Genesis of granular calcite in lacustrine fine-grained sedimentary rocks and its indication to volcanic-hydrothermal events: A case study of Permian Lucaogou Formation in Jimusar Sag, Junggar Basin, NW China

Abstract

Granular calcite is an authigenic mineral in fine-grained sedimentary rocks. Core observation, thin section observation, cathodoluminescence analysis, fluid inclusion analysis, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and isotopic composition analysis were combined to clarify the genesis of granular calcite in the lacustrine fine-grained sedimentary rocks of the Permian Lucaogou Formation in the Jimusar Sag, Junggar Basin. It is found that the granular calcite is distributed with laminated characteristics in fine-grained sedimentary rocks in tuffite zones (or the transitional zone between tuffite and micritic dolomite). Granular calcite has obvious cathodoluminesence band, and it can be divided into three stages. Stage-I calcite, with non-luminesence, high content of Sr element, inclusions containing COS, and homogenization temperature higher than 170 °C, was directly formed from the volcanic-hydrothermal deposition. Stage-II calcite, with bright yellow luminescence, high contents of Fe, Mn and Mg, enrichment of light rare earth elements (LREEs), and high homogenization temperature, was formed by recrystallization of calcareous edges from exhalative hydrothermal deposition. Stage-III calcite, with dark orange luminescence band, high contents of Mg, P, V and other elements, no obvious fractionation among LREEs, and low homogenization temperature, was originated from diagenetic transformation during burial. The granular calcite appears regularly in the vertical direction and its formation temperature decreases from the center to the margin of particles, providing direct evidences for volcanic-hydrothermal events during the deposition of the Lucaogou Formation. The volcanic-hydrothermal event was conducive to the enrichment of organic matters in fine-grained sedimentary rocks of the Lucaogrou Formation, and positive to the development of high-quality source rocks. The volcanic-hydrothermal sediments might generate intergranular pores/fractures during the evolution, creating conditions for the self-generation and self-storage of shale oil.