INTRODUCTION: UBIQUITY OF DIAGNESIS-CATAGENESIS-METAMORPHISM-A BRIEF REVIEW OF COMPLEX INTERRELATIONSHIPS OF VARIABLES AND ENVIRONMENTS

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter introduces a book on diagenesis, a highly developed, interdisciplinary field of study. This field of study is reciprocal in that it borrows from numerous scientific or technological specialties and then, in turn, repays them with useful results. Too often, however, the information gained and concepts developed remain unintegrated instead of being utilized quickly by several related earth-science fraternities. The macro-variables in any geological system, that also control diagenesis either obviously–directly or latently–indirectly (i.e., explicitly or implicitly), are complexly interrelated. Indeed, the total complexity is still beyond the grasp of geologists–conceptually and methodologically. In deliberations on ore-genesis-related diagenesis, several tables on the scope of diagenesis are presented. One of them provides the specific sedimentary hostrocks of ore mineralization, each of which comprises its own environment for secondary processes. Diagenetic processes which control porosity and permeability are very complex and depend primarily on the primary clastic composition of the grains, subsurface pressures, and porewater circulation. All these factors may be related to the stratigraphic and plate-tectonic setting of the basin.