead to insights into the fundamental processes controlling calcite crystal morphology. Thus, the research objectives for this project are to morphologically and geochemically characterize the Egyptian herringbonecalcite, and to use the results to constrain conditions promoting development of the herringbone calcite crystal texture.