diagenesel

Diagenesel is a term occasionally found in geological literature to denote diagenetic processes that alter sediments after deposition but before deep burial or metamorphism. More commonly, the process is referred to as diagenesis. When used, diagenesel encompasses the physical compaction of sediments, chemical cementation by minerals such as calcite, silica, or dolomite, dissolution and re-precipitation, and the growth of authigenic minerals within pore spaces. It also includes ion exchange, clay-mineral transformations, and microbiological mediated alterations.

Diagenetic changes reduce porosity and permeability in some cases, or create secondary porosity through dissolution in others. The main drivers are pore-fluid chemistry, temperature, pressure, the presence of reactive organic matter, and time. The diagenetic sequence begins with shallow burial and continues through progressive burial, sometimes transitioning into metamorphism at higher temperatures and pressures.

Common diagenetic environments include non-marine, marine shelf, and deltaic settings. Examples of diagenetic processes include cementation of quartz overgrowths in quartz arenites, calcite precipitation in carbonate sands, dolomitization of limestone, and pyrite formation during diagenetic reduction of iron-bearing fluids. These changes influence rock texture and the evolution of porosity and permeability, with direct implications for sedimentary rock quality in hydrocarbon systems and groundwater reservoirs.

Diagenesis is distinct from lithification, which broadly describes the consolidation of sediments into rock, and from metamorphism, which involves higher temperatures and pressures. Because diagenesel is not a widely recognized term in modern geology, most sources use diagenesis; if you meant a different concept, please specify.