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Micron-scale crystals in halite are proxies for Permian acid brines.

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Title: Micron-scale crystals in halite are proxies for Permian acid brines.
Authors: Benison, Kathleen C.1 Kathleen.Benison@mail.wvu.edu, Ellis, Matthew Q.1,2, Prchlik, Ryan J.1,3, Smith, Bradley A.1,4
Source: Geological Society of America Bulletin. Nov2025, Vol. 137 Issue 11/12, p4709-4720. 12p.
Subject Terms: *Geochemistry, *Fluid inclusions, *Martian geology, *Salt, *Sulfate minerals, *Permian Period, *Crystals, *Saline solutions
Abstract: Permian bedded halite of the Nippewalla Group of Kansas and the Opeche Shale of North Dakota, USA, formed in extremely acid saline lakes. However, a full understanding about the compositions of those brines is not known. Micron-scale crystals within primary fluid inclusions in halite give clues about the geochemistry of past lake waters. Here, we use petrographic, microthermometric, and Raman spectral observations of crystals in chevron and cumulate halite crystals from two subsurface cores to make interpretations about past Pangean lake water chemistry. Our results show that (1) entrapped crystals are situated within primary fluid inclusions and as solid inclusions along growth bands in host depositional halite; (2) the presence of entrapped crystals is heterogeneous amongst fluid inclusions of single growth bands; (3) crystals in fluid inclusions do not change size upon heating or cooling; (4) at least nine different sulfate minerals were identified, including Ca-sulfates, Srsulfate, Mg-sulfates, Fe-sulfates, and Al-sulfates; and (5) rare carbonate grains partially coated with hematite were observed in some inclusions. We conclude that these crystals precipitated, alongside halite, in complex sulfate-rich, metal-rich acid saline lake waters. Rare hematite-coated carbonate grains likely were blown into the lakes by winds. We propose that these petrographic and spectroscopic methods can be used to refine past water compositional data from other bedded evaporites. In addition, any salt minerals returned in samples from Mars should be evaluated for accidental daughter crystals to reach a better understanding of past Martian water compositions and habitability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Database: Energy & Power Source
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DbLabel: Energy & Power Source
An: 190288080
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  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Micron-scale crystals in halite are proxies for Permian acid brines.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Benison%2C+Kathleen+C%2E%22">Benison, Kathleen C.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> Kathleen.Benison@mail.wvu.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ellis%2C+Matthew+Q%2E%22">Ellis, Matthew Q.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Prchlik%2C+Ryan+J%2E%22">Prchlik, Ryan J.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,3</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Smith%2C+Bradley+A%2E%22">Smith, Bradley A.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,4</relatesTo>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Geological+Society+of+America+Bulletin%22">Geological Society of America Bulletin</searchLink>. Nov2025, Vol. 137 Issue 11/12, p4709-4720. 12p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Geochemistry%22">Geochemistry</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Fluid+inclusions%22">Fluid inclusions</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Martian+geology%22">Martian geology</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Salt%22">Salt</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sulfate+minerals%22">Sulfate minerals</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Permian+Period%22">Permian Period</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Crystals%22">Crystals</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Saline+solutions%22">Saline solutions</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Permian bedded halite of the Nippewalla Group of Kansas and the Opeche Shale of North Dakota, USA, formed in extremely acid saline lakes. However, a full understanding about the compositions of those brines is not known. Micron-scale crystals within primary fluid inclusions in halite give clues about the geochemistry of past lake waters. Here, we use petrographic, microthermometric, and Raman spectral observations of crystals in chevron and cumulate halite crystals from two subsurface cores to make interpretations about past Pangean lake water chemistry. Our results show that (1) entrapped crystals are situated within primary fluid inclusions and as solid inclusions along growth bands in host depositional halite; (2) the presence of entrapped crystals is heterogeneous amongst fluid inclusions of single growth bands; (3) crystals in fluid inclusions do not change size upon heating or cooling; (4) at least nine different sulfate minerals were identified, including Ca-sulfates, Srsulfate, Mg-sulfates, Fe-sulfates, and Al-sulfates; and (5) rare carbonate grains partially coated with hematite were observed in some inclusions. We conclude that these crystals precipitated, alongside halite, in complex sulfate-rich, metal-rich acid saline lake waters. Rare hematite-coated carbonate grains likely were blown into the lakes by winds. We propose that these petrographic and spectroscopic methods can be used to refine past water compositional data from other bedded evaporites. In addition, any salt minerals returned in samples from Mars should be evaluated for accidental daughter crystals to reach a better understanding of past Martian water compositions and habitability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=enr&AN=190288080
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1130/B38153.1
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 12
        StartPage: 4709
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Geochemistry
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Fluid inclusions
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Martian geology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Salt
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sulfate minerals
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Permian Period
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Crystals
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Saline solutions
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Micron-scale crystals in halite are proxies for Permian acid brines.
        Type: main
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          Name:
            NameFull: Benison, Kathleen C.
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            NameFull: Ellis, Matthew Q.
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            NameFull: Prchlik, Ryan J.
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            NameFull: Smith, Bradley A.
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            – D: 01
              M: 11
              Text: Nov2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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              Value: 137
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              Value: 11/12
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            – TitleFull: Geological Society of America Bulletin
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