Jurassic Carbonate Research Articles

Late Summer Water Sources in Rivers and Lakes of the Upper Yana River Basin, Northern Eurasia, Inferred from Hydrological Tracer Data

Major ions, stable isotopes, and trace elements, including rare earth elements (REEs), are used as natural tracers in the qualitative assessment of potential water sources in lakes and rivers of the upper Yana River basin, between Verkhoyansk and Chersky Ranges, during the late summer period. Three distinct regions were sampled, and a dominant water source in each region was qualitatively inferred from water chemistry data. The REE distribution pattern was found to be highly regional and controlled by pH and carbonate contents. Mountain headwater stream at the Verkhoyansk Range north slope, the Dulgalakh River, shows an input from a mixture of shallow groundwater and icing meltwater, with a depleted isotopic signature (δ18O below –21‰), d-excess (dex = δ2H − 8·δ18O) above 18, enrichment in Mg and Sr, and depletion in heavy REEs. The Derbeke Depression lakes and streams are fed by rainfall having ultra-low total dissolved solids (TDS) content, below 25 mg/L, and a convex-up REE pattern. In a medium mountainous river at the Chersky Range flank, the Dogdo River, leaching through fissured Jurassic carbonates is a dominant runoff pathway. Riverine water is heavily depleted in light REEs, but enriched in Mo, Rb, Sb, W and U. In the Dulgalakh River water, high positive Sm and Gd anomalies were observed, attributed either to local geology (greenshists), historical mining legacy, or contemporary winter road operations.

Geomechanische Reservoircharakterisierung in Bayern im Rahmen der Geothermie‐Allianz Bayern

AbstractTo increase the use of geothermal energy in Bavaria, the subsurface, which serves as a reservoir, must be explored as precisely as possible. In the projects of the Geothermal‐Alliance Bavaria, the most promising areas for geothermal exploration in Bavaria were characterised based on an extensive geomechanical laboratory testing program which was carried out on both drill cores and analogue samples from quarries. In the North Alpine Foreland Basin (SE Germany), the geomechanical test results on Upper Jurassic carbonate rocks show a high heterogeneity. On the contrary, in the Franconian Basin (NE Bavaria) the geomechanical properties of granite analogues are rather homogenous. For the numerical simulation of the borehole stability, the determined parameters from ultrasonic‐ and compression tests serve as input parameters for different scenarios. For both locations, the determination of the failure depth around the borehole and the stress distribution in the near‐field of the borehole were accomplished. In the North Alpine Foreland Basin, the borehole stability decreases with increasing depth. For all scenarios in NE Bavaria, the borehole stability is very low. In the future, the determined parameter ranges will allow to validate already existing models and to develop new ones. This will enable a better knowledge of the sedimentary and crystalline reservoirs and a more effective use of geothermal energy in Bavaria.

The rock mass as the governing factor for successfully developing deep geothermal systems in Southern Germany

AbstractIn Southern Germany, geothermal wells target Upper Jurassic carbonates, formerly referred to as Malm, below the Northern Alpine Foreland Basin (NAFB). In the northern, shallower carbonates (3000 m depth), e.g., in the Munich area, hydrothermal systems prevail, and wells yield proper flow rates. Deeper carbonates (< 4000 m) towards the south indicate a petrothermal system due to a decline in porosity and permeability. Inexplicably, fractures only contribute poorly to larger flow rates. This sets the goal for the project Dolomitkluft to analyse the rock mass for options countering low flow rates in two geothermal wells at Geretsried, Bavaria. Therefore, 20 m drill cores from 4600 to 4715 m total vertical depth (TVD) depict the initial structure of the rock mass: the rock parameters, the discontinuity network, and the in situ stresses. Alternating homogeneous, micritic, strong, to inhomogeneous, porous, weak limestones and massive, crystalline dolostones define the stratigraphy. Five joint sets from the cores can be distinguished into the bedding, two paleo anti‐ and synthetic normal faults and two recent strike‐slip faults. The latter, in combination with core disking, allows exclusively a strike‐slip (SS) stress regime and delimits the ratio to at least SH : Sv : Sh = 1.7 : 1.0 : 0.7. According to the results, including dilatation‐ and slip‐tendencies, drill trajectories of prosperous geothermal wells should head ESE/WNW, perpendicular to SS‐faults, and avoid the presence of normal faults.

3D thermo‐hydro‐mechanical simulation of the behaviour of a naturally fractured petrothermal reservoir in deep Upper Jurassic carbonates of the Bavarian Molasse Basin – Case study Geretsried

AbstractBased on multi‐scale and multi‐disciplinary measured data, gathered at the Geretsried geothermal site, a 3D reservoir model of the deep and fracture‐controlled Upper Jurassic carbonates in the North Alpine Foreland Basin is generated in this work. An efficient methodology is developed to numerically simulate the coupled reservoir processes of fluid flow, heat transport and thermoporoelastic stresses resulting from possible geothermal doublet operating schemes with cold fluid injection and production profiles in an enhanced naturally fractured reservoir. A variety of numerical experiments is conducted to study the reactivation potential and dilation tendency of the fracture and fault system. Simulation results show the spatiotemporal evolution of the thermoporoelastic stresses and the zone affected after 50 years of geothermal doublet operation. From these simulations, the thermoelastic response of a geothermal doublet operating with 60 °C fluid injection temperature and 20 l/s flow rate translates into a maximum induced thermal stress of around 49.4 MPa near the injection well. In terms of a long‐term reservoir performance and fault and fracture reactivation potential, the findings reveal a negligible risk to a sustainable geothermal doublet operation.

Diagenetic controls on porosity evolution and reservoir quality of an outcrop analogue of the Jurassic carbonate reservoirs in the Arabian Plate: An example from the Middle Jurassic Tuwaiq Mountain Formation, Central Saudi Arabia

The Middle Jurassic Tuwaiq Mountain Formation (TMF; formed of three members, from bottom to top T1, T2, and T3) represents one of the primary conventional and unconventional reservoirs to be assessed in Saudi Arabia. It is considered as a tight carbonate reservoir in the Jafurah Basin and conventional reservoir in the Arabian Basin. Here, we investigate the depositional, diagenetic, and stratigraphic impact on reservoir quality and porosity evolution of the TMF through an integrated petrographical, geochemical and petrophysical analyses on outcrop samples. The TMF has a complex diagenetic history including micritization, dissolution, recrystallization and neomorphism, meteoric cementation, evaporite precipitation, dolomitization, silicification, dolomite dissolution and calcitization. Dolomitization occurred via a hypersaline fluid mechanism, based on texture, association with evaporites, and Sr concentration. X-ray diffraction results support chert replacing evaporite as the mechanism of the two chert beds in the T3 member due to the presence of anhydrite relics in their samples. This replacement formed the necessary Ca 2+ rich fluid for dolomite dissolution and calcitization. Therefore, dolomite calcitization occurs locally and is stratigraphically controlled based on its position relative to chert beds in T3. T3 and the upper part of the T2 member contain calcitized dolomites, while the lower part of T2 and T1 contain only dissolved dolomite. As the fluid went deeper in the TMF, it became weaker. Therefore, the fluid was too weak to develop dolomite calcitization process and instead only affected T1 and the lower part of T2 by dolomite dissolution. Overall, dolomite dissolution and dolomite calcitization didn't have a high impact on porosity evolution as the TMF isn't a highly dolomitized formation. The distribution of porosity (ø), permeability (K), and reservoir-quality-index (RQI) of the TMF are stratigraphically controlled. The TMF represents the regressive system tract of a 3rd order depositional sequence, which is composed of seven 4th order cycles (i.e. deep lagoon cycles (DLC) and shallow lagoon cycles (SLC)). RQI, Ø, and K plots showed great fitting with the 4th order depositional-cycles as DLC has very poor reservoir properties (average ø = 7.7%, average K = 0.17 mD, average RQI = 0.03), while SLC has fair reservoir properties (average ø = 15.4%, average K = 2.64 mD, average RQI = 0.11). Reservoir quality contrast is controlled by two factors: (1) the reduced mud-content and increased grain-content in SLC compared with DLC resulted in increased primary interparticle porosity, and is governed by depositional energy; and (2) the higher primary interparticle porosity in SLCs compared with DLCs preferentially facilitated more infiltration of undersaturated meteoric fluids, resulting in enhanced grain dissolution. This is reflected on the higher proportion of moldic and vuggy porosity in SLCs compared with DLCs. The accurate assessment of the TMF micro-scale attributes and controls on reservoir quality in an outcrop analogue that occurs in close proximity to subsurface hydrocarbon producing intervals can provide important input for oilfield appraisal and enhanced oil recovery performance. • Cementation was the main destructive diagenetic feature of the reservoir quality. • Depositional texture controlled primary porosity and dissolution related secondary porosity. • Dolomite-Calcitization and meteoric-dissolution had a stratigraphically controlled distribution. • Dolomitization happened through hypersaline fluids like many Jurassic carbonates in the Arabian Plate. • Dedolomitization mechanism was related to the process of chert replacing evaporites.

Hydrochemické vlastnosti zdrojů termálních minerálních vod v oblasti Pasohlávky – Laa an der Thaya

The South Moravian region of Pasohlávky and the Lower Austrian town of Laa an der Thaya belongs to the areas of intensive use of thermal mineral water for recreational and balneological purposes. Thermal mineral water is extracted from a deep-seated Jurassic aquifer, mainly composed of carbonates. These carbonates overlie the crystalline bedrock, which is dipping towards the southeast below the Outer Western Carpathians. Due to this trend, there are two developments of the Jurassic sediments that differ in their lithological composition and are vertically separated by the Mušov transition zone. To the northwest from this zone, there is a shallower carbonate development and in the southeast, there is a deeper development which is composed of permeable carbonates together with impermeable marls. The Neogene sediments of Carpathian foredeep are deposited on the top of the Jurassic carbonate structure. Thermal mineral water is exploited by two hydrogeological wells – Muš-3G (Pasohlávky, 1 455 m deep) and Laa Th N1 (Laa an der Thaya, 1 448 m deep) situated in the shallower carbonate part of the Jurassic aquifer. The aim of this study, that summarizes the important partial outputs of the cross-border project Interreg HTPO (Hydrothermal Potential of the Area, ATCZ167), is to specify and clarify the origin, genesis and the processes of water formation based on the hydrochemical evaluation of thermal mineral water. For this purpose, both the final reports of studied wells and especially results from newly performed analyses of stable isotopes of hydrogen δ2H and oxygen δ18O were used. The δ18O and δ2H values of water samples from the Muš-3G well varies from –12,77 ‰ to –12,03 ‰ and from –92,23 ‰ to –88,05 ‰, respectively, while water samples from the Laa Th N1 well are isotopically heavier with δ18O values ranging from –7,04 ‰ to –6,31 ‰ and with δ2H values ranging from –51,04 ‰ to –49,33 ‰. In the Pasohlávky region we suppose it is an isotopically depleted water that has infiltrated in the cold climatic period (glacial). Evaluation of the chemical composition revealed that although the thermal waters from both areas of the hydrogeological structure are of the same Na–Cl type, their total mineralization differs significantly. Lower total mineralization in the Pasohlávky area (approx. 2,2 g/L) is also associated with higher relative concentrations of bicarbonate ions (HCO3–) and atmogenic nitrogen, typically bound to infiltrated meteoric waters. The thermal water in this area is mostly of meteoric origin, mixed with primary marinogenic water. In the Laa an der Thaya region, there is water with higher total mineralization (approx. 11 g/L) and lower relative concentrations of HCO3–, which together with the results of isotope analyses indicates a higher content of primary seawater. The marinogenic origin of waters also confirms the presence of bromides and iodides. The process of mixing primary marine waters with infiltrated meteoric waters significantly contributes to the chemical composition of the studied waters in both areas, while the original marinogenic water type of Na-Cl is preserved.

Petrography and Geochemistry of Dolomites of Samanasuk Formation, Dara Adam Khel Section, Kohat Ranges, Pakistan

Replacement dolomite occurs in Jurassic Samanasuk Formation in Dara Adam khel area of Kohat ranges, North-Western Himalayas, Pakistan. This study, for the first time, document the process of dolomitization and evolution of strata bound dolomitic bodies. Field investigation, petrography and geochemistry helped in unraveling the formation of several dolomitic bodies. Petrographically dolomites comprises of: (1) medium grain crystalline planer subhedral dolomite (Dol-I); (2) fine grained crystalline anhedral non-planer dolomite rhombs (Dol-II); (3) medium to coarse grained crystalline subhedral-anhedral non-planer dolomite (Dol-III) and coarse to very coarse grained crystalline saddle dolomite cements (SD). The saddle dolomites (SD) postdate the replacement dolomites and precede telogenetic calcite (TC) cements. Stable O and C isotope analysis shows that these dolomites have δ18Ovpdb ranging from -4.09% to -10.4 whereas the δ13Cvpdb ranges from +0.8 to +2.51. Major and trace elements data show that Sr concentrations of 145.5 to 173 ppm; Fe contents of 2198 to 8215 ppm; and Mn contents of 93.5 to 411 ppm. Petrographically replacive dolomites, saddle dolomite, and δ18Ovpdb values depicts neomorphism of replacement dolomites that were formed earlier were exposed to late dolomitizing fluids. As a result of basin uplift during the Himalayan orogeny in Eocene time, dolomitization event was stopped through occurrence of meteoric water. The Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) and its splays were most likely essential conduits that channelized dolomitizing fluids from siliciclastic rocks that were buried deeply into the Jurassic carbonates rocks, leading to more extreme dolomitization.

Tracking the Origin and Evolution of Diagenetic Fluids of Upper Jurassic Carbonate Rocks in the Zagros Thrust Fold Belt, NE-Iraq

Utilizing sophisticated tools in carbonate rocks is crucial to interpretating the origin and evolution of diagenetic fluids from the Upper Jurassic carbonate rocks along the Zagros thrust-fold Belt. The origin and evolution of the paleofluids utilizing in-situ strontium isotope ratios by high resolution laser ablation ICP-MS, integrated with stable isotopes, petrography and fieldwork are constrained. Due to the lack of information on the origin of the chemistry of the fluids, the cements that filled the Jurassic carbonate rocks were analysed from the fractures and pores. This allowed us to trace the origin of fluids along a diagenetic sequence, which is defined at the beginning from the sediment deposition (pristine facies). Based on petrography and geochemistry (oxygen-, carbon- and strontium-isotope compositions) two major diagenetic stages involving the fluids were identified. The initial stage, characterized by negative δ13CVPDB values (reaching −10.67‰), involved evaporated seawater deposited with the sediments, mixed with the input of freshwater. The second stage involved a mixture of meteoric water and hot fluids that precipitated as late diagenetic cements. The late diagenetic cements have higher depleted O–C isotope compositions compared to seawater. The diagenetic cements display a positive covariance and were associated with extra- δ13CVPDB and δ18OVPDB values (−12.87‰ to −0.82‰ for δ18OVPDB and −11.66‰ to −1.40‰ for δ13CVPDB respectively). The distinction between seawater and the secondary fluids is also evident in the 87Sr/86Sr of the host limestone versus cements. The limestones have 87Sr/86Sr up to 0.72859, indicative of riverine input, while the cements have 87Sr/86Sr of (0.70772), indicative of hot fluid circulation interacting with meteoric water during late diagenesis.

Stable isotope excursions in the Jurassic carbonate System, Imbricated Zone, Northern Iraq

Stable isotope excursions in the Jurassic carbonate System, Imbricated Zone, Northern Iraq

The interplay of Malm carbonate permeability, gravity-driven groundwater flow, and paleoclimate\xa0\u2013 implications for the geothermal field and potential in the Molasse Basin (southern Germany), a foreland-basin play

The Molasse Basin in Southern Germany is part of the North Alpine Foreland Basin and hosts the largest accumulation of deep geothermal production fields in Central Europe. Despite the vast development of geothermal energy utilization projects especially in the Munich metropolitan region, the evolution of and control factors on the natural geothermal field, more specifically the time-varying recharge and discharge governing groundwater and heat flow, are still debated. Within the Upper Jurassic (Malm) carbonate aquifer as the main geothermal reservoir in the Molasse Basin, temperature anomalies such as the Wasserburg Trough anomaly to the east of Munich and their underlying fluid and heat transport processes are yet poorly understood. We delineate the two end members of thermal–hydraulic regimes in the Molasse Basin by calculating two contrasting permeability scenarios of the heterogeneously karstified Malm carbonate aquifer along a model section through the Wasserburg Trough anomaly by means of two-dimensional numerical thermal-hydraulic modelling. We test the sensitivity of the thermal-hydraulic regime with regard to paleoclimate by computing the two Malm permeability scenarios both with a constant surface temperature of 9 °C and with the impact of paleo-temperature changes during the last 130 ka including the Würm Glaciation. Accordingly, we consider the hydraulic and thermal effects of periglacial conditions like permafrost formation and the impact of the numerous glacial advances onto the Molasse Basin. Thermal-hydraulic modelling reveals the effect of recurrent glacial periods on the subsurface targets of geothermal interest, which is minor compared to the effect of permeability-related, continuous gravity-driven groundwater flow as a major heat transport mechanism.

Exceptionally preserved calcified sponge assemblagesin Upper Jurassic carbonates of the eastern Getic Carbonate Platform (Southern Carpathians, Romania)

A rich poriferan assemblage was identified within the easternmost part of the Getic Carbonate Platform of Romania (Grădiștei Gorges). The excellent preservation state of most poriferans here led to the discovery of a new species (Neuropora gigantea Pleș & Schlagintweit, n. sp.) and to the identification of previously unknown diagnostic features in some species (Sarsteinia babai Schlagintweit & Gawlick, 2006 emend., Neuropora lusitanica Termier, 1985, Sphaeractinia steinmanni Canavari, 1893). Calciagglutispongia yabei Reitner, 1992, Sarsteinia babai and Sphaeractinia steinmanni are reported for the first time from the Upper Jurassic carbonates of the Getic Carbonate Platform. The sedimentary input fluctuations and the nutrient competition had an important role in understanding the morphological adaptations of the analysed species. The existing palaeoecological and palaeoenvironmental conditions generated different distribution patterns towards the reef profile and also preferential adaptations to a specific Tethyan domain. As opposed to the poriferan assemblages from the northern Tethyan shelves, these organisms formed sponge-coral-microencruster boundstones at the margins and fore-reefal zones of isolated carbonate platforms within the intra-Tethyan realm. The importance of calcified sponges in reef-zonation is highlighted by the establishment of a general zonation model. Three zones can be distinguished: 1) Cladocoropsis-Milleporidium zone (back-reef area); 2) Bauneia-Chaetetopsis-Parastromatopora zone (central reef area); and 3) Sphaeractinia/Ellipsactinia-Neuropora zone for the fore-reef area. In the absence of a true reef framework these calcified sponges developed typical morphologies, environmental adaptations and partnerships with other biotic groups which strongly influenced the carbonate production throughout the intra-Tethyan domain.

Origin and formation model of Eocene dolomite in the upper Niubao Formation of the Lunpola Basin, Tibetan Plateau

Using fresh core samples, we have determined the origin and formation process of Eocene lacustrine dolomites in the Tibetan Plateau through petrological, mineralogical, and geochemical analyses. Dolomitic rocks were collected from the upper member of the Eocene Niubao Formation in the Lunpola Basin, consisting of dolomitic mudstone, argillaceous dolomite, dolomite-bearing mudstone, and mud-bearing dolomite. These dolomites are dominated by aphanotopic and microcrystalline dolomites, with minor amounts of euhedral or subhedral powder- and fine-crystalline dolomites. Carbon and oxygen stable isotopes, combined with ubiquitous gypsum in study area, indicate a semisaline continental lake under strong evaporative conditions. The revealed relatively high temperature of the dolomitization (33.8°C–119.1°C), combined with hydrothermal minerals such as cerous phosphate and barite, reflect the participation of dolomite from hot fluids. Moreover, the inferred dolomitization temperatures decrease gradually toward the center of the lake basin, suggesting the resurgence of hydrothermal fluids along a fault zone on the lake margin. This proves that frequent thermal events occurred at the boundary fault of the Lunpola Basin margin during early Himalayan orogenesis. In addition, Jurassic carbonates interacting with hydrothermal fluids, as well as strong evaporation conditions, likely provided favorable conditions for the formation of primary lime sediments. A rich source of [Formula: see text] brought by volcanic ash, hydrothermal fluids, and the Jurassic carbonates then created conditions for dolomitization during the depositional period. Strong evaporation under a relatively hot climate enhanced penecontemporaneous dolomitization, thus forming dolomite. Tibetan Plateau was under arid to semiarid climate conditions, and there was a widespread distribution of dolostones in western, central, and northern China during the Eocene period. The hydrothermal dolomites of the upper Niubao Formation testify for active hot springs, whereas lacustrine dolomite imply arid or semiarid climates during the Eocene, in the early stages of Himalayan orogenesis.

Microfacies and stable isotope features of the Lower–Middle Jurassic carbonate rocks of Western Saharan Atlas (Aïn Ouarka area, Algeria)

The Jurassic Lower Carbonate Group in the Aïn Ouarka area of Western Saharan Atlas, Algeria, is represented by six formations, from base to top: Hettangian Chemarikh Dolostone, Early Sinemurian–Pliensbachian Aïn Ouarka Limestone, Toarcian Aïn Rhezala Limestone, Aalenian–Late Bajocian Raknet El Kahla Limestone Breccia, Late Bajocian Theniet El Klakh, and Late Bajocian–Bathonian Tifkirt Limestone formations. From the microfacies analysis, six microfacies types (MF1–MF6) have been recognized and grouped into three associations developed during a transgressive–regressive cycle: (a) inner ramp facies association; (b) middle ramp facies association; and (c) outer ramp facies association. The mineralogical analysis of the carbonate rocks reveals that they contain mostly low‐Mg calcite associated with ankerite, pyrite, and other detrital minerals such as quartz, chlorite, illite, feldspar (albite), and a few clay minerals. These minerals could be related to the deep fluid and hydrocarbon circulations during deposition. The isotopic data display a variation of δ13C isotopic values between −5.14‰ and +2.21‰ (VPDB) and between −8.12‰ and −4.95‰ for δ18O values (VPDB). The set of δ13C values is similar to the signature of marine dissolved inorganic carbon. First of all, the positive values of δ13C show that the origin of carbon is not from the organic‐rich zone (microbial zone), but probably derived from pore‐water and/or biogenic carbonate precursors. On the other hand, the negative values of δ13C indicate that the carbon may result from organic sources linked to the sulphate reduction bacteria activity, or by a heightened volcanic and/or hydrothermal activities releasing light carbon (12C). The negative δ18O values are not consistent with marine water ambient temperature, but with a possible influence of diagenesis or increasing of temperature by hydrothermal water. This hydrothermal activity is controlled by synsedimentary faults during the Early Jurassic and related to a late pulse of the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP) volcanism and by regional volcanism during the Middle Jurassic (Bajocian–Bathonian).

Hydrochemical Zoning and Chemical Evolution of the Deep Upper Jurassic Thermal Groundwater Reservoir Using Water Chemical and Environmental Isotope Data

A comprehensive hydrogeological understanding of the deep Upper Jurassic carbonate aquifer, which represents an important geothermal reservoir in the South German Molasse Basin (SGMB), is crucial for improved and sustainable groundwater resource management. Water chemical data and environmental isotope analyses of δD, δ18O and 87Sr/86Sr were obtained from groundwater of 24 deep Upper Jurassic geothermal wells and coupled with a few analyses of noble gases (3He/4He, 40Ar/36Ar) and noble gas infiltration temperatures. Hierarchical cluster analysis revealed three major water types and allowed a hydrochemical zoning of the SGMB, while exploratory factor analyses identified the hydrogeological processes affecting the water chemical composition of the thermal water. Water types 1 and 2 are of Na-[Ca]-HCO3-Cl type, lowly mineralised and have been recharged under meteoric cold climate conditions. Both water types show 87Sr/86Sr signatures, stable water isotopes values and calculated apparent mean residence times, which suggest minor water-rock interaction within a hydraulically active flow system of the Northeastern and Southeastern Central Molasse Basin. This thermal groundwater have been most likely subglacially recharged in the south of the SGMB in close proximity to the Bavarian Alps with a delineated northwards flow direction. Highly mineralised groundwater of water type 3 (Na-Cl-HCO3 and Na-Cl) occurs in the Eastern Central Molasse Basin. In contrast to water types 1 and 2, this water type shows substantial water-rock interaction with terrestrial sediments and increasing 40Ar/36Ar ratios, which may also imply a hydraulic exchange with fossil formation waters of overlying Tertiary sediments.

Sulfur and lead isotopic compositions of ore sulfides and mining economic potential of the High Atlas Mississippi Valley-type ore province, Morocco

The Moroccan High Atlas metallogenic province hosts numerous PbZn (Ba-Sr-Fe) ore deposits hosted in the Jurassic carbonates. The high Atlas basin was formed during the Triassic-Jurassic rifting and underwent a Cenozoic tectonic inversion during the Alpine orogeny. This work presents a study of Pb and S isotopes of ore sulfides (galena, sphalerite, pyrite) from the Central and Oriental High Atlas of Morocco (CHA, OHA). The investigated ore deposits are Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) ore deposits with a simple paragenesis consisting of galena and sphalerite with subordinate barite, celestine, and pyrite. These ore deposits belong to three geographic zones; the northern border zone (NZ), the southern border (SZ), the central zone also called the diapiric zone (CZ), and the western zone (WZ) in the High Atlas. Based on the sulfur isotopic data, we suggest the Triassic-Jurassic sulfates and/or coeval pore water sulfates as the source of sulfur. Sulfur isotope compositions (δ34S = −18.6 to 22.2‰) are regionally zoned with isotopically heavy δ34S (14.3‰) in the center of the basin, negative δ34S values at the northern border (−16.9‰) and western border (−9.1‰), and intermediate δ34S values (4.4‰) at the southern border. This δ34S zonation suggests different sulfate reduction mechanisms; a low-temperature bacterial sulfate reduction (BSR) that induced the negative δ34S values and a high-temperature thermochemical sulfate reduction (TSR) that yielded positive δ34S values. The intermediate sulfur isotopic composition reflects the mixing of the TSR- derived sulfur and the bacteriogenic sulfur. The western part of the High Atlas near the Precambrian-Paleozoic paleohigh is characteristically more radiogenic (206Pb/204Pb = 18.709 207Pb/204Pb = 15.658 and 208Pb/204Pb = 38.808) than the rest of the basin (206Pb/204Pb = 18.151 to 18.369, 207Pb/204Pb = 15.631 to 15.668 and 208Pb/204Pb = 38.433 to 38.555). The Paleozoic rocks are the primary source of lead and by inference other metals. The metallogenic zone CZ with heavy sulfur isotopic composition and abundant Triassic evaporites (diapiric zone) constitutes a potential zone for future ore exploration. The SZ is also a promising target for ore exploration since it hosts ore sulfides that contain the thermally reduced sulfur (TSR).

Stratigraphic model of a Middle-Late Jurassic carbonate system (Mozduran Ridge, Kopet Dagh area, NE Iran)

Lithostratigraphy and biostratigraphy of Middle to Upper Jurassic carbonate platforms of the Eastern Kopet Dagh (EKD), northeastern Iran were assessed. Up to 3000 m of sedimentological logs located along ten stratigraphic sections were investigated. At least five types of carbonate production systems were identified in the study area: (1) a mud-dominated platform carbonate topped by (2) an off-platform carbonate grain-production system, (3) a grain-reworking system deposited within basinal settings (gravity-driven reworking), (4) mounds built by tubular sponges and corals, and (5) prograding oolitic wedges. The first carbonate production system (Callovian‒early Oxfordian) yields platy and solitary corals, together with stromatactis-like structures. The second carbonate production system is represented by upper Oxfordian off-platform grainstones. These two carbonate production systems comprise the Khaneh Zou Fm. The third system is characterised by oncoids, originating from the carbonate platforms. These oncoids, together with bioclasts, were transported into the Kimmeridgian hemipelagic succession of the Chaman Bid Fm. The last two carbonate production systems are common in the Mozduran Fm. Tithonian tubular sponges-corals mounds, and their related dismantling products constitute a major characteristic system of the Mozduran Fm. Shallowing-upward prograding clinoforms are a second characteristic system of the Mozduran Fm., whereby ooids, generated under shallow-water conditions, were shed downslope to form interbeds within basinal mudstones. Our findings suggest that the combination of 2nd order eustatic sea-level changes with hydrodynamic processes as well as rift-inherited morphologies and climatic changes controlled the development and lateral facies evolution of the Middle to Upper Jurassic carbonate platforms. The description of these carbonate systems and of their morphology, together with stratigraphic interpretations may lead to exploration of complex structural-stratigraphic traps, thereby highlighting new potential hydrocarbon reservoirs in the EKD.

Middle Jurassic evolution of a northern Tethyan carbonate ramp (Alborz Mountains, Iran)

Here, we provide a detailed facies and depositional record from a NE-SW-directed, 250-km-long transect across a distally steepened, Middle Jurassic carbonate ramp in the northern Tethyan realm (Iran). Among the six main facies types described, two stand out because of their beyond-regional significance: (i) Middle Callovian microbial and microbial-skeletal mounds embedded in muddy intermound sediment and (ii) Upper Callovian conglomeratic debris-flow deposits truncating the mound unit. The mound features described here did not evolve into reefal structures and evidence for a framestone structure is lacking. They occur as low-relief, mud-dominated domical structures (a few metres wide). The development of the Middle Callovian mounds is perhaps best linked to a period of minimum sedimentation rates and sufficient accommodation space resulting from a long-term gradual sea-level rise commencing in the Late Bajocian. With respect to the Upper Callovian conglomeratic deposits overlying the mound interval, the absence of sedimentary structures such as grading, the nature of the sub-angular or rounded clasts and the very poor sorting are indicative of a catastrophic debris flow origin. Based on data compiled here, the conglomeratic deposits likely formed due to relative sea-level fall inducing the reworking of mound facies by the lowered wave base and currents, and basinward transport of reworked material to the distal outer ramp. Our findings are compared with coeval deposits from the western Tethyan domain and placed into a process-oriented context. The described northern Tethyan Late Bajocian to Middle Callovian deepening-upward trend, followed by relative sea-level fall in the Late Callovian near the Middle-Late Jurassic transition, is in agreement with observations from other coeval Tethyan basins/platforms. Data shown here have wider relevance for workers concerned with the Jurassic evolution of the Tethyan Ocean in general and shed light on the intricate relation of changes in accommodation space and ramp architecture.

Quantifying the History of Building Stone Use in a Heritage City: Cambridge, UK, 1040–2020

Building stone use through time in Cambridge is reassessed based on a new field survey of most significant buildings within the city boundary. Included in the survey is stone external to buildings, as walling or dressings, but omitting paving and most roofing. Stone provenance is identified to a quarry or quarry group where possible. Stone location is specified by grid reference and as a named component of each building. The date of each building project is extracted from documentary evidence if available. The volume of stone used in each project is estimated from whether it forms walls or dressings or both, and over what proportion of the host building. Assigning stone types to a single quarry, mostly in a laterally and vertically heterogeneous shallow-marine Jurassic carbonate sequence, involves the use of ‘type locations’—buildings with documented evidence of stone source and construction date. Field-scale identification criteria are essential to complement museum reference samples and microscopic petrography. The new database of stone and brick includes over 1300 records, about three times more than compiled from previous studies. This semi-quantitative approach to stone use yields pie charts of relative volumes of stone types, scatter plots of first use of each quarry’s stone against its distance from Cambridge, and histograms of the volume of each stone type through time. These results inform discussion of geological, locational, and societal influences on the sequence of stone use. The methodology used in the Cambridge study should prove useful in other heritage towns and cities.

A PRELIMINARY REVIEW ON THE METALLOGENY OF SEDIMENT-HOSTED PB-ZN DEPOSITS IN BALOCHISTAN, PAKISTAN

Lead and Zinc deposits are very much important economic booster for the country all over the world. Economic geologists are engaged in the search of these economy booster minerals and rocks for three decades. Lead and zinc are profuse resources in the Lasbela-Khuzdar belt of Balochistan province of Pakistan, with reserves of about 50 million tons all over the country. In this paper, we have presented field observations of the Dudder mine area and summarised the work of earlier papers to provide the salient features of these ore mineralizations and deposits. The tectonic settings and important ore controls have been discussed based on field observations and previous work. The Pb-Zn dominantly occupied by exposures of rocks of the Ferozabad Group of Jurassic age in the Mor range, which is comprised of Lower-Middle-Upper Jurassic carbonates and deep-marine siliciclastics rock sequence. This group contains syngenetic and epigenetic Pb-Zn mineralization classified as a stratiform replacement, and vein-type fissure fillings observed at various places of Duddar, Gunga, and Surmai deposit areas. Generally, these deposits are hosted pyrites nuggets with fine-grained sphalerite matrix with galena in black shale, argillaceous limestone, and mudstone. We construct a Pb-Zn deposit predictive tectonic model that regards mineralization as the primary factor and the ore rock as secondary. The tectonics were more active when sedimentation of the Anjira Formation started in a disturbing third-order basin. The Hydrothermal solution comes into the basin along faults and gave rise to syngenetic mineralization of sulfides in the Anjira Formation, and epigenetic one in the underlying Spingwar and Loralai Formations. These deposits are considered as SEDEX deposits according to the distribution of Pb-Zn deposits, we concluded that a multi-period, multi-cycle orogenic environment is the most positive for lead-zinc deposit growth. With this, we analyze the association between tectonic evolution, geological mineralization, and Pb-Zn metallogenic epoch. The tectonic and mineralization mechanism models are expected to ease the detailed study on the geological and geochemical conditions of mineralization in the Ferozabad Group and economic assessment of the resources.

Application of fluorescent light microscopy to enhanced lithofacies analysis of Jurassic carbonate rocks, SE Bohemian Massif

Upper Jurassic limestones and dolomites of the Vranovice Formation occur on the southeastern slopes of the Bohemian Massif below the Western Carpathian thrust belt. They represent a special type of reservoir rocks in the potential geothermal systems and exhibit highly variable porosity, permeability, and flow mechanisms due to different type of diagenesis and pervasive dolomitization. Fluorescence and translucent light microscopy was used for more detailed petrographic analysis of Vranovice limestones and dolomites. Isopachous, syntaxial and dolomitic cements were distinguished along with fossils recrystallization. Two generations of dolomite were identified – replacement dolomite and zonal cementation dolomite, what suggests a number of changes in the formation water chemistry during the dolomitization process. Extent of the observed dolomitization is inversely related to the porosity of the Jurassic rocks. Postdiagenetic generation of fissures cutting the strata due to tectonic deformation is documented by bright fluorescent color. In the studied samples of Vranovice limestones and dolomites the fissures represent the most important migration pathways, more than pore throats themselves. Further genetic information on petoleum migration is interpreted from intercrystalline porosity filled with precipitated solid bitumen. Present results provide basis for further investigations in pore-water-rock interactions and changes in chemical conditions during diagenesis.