Mineral reactions associated with hydrocarbon paleomigration in the Huincul High, Neuquén Basin, Argentina

Abstract

Research Article| November 01, 2015 Mineral reactions associated with hydrocarbon paleomigration in the Huincul High, Neuquén Basin, Argentina Ana L. Rainoldi; Ana L. Rainoldi † 1Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Centro Patagónico de Estudios Metalogenéticos, (8300) Neuquén , Argentina2Departamento de Geología, Universidad Nacional del Sur, San Juan 670, (8000) Bahía Blanca, Argentina †analaurarl@hotmail.com Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Marta Franchini; Marta Franchini 1Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Centro Patagónico de Estudios Metalogenéticos, (8300) Neuquén , Argentina3Instituto de Investigación en Paleobiología y Geología, Universidad Nacional de Río Negro, Avenida Roca 1242, (8332) Roca, Río Negro, Argentina4Departamento de Geología y Petróleo, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Buenos Aires 1400, (8300) Neuquén, Argentina Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Daniel Beaufort; Daniel Beaufort 5Université de Poitiers, IC2MP, CNRS-UMR 7285, Hydrasa, Bâtiment B08, Rue Albert Turpin, F-86022 Poitiers Cedex, France Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Peter Mozley; Peter Mozley 6Department of Earth and Environmental Science, New Mexico Tech, Socorro, New Mexico 87801, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Adolfo Giusiano; Adolfo Giusiano 7Subsecretaría de Minería e Hidrocarburos, Irigoyen 436, Piso 4, (8300) Neuquén, Argentina Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Cesaretti Nora; Cesaretti Nora 2Departamento de Geología, Universidad Nacional del Sur, San Juan 670, (8000) Bahía Blanca, Argentina Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Patricia Patrier; Patricia Patrier 5Université de Poitiers, IC2MP, CNRS-UMR 7285, Hydrasa, Bâtiment B08, Rue Albert Turpin, F-86022 Poitiers Cedex, France Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Agnes Impiccini; Agnes Impiccini 4Departamento de Geología y Petróleo, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Buenos Aires 1400, (8300) Neuquén, Argentina Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Josefina Pons Josefina Pons 1Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Centro Patagónico de Estudios Metalogenéticos, (8300) Neuquén , Argentina3Instituto de Investigación en Paleobiología y Geología, Universidad Nacional de Río Negro, Avenida Roca 1242, (8332) Roca, Río Negro, Argentina4Departamento de Geología y Petróleo, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Buenos Aires 1400, (8300) Neuquén, Argentina Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Ana L. Rainoldi † 1Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Centro Patagónico de Estudios Metalogenéticos, (8300) Neuquén , Argentina2Departamento de Geología, Universidad Nacional del Sur, San Juan 670, (8000) Bahía Blanca, Argentina Marta Franchini 1Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Centro Patagónico de Estudios Metalogenéticos, (8300) Neuquén , Argentina3Instituto de Investigación en Paleobiología y Geología, Universidad Nacional de Río Negro, Avenida Roca 1242, (8332) Roca, Río Negro, Argentina4Departamento de Geología y Petróleo, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Buenos Aires 1400, (8300) Neuquén, Argentina Daniel Beaufort 5Université de Poitiers, IC2MP, CNRS-UMR 7285, Hydrasa, Bâtiment B08, Rue Albert Turpin, F-86022 Poitiers Cedex, France Peter Mozley 6Department of Earth and Environmental Science, New Mexico Tech, Socorro, New Mexico 87801, USA Adolfo Giusiano 7Subsecretaría de Minería e Hidrocarburos, Irigoyen 436, Piso 4, (8300) Neuquén, Argentina Cesaretti Nora 2Departamento de Geología, Universidad Nacional del Sur, San Juan 670, (8000) Bahía Blanca, Argentina Patricia Patrier 5Université de Poitiers, IC2MP, CNRS-UMR 7285, Hydrasa, Bâtiment B08, Rue Albert Turpin, F-86022 Poitiers Cedex, France Agnes Impiccini 4Departamento de Geología y Petróleo, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Buenos Aires 1400, (8300) Neuquén, Argentina Josefina Pons 1Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Centro Patagónico de Estudios Metalogenéticos, (8300) Neuquén , Argentina3Instituto de Investigación en Paleobiología y Geología, Universidad Nacional de Río Negro, Avenida Roca 1242, (8332) Roca, Río Negro, Argentina4Departamento de Geología y Petróleo, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Buenos Aires 1400, (8300) Neuquén, Argentina †analaurarl@hotmail.com Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 06 Sep 2014 Revision Received: 07 Feb 2015 Accepted: 06 Apr 2015 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 © 2015 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (2015) 127 (11-12): 1711–1729. https://doi.org/10.1130/B31201.1 Article history Received: 06 Sep 2014 Revision Received: 07 Feb 2015 Accepted: 06 Apr 2015 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Ana L. Rainoldi, Marta Franchini, Daniel Beaufort, Peter Mozley, Adolfo Giusiano, Cesaretti Nora, Patricia Patrier, Agnes Impiccini, Josefina Pons; Mineral reactions associated with hydrocarbon paleomigration in the Huincul High, Neuquén Basin, Argentina. GSA Bulletin 2015;; 127 (11-12): 1711–1729. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/B31201.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Bleaching of red beds by the migration of reducing pore fluids is a widespread phenomenon, with most previous work on the topic focused on detailed studies in the southwestern United States, and to a lesser extent Germany. Herein, we report on widespread bleaching of Cretaceous red beds in the Neuquén Basin and the relationship of this bleaching to hydrocarbon migration. In the Cerro Granito area of the Huincul High, Neuquén Basin, the basal deposits of the Neuquén Group (Candeleros and Huincul Formations) are bleached. This alteration was apparently controlled by fluid and host-rock composition as well as by the intensity and span of the fluid-rock interaction. Red, fine-grained sandstones and mudstones of the Candeleros Formation were deposited in fluvial and swamp environments and contain authigenic hematite, Na-rich corrensite, micro- and mesoquartz, calcite, and analcite. Coarse-grained sandstones and mudstones of the Huincul Formation, which overlie the Candeleros Formation, were deposited in a braided fluvial system, under more humid and acidic conditions than the Candeleros Formation. Sandstones are similar in composition and texture to the Candeleros sandstones, except they contain less basic volcanic detritus and lack corrensite. Bleached facies in both formations contain bitumen and clusters of calcite + bitumen concretions, and partially dissolved detrital clasts and most cements, including early Fe-oxides, which resulted in an increase in secondary porosity and bleaching of the red beds. Alteration of the Candeleros Formation is confined to medium- to coarse-grained sandstone in which corrensite is partially dissolved and its interlayer charge is satisfied by Ca instead of Na, as in corrensite from the red sandstones. Extensive dissolution occurred in the Huincul Formation, which favored the precipitation of new authigenic minerals such as smectite, mixed-layer chlorite-smectite, and pyrite. Bleaching and associated alteration most likely resulted from interaction of hydrocarbons with the red beds. Hydrocarbon paleomigration in the Cerro Granito area occurred in higher-permeability portions of the Candeleros and Huincul Formations. The seal provided by the Lisandro Formation was breached during uplift driven by Tertiary tectonism, resulting in the exhumation of the Huincul and Candeleros Formations. This study highlights the importance of a variety of alterations, including complex clay mineral paragenesis, contemporaneous with bleaching of the red beds. Such alterations can potentially be used to provide evidence for the passage of chemically reducing fluids associated with hydrocarbons in other regions, including cases where the original red color has been completely removed. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.