Clay minerals and the adsorption of fullerenes: clues from iridium-enriched Cretaceous–Palaeogene Anjar intertrappean beds, Kachchh district, Gujarat, India

Research at the UNESCO World Heritage Site Anjar reveals that smectite, palygorskite, and sepiolite clay minerals play a crucial role in preserving fullerene molecules and iridium (Ir) in Cretaceous–Palaeogene intertrappean beds. The study, using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, identifies these Mg-rich clays as nanocrystalline, with smectite showing a strong correlation to fullerene occurrence. This finding suggests that specific clay mineral compositions may influence the preservation of biomarkers and Ir in sedimentary layers, providing insights into geological processes at Anjar.

Roy, P., Parthasarathy, G., & Sreenivas, B. (2023). Clay minerals and the adsorption of fullerenes: clues from iridium-enriched Cretaceous–Palaeogene Anjar intertrappean beds, Kachchh district, Gujarat, India. Current Science, 124(1), 87. https://doi.org/10.18520/cs/v124/i1/87-93