Secondary Minerals from the Drilling Cores of DVDP 3 (Ross Island) and 6 (Lake Vida)

Abstract

The secondary minerals were collected from the drilling cores of DVDP 3 (Ross Island) and DVDP 6 (Lake Vida) and were investigated by the powder X-ray diffraction method. In No. 3 core the identified minerals are calcite, aragonite, thenardite, milabilite, gypsum, nesquehonite and thaumasite. In No. 6 core the identified minerals are calcite, aragonite, gypsum, chlorite, laumontite, chabazite, sericite, montmorillonite, prehnite and flourite. The mineral assemblage and the unusual distribution of some minerals may suggest the environments of the sedimentation of the rock and soil. The evaporites and secondary minerals around Lake Vida were also identified and gypsum, calcite, thenardite, halite, sodium niter, prehnite laumontite and chlorite were found. No correlation was noticed between the secondary minerals from No. 6 drilling core and those around Lake Vida.