Detrital K-feldspar Research Articles

The nature of porosity in organic-rich mudstones of the Upper Jurassic Kimmeridge Clay Formation, North Sea, offshore United Kingdom

Abstract Analyses of organic-rich mudstones from wells that penetrated the Upper Jurassic Kimmeridge Clay Formation, offshore United Kingdom, were performed to evaluate the nature of both organic and inorganic rock constituents and their relation to porosity in this world-class source rock. The formation is at varying levels of thermal maturity, ranging from immature in the shallowest core samples to mature in the deepest core samples. The intent of this study was to evaluate porosity as a function of both organic macerals and thermal maturity. At least four distinct types of organic macerals were observed in petrographic and SEM analyses and they all were present across the study area. The macerals include, in decreasing abundance: 1) bituminite admixed with clays; 2) elongate lamellar masses (alginite or bituminite) with small quartz, feldspar, and clay entrained within it; 3) terrestrial (vitrinite, fusinite, semifusinite) grains; and 4) Tasmanites microfossils. Although pores in all maceral types were observed on ion-milled surfaces of all samples, the pores (largely nanopores with some micropores) vary as a function of maceral type. Importantly, pores in the macerals do not vary systematically as a function of thermal maturity, insofar as organic pores are of similar size and shape in both the immature and mature Kimmeridge rocks. If any organic pores developed during the generation of hydrocarbons, they were apparently not preserved, possibly because of the highly ductile nature of much of the rock constituents of Kimmeridge mudstones (clays and organic material). Inorganic pores (largely micropores with some nanopores) have been observed in all Kimmeridge mudstones. These pores, particularly interparticle (i.e., between clay platelets), and intraparticle (i.e., in framboidal pyrite, in partially dissolved detrital K-feldspar, and in both detrital and authigenic dolomite) are noteworthy because they compose much of the observable porosity in the shales in both immature and mature samples. The absence of a systematic increase in organic porosity as a function of either maceral type or thermal maturity indicates that such porosity was probably unrelated to hydrocarbon generation. Instead, much of the porosity within mudstones of the Kimmeridge appears to be largely intraparticle and interparticle (adjacent to inorganic constituents), so the petroleum storage potential in these organic-rich mudstones largely resides in inorganic pores.

Age and composition of Antarctic sub-glacial bedrock reflected by detrital zircons, erratics, and recycled microfossils in the Ellsworth Land–Antarctic Peninsula–Weddell Sea–Dronning Maud Land sector (240°E–0°–015°E)

The age and composition of the 14×106km2 of Antarctica's surface obscured by ice is unknown except for some dated detrital minerals and erratics. In remedy, we present four new analyses (U–Pb age, TDMC, εHf, and rock type) of detrital zircons from Neogene turbidites as proxies of Antarctic bedrock, and review published proxies: detrital hornblendes analysed for Ar–Ar age and bulk Sm–Nd isotopes; Pb isotope compositions of detrital K-feldspars; erratics and dropstones that reflect age and composition; and recycled microfossils that reflect age and facies. This work deals with the 240°E–0°–015°E sector, and complements Veevers and Saeed's (2011) analysis of the 70°E–240°E sector. Each sample is located in its ice-drainage basin for backtracking to the potential provenance. Gaps in age between sample and upslope exposure are specifically attributable to the provenance. The major provenance of detritus west of the Antarctic Peninsula (AP) is West Antarctica, and of detritus east of the AP East Antarctica. We confirm that the Central Antarctic provenance about a core of the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountains (GSM) and the Vostok Subglacial Highlands (VSH) contains a basement that includes igneous (mafic granitoids) and metamorphic rocks with peak U–Pb ages of 0.65–0.50, 1.20–0.9, 2.1–1.9, 2.8–2.6, and 3.35–3.30Ga, TDMC of 3.6–1.3Ga, and mainly negative εHf. The potential provenance of zircons of 650–500Ma age with TDMC ages of 1.55Ga, and of zircons of 1200–900Ma age with positive εHf lies beneath the ice in East Antarctica south and southeast of Dronning Maud Land within the Antarctic part of the East African–Antarctic Orogen. Zircons with the additional ages of 1.7–1.4Ga, 2.1–1.9Ga, and 3.35–3.00Ga have a potential provenance in the GSM.

Large-scale, linked drainage systems in the NW European Triassic: insights from the Pb isotopic composition of detrital K-feldspar

Pb isotopic data from K-feldspars in Middle Triassic (Anisian) sandstones in the Wessex Basin, onshore SW UK, and the East Irish Sea Basin, some 350 km to the north, show that the same grain populations are present. This indicates that the drainage system (the ‘Budleighensis’ river) feeding these basins originated from the same source/s, most probably the remnant Variscan uplands to the south. Fluvial and aeolian sandstones have the same provenance, suggesting that if water- and wind-driven sands were originally derived from different sources, this has been obscured through reworking prior to final deposition. Significant recycling of feldspar from arkosic sandstones in earlier sedimentary basins can be ruled out. The provenance data agree with previous depositional models, indicating transport distances in excess of 400 km, with a drainage pattern that linked separate basins. This supports the idea that the regional fluvial system was driven by topography and episodic flooding events of sufficient magnitude to overcome evaporation and infiltration over hundreds of kilometres. Importantly, this drainage system appears to have been isolated and independent from those operating contemporaneously to the NW of the Irish and Scottish massifs, where the remnant Variscan uplands apparently exerted no influence on drainage or sand supply.

Diagenetic albitization in the Tera Group, Cameros Basin (NE Spain) recorded by trace elements and spectral cathodoluminescence

This paper deals with the diagenetic albitization of both plagioclases and K-feldspars in the Tithonian fluvial sandstones of a rift basin (Cameros Basin). The sandstones in the lower part of the rift record have not suffered this albitization process. A clear relationship is observed between sodium contents, as the main element of some feldspars and their cathodoluminescence (CL) color (the higher the sodium content, the lower is their CL intensity). In conclusion, albitization processes are detectable by decreased CL intensities and changes in the CL spectra.In addition, very different trace element compositions are obtained by laser ablation when comparing trace elements of non-albitized feldspars in sandstones of the lower part of the rift record with those of albitized feldspars in sandstones of the infill top. Non-albitized K-feldspars show Rb, Sr, Ba and Pb contents of up to 1000ppm. In contrast, very flat profiles of trace element contents (<250ppm) are recorded in albitized feldspars (both K-feldspars and plagioclases). Thus, albitization implies feldspars impoverished in trace elements, including REE, which suggests that albitization is a dissolution and reprecipitation process. Further, albitized plagioclases show higher REE contents than albitized K-feldspars. We report here that REE patterns partly depend on the initial composition of the feldspar (K-feldspar or plagioclase) as a useful geochemical criterion for distinguishing albitized detrital plagioclases from albitized detrital K-feldspars.CL spectra from non-albitized and albitized K-feldspars and plagioclases revealed marked differences. Non-albitized K-feldspars present blue (main emission band at 460nm) and brownish CL colors (590nm), sometimes in the same grain. Brownish colors are related to weathering processes. The primary blue emission is related to Al–O−–Al centers, enhanced probably by Al incorporation due to the coupled substitution of Ba2++Al3+↔M++Si4+. Weathered K-feldspars present 4.8 times lower Ba content than fresh blue luminescent ones. The brownish colors are related to the external border or fractured grain zones, altered by weathering processes. Therefore, the observed 590nm emission is assumed to be caused by structural defects resulting from weathering and alteration.Albitized K-feldspars are usually weak luminescent with a typical CL emission band at 620nm. Sometimes, relicts of the original blue luminescence (460nm band) are still present. The leaching of probably both Al and Ba can be responsible for the decrease in the blue band. The characteristic 620nm band is also dominant in albitized weak luminescent plagioclases. Two additional emission bands at 440nm (Al–O−–Al center) and 565nm (Mn2+) occur, when albitized plagioclases preserved their original CL characteristics (green CL color). Another spectral peak at ca. 720nm can be explained by Fe3+ activation due to Fe3+–Al3+ substitution. The spectral CL measurements indicate that changes in luminescence due to albitization (620nm emission) seem to be more related to structural defects than to trace element activation or quenching.

Distinguishing East and West Antarctic sediment sources using the Pb isotope composition of detrital K-feldspar

New Pb analyses of K feldspars (Kfs) from Archaean–Mesozoic crystalline rocks from across the Weddell Sea region of Antarctica show Pb isotopic compositions that vary geographically. Five distinct basement provinces are defined, each with characteristic Kfs Pb compositions, and indicate that the comparison of the Pb isotopic composition of individual detrital Kfs can be used as a sedimentary provenance tool in this region. This tool is tested on Permian sandstones deposited in a retro-arc foreland basin because the potential source regions for these sandstones, the active Palaeopacific margin arc of West Antarctica and uplifted regions of now ice-covered East Antarctica, comprise rocks with markedly different Pb isotope compositions. Pb compositions of detrital Kfs from sandstone samples collected from Dronning Maud Land suggest that their provenance was entirely from within East Antarctica, while those collected from the Theron Mountains, Coats Land, were wholly derived from the active margin of West Antarctica. Kfs Pb composition of bedrock samples is largely dependent on age and because Kfs tends to only survive a single cycle of erosion, transport, deposition and diagenesis, its provenance when compared with that determined by detrital zircon geochronology, may qualify what proportion of the more robust mineral zircon has been recycled through several sedimentary cycles. Detrital zircon analyses from a Permian sandstone from the Theron Mountains suggest that 45% of its detrital zircon was recycled from pre-existing (meta)sedimentary rocks. The detrital feldspar data also indicate that Archaean and 2.1 Ga crust, with a very different Pb isotope composition to any exposed in the Weddell Sea region, is likely to exist beneath the East Antarctic Ice sheet.

Composition, nucleation, and growth of iron oxide concretions

Iron oxide concretions are formed from post depositional, paleogroundwater chemical interaction with iron minerals in porous sedimentary rocks. The concretions record a history of iron mobilization and precipitation caused by changes in pH, oxidation conditions, and activity of bacteria. Transport limited growth rates may be used to estimate the duration of fluid flow events. The Jurassic Navajo Sandstone, an important hydrocarbon reservoir and aquifer on the Colorado Plateau, USA, is an ideal stratum to study concretions because it is widely distributed, well exposed and is the host for a variety of iron oxide concretions. Many of the concretions are nearly spherical and some consist of a rind of goethite that nearly completely fills the sandstone porosity and surrounds a central sandstone core. The interior and exterior host-rock sandstones are similar in detrital minerals, but kaolinite and interstratified illite–smectite are less abundant in the interior. Lepidocrocite is present as sand-grain rims in the exterior sandstone, but not present in the interior of the concretions. Widespread sandstone bleaching resulted from dissolution of early diagenetic hematite grain coatings by chemically reducing water that gained access to the sandstone through fault conduits. The iron was transported in solution and precipitated as iron oxide concretions by oxidation and increasing pH. Iron diffusion and advection growth time models place limits on minimum duration of the diagenetic, fluid flow events that formed the concretions. Concretion rinds 2 mm thick and 25 mm in radius would take place in 2000 years from transport by diffusion and advection and in 3600 years if transport was by diffusion only. Solid concretions 10 mm in radius would grow in 3800 years by diffusion or 2800 years with diffusion and advection. Goethite (α-FeO (OH)) and lepidocrocite (γ-FeO (OH)) nucleated on K-feldspar grains, on illite coatings on sand grains, and on pore-filling illite, but not on clean quartz grains. Model results show that regions of detrital K-feldspar in the sandstone that consume H + more rapidly than diffusion to the reaction site determine concretion size, and spacing is related to diffusion and advection rates of supply of reactants Fe 2+, O 2, and H +.

DEFINIÇÃO DA IDADE DEPOSICIONAL DA FORMAÇÃO AÇU (BACIA POTIGUAR, NORDESTE DO BRASIL) 40 39 ATRAVÉS DA DATAÇÃO

Crescimentos autigênicos precoces de K-feldspato são abundantes nos arenitos fluviais cretácicos da Formação Açu (Bacia Potiguar), um dos mais importantes reservatórios onshore de hidrocarbonetos do Brasil. Estes crescimentos foram formados diretamente ao redor de K-feldspatos detríticos, em condições superficiais (eodiagênese inicial). A continuidade física entre crescimentos e grãos detríticos impossibilitou sua separação visando a aplicação do método convencional 40K- 40Ar. Assim, optou-se em aplicar o método 40 39 Ar- Ar diretamente nos crescimentos autigênicos de K-feldspato. Como resultado, foi obtida uma idade mínima de 120 Ma, muito próxima à idade bioestratigráfica previamente estabelecida para os arenitos da Formação Açu, o que demonstra a viabilidade da aplicação do método 40Ar- 39Ar na determinação de idades deposicionais de arenitos-reservatório. Entretanto, para fins de aprimoramento do método e melhor precisão nas idades, é sugerido o uso de equipamentos que utilizam sonda a laser ultravioleta (UV), o que reduz a possibilidade de contaminação por diferentes fases minerais.

Sedimentology, sandstone provenance and palaeodrainage on the eastern Rockall Basin margin: evidence from the Pb isotopic composition of detrital K-feldspar

Abstract The Rockall Basin, west of Ireland, is a frontier area for hydrocarbon exploration, but currently the age and location of sand fairways through the basin are poorly known. A recently developed provenance approach based on in-situ Pb isotopic analysis of single K-feldspar grains by laser ablation multi-collector inductively coupled mass spectrometry (LA-MC-ICPMS) offers advantages over other provenance techniques, particularly when applied to regional palaeodrainage issues. K-feldspar is a relatively common, usually first-cycle framework mineral in sandstones and its origin is typically linked to that of the quartz grains in arkosic and sub-arkosic rocks. Consequently, in contrast to other techniques, the Pb-in-K-feldspar tool characterizes a significant proportion of the framework grains. New Pb isotopic data from K-feldspars in putative Permo-Triassic and Middle Jurassic sandstones in Well 12/2-1z (the Dooish gas condensate discovery) on the eastern margin of the Irish Rockall Basin are reported. These data suggest that three isotopically distinct basement sources supplied the bulk of the K-feldspar in the reservoir sandstones and that the relative contribution of these sources varied through time. Archaean and early Proterozoic rocks (including elements of the Lewisian Complex and its offshore equivalents), to the immediate east, NE and north of the eastern Rockall Margin, are the likely sources. More distal sourcelands to the NW cannot be ruled out but there was no significant input from southern sources, such as the Irish Massif. These data, together with previously published regional Pb isotopic data, highlight the important role played by old, near and far-field Archaean–Proterozoic basement highs in contributing sediment to NE Atlantic margin basins. The Irish Massif appears to have acted as a significant, but inert, drainage divide from the Permo-Triassic to the Late Jurassic and hence younger, Avalonian and Variscan sand sources appear to have been less important on the Irish Atlantic Margin.

Isotopic evidence for the diversity of late Quaternary loess in Nebraska: Glaciogenic and nonglaciogenic sources

Pb isotope compositions of detrital K-feldspars and U-Pb ages of detrital zircons are used as indicators for determining the sources of Peoria Loess deposited during the last glacial period (late Wisconsin, ca. 25–14 ka) in Nebraska and western Iowa. Our new data indicate that only loess adjacent to the Platte River has Pb isotopic characteristics suggesting derivation from this river. Most Peoria Loess in central Nebraska (up to 20 m thick) is non-glaciogenic, on the basis of Pb isotope ratios in K-feldspars and the presence of 34-Ma detrital zircons. These isotopic characteristics suggest derivation primarily from the Oligocene White River Group in southern South Dakota, western Nebraska, southeastern Wyoming, and northeastern Colorado. The occurrence of 10–25 Ma detrital zircons suggests additional minor contributions of silt from the Oligocene-Miocene Arikaree Group and Miocene Ogallala Group. Isotopic data from detrital K-feldspar and zircon grains from Peoria Loess deposits in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa suggest that the immediate source of this loess was alluvium of the Missouri River. We conclude that this silt probably is of glaciogenic origin, primarily derived from outwash from the western margin of the Laurentide Ice Sheet. Identification of the White River Group as the main provenance of Peoria Loess of central Nebraska and the Missouri River valley as the immediate source of western Iowa Peoria Loess indicates that paleowind directions during the late Wisconsin were primarily from the northwest and west, in agreement with earlier studies of particle size and loess thickness variation. In addition, the results are in agreement with recent simulations of non-glaciogenic dust sources from linked climate-vegetation modeling, suggesting dry, windy, and minimally vegetated areas in parts of the Great Plains during the last glacial period.

Mg-rich ferric illite in marine transgressive and highstand systems tracts: Examples from the Paleoproterozoic Semri Group, central India

This paper focusses upon two glauconitic sandstones in the Paleoproterozoic Deoland Formation and Chorhat Sandstone, both belonging to the Semri Group, central India. In both the cases glauconitic minerals occur in sandstones deposited in the marine realm, within a transgressive systems tract (TST) for the former unit and within a highstand systems tract (HST) for the latter. The proportion of glauconitic minerals increases in the paleo-offshore direction. Petrography reveals selective early glauconitization of detrital K-feldspars along their fringes, cleavages and the fractures created by volume expansion during progressive alteration, leading to the generation of peloids with small relics of the precursors. XRD and mineral chemistry reveal a structure typical of glauconite, and more akin to Mg-rich ferric illite. The mineral chemistry of the glauconitic mineral phases remains the same whether the glauconitization process was incipient or at an advanced stage. These findings contrast with the previously held belief that ferric illite is confined to terrestrial or marginal marine sediments, and concurs with recent observations that the mineral can form in the open sea, but with high Mg. Since there are no ferro-magnesian minerals in association with these Vindhyan glauconitic sandstones, the seawater appears to be the only source for the Mg and Fe required. The general low rate of sedimentation on Proterozoic open shelves would have permitted ferric illite formation even within a HST, as represented by the Chorhat Sandstone.

Drainage reorganization during breakup of Pangea revealed by in-situ Pb isotopic analysis of detrital K-feldspar

Pb isotopes in detrital K-feldspar grains provide a powerful provenance tracer for feldspathic sandstones. Common Pb isotopic compositions show broad (hundred-kilometer scale) regional variation, and this signature can survive weathering, transport, and diagenesis. The feldspar Pb signature can be measured rapidly using laser ablation–multicollector–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA-MC-ICP-MS), and careful targeting can avoid inclusions and altered regions within grains. Here, we combine a new Pb domain map for the circum–North Atlantic with detrital K-feldspar Pb isotopic data from Triassic and Jurassic sandstones from basins on the Irish Atlantic margin. The Pb isotopic compositions reveal otherwise cryptic feldspar populations that constrain the evolving drainage pattern. Triassic sandstones originated from distant Archean and Paleoproterozoic rocks, probably in Green-land, Labrador, and the Rockall Bank to the NW, implying long (>500 km) transport across a nascent rift system. Later, Jurassic sandstones had a composite Paleo- and Mesoproterozoic source in more proximal sources to the north (

The influence of transgression and regression on the spatial and temporal distribution of diagenetic kaolin in the Upper Ordovician glaciogenic sandstones within a sequence stratigraphic framework, Murzuq Basin, SW Libya

Linking diagenesis to depositional facies and sequence stratigraphy can provide a better understanding of some of the parameters that control the spatial and temporal distribution of diagenetic alterations and of their impact on reservoir quality. A study of the paralic, glaciogenic sandstones of the Melaz Shuqran and Mamunyiat formations (Late Ordovician) of the Murzuq Basin, SW Libya, reveals that the distribution of diagenetic kaolin can be constrained within depositional facies and sequence stratigraphy. Eogenetic kaolinite was formed by the dissolution of unstable detrital grains as a result of influx of meteoric waters into: (i) glacial, fluvial incised-valley lowstand systems tract (LST), glacial, tide-dominated estuarine transgressive systems tract (TST) during formation of overlying sequence boundary, (ii) paraglacial, tide-dominated deltaìc highstand systems tract (HST), paraglacial, foreshore to shoreface HST during progradation and basinward shift of the shoreline and/or formation of overlying sequence boundary, (iii) postglacial, Gilbert-type deltaic LST sandstones during relative sea level fall. On the other hand, formation of kaolinite immediately below maximum flooding surfaces is attributed to dissolution of unstable detrital grains by organic acids that were presumably derived from thermal alterations of organic matter, possibly during mesodiagenesis. The transformation of eogenetic kaolinite into dickite during mesodiagenesis is probably a consequence of low α K + / α H + ratio in the pore waters due to the scarcity of detrital K-feldspars.

The Use of the Common Pb Isotope Composition of Detrital K-Feldspar Grains as a Provenance Tool and Its Application to Upper Carboniferous Paleodrainage, Northern England

K-feldspar is a common detrital mineral in sandstones. It contains little U or Th, and hence the common Pb isotope composition of unaltered K-feldspar is that of the source rock. Pb isotope variations in igneous and metamorphic crustal rocks define broad spatial patterns that make the Pb signature of detrital K-feldspar grains a useful provenance tool. However, it is unclear how robust this signal is, and to what extent it can be modified by weathering, transport, burial diagenesis, and/or exposure to hydrothermal fluids. This study reports an evaluation of the technique, using two granite–arkose pairs (from Helmsdale, northern Scotland, and Shap, northwest England) where the composition of the detrital grains can be compared to feldspars in the granite from which they were derived. The results of this test have informed a pilot study using the Pb isotope composition of detrital K-feldspar in Upper Carboniferous fluvial sedimentary rocks of northern England to constrain the sediment routing. Pb isotope compositions have been measured using an in situ high-resolution single-grain technique that can distinguish original composition, heterogeneity, and subsequent alteration within individual sand grains. The results for the granite–arkose pairs show that the common Pb isotope signature of the detrital K-feldspar grains matches the in situ feldspars in the source granites. The signal is independent of grain size (medium-grained sand to granules), but alteration along a paleo-regolith at Helmsdale has resulted in perturbations in Pb composition and an increase in the errors on the analyses. The application of the technique to arkosic Carboniferous (Serpukhovian–Bashkirian) Millstone Grit Group sandstones in the Pennine Basin reveals two discrete populations of K-feldspars that cannot be distinguished petrographically. Matching of the compositions to potential sourcelands to the north and northeast of the basin suggest a far-traveled (> 500 km) source of K-feldspar from the Archean–Paleoproterozoic Lewisian rocks of northwest Scotland or their extension to the north, but also an equally important proximal source emanating from the Southern Uplands Belt of Scotland in what would have been the lower part of the hinterland drainage basin of the Millstone Grit.

Variations in mixed-layer illite/smectite diagenesis in the rift and post-rift sediments of the Jeanne d'Arc Basin, Grand Banks offshore Newfoundland, Canada

Mixed-layer illite/smectite (I/S) clays were analyzed from 22 deep exploration wells from the Jeanne d'Arc Basin on the Grand Banks offshore Newfoundland, the host of large commercial hydrocarbon accumulations discovered in the last two and a half decades. The fine fraction of the clays (&lt;0.1 µm) consists mainly of mixed-layer I/S with minor amounts of kaolinite, illite, and chlorite. Smectite and (or) smectite-rich I/S clays were supplied to the Jeanne d'Arc Basin from Upper Jurassic to Tertiary times. Smectite-rich I/S clays occur only in shallow samples irrespective of geologic age. The proportion of illite in I/S mixed-layers, as well as the degree of ordering, increase with depth and temperature indicating that smectite-rich I/S clays have been progressively illitized in both rift and post-rift sediments of the Jeanne d'Arc Basin during burial. The transition from random to R1-ordered I/S occurs between subsurface depths of 1940 and 3720 m and crosses major stratigraphic boundaries. The transition from R1- to R3-ordered I/S generally occurs below 4000 m depth. Variable shapes of I/S depth profiles reflect the influence of temperature, fluid migration, subsidence history, basin structure, lithology, and salt diapirism on I/S diagenesis. Based on these variations, the basin can be subdivided into 4 regions with different illitization gradients. In the Southern Jeanne d'Ac Basin, advanced I/S diagenesis probably reflects uplift and denudation and (or) higher paleogeothermal gradients. Rapid increase of percent illite in I/S with depth in the Trans-Basinal Fault area is most likely controlled by upward flow of hot, K+-bearing fluids along faults. The migration of hydrocarbons probably followed the same pathways as the illitizing fluids. Delayed illitization in the Northern Jeanne d'Arc Basin and Central Ridge area reflects insufficient K+supply because of a lack of detrital K-feldspar in the host sediment, the absence of faulting, and the presence of thick shale intervals. These findings show that I/S depth profiles may vary within the same sedimentary basin due to a variety of geological factors. Single wells generally cannot be considered representative for the basin as a whole.

Kinetic modeling of diagenesis of Eogene lacustrine sandstone reservoirs in the Jianghan Basin, southeastern China

In the Tuoshi oilfield, located in the Cenozoic Jianghan Basin of southeastern China, there have been found hydrocarbon reservoirs hosted in lacustrine sandstones of the Eogene Xingouzui Formation. The main diagenetic features identified in these sandstones include the dissolution of detrital K-feldspar and albite grains, the precipitation of quartz as overgrowths and/or cements, and the precipitation and/or transformation of clay minerals. These diagenetic features were interpreted to have occurred in early, intermediate and late stages, based on the burial depth. The kinetics of fluid-mineral reactions and the concentrations of aqueous species at each stage of diagenesis were simulated numerically for these lacustrine sandstones, using a quasi-stationary state approximation that incorporates simultaneous chemical reactions in a time-space continuum. During the early diagenetic stage, pore fluid was weakly acidic, which resulted in dissolution of K-feldspar and albite and, therefore, led to the release of K+, Na+, Al3+ and SiO2(aq) into the diagenetic fluid. The increased K+, Na+, Al3+ and SiO2(aq) concentrations in the diagenetic fluid caused the precipitation of quartz, kaolinite and illite. At the beginning of the intermediate diagenetic stage the concentration of H+ was built up due to the decomposition of organic matter, which was responsible for further dissolution of K-feldspar and albite and precipitation of quartz, kaolinite, and illite. During the late diagenetic stage, the pore fluid was weakly alkaline, K-feldspar became stable and was precipitated with quartz and clay minerals. When the burial depth was greater than 3000 m, the pore fluids became supersaturated with respect to albite, but undersaturated with respect to quartz, resulting in the precipitation of albite and the dissolution of quartz. The diagenetic reactions forecasted in the numerical modeling closely matched the diagenetic features identified by petrographic examination, and therefore, can help us to gain a better understanding of the diagenetic processes and associated porosity evolution in sandstone reservoirs.

ABSTRACT: Petrography of Ankerite Cement, Grain Replacement, and Fracture Fill in Foreland Sandstones of the Central Rocky Mountains

Ferroan dolomite and ankerite (here referred to as ankerite) are widespread late diagenetic precipitates in both sandstones and carbonate rocks in a variety of basinal settings. In foreland basins of the central Rocky Mountains, in rocks ranging in age from Cambrian to Cretaceous, ankerite is sufficiently abundant locally to exert significant control on both matrix and fracture porosity in oil and gas reservoirs. Thus, deciphering the controls on the emplacement of this mineral is interesting from a practical standpoint. Ankerite in these rocks, similar to other volumetrically important authigenic minerals, manifests a spatial distribution at small scales that reflects a difficulty with nucleation. Within sandstones, ankerite post-dates quartz cementation and is widely observed, at the scale of a few micrometers, to be localized either as overgrowths on detrital dolomite grains in sandstones or as replacement of detrital K-feldspar. Detrital dolomite cores are observed to contain abundant intragranular fractures, confirming that ankerite precipitation post-dates at least a portion of the compaction in these rocks. Spatial affiliation with dissolving detrital K-feldspar suggests a possible microscale pH control on precipitation. Controls on ankerite precipitation in fracture porosity are not evident, but elemental compositions of cements, grain replacements, and fracture fills show similar ranges of variation, suggesting that these different petrographic forms of ankerite precipitated from the same fluids and record a common history of fluid/rock interaction.

Microtextures and the Origin of Muscovite-Kaolinite Intergrowths in Sandstones of the Utrillas Formation, Basque Cantabrian Basin, Spain

AbstractMuscovite-kaolinite intergrowths found in Albian sandstones of the Basque Cantabrian basin (northern Spain) were studied by optical, scanning and electron microscopy and electron microprobe analysis. Kaolinitization begins at grain edges, forming the characteristic fanned-out textures, and propagates toward the interior along the cleavages of muscovite. Kaolinite and muscovite occur as thick packets, being free of interlayering. Phase boundaries between both minerals show bidimensional crystallographic continuity, and no intermediate phases have been identified. The data obtained suggest that muscovite only supplied a template suitable for the epitactic crystallization of kaolinite, while Al was available in sufficient amounts due to the dissolution of detrital K-feldspar. Very small packets of magnetite or maghemite showing a coherent orientation with the kaolinite crystals have been recognized, and could be responsible for the small Fe contents usually detected in electron microprobe analyses of kaolinite.Textural relationships between authigenic kaolinite and deformation microstructures in the intergrowths, combined with previous information about burial conditions, show that alteration proceeded during a late stage of the diagenetic history, related to the uplift of the studied materials as a result of the Alpine orogeny.

Proposition d'un modele de silicification superficielle des gres neogenes de Montjuic, Barcelone (Espagne); parageneses minerales, environments geochimiques et circulation des fluides

Abstract The Montjuic hill is part of the Neogene horst and graben system of the Catalan Coastal Ranges at the northwestern edge of the Valencia Trough. It is located to the SE of Barcelona City and consists of a 200 m thick strongly silicified detrital succession (mainly conglomerate and sandstone units alternating with lutitic units) of Miocene age. The geological constraints of this area (young age, shallow depositional environment and no evidence of burial processes) ensure that authigenic minerals formed during silicification have not been modified by further diagenetic processes and allow to constrain the age and nature of the silicification. Silicification has strongly increased the hardness of the original sediment. Textural effects of mechanical compaction are rare, testifying that burial processes had no effect on diagenesis and pointing towards an early and/or shallow cementation. Two main diagenetic facies with characteristic associations of authigenic minerals can be identified, namely: (1) non silicified facies are present in ochre-coloured, fine-grained sandstones with high clay and carbonate content. In these facies, cementation is scarce and generally forms minor feldspar overgrowths around detrital K-feldspar as well as layers or nodules of calcite spar cement mainly filling interparticle porosity; (2) silicified facies are red, purple-coloured and characterized by the presence of opal, microquartz and quartz overgrowths as well as other minor authigenic minerals such as Ti and Fe oxides and alunite. Particularly, alunite and opal appear often at the boundary of the silicified/non silicified facies, coming with the development of bleached facies and are replaced by silica. In this paper, a detailed sampling of the silicification fronts has been made, in order to establish the main silicification pathways. In the sampled zone the non silicified sandstones are mainly made up of quartz, K-feldspar, muscovite, phyllite fragments and bioclasts and cemented by thin K-feldspar overgrowths and decimetric concretions of intergranular calcite spar with spherical and tabular shapes. Sandstones contain some pyrite pseudomorphs and 20 to 30% of clay minerals, essentially illite-mica. Samples collected perpendicular to the silicification fronts reveal significant textural, compositional and petrographical transformations, namely: (1) The color of the sample varies strongly from ochre in the non silicified facies to white and red in the bleached weakly silicified front and finally to red, purple and grey in the massively silicified facies; (2) The siliciclastic framework of Montjuic sandstones remains stable during the silicification, only detrital feldspars are partially altered into illite, and biotites are completely altered. The detrital carbonate components disappear quickly towards silicified facies; (3) Within the silicification front, either bleached or not, authigenic minerals show quite important variability. Calcite disappears progressively. The first silicification stage is built by incipient quartz overgrowths, then microquartz develops towards the massively silicified facies. Alunite and opal are usually present in samples collected in this silicification boundary; (4) In the massively silicified facies quartz overgrowths and microquartz take up almost all the intergranular volume of sandstones. Clay content is strongly reduced to 5-10% (mainly illite), so the primary clay-carbonate matrix has been replaced and/or transformed to microquartz. Iron oxides appear around feldspar and phyllite fragments. Because of the geological constraints Montjuic sandstones silicification was a surface/sub-surface phenomenon. Therefore, silicification occurred at relatively low temperature and pressure conditions. Partly, silica may have an internal origin (supplied by clay and feldspar hydrolysis). Supposing that diagenetic transformations inside sandstones are made at steady state conditions it is necessary to consider a strong external supply of silica. The presence of alunite points to acidic fluids with pH between 1,5 and 4. In these conditions, quartz solubility is unaffected, but the aluminium becomes mobile, thus aluminosilicate minerals (like feldspars) are hydrolyzed and clay minerals are transformed into opal CT. A feasible process which may have contributed to the acidification is the oxidation of the pyrite and organic matter present in the original sediments, testified by numerous pyrite ghosts in the non silicified and silicified sandstones. Silicification occurred in an oxidizing environment where sulfides were oxidized and iron oxides precipitated, explaining the colour of these materials. At the basin scale, different models can be considered: (a) a topographic driven flow that moved groundwater from the horst towards the basin; (b) a thermoconvective driven flow that moved phreatic and formation waters along the main faults of the graben or (c) a compaction driven flow that also moved formation waters. Only shallow systems driven by topographic flows can explain the oxidizing nature of the silicification solutions of Montjuic. Conclusions. The Montjuic sandstone silicification is remarkable in several aspects. (1) The lack of compaction and the oxidizing nature of the silicification indicate that this diagenesis was induced by subsurface groundwater, in shallow environments. (2) Silicification is pervasive in medium and coarse-grained sandstones and conglomerates. On the contrary, silicification is restricted to fracture zones in fine-grained sandstones.

Direct dating of authigenic K-feldspar overgrowths from the Kilombero Rift of Tanzania

K-feldspars form important detrital and authigenic components in sediments but may be difficult to separate by conventional means for isotope analysis, particularly geochronology. UV lasers are being increasing applied to in situ analysis since they are strongly absorbed by clear minerals such as K-feldspar, and can achieve a spatial resolution of better than 20 μm for individual Ar/Ar analyses. Here we demonstrate separation of detrital K-feldspar with a mean age of 423±14 Ma and authigenic overgrowths with a mean age of 138±5 Ma in clastic sediments from the Msolwa Group of the Kilombero Rift of Tanzania. The young age obtained for authigenic K-feldspar overgrowth demonstrates that precipitation occurred more than 160 Ma after sedimentation, during the period of deepest burial and synchronous with the initial extensional phases of the intracontinental Anza and Sudan rifts, as well as the initial stages in the break-up and separation of South America and Africa.

Tracing patterns of erosion and drainage in the Paleogene Himalaya through ion probe Pb isotope analysis of detrital K-feldspars in the Indus Molasse, India

The Indus Molasse is a pre- and syn-tectonic sedimentary sequence situated in the Indus Suture Zone of the western Himalaya. Spanning in time the collision of India and Asia, this deposit is well placed to record the evolving uplift and erosion history of the early Himalayan orogen. Nd isotope analyses from clay extracted from shales interbedded within the dominantly alluvial sequence indicate a low negative ϵ Nd (−1.64 to 0.72), in the basal Paleocene Chogdo Formation, slightly more negative than measured values from the Transhimalaya and Kohistan/Dras Arc. Up-section ϵ Nd becomes more negative, as low as −10.05, indicating influence of a different, more enriched source. Ion microprobe Pb isotopic analyses of single K-feldspars help constrain this source as being either the Lhasa or Karakoram Blocks, with westward paleo-current flow favoring the former. 207Pb/ 204Pb ratios are too low to be consistent with known Indian plate sources, a conclusion supported by the lack of muscovite or garnet that would be indicative of a High Himalayan contribution. Given the known age of rapid cooling of the High Himalaya at ∼20 Ma, and the lack of exposure of suitable lithologies prior to that time, an age of sedimentation prior to ∼20 Ma is inferred. The post-collisional change in paleo-flow and provenance is suggested to reflect the initiation of the Indus River during the Early Eocene. This study demonstrates the power of combined bulk sediment and single grain analyses in resolving provenance in tectonically complex settings.