Rare Minerals in Carbonate Rocks as Indicators of Depositional Environment and Diagenetic Processes: A Literature Review

Isman Saleh

doi:10.58227/jge.v5i1.359

Authors

Isman Saleh Universitas Halu Oleo

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58227/jge.v5i1.359

Keywords:

accessory minerals, carbonate rock, diagenesis, depositional environment

Abstract

Rare or accessory minerals in carbonate rocks provide sensitive constraints on depositional environments and diagenetic pathways when interpreted within petrographic and geochemical context. This review synthesizes published case studies from marine platforms, mixed carbonate–evaporite systems, saline–alkaline lakes, and hydrothermal or fault-controlled settings to evaluate how uncommon mineral phases improve paleoenvironmental interpretation beyond conventional carbonate facies analysis. Minerals such as palygorskite, sepiolite, stevensite, high-Mg calcite, proto-dolomite, huntite, magnesite, glaucony, apatite/francolite, authigenic albite, fluorite, moganite, jarosite, and alunite are shown to form under restricted physicochemical conditions linked to fluid chemistry, redox state, evaporation, microbial mediation, meteoric flushing, or hydrothermal input. Mg-clays consistently indicate alkaline, Mg-rich lacustrine systems and early diagenetic cementation pathways, whereas Mg-carbonate phase assemblages record transitional stabilization histories of carbonate minerals. Evaporite replacement products, phosphate–glaucony associations, and low-pH sulphate minerals further constrain redox conditions and groundwater evolution. Authigenic albite and fluorite serve as tracers of hydrothermal or fracture-controlled fluids. The synthesis demonstrates that rare minerals are most diagnostic when integrated into paragenetic sequences and multi-proxy screening, enabling distinction between primary environmental signals and diagenetic overprints in carbonate archives.

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