Diabase Intrusions Research Articles

Effects of thermal intrusion on biomarker distributions in the Alum Shale from south-central Sweden

The middle (Miaolingian) to upper (Furongian) Cambrian Alum Shale Formation in the DBH15/73 core from south-central Sweden was exposed to local heat from a diabase intrusion, providing an opportunity to investigate the molecular geochemical response to thermal stress. Organic petrological observations and biomarker analyses were conducted to study changes in maturity-indicating parameters and the distribution of high molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during the maturation process. The DBH15/73 samples exhibit a maturity gradient, ranging from immature at the base to mature in the upper part of the Alum Shale Formation. Multiple maturity-based biomarker parameters were analyzed, and Ts/(Ts + Tm), M30/(M30 + H30), and Hopane H32: 22S/(22S + 22R) of saturated hydrocarbon parameters are found to be more reliable. Ratios of alkylnaphthalenes, alkylphenanthrenes, and alkyldibenzothiophenes (MNR, DNR, TMNr, TeMNr, MPI-1, MPR, MDR, and DMDR) also showed consistent correlations with thermal maturity. Thermal maturation impacted the macromolecular structure, resulting in the aromatization and demethylation, leading to MPy/Py, MChy/Chy, and the sum of unsubstituted 5-ring/4-ring PAH ratios changes with maturity. The influence of thermal maturation outweighs that of uranium radiation in this study, and maturity varies mainly with depth.

Constraining Geogenic Sources of Boron Impacting Groundwater and Wells in the Newark Basin, USA

The Newark Basin comprises Late Triassic and Early Jurassic fluvio-lacustrine rocks (Stockton, Lockatong, Passaic, Feltville, Towaco, and Boonton Formations) and Early Jurassic diabase intrusions and basalt lava flows. Boron concentrations in private well water samples range up to 18,000 μg/L, exceeding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Health Advisory of 2000 μg/L for children and 5000 μg/L for adults. Boron was analyzed in minerals, rocks, and water samples using FUS-ICPMS, LA-ICP-MS, and MC ICP-MS, respectively. Boron concentrations reach up to 121 ppm in sandstone of the Passaic Formation, 42 ppm in black shale of the Lockatong Formation, 31.2 ppm in sandstone of the Stockton Formation, and 36 ppm in diabase. The δ11B isotopic values of groundwater range from 16.7 to 32.7‰, which fall within those of the diabase intrusion (25 to 31‰). Geostatistical analysis using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) reveals that boron is associated with clay minerals in black shales and with Na-bearing minerals (possibly feldspar and evaporite minerals) in sandstones. The PCA also shows that boron is not associated with any major phases in diabase intrusion, and is likely remobilized from the surrounding rocks by the intrusion-related late hydrothermal fluids and subsequently incorporated into diabase. Calcite veins found within the Triassic rock formations exhibit relatively elevated concentrations ranging from 6.3 to 97.3 ppm and may contain micro-inclusions rich in boron. Based on the available data, it is suggested that the primary sources of boron contaminating groundwater in the area are clay minerals in black shales, Na-bearing minerals in sandstone, diabase intrusion-related hydrothermal fluids, and a contribution from calcite veins.

Geochemistry and accumulation of the ultra-deep Ordovician oils in the Shunbei oilfield, Tarim Basin: Coupling of reservoir secondary processes and filling events

Ultra-deep (7300 m–8900 m) condensed and volatile oil reservoirs have been discovered in the Ordovician reservoirs of the Shunbei oilfield, in the Tarim Basin. This study describes the petroleum accumulation process in the Shunbei oilfield by combining an analysis of its geochemical characteristics with seismic section observations and an analysis of petroleum filling events. Geochemical techniques are used to determine the sources, maturity, secondary processes, accumulation periods, and timing of petroleum filling. Analysis of fluid inclusion homogenization temperatures and burial-thermal histories indicates distinct petroleum filling events. Specifically, the north sub-section of the No. 5 fault zone experienced two petroleum filling periods during the late Caledonian and Indosinian epochs while the No. 1 fault zones and the mid-south sub-sections of the No. 5 fault zones experienced three distinct filling periods, encompassing the late Caledonian, Indosinian, and Himalayan periods. The CO2 concentrations and δ13CCO2 values suggest the presence of secondary microbial gases, primarily thermogenic gases. Gas component analysis reveals a transition from kerogen degradation gas to oil cracking gas from north to south. The detection of intact n-alkanes and compounds of the 25-norhopanes series in oil samples suggests a mixture of early biodegradable oil with late fresh oil in the area. Seismic sections reveal diabase intrusions with strong axial reflections. Local hydrothermal activities during the Permian era rapidly cracked saturated hydrocarbon biomarkers, forming polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the oil. Hydrothermal activity in the south sub-section of the No. 5 fault zone depleted the hydrocarbon-generating capacity of the underlying source rocks. Petroleum charged during the Indosinian period likely originated from potential petroleum reservoirs in the Cambrian system. This explains the comparatively low temperature of the SHB57X reservoir (163.32 °C) and the lack of strong hydrothermal activity in the late stage, but no biomarkers of the second-stage charged oil have been detected. Biomarker detection and gas genesis in the mid-south sub-section of the No. 5 fault zone and in the No. 1 fault zone suggest weak or no hydrothermal activity, with Cambrian source rocks maintaining their hydrocarbon generation capacity. Gas filling in the Himalayan period caused evaporative fractionation in the original reservoirs, resulting in a disproportionate (2-MH+2,3-DMP)/(3-MH+2,4-DMP), producing high K1 values in the light hydrocarbons in the present petroleum reservoirs. Differences in gas charging events in the Himalayan period led to the present distribution of petroleum phases.

Lacustrine shale oiliness influenced by diabase intrusions in the Paleogene Funing Formation, Subei Basin, China

The research on the correlation between hydrocarbon accumulations and magmatic activities has always attracted aroused much wide attention. Existing research has primarily the hydrocarbon generations capability of source rocks and the quality of reservoirs by diabase intrusions. whereas, rare systematic research has been conducted on the oiliness and enrichment mechanism. To be specific, the diabase intrusive zone, the contact metamorphic zone and the normal shale zone of the Funing Formation in the Gaoyou Sag, Subei Basin were taken as the object of this study. Moreover, in this study, the hydrocarbon generation quality, reservoir quality, and oil-bearing quality of diabase-metamorphic zone-normal shale were evaluated using X-ray diffractions, argon ion polishing-field emission scanning electron microscope, energy spectrum, rock slice/light-sheet microscopic observations, organic geochemical tests, N2 gas adsorption and 2D NMR tests. The results indicated that the intrusive zone, the metamorphic zone, and the normal zone were formed in order by the degree of effect of diabase intrusions. Secondly, the oil content of different parts exhibited significant heterogeneity due to the baking effect of diabase, and the metamorphic zone had the significantly better oil-bearing nature than the intrusive zone. Lastly, a distribution model was proposed for the diabase intrusive zone-metamorphic zone-normal surrounding rock zone.

Behavior of molecular maturity parameters in overmature shales affected by diabase intrusion (Irati Formation, Paraná Basin – Brazil)

Molecular parameters based on saturated and aromatic compounds are important tools to access thermal maturation, but the behavior of these compounds is affected by different rates of heating. This study used samples from the Irati Formation, one of the most important source rocks in the Paraná Basin, to assess the behavior of commonly used maturation parameters in overmature rocks, in conditions of high heating rates. The Irati Formation belongs to an atypical hydrocarbon generation system. It was matured by heat of the magmatic intrusions related to volcanism of the Serra Geral Group. The main objective of this work is to evaluate how the heat of a diabase intrusion affected the distribution of the saturated and aromatic biomarker parameters, relating to the intrusive rock distance. For this purpose, eleven shale samples from the borehole CBM-002-ST-RS of the Santa Terezinha field were analyzed. The samples were located at a maximum distance of 46.4 m from a 35.32 m-thick diabase intrusion. For the better understanding of each parameter behavior, was established four different zones according to their trends: maturity correlation, equilibrium, reversal and high thermal stress. The maturity correlation zone is where the progression of the parameter's values are correlated to the increase in maturation towards the base of the profile. The saturated parameters, such as Ts/(Ts + Tm), M30/(M30 + H30) and C29Ts/(C29Ts + H29) marked the increase in maturation of the samples more distant from the intrusion, and the aromatic parameters, such as MPI-1, MPR, DMDBTR 2.4/1.4 and TA(I)/TA(I + II), show an increase in maturation at the intermediate-distance samples. The ratio of Tric/H30 marked the increase of maturation in the largest number of samples. The parameters that reach equilibrium in the beginning of oils window entered the profile already in the equilibrium zone, such as 20S/(20S + 20R), 22S/(22S + 22R) and ββ/(αα + ββ). Furthermore, most parameters presented a reversal zone after the equilibrium or the maturity correlation zone, where they showed an inverse pattern with increase in maturation value. Finally, all parameters presented a chaotic distribution in the samples closest to the intrusion (starting at an average distance of 11 m from the intrusion), this behavior characterize the high thermal stress zone.

The Campinas-Jaguariúna Sill, NE Paraná Magmatic Province, Brazil: Insights on the mechanisms of emplacement and differentiation from geochemical and magnetic data

The Paraná Magmatic Province (PMP), one of the largest magmatic provinces on Earth, is composed of lava flows, dike swarms and sills that occupy thousands of kilometers across central-eastern South America. The Campinas-Jaguariúna Sill (CJS) is a large (>50 m thick and ±150 km2) diabase intrusion showing frequent medium- to coarse-grained gabbroic segregations and was emplaced at the interface between the Precambrian basement and sedimentary rocks in the northeastern Paraná Basin. This paper applies airborne magnetic and geochemical modeling to help understand the emplacement mechanisms and petrological evolution of the CJS. Magnetic field filtering techniques demonstrate that the CJS continues for tens of kilometers in the subsurface; analogous features are shown to be associated with other neighbor diabase occurrences, creating lobe-shaped structures that seem to freeze their original geometry and are not fully exposed by the current erosion levels. Petrological modeling indicates that the parental magma of the CJS was emplaced at ∼1 kbar, 1000 ppm H2O, and oxygen fugacity near FMQ-1. The gabbroic segregations, exposed as cm- to dm-sized sheets and eye-shaped lenses, are more evolved than the host diabase and can be shown by geochemical modeling to correspond to residual melts formed by crystal fractionation in a closed system. The parent magma of the CJS is akin to the more primitive Paranapanema magma type of the PMP, and we tested the possibility that sills intruding upper sedimentary layers may be part of a single episode of intrusions. For this purpose, we used geochemical data from the well-studied Limeira Sill, which is akin to the more evolved Pitanga magma type. Our modeling shows that, under crystal fractionation in the representative system condition, the CJS starting compositions cannot generate the Limeira rocks.

Mineralogical Evidence for Hydrothermal Uranium Mineralization: Discovery and Genesis of the Uranyl Carbonate Minerals in the BLS U Deposit, SW Songliao Basin, Northeast China

Diabase intrusions have been widely found in sandstone-type U deposits of the southwestern Songliao Basin, indicating diabase-related hydrothermal fluids might play an important role in this type of U mineralization. The first discovery of U-bearing carbonate minerals in the BLS U deposit provides an opportunity for understanding hydrothermal U mineralization and its relationship to diabase intrusions. U-bearing carbonate minerals occurred as thin shells generally ringing ankerite and then surrounded by colloidal pyrite through examination of scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. They can be interpreted as uranyl carbonate minerals, with the empirical formula of Ca2.7Fe0.9Mg0.4 (UO2) (CO3)5•9.6H2O, based on infrared absorption spectroscopy and electron microprobe. The formation of uranyl carbonate minerals is most likely related to the CO2-rich hydrothermal fluids from diabase intrusions according to its occurrence state, but the key factors are that the Ca-UO2-CO3 ternary complexes should have been produced in ore-forming hydrothermal fluids and adsorption of ankerite on ternary complexes. Thereby, a potential diabase-related hydrothermal U mineralization model for sandstone-type U deposits can be proposed. The ore-forming fluids that originated from diabase-related hydrothermal are formed through continuously extracting the adsorbed U6+ and dissolving the early U minerals. Then, U in the ore-forming hydrothermal fluids was migrated and transported probably either as uranyl carbonate ions or as Ca-UO2-CO3 ternary complexes. The former is easy to precipitate in the form of pitchblende dispersed in the fossil wood cells, ringing pyrite, and occurring along the edge of adsorbents at the site of reducing capacity change, while the latter will extremely inhibit the reduction of U6+, eventually leading to the precipitation of uranyl carbonate minerals ringing ankerite by adsorption. The above research results can provide mineralogical evidence for hydrothermal U mineralization in sandstone-type U deposits of the Songliao Basin.

Thermal effect of igneous intrusions on organic-rich Irati Formation and the implications for petroleum systems: a case study in the Paraná Basin, Brazil

The organic geochemistry of organic-rich facies including shales, marls, and carbonates (Assistência Member) of the Irati Formation, Paraná Basin, Brazil, were analyzed to evaluate the thermal effects of igneous intrusions upon the kerogen present in these facies. Total organic carbon (TOC) content and hydrocarbon source potential (S2) of the Irati source rocks range from 0.03 to 20.4% and 0.01 to 112.1 mg HC/g rock, respectively, indicating excellent potential as a source for hydrocarbon generation. Hydrogen index (HI) values reveal that the kerogen is predominantly type I (HI: up to 892.6 mg HC/g TOC) and, therefore, an oil source, except for samples having low TOC content due to severe maturation caused by the heat from diabase intrusions. The thickness of igneous intrusions in the 64 wells investigated in this study ranged from 2 to 231 m. They clearly had a major impact on TOC, HI, and S2 values, which decrease in the vicinity of intrusions, indicating a gradual increase in maturation toward the igneous body. In wells without the influence of igneous intrusions, Tmax values of Rock-Eval pyrolysis and %Ro indicate that the organic matter is immature for the generation of hydrocarbons.

Příspěvek k petrografii a mineralogii lokality Vyskočilka (Praha-Malá Chuchle, silur Barrandienu)

Classical locality Vyskočilka in the Barrandian Basin displays a well-exposed section of black Silurian shales penetrated by a ca. 10-m thick diabase sill. We examined the petrographic character and mineral composition of the intrusive body and enclosing shales, as well as the hydrothermal veins cutting the rocks. The diabase is a rock with basic affinity (paleobasaltoid), which was strongly influenced by post-magmatic alterations including albitization and zeolitization of feldspars as well as chloritization of clinopyroxenes and Fe-Ti spinelides. Host sediments show variously intense thermal overprint at the contact with the sill. The predominating Silurian shales are rarely accompanied by laminites, formed by siliciclastic material, calcite, apatite and probably also a pyroclastic component. A minor component of all sediments are Ti-rich chromspinelides, which are classified as chromite, magnetite, and spinel. Chromspinelides form isolated euhedral single crystals reaching up to 50 µm in size, as well as their intergrowths and fragments, which all do not display marks of abrasion due to transport. We therefore presuppose that they represent relics of ultrabasic pyroclastic material (volcanic ash), which was deposited during sedimentation of Silurian sediments. There are known few sills of Silurian meimechites in the Prague Basin containing chromspinelides with comparable chemical composition, which can thus represent a likely source of chromspinelides. The vein hydrothermal mineralizations, present at the study site, probably originated during different geological processes. The calcite veins with minor quartz and hydrocarbons likely formed during Variscan tectono-thermal overprint of the area. By contrast, the vein mineralization containing calcite, quartz, titanite, anatase, and Zn-Fe-Ni-Cu sulphides was likely associated with contact-metamorphic processes related to intrusion of diabase.

High geomagnetic field intensity recorded by anorthosite xenoliths requires a strongly powered late Mesoproterozoic geodynamo

Obtaining estimates of Earth's magnetic field strength in deep time is complicated by nonideal rock magnetic behavior in many igneous rocks. In this study, we target anorthosite xenoliths that cooled and acquired their magnetization within ca. 1,092 Ma shallowly emplaced diabase intrusions of the North American Midcontinent Rift. In contrast to the diabase which fails to provide reliable paleointensity estimates, the anorthosite xenoliths are unusually high-fidelity recorders yielding high-quality, single-slope paleointensity results that are consistent at specimen and site levels. An average value of ∼83 ZAm2 for the virtual dipole moment from the anorthosite xenoliths, with the highest site-level values up to ∼129 ZAm2, is higher than that of the dipole component of Earth's magnetic field today and rivals the highest values in the paleointensity database. Such high intensities recorded by the anorthosite xenoliths require the existence of a strongly powered geodynamo at the time. Together with previous paleointensity data from other Midcontinent Rift rocks, these results indicate that a dynamo with strong power sources persisted for more than 14 My ca. 1.1 Ga. These data are inconsistent with there being a progressive monotonic decay of Earth's dynamo strength through the Proterozoic Eon and could challenge the hypothesis of a young inner core. The multiple observed paleointensity transitions from weak to strong in the Paleozoic and the Proterozoic present challenges in identifying the onset of inner core nucleation based on paleointensity records alone.

“Sudbury Breccia” and “Huronian Breccia”: spatial, sedimentological, and structural evidence for separate distinct breccia-forming events

Rounded argillite clasts within the lower Gowganda Formation of the Huronian Supergroup near Whitefish Falls, Ontario, have been historically mapped as Sudbury Breccia, implying that their formation was initiated by the Sudbury meteorite impact event. Alternative genetic models proposed to explain the breccia at Whitefish Falls include formation through intrusion of diabase into wet sediment accompanied by soft-sediment deformation events. Outcrops in the Whitefish Falls area contain clear evidence for early post-depositional fracturing: flow of argillites into brittle fractured sandstones. Linking these geological processes suggests that the formation of the breccia at Whitefish Falls was generated by faulting of the Huronian sedimentary basin during the sedimentation of the Gowganda argillites. Using a GIS approach to compare the distribution of known breccia bodies with mapped lithology and structure, it is apparent that the term Sudbury Breccia has been applied to two types of breccias. First, true Sudbury Breccia, which is characterised by rounded heterogeneous clasts in an aphanitic matrix, is only found in proximity to the Sudbury Impact crater. The distribution of the second, primarily sediment derived, type of breccia, as seen at Whitefish Falls, is strongly associated with mapped faults and regional-scale basement discontinuities, as defined by gravity and magnetic data. Since this type of breccia is present throughout the entire Huronian sedimentary sequence, the term “Huronian Breccia” is more appropriate. This breccia is not the result of a single geological event but rather episodes of fault activity, as the geometry of the Huronian basin evolved over time.

Geochemical Characteristics and Zircon U-Pb Geochronology of Diabase in the Jinchanghe Mining Area, Western Yunnan, SW China: Implications for Tectonic and Magmatic Evolution of the Baoshan Block

The Jinchanghe Fe-Cu-Pb-Zn polymetallic deposit is located in the northern Baoshan block in the Sanjiang metallogenic belt, southwestern China, and is one of the major large-scale Pb-Zn polymetallic deposits. This region is characterized by numerous diabase intrusions; however, research work is limited. This study elucidated systematic geochemistry and chronology of the diabase closely associated with orebodies in Jinchanghe to provide constraints for magma evolution. The results indicated that the Jinchanghe diabase was enriched in CaO, MgO, and Al2O3 and depleted in TiO2 and P2O5. Large ion lithophile elements were depleted, while for high field strength elements, the ratio of LREEs but depleted in HREEs. The zircon U-Pb dating results suggested that the diabase age could be divided into two stages, indicating the occurrence of two-stage tectonic-magmatic events in the Late Triassic and Early Cretaceous. The results also suggested that the metallogenic age of the Jinchanghe deposit is the Early Cretaceous. Moreover, the age was closely related to the collision after the closure of the mid-Tethys Ocean in the Early Cretaceous. Therefore, the results of this study provide new evidence for the tectonic-magmatic evolution and mineralization of the Baoshan block.

Miocene to sub-Recent magmatism at the intersection between the Dead Sea Transform and the Ash Shaam volcanic field: evidence from the Yarmouk River gorge and vicinity

AbstractThe Yarmouk River gorge extends along the Israel–Jordan–Syria border junction. It marks the southern bound of the Irbid–Azraq rift and Harrat Ash Shaam volcanic field at their intersection with the younger Dead Sea Transform plate boundary. During the last ∼13 Ma, the gorge has repeatedly accumulated basaltic units, chronologically named the Lower, Cover, Yarmouk and Raqqad Basalt formations. We examined their origin and distribution through aerial photos, and geological and geophysical evidence. Our results define a southern Golan magmatic province, which includes exposed Miocene (∼13 Ma) basalts, gabbro–diabase intrusions below the gorge and the adjacent Dead Sea Transform valley, and numerous Pliocene–Pleistocene volcanic sources along the gorge. Cover Basalt (∼5.0–4.3 Ma) eruptions formed two adjacent 0–100 m thick plateaus on the transform shoulder before flowing downslope to fill the topographically lower Dead Sea Transform valley with ∼700 m thick basalts. Later incision of the Yarmouk River and displacement along its associated fault divided the plateaus and formed the gorge. The younger Yarmouk (0.8–0.6 Ma) and Raqqad (0.2–0.1 Ma) basalts erupted in the upper part of the gorge from volcanos reported here, and flowed downstream toward the Dead Sea Transform valley. Consequently, eruptions from six phreatic volcanic vents altered the Yarmouk River morphology from sinuous to meandering. Our results associate the ∼13 Ma long southern Golan volcanism with the proposed SW-trending extensional Yarmouk Fault, located east of the Dead Sea Transform. Hence, the Yarmouk volcanism is associated with the ongoing Harrat Ash Shaam activity, which is not directly linked to the displacement along the Dead Sea Transform.

Effects of diabase intrusions on surrounding clastic rock reservoir in early diagenetic stages: A case study of the Early Permian Fengcheng Formation in the Dabasong uplift, Junggar Basin

A stage of mafic magmatic activity occurred in Early Permian in the Dabasong Uplift of Junggar Basin, part of the magma intruded into the normal sedimentary and shallow buried fine sandstone to form diabase, and part of the magma erupted to form basalt. The surrounding fine sandstone just entered in the early diagenetic stage A when the magma intruded. The compaction of the surrounding clastic rock and rupture of a small number of clastic grains were caused by the extrusion of the magma intrusion. The presence of chemically deposited alkaline minerals such as calcite, dolomite, shortite, natural alkali, and northupite indicates an alkali lake sedimentary environment for the Fengcheng Formation. Primary alkaline minerals dissolved from the surrounding rocks were subsequently transported and precipitated to form cements. The formation of the calcite cements and calcite metasomatism resulted in considerable densification of the surrounding rock during early diagenesis and destruction of the reservoir quality. The mafic magma had abundant Fe2+ and Mg2+ ions and was deficient in K+ ions, resulting in large amounts of chlorite and iron precipitation in the surrounding rock mainly composed of clay. We have analyzed the influence of an ultrashallow intrusion on the surrounding clastic rock during the early diagenetic period, which provided a typical reference for establishing a systematic mechanistic model of how magmatic intrusions affect the surrounding rock.

Formation of the Weiya magmatic Fe–Ti oxide deposit and its ore-hosting layered gabbro intrusion, Eastern Tianshan (Xinjiang, NW China)

The Weiya is the largest magmatic Fe–Ti oxide deposit in the Chinese Eastern Tianshan orogen, and is divided into an eastern, central and western section by younger granitoid and diabase intrusions. The Weiya eastern section contain Fe-Ti oxide ores and ore-bearing apatite-poor layered gabbro, which display significant difference in mineral assemblage from the layered gabbro in the central section. We presented new data on the geology, mineralogy, petrology, geochemistry, geochronology, and Sr-Nd isotopes of the gabbroic rocks and the Fe-Ti oxide ores from the eastern section. Igneous zircons from the Weiya anorthosite yielded a SIMS U–Pb concordia age of 237.9 ± 0.71 Ma, coeval with the apatite-rich gabbro in the central section. The gabbroic rocks and Fe-Ti oxide ores in the eastern section and the central section have parallel chondrite-normalized REE patterns and N-MORB-normalized multi-element patterns, together with highly-similar Sr-Nd isotope features, suggesting that the two are comagmatic. Olivine Fo value (62.0–66.7), clinopyroxene Mg# number (68.1–76.2) and plagioclase An contents (39.9–55.4) suggest that the Weiya parental magma was highly evolved after extensive fractional crystallization in the deeper magma chamber, and the residual magma became increasingly oxidized and metals- and volatiles-rich. During the magma emplacement, plagioclase accumulated extensively in the magma chamber roof and further enriched Fe–Ti in the residual melts, leading to Fe–Ti oxide mineralization.

Geology and genesis of the Cihai mafic intrusions in Beishan Terrane, Xinjiang, Northwest China: Implication for iron mineralization and tectonic setting

The Cihai Fe deposit (100 Mt @ 48% Fe) represents an economically important iron deposit in Beishan Terrane, on the southern margin of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, Xinjiang, northwest China. Many Late Carboniferous to Permian Fe(-Cu) deposits (e.g., Yamansu, Shaquanzi, and Weiya) are also present in adjacent Eastern Tianshan orogenic belt. The Cihai deposit is hosted in mafic dykes (i.e., diabase) and in the contact zone between the mafic intrusion and Mesoproterozoic schist. New zircon U–Pb isotope dating in this study gives a crystallization age of 306.9 ± 3.2 Ma for the ore-bearing diabase, which is the first age-constrained Late Carboniferous mafic magmatic activity at Cihai district. In combination with previous Ar–Ar amphibole dating (281.9 ± 2.2 Ma) for the massive ores, it is suggested that the main iron mineralization and associated mafic magmatic activities occurred at ca. 306–282 Ma, coeval with the large-scale iron mineralization epoch (ca. 324–280 Ma) in Eastern Tianshan. The Cihai diabase samples are LILEs-rich (e.g., K, Rb, and Sr) and HFSEs-depleted (e.g., Nb, Ta, and Ti) calc-alkaline series, and exhibit high Mg# values (51–63), as well as low compatible element concentrations (Ni = 14–53 ppm; Co = 18–43 ppm; and Cr = 26–219 ppm), indicating a mantle wedge source. They have elevated Ba/La and Sr/Nd values with limited Th/Yb ratios (<1), and display slightly Eu anomalies (0.90–1.19). Isotopically, they are characterized by positive εHf(t) values (+13.0 to + 16.1) and young Hf model ages (300 to 420 Ma), which are broadly similar to the isotopic compositions of the depleted mantle and within the ranges of most other mafic–ultramafic intrusions in Beishan-Tianshan orogen. These features suggest that the Cihai diabase intrusions were most likely formed by partial melting of a mantle wedge with some degree of metasomatism by slab-derived fluids. Combined our new geochemical and isotopic results with previous regional investigations, we suggest that the earliest generation of mafic dykes formed in an arc setting related to southward subduction of the paleo-Tianshan Ocean at ca. 306 Ma, and the main iron mineralization and intensive mafic magmatism occurred in a subsequent post-collisional regime during the Early Permian.

Significance of Calcite Trace Elements Contents and C-O Isotopic Compositions for Ore-Forming Fluids and Gold Prospecting in the Zhesang Carlin-Like Gold Deposit of Southeastern Yunnan, China

The Zhesang gold deposit of southeastern Yunnan is an important component of the Dian-Qian-Gui (Yunnan, Guizhou, and Guangxi) “Golden Triangle”, which hosts a multitude of Carlin-like gold deposits (CLGDs). Calcite is one of the most common gangue minerals in Zhesang. The calcites that have been found in the mining area are classified as ore-stage and post-ore calcites. The ore-stage calcite exhibits a clear paragenetic relationship with gold-bearing arsenopyrite and with an alteration halo that has been cut by the post-ore calcite. To elucidate the origin of the ore-forming fluids of the Zhesang gold deposit and to investigate the possibility of utilizing calcite geochemistry as prospecting indicators, the rare earth elements (REEs), Y, Fe, Mn and Mg contents, and C-O isotopic compositions of calcites from Zhesang have been analyzed. The ore-stage calcite is enriched in middle rare earth elements (MREEs) relative to light rare earth elements (LREEs) and heavy rare earth elements (HREEs) (MREE/LREE = 1.11–1.61, MREE/HREE = 6.12–8.22), whereas post-ore calcite exhibits an enrichment in LREE (LREE/HREE = 4.39–14.93, MREE/LREE = 0.35–0.71). The ore-stage and post-ore calcites were both formed by hydrothermal fluids; however, these hydrothermal fluids may have different sources. The Fe contents of the ore-stage calcite are significantly higher than those of post-ore calcite (4690–6300 μg/g versus 2030–2730 μg/g). Ore-stage calcite also has significantly lower δ18OV-SMOW values than post-ore calcite (11.03–12.49‰ versus 16.48–17.14‰). These calcites with an MREE/LREE ratio greater than 0.92, MREE/HREE ratio greater than 5.69, Fe content greater than 3827 μg/g, and δ18OV-SMOW value less than 14.40‰ represent ore-stage calcites and are important prospecting guidelines. According to the REE, C-O isotopic characteristics of the calcites and the previous findings, it is inferred that the ore-forming fluids of the Zhesang gold deposit were a mixture of crustal fluid by meteoric water leaching wall rocks and a small amount of basic magmatic fluid. The formation of post-ore calcite might be derived from meteoric water and marine carbonates interaction. The ore-forming fluids of the Zhesang gold deposit may be associated with the intrusion of diabase that outcrops in the mining area, and that the basic magmatic activities of the Indosinian period also provided some of the ore-forming materials and heat for gold mineralization.

Evaluation of thermal effects of intrusive rocks on the kerogen present in the black shales of Irati Formation (Permian), Paraná Basin, Brazil

Shale samples from outcrops of the Irati Formation (Permian), Paraná Basin, Brazil were analyzed based on organic geochemistry, palynofacies, and stable carbon isotopes with the aim of evaluating thermal effects of igneous intrusions on the kerogen. The potential for hydrocarbon generation, the depositional paleoenvironment, and the input of the organic matter were also studied. Most samples have high total organic carbon content, excellent hydrocarbon source potential, and type I kerogen, except some samples which showed changes in their compositional characteristic due alteration in the depositional paleoenvironment and due to the high maturation caused by the heat of diabase intrusions. The composition and distribution of saturate and aromatic biomarkers and stable carbon isotopes provided evidence that the composition of organic matter in the shales is marine, except at the upper part of the outcrops where the shales have contribution of terrestrial organic matter. Saturate biomarkers results indicated thermal immaturity for hydrocarbon generation, except the samples that were influenced by the heat of intrusive rocks.

Altos e baixos estruturais do grupo São Bento na região entre Ribeirão Preto e Sertãozinho, nordeste do estado de São Paulo

A região compreendida entre Ribeirão Preto e Sertãozinho, na porção nordeste do estado de São Paulo, apresenta um arcabouço de altos e baixos estruturais, tendo como referência os contatos entre as formações Serra Geral/Botucatu e Botucatu/Piramboia. O primeiro contato (Serra Geral/Botucatu) foi estabelecido a partir de perfis geológicos de poços existentes, enquanto o segundo (Botucatu/Piramboia), nem sempre bem definido por esses perfis, foi também interpretado com base em perfilagens de raios gama de poços, disponíveis principalmente na região de Ribeirão Preto. Os altos e baixos estruturais identificados apresentam direção predominante NE-SW e estariam associados, principalmente, a corpos de diabásio intrudidos na Formação Pirambóia.

Gas-generation potential of shales in small and medium-sized basins: a case study from the Xuanhua Basin, north China

Small- and medium-sized basins are widely distributed, and some contain commercial gas reservoirs demonstrating their gas-generation potential. The Xuanhua Basin, which is a small-sized coal-bearing basin in north China, includes a promising target for shale-gas exploration in the Xiahuayuan Formation. In this study, we used this basin as a case study to assess the critical geochemical features for small or medium-sized basins to form commercial gas reservoirs. Total organic carbon (TOC) analysis, Rock-Eval pyrolysis, microscopic observation of macerals, vitrinite reflectance measurement and kerogen stable carbon isotope analysis were performed to characterise the organic geochemistry of the Xiahuayuan shales. The original total organic carbon (TOCo) content and hydrocarbon-generative potential (S2o) were reconstructed to further evaluate the gas-generation potential of these shales. In addition, geochemical data of shales from other similar-sized basins with gas discoveries were compared. The results showed that the kerogen from the Xiahuayuan Formation is Type III (gas-prone), and macerals are dominated by vitrinite. TOC values showed a strong heterogeneity in the vertical profiles, with most higher than 1.5 wt%. The measured Ro values ranged from 1.4 to 2.0%. However, thermal maturity was not correlated with the present-day burial depth with higher maturity in the wells closest to the diabase intrusion centre. The remaining generation potential (S2) averaged 0.91 mg HC/g rock, equal to 1.4 cm3 CH4/g rock, and the average amount of hydrocarbon generated was 4.33 cm3 CH4/g rock. In small and medium-sized basins, the TOC content of commercially developed gas shales ranged from 0.5 to 2.5 wt%, organic matter was mainly humic (gas-prone), and the burial depth was generally shallow. Biogenic gas reservoirs for commercial exploitation tend to have larger shale thicknesses (120–800 m) than thermogenic gas reservoirs (60–90 m).The Xiahuayuan Formation is a good gas-source rock with gas-prone kerogen type, relatively high TOC values and moderate thermal maturity.The average amount of hydrocarbon generated from the Xiahuayuan shales is about 4.33 cm3 CH4/g rock, indicating a potential to form a shale gas reservoir.Owing to the influence of diabase intrusions, the Xiahuayuan shales have entered the dry gas window at relatively shallow-buried depths.Small- and medium-sized basins have the potential to generate commercial gas reservoirs with the generated volume mainly a product of the thickness and maturity of black shales.