Theses and Dissertations
Issuing Body
Mississippi State University
Advisor
Schmitz, Darrel W.
Committee Member
Kirkland, Brenda L.
Committee Member
Mylroie, John E.
Date of Degree
12-14-2013
Document Type
Graduate Thesis - Open Access
Major
Geology
Degree Name
Master of Science
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Department of Geosciences
Abstract
Calcium bentonite deposits of the Glendon and Bucatunna formations of the Oligocene Vicksburg Group located in Smith County, Mississippi were examined to determine the depositional environment, diagenetic history and origin of the bentonite. Traditionally, calcium bentonite was considered to be the product of the weathering of volcanic ash deposits. The hypothesis tested is that the bentonite deposits are not a result of weathered volcanic ash, but are a result of weathered marl. Core samples were drilled from the Chisholm bentonite mine in Smith County and were studied using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and petrographic microscopy. Abundant bacteria along with nanometer-scale organic textures were found throughout and are consistently associated with bentonite, illite, and smectite. No evidence of volcanic ash was found. It appears that the calcium bentonite clays in the Glendon and Bucatunna formations of Smith County, Mississippi formed from weathering, including bacterial activity, of glauconite-bearing marl.
URI
https://hdl.handle.net/11668/19060
Recommended Citation
Calhoun, Kayla Jean, "Investigation of Parent Source Material in Smith County, Mississippi" (2013). Theses and Dissertations. 2847.
https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td/2847
Comments
smectite clays||calcium bentonite