DINOFLAGELLATE CYST CONCENTRATION AS AN INDEPENDENT REFERENCE FOR MONITORING MINERAL MOBILIZATION IN STYLOLITES

The absolute abundance of dinoflagellate cysts in chalk samples can be used as an independent reference for analysis of mineral mobilization in stylolites. The mineralogy of eleven samples from chalks from the Dan Field (Danish North Sea) was studied by electron microscopy (BSE), X-ray diffraction, and atomic absorbtion spectrometry (AAS), and paly nologically. Using the abundance of dinoflagellate cysts as a referenc e, it can be demonstrated that diagenetic mobilization of pyrite has o ccurred along stylolites and that primary anomalies in composition hav e influenced stylolite genesis.