Origin and diagenetic evolution of dolomites in Paleogene Shahejie Formation lacustrine organic shale of Jiyang Depression, Bohai Bay Basin, East China

Abstract

The origin of dolomite in Shahejie Formation shale of Jiyang Depression in eastern China were studied by means of petrologic identification, compositional analysis by X-ray diffraction, stable carbon and oxygen isotopic composition, and trace element and rare earth element analyses. The results show that the development of dolomite is limited in the lacustrine organic rich shale of Shahejie Formation in the study area. Three kinds of dolomite minerals can be identified: primary dolomite (D1), penecontemporaneous dolomite (D2), and ankerite (Ak). D1 has the structure of primary spherical dolomite, high magnesium and high calcium, with order degree of 0.3-0.5, and is characterized by the intracrystalline corrosion and coexistence of secondary enlargement along the outer edge. D2 has the characteristics of secondary enlargement, order degree of 0.5-0.7, high magnesium, high calcium and containing a little iron and manganese elements. Ak is characterized by high order degree of 0.7-0.9, rhombic crystal, high magnesium, high calcium and high iron. The micritic calcite belongs to primary origin on the basis of the carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions and the fractionation characteristics of rare earth elements. According to the oxygen isotopic fractionation equation between paragenetic dolomite and calcite, it is calculated that the formation temperature of dolomite in the shale is between 36.76-45.83 °C, belonging to lacustrine low-temperature dolomite. Based on the maturation and growth mechanism of primary and penecontemporaneous dolomite crystals, a dolomite diagenetic sequence and the dolomitization process are proposed, which is corresponding to the diagenetic environment of Shahejie Formation shale in the study area.