Formation Mechanism of Reduction Spheroids with Dark Cores in Cretaceous Red Beds in Jiaolai Basin, China

Red beds are not entirely red sometimes, in which grey-green spheroids or irregular spots can be found. However, the formation mechanism of grey-green spheroids or irregular spots in red beds is not clear so far. Samples taken from well JK1 in Jiaozhou area of Jiaolai Basin displayed that the reduction spheroids have more Vanadium (V) element, less TFe3O4 and Lead (Pb) element, almost the same content of other elements such as FeO and so on, comparing the red parts of the samples. The existence of organisms can explain the existence of green reductive spheres in the red beds formed under the oxidation environment.