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Communication Dans Un Congrès Année : 2022

Hydrodynamic behaviour and sorting mechanisms of organophosphatic brachiopod shells: Preliminary results of experimental studies

Résumé

Phosphorites composed by linguliform brachiopod shells represent a poorly known phosphorus source. As mineral precursors for P-fertilizers, they are an increasingly important resource for agricultural activities. inguliform brachiopod shells have a stratiform organo-phosphatic microstructure, which produces bioclasts characterized by their low density and laminar shape; as of yet, no other studies on their hydrodynamic behaviour have been carried out. The objective of this work is to shed some light on the concentration mechanisms acting on organo-phosphatic particles and finally leading to phosphorite formation; and also, to better understand general processes of segregation in mixed bioclastic-siliciclastic sediments. In this work we present preliminary results of experiments made on fragments of Lingula anatina shells, a modern linguliform brachiopod species. We performed settling velocity and entrainment velocity measurements, as well as current-flow experiments on a mixed-sediment bed to investigate particle segregation. Lingula anatina shells show a variable degree of mineralization, and thus density, throughout the shell: measured densities ranged from 1010 – 1330 kg/m3 in marginal areas to 1370 – 1730 kg/m3 in the central part of the shell. Their fragments have platy shapes, with shape factors between 0.02 – 0.39, a range similar to the one reported for platy carbonate bioclasts (Li et al., 2020). Settling velocity values were about 50% of similarly shaped and sized carbonate bioclasts, and 20% of similarly sized quartz sand. Settling velocities are controlled jointly by particle diameter, shape and density, which are strongly variable in Lingula anatina bioclasts; when plotted against each other, these parameters show high dispersion and complex interrelationships. By contrast, the ratio between the particle mass and its maximum projected area (M:A) shows a strong correlation with settling velocity. Drag coefficients were calculated by nonlinear regression. The obtained values are comparable with those calculated from the data of Li et al. (2020), suggesting that the lower settling velocities in organo-phosphatic bioclasts are explained mostly by their lower density and not by differences in their falling behaviour. Threshold near-bed velocities (u*c) ranged between 1.0 – 4.3 cm/s for organo-phosphatic bioclasts ranging between 0.7 – 5 mm (sieve-diameter). The obtained values are comparable with those of carbonate bioclasts and quartz-sand with similar diameters ( Weill et al. 2013, Rieux et al. 2018). Dual-behaviour has been noted in carbonate bioclasts, where low settling velocities and significant resistance to erosion contributes to their segregation from siliciclastic sediments ( Weill et al. 2013, Li et al. 2020); this type of behaviour should be more pronounced in organo-phosphatic bioclasts given their smaller settling velocities. Entrainment and segregation experiments were conducted on a mixed-sediment bed composed of fine siliciclastic sand and organo-phosphatic particles (3 mm-sieve diameter). For the bed set-up, a concentrated slurry of siliciclastic and organo-phosphatic particles was set on the empty flume, which was later filled with water. At sub-threshold velocities, little sand transport took place with no bioclast motion; this was followed by incipient migration of small sandy ripples, occasional bioclast motion and imbrication. At this stage, armoured bioclast-rich patches developed through sand winnowing. Above threshold velocities the sandy ripples grew taller; bioclasts were not easily eroded, excepted in high-shear and turbulence areas such as stoss faces and downstream of lee faces of ripples. Once incorporated into the flow they were rapidly transported downstream and redeposited in bioclast-rich areas (with higher bed rugosity) or out of the test section. By contrast, sand seemed to be transported with a lower velocity corresponding to that of the migrating ripples. The final rippled bed was noticeably sandier than the original mixed-sediment massif; by contrast, a bioclast-rich deposit was formed downstream of the test section. Contrasting hydrodynamic behaviour in terms of settling and entrainment velocities favoured the segregation between both sediment fractions; however, sorting mechanisms are also strongly dependent on less predictable sedimentary processes such as bed armouring, and increased form-related shear stress and turbulence due to ripple migration. Extensive experimental studies should be carried out to further investigate segregation in mixed bioclasticsiliciclastic sediments.
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Dates et versions

hal-03794967 , version 1 (03-10-2022)

Identifiants

  • HAL Id : hal-03794967 , version 1

Citer

Maria Duperron, Dominique Mouazé, Bernadette Tessier, Pierre Weill, Roberto Scasso, et al.. Hydrodynamic behaviour and sorting mechanisms of organophosphatic brachiopod shells: Preliminary results of experimental studies. 18ème Congrès Français de Sédimentologie, Sep 2022, Brest, France. ⟨hal-03794967⟩
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