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Diagenesis is the change of sediments or existing sedimentary rocks into a different sedimentary rock during and after rock formation (lithification), at temperatures and pressures less than that required for the formation of metamorphic rocks.〔Marshak, Stephen, 2009, ''Essentials of Geology,'' W. W. Norton & Company, 3rd ed. ISBN 978-0393196566〕 It does not include changes from weathering.〔 It is any chemical, physical, or biological change undergone by a sediment after its initial deposition, after its lithification. This process excludes surface alteration (weathering) and metamorphism. These changes happen at relatively low temperatures and pressures and result in changes to the rock's original mineralogy and texture. There is no sharp boundary between diagenesis and metamorphism, but the latter occurs at higher temperatures and pressures than the former. Hydrothermal solutions, meteoric groundwater, porosity, permeability, solubility, and time are all influential factors. After deposition, sediments are compacted as they are buried beneath successive layers of sediment and cemented by minerals that precipitate from solution. Grains of sediment, rock fragments and fossils can be replaced by other minerals during diagenesis. Porosity usually decreases during diagenesis, except in rare cases such as dissolution of minerals and dolomitization. The study of diagenesis in rocks is used to understand the geologic history they have undergone and the nature and type of fluids that have circulated through them. From a commercial standpoint, such studies aid in assessing the likelihood of finding various economically viable mineral and hydrocarbon deposits. The process of diagenesis is also important in the decomposition of bone tissue.〔 Hedges, R. E. M., "Bone Diagenesis: An Overview of Processes". ''Archaeometry'', 2002. 44(3): p. 319–328. ()〕 == The role of diagenesis in anthropology and paleontology == The term diagenesis, literally meaning "across generation",〔Oxford English Dictionary.〕 is extensively used in geology. However, this term has filtered into the field of anthropology, archaeology and paleontology to describe the changes and alterations that take place on skeletal (biological) material. Specifically, diagenesis "is the cumulative physical, chemical and biological environment; these processes will modify an organic object's original chemical and/or structural properties and will govern its ultimate fate, in terms of preservation or destruction".〔Wilson, L. and M. Pollard, "Here today, gone tomorrow? Integrated experimentation and geochemical modeling in studies of archaeological diagenetic change". ''Accounts of Chemical Research'', 2002. 35(8): p. 644–651.〕〔Zapata, J., et al., "Diagenesis, not biogenesis: Two late Roman skeletal examples". ''Science of Total Environment'', 2006. 369: p. 357–368.〕 In order to assess the potential impact of diagenesis on archaeological or fossil bones, many factors need to be assessed, beginning with elemental and mineralogical composition of bone and enveloping soil, as well as the local burial environment (geology, climatology, groundwater).〔 The composite nature of bone, comprising one-third organic (mainly protein collagen) and two thirds mineral (calcium phosphate mostly in the form of hydroxyapatite) renders its diagenesis more complex.〔Nicholson, R. A., "Bone Degradation, Burial Medium and Species Representation: Debunking the Myths, and Experiment-based Approach". ''Journal of Archaeological Science'', 1996. 23(513–533).〕 Alteration occurs at all scales from molecular loss and substitution, through crystallite reorganization, porosity and microstructural changes, and in many cases, to disintegration of the complete unit.〔Nielsen-Marsh, C. M., "Patterns of Diagenesis in Bone I: The Effects of Site Environments". ''Journal of Archaeological Science'', 2000. 27: p. 1139–1150.〕 Three general pathways of the diagenesis of bone have been identified: # chemical deterioration of the organic phase. # chemical deterioration of the mineral phase. # (micro) biological attack of the composite.〔Collins, M. J., et al., "The Survival of Organic Matter in Bone: A Review". ''Archaeometry'', 2002. 44(3): p. 383–394.〕 They are as follows: # The dissolution of collagen depends on time, temperature and environmental pH.〔 At high temperatures, the rate of collagen loss will be accelerated and extreme pH can cause collagen swelling and accelerated hydrolysis.〔 Due to the increase in porosity of bones through collagen loss, the bone becomes susceptible to hydrolytic infiltration where the hydroxyapatite, with its affinity for amino acids, permits charged species of endogenous and exogenous origin to take up residence.〔 # The hydrolytic activity plays a key role in the mineral phase transformations that exposes the collagen to accelerated chemical- and bio-degradation.〔 Chemical changes affect crystallinity.〔 Mechanisms of chemical change, such as the uptake of F− or CO3− may cause recrystallization where hydroxyapatite is dissolved and re-precipitated allowing for the incorporation of substitution of exogenous material.〔 # Once an individual has been interred, microbial attack, the most common mechanism of bone deterioration, occurs rapidly.〔 During this phase, most bone collagen is lost and porosity is increased.〔 The dissolution of the mineral phase caused by low pH permits access to the collagen by extracellular microbial enzymes thus microbial attack.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Diagenesis」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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