Multiphase partial and selective dolomitization of Carnian reef
limestone (Transdanubian Range, Hungary)
J
ANOS HAAS*, TAM
AS BUDAI † , ORSOLYA GY
}
ORI* and S
ANDOR KELE ‡
*MTA-ELTE Geological, Geophysical and Space Science Research Group, Hungarian Academy of
Sciences, Pa ´ zma ´ny P. s eta ´ ny 1/c, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary (E-mail: haas@ludens.elte.hu)
†Geological and Geophysical Institute of Hungary, Stefa ´nia u ´ t 14., H-1143 Budapest, Hungary
‡Institute for Geological and Geochemical Research, Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth
Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budao ¨rsi u ´ t 45, H-1112 Budapest, Hungary
Associate Editor – Stephen Lokier
ABSTRACT
Partially dolomitized carbonate successions provide a good opportunity to
understand the commonly multistage process of dolomitization. Petrographic
methods, fluid inclusion microthermometry and stable isotope measurements
were applied to reconstruct the diagenetic evolution and dolomitization of a
partially dolomitized Carnian reef limestone from the Transdanubian Range,
Hungary. The diagenetic history began with reef diagenesis and formation of
dolomite micro-aggregates in microbial fabric elements; this was followed by
the development of euhedral porphyrotopic dolomite crystals through over-
growths around the previously formed dolomite micro-aggregates during the
earliest burial stage. Increasing burial resulted in the extension of the dolomite
patches via formation of finely crystalline replacement dolomite. From the
Late Norian, when the Carnian reef carbonates reached the depth of 1Á0 to
1Á8 km, the diagenetic evolution continued in an intermediate to deep-burial
setting. Contemporaneously, an extensional regime was established, leading to
fracturing. The progressive burial resulted in the recrystallization of the pre-
existing dolomite with increasing temperature, while saddle dolomite cement
was precipitated in fractures. In connection with the Alpine Orogeny, intense
denudation took place during the Late Cretaceous, accompanied by fracturing.
Similar tectonically controlled denudation and fracturing occurred in several
stages during the Cenozoic. As a result of these processes, the studied Carnian
carbonates were raised to a near-surface position or became subaerially
exposed, leading to dedolomitization of the last dolomite phase and precipita-
tion of calcite cement in cavities and fractures. This study revealed that by
investigating partially and selectively dolomitized rock types, it is possible to
document and understand those stages of the multiple dolomitization process
which can barely be detected in the completely dolomitized rock bodies. Rec-
ognition of the dolomitization phases could provide the basis for the analysis
of their relations with the depositional, diagenetic and tectonic processes, and
stages of basin evolution.
Keywords Carbonate diagenesis, dolomitization, fluid inclusions, reef,
stable isotopes, Triassic.
© 2013 The Authors Sedimentology © 2013 International Association of Sedimentologists 1
Sedimentology (2014) doi: 10.1111/sed.12088