Authigenic clay mineral cements in Cretaceous and Tertiary sandstones of Alberta

Abstract Kaolinite, illite, chlorite, and montmorillonite are authigenic void-filling cements in deeply buried folded sandstone where, with quartz and zeolites, they form assemblages of authigenic silicates that are related to the bulk composition of the sandstones. In nonmarine strata, kaolinite-quartz assemblage occurs in quartzose sandstones, kaolinite-chlorite and illite-chlorite in moderately volcanic-rich sandstones, and chlorite-laumontite in very volcanic-rich sandstones. In marine and near-marine sandstones, kaolinite, illite, and quartz are most abundant. Kaolinite and montmorillonite are most abundant in shallow undeformed sandstones.