Dolomitic concretions in the Eocene Sobrarbe delta (Spanish Pyrenees): Fluid circulation above a submarine slide scar infilling

Numerous dolomite concretions have been discovered in marls of the Eocene Sobrarbe deltaic complex as part of the Ainsa Basin (Spain). This paper presents the first analyses of the shapes, the spatial relationships, the mineralogical, chemical and isotopic compositions of these concretions.The concretions are located above a major fossil submarine slide scar. They are mainly perpendicular to the sedimentary layers. Four distinct shapes of concretions have been distinguished: horizontal flat, sub-vertical cylindrical or cylindrical-complex and stocky. Three main mineral phases are associated with most of the concretions: calcite, celestite and barite. Concretion shapes and mineral occurrences are organized vertically in the marls from bottom to top: (i) at the bottom, flat shapes with septarian cracks filled by calcite and celestite, (ii) in the middle and at the top, cylindrical and cylindrical-complex concretions associated with prismatic barite, calcite and celestite filling conduits related to bioturbations, and (iii) at the top, cylindrical and cylindrical-complex concretions associated with calcite and celestite filling conduits related to bioturbations, and stocky shape concretions.We postulate that concretions have formed by dolomite cementation of the surrounding marls during early diagenesis in the zone of methanogenesis. The high sedimentation rate of the infilling seems to be a factor controlling the mineralogical composition of the concretions. Brown calcite precipitated in voids and fractures of the concretions. Celestite precipitated during burial, completing the filling of voids and fractures. Barite precipitated before celestite, but its time of precipitation relative to brown calcite remains unknown.