A review on palaeogeographic implications and temporal variation in glaucony composition

Abstract This study presents a review on palaeogeographic implications and temporal variations of glaucony covering both modern and ancient records. Phanerozoic glaucony preferably forms in a shelf depositional setting. Deep marine conditions and low seawater temperature discourage formation of glaucony. Around 75% of glaucony is recorded from the Cretaceous to the Holocene sediments, which are related to the abundance of the most common substrates, faecal pellets and bioclasts. TFe 2 O 3 (total), Al 2 O 3 , K 2 O and MgO contents of glaucony vary appreciably through geological time. While TFe 2 O 3 content of most Mesozoic and Cenozoic glaucony exceeds 20%, it is always less than 20% in Precambrian varieties. High K 2 O, Al 2 O 3 , MgO and low TFe 2 O 3 distinguish the Precambrian glaucony from its Phanerozoic counterpart. Precambrian glaucony, preferably formed within a K-feldspar substrate, is always rich in potassium irrespective of its degree of evolution, while high K-content in Phanerozoic evolved glaucony indicates significant stratigraphic condensation. K 2 O vs. TFe 2 O 3 relationship of glaucony exhibits three different evolutionary trends corresponding to three common modes of origin. Depositional conditions may influence the composition of glaucony as slightly reducing conditions favour Fe enrichment, whereas oxidising conditions cause Fe depletion in glaucony.