Authigenic Clay Formation and Diagenetic Reactions, Lake Magadi, Kenya

Authigenic clay minerals, including zeolites and silicates, dominate the sediment deposits of Lake Magadi, Kenya, under arid conditions. This study reveals that these minerals serve as terrestrial climate proxies, with their abundance reflecting tectonic settings and ambient climate regimes. Unlike higher elevations where detrital clays like feldspars and phillipsite prevail in humid climates, Lake Magadi's low elevation promotes authigenic mineral formation due to extreme alkalinity and high silica activity. The research employed X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to analyze Pleistocene-Holocene sediments, uncovering distinct clay mineralogies across sample localities that correlate with environmental conditions.

Nikonova, E. (2016). Authigenic Clay Formation and Diagenetic Reactions, Lake Magadi, Kenya. Georgia State University. https://doi.org/10.57709/8003223