Carbonate deposition on the river floodplains of the Wood Bay Formation (Devonian) of Spitsbergen

Abstract
Summary: The argillaceous siltstones of the floodplains contain, on average, 15% of calcium carbonate. This appears to have been precipitated between the detrital grains shortly after their deposition. The siltstones also contain calcium carbonate concretions which formed as the ground water dried out in the upper part of the water table. Bedded marlstones, containing up to 68% of carbonate in the lakes appears to have been stimulated by Charophyte algae. The marlstones include dolomite in some parts of the Formation. The channel-fill deposits include carbonate detritus from the source areas, and from reworking of Wood Bay Formation sediments. They are frequently cemented by calcite.The regional pattern of carbonate derivation, transportation and deposition is summarized.