Diagenesis of Cretaceous limestones in the Edwards aquifer system of south-central Texas: A scanning electron microscope study

Diagenesis in shallow cores from the Lower Cretaceous Edwards Limestone was investigated in thin sections and with the scanning electron microscope (SEM). The SEM is a particularly useful tool in the study of diagenesis in porous fine-grained carbonate rocks because of its good resolution and depth of field.The Edwards Group was deposited in shallow-marine environments and underwent normal early diagenesis. Dolomite and evaporite minerals such as gypsum formed penecontemporaneously in some tidal-flat sediments. Slightly later, when the carbonate sediments were flushed by fresh water, carbonate mud recrystallized to micrite and aragonite allochems altered to calcite or were leached. Some cementation by calcite occurred in a fresh-water phreatic environment.The Edwards Limestone was divided into two zones by Miocene faulting along the Balcones Fault Zone. On the upthrown side of the fault a circulating fresh-water aquifer developed, whereas relatively stagnant brackish water remained present on the down-thrown side. Differences in the chemistry of the interstitial fluids in these zones resulted in different types of diagenesis. The presence of fresh water caused extensive oxidation, solution along fractures, recrystallization of micrite to coarse microspar and pseudospar, precipitation of equant sparry-calcite crystals in a variety of shapes and sizes, and extensive dedolomitization. The dedolomitization is thought to have been caused by the high Ca/Mg ratio of the circulating fresh water in a shallow subsurface environment.In the brackish-water zone, textures and fabrics related to deposition or early diagenesis, such as primary porosity, unoxidized organic material, framboidal pyrite, and evaporite minerals have been preserved. Some precipitation of authigenic dolomite, celestite, and kaolinite occurred in the brackish-water zone. In contrast to the fresh-water zone, precipitation of coarse calcite spar, dedolomitization, and recrystallization of micrite to microspar occurred only rarely in the brackish-water zone.