Clay Mineral Assemblages in the Cretaceous Volcanogenic–Sedimentary Rocks of the North-Western Part of the Transition Zone from the Asian Continent to the Pacific Ocean

In this study, clay and non-clay minerals in the cement of Cretaceous volcanogenic–sedimentary rocks from bottom marginal seas north-western Pacific Ocean adjacent areas were studied. Corrensite mixed-layer chlorite–smectite, rectorite illite–smectite, chlorite, swelling chlorite (?), illite, kaolinite, smectite calcite, ankerite, barite, gypsum, epsomite, zeolites (laumontite, analcime, stilbite), cristobalite, quartz determined. The following are indicative properties: (a) minerals: corrensite rectorite; (b) associations: corrensite–chlorite, corrensite–chlorite–laumontite, corrensite–epsomite–authigenic quartz–illite. Such indicate that thickness accumulated sediments studied basins could reach three to five kilometers temperature their formation be higher than 150 °C. Transformations process diagenesis epigenesis occur two directions: smectite–rectorite–mica, with an excess potassium, smectite–corrensite–chlorite, magnesium. chlorite–corrensite association may conditions favorable for seawater evaporation, presence laumontite corrensite–chlorite suggests a periodic supply calcium sedimentation basin. illite–kaolinite is probably associated coal accumulation epicontinental warm humid climate nearby areas. Periods sedimentation, possibly global events, identified: 113–120, 110–113, 105–110, 93–95, 72–83 61–72 Ma. established time intervals mineral associations can serve as benchmarks stratigraphic constructions reconstructing physicochemical, climatic parameters, strata accumulation.