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Article

Characterization of Siliceous Nodules in Western Kefalonia Ιsland Greece: An Initial Approach to Their Formation and Diagenetic Characteristics

by
Paraskevi Lampropoulou
1,
Vayia Xanthopoulou
1,2,
Małgorzata Wojtaszek-Kalaitzidi
3,
Petros Petrounias
1,
Elena Zoumpouli
1,4,
George Iliopoulos
1 and
Stavros Kalaitzidis
1,*
1
Department of Geology, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
2
Laboratory of Electron Microscopy and Microanalysis, School of Natural Sciences, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
3
Institute for Chemical Processing of Coal, 41803 Zabrze, Poland
4
Kefalonia-Ithaca Geopark, Koutavos Environmental Center, 28100 Argostoli, Greece
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Minerals 2022, 12(1), 101; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12010101
Submission received: 18 November 2021 / Revised: 10 January 2022 / Accepted: 12 January 2022 / Published: 15 January 2022
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Mineralogy of the Siliceous Concretions)

Abstract

In this study, siliceous nodules from the world-famous Myrtos beach, as well as from Avithos beach, in the western flanks of Kefalonia Island in Greece are examined by means of petrographical, mineralogical, geochemical and micropaleontological methods. The objectives of this study are to characterize the textural and compositional features of the nodules, with the aim to provide an initial interpretation of their origin and their diagenetic evolution. The studied siliceous nodules are hosted within Lower Cretaceous thin-bedded limestones at Myrtos and Upper Eocene limestones at Avithos. Nodules from both areas display a characteristic concentric texture at a macroscopic and microscopic scale. They both have a dense fine-grained siliceous sedimentary fabric, composed mainly of microcrystalline or cryptocrystalline quartz and moganite with common residual calcite in the case of Avithos. These results, and in particular the shape of the nodules, along the textural and compositional characteristics, indicate different conditions of formation in the two localities, both during the early epigenetic stages, as well as later during the diagenetic processes. Myrtos nodules originated from Si-precursors deposited in a pelagic environment, going through intense Si-replacement. Avithos nodules were deposited in a more proximal environment, being influenced by a less intense silicification. Nevertheless, the higher degree of recrystallization of Avithos samples indicates a syn- or post-diagenetic tectonic activity that resulted in the circulation of geothermal fluids. The conclusions drawn from this work demonstrate the usefulness of thorough studies of siliceous nodules in order to get a more comprehensive understanding of the initial depositional conditions, as well as diagenetic pathways and processes.
Keywords: cherts; flint-like rocks; Kefalonia island; moganite; siliceous nodules cherts; flint-like rocks; Kefalonia island; moganite; siliceous nodules

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MDPI and ACS Style

Lampropoulou, P.; Xanthopoulou, V.; Wojtaszek-Kalaitzidi, M.; Petrounias, P.; Zoumpouli, E.; Iliopoulos, G.; Kalaitzidis, S. Characterization of Siliceous Nodules in Western Kefalonia Ιsland Greece: An Initial Approach to Their Formation and Diagenetic Characteristics. Minerals 2022, 12, 101. https://doi.org/10.3390/min12010101

AMA Style

Lampropoulou P, Xanthopoulou V, Wojtaszek-Kalaitzidi M, Petrounias P, Zoumpouli E, Iliopoulos G, Kalaitzidis S. Characterization of Siliceous Nodules in Western Kefalonia Ιsland Greece: An Initial Approach to Their Formation and Diagenetic Characteristics. Minerals. 2022; 12(1):101. https://doi.org/10.3390/min12010101

Chicago/Turabian Style

Lampropoulou, Paraskevi, Vayia Xanthopoulou, Małgorzata Wojtaszek-Kalaitzidi, Petros Petrounias, Elena Zoumpouli, George Iliopoulos, and Stavros Kalaitzidis. 2022. "Characterization of Siliceous Nodules in Western Kefalonia Ιsland Greece: An Initial Approach to Their Formation and Diagenetic Characteristics" Minerals 12, no. 1: 101. https://doi.org/10.3390/min12010101

APA Style

Lampropoulou, P., Xanthopoulou, V., Wojtaszek-Kalaitzidi, M., Petrounias, P., Zoumpouli, E., Iliopoulos, G., & Kalaitzidis, S. (2022). Characterization of Siliceous Nodules in Western Kefalonia Ιsland Greece: An Initial Approach to Their Formation and Diagenetic Characteristics. Minerals, 12(1), 101. https://doi.org/10.3390/min12010101

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