δ26Mg-δ13C-δ18O systems as geochemical tracers for dolomite recrystallization: A case study of lower Ordovician dolomite from Tarim Basin

Abstract

Widespread replacement dolomite occurs commonly in the geologic record. These dolomites are generally characterized by different crystal sizes and shapes that have at times been interpreted to represent multistage dolomitization; although the variation of dolomite texture could also have resulted from the recrystallization of precursor dolomite. It is important, but challenging, to differentiate these two scenarios to better understand the nature of dolomite and the associated processes of dolomitization. Our study explores this problem by using δ26Mg, δ13C, and δ18O isotopes to characterize the different crystal morphologies exhibited by Ordovician dolomites from the Tarim Basin, China.Although the dolomites show distinct textures and crystal morphologies, there are no discernible trends in their δ26Mg values (from −1.66 to −2.39‰), suggesting that these dolomites were formed by the same dolomitizing fluid. This interpretation is supported by an overlapping range of δ13C values (from 0.46 to −1.89‰). By contrast, the δ18O data demonstrate a wide range of values, from −3.8‰ to −8.8‰, reflecting the different degree of recrystallization with increasing burial temperatures. We suggest that the Mg and C isotopes remained unchanged during recrystallization because Mg and C were rock-buffered, so the recrystallized dolomite inherited Mg and C from the precursor dolomite. Based on these results, it appears that Mg isotopes, together with conventional OC isotopes, can provide a diagenetically robust geochemical tracer for identifying dolomite recrystallization in the geological record.