The influence of the Sabatayn Evaporites on the hydrocarbon prospectivity of the Eastern Shabwa Basin, Onshore Yemen

The Shabwa Basin is the northeastern extension of the Marib-Al Jawf-Shabwa system of Mesozoic grabens, located onshore in the Republic of Yemen. An evaporitic sequence with an estimated maximum depositional thickness of 300 metres was deposited during the Tithonian. It is designated the Sabatayn Formation and exerts significant control on most of the play elements in the principal hydrocarbon play systems anticipated in the northeastern part of the basin. Migration of hydrocarbons from pre-salt source rocks into intra-and post-salt reservoirs is restricted by the evaporites. Localised heat flow perturbations introduced by the salt, increase the maturity of post-salt source rocks. Post and intra-salt reservoirs are structured by listric faulting on a salt detachment, salt pillowing due to post-depositional loading, by local salt dissolution and by late folding due to gravity sliding of the post-salt section on a salt detachment. Early dissolution and reprecipitation of salt is responsible for occlusion of porosity in intra-salt clastic reservoirs.     

上扬子区(四川盆地)寒武系的含盐性与地质背景

据记载,分布于上扬子区寒武系的石膏岩仅有零星资料。如今,大量蒸发岩如溶蚀角砾岩、硬石膏、石盐岩及富钾卤水等已被发现。沉积相经历了从盆地相、台地相到蒸发岩相的演化过程。在中、下寒武统中找到海退沉积序列。古构造-古地理背景是蒸发岩沉积的重要控矿条件之一。周边板块运动及塑性基底的褶皱,导致台缘隆起及台内坳陷的形成。岩相古地理图展示从碳酸盐、硫酸盐到氯化物盐类的“泪滴式”沉积相带。蒸发岩沉积于台缘隆起及礁生长进入堰塞潟湖至盐湖阶段。在稳定坳陷区沉积盆地中蒸发岩系发育;石盐岩较厚,其溴氯比值为0.2—0.4;古气候炎热、干燥;在蒸发岩体周围有沉积(封层)水及溶滤水,其含钾(K~+)量为0.10—4.76g/L;水文地球化学比值(如钾氯比值、钾盐比值及钾溴比值等)指示含钾异常;盐湖浓缩卤水达到氯化物盐类沉积阶段及相应的构造封闭程度;含盐地质标志广泛分布等等。鉴于上述,估计该区可能具备钾盐成矿条件。然而目的层埋藏太深,因此笔者建议,应在浅埋部位进行有效的成矿预测,为普查指出远景区。     

中国中新生代咸化湖盆烃源岩沉积的问题及相关进展

我国东部断陷湖盆和西部坳陷湖盆第三系均有蒸发岩与烃源岩共生现象。前者水体深、咸化范围小，在氯化盐和碳酸盐沉积环境中形成了优质烃源岩，后者水体浅、咸化范围大，在氯化盐和硫酸盐沉积环境中发育了优质烃源岩，作者认为两种湖盆出现的水体分层是有机质堆积和保存的重要条件。济阳坳陷和柴达木盆地为两类咸化湖盆的典型代表，对它们的研究可以深化蒸发岩-烃源岩共生区油气地质的认识、促进勘探发展。     

楚雄盆地有机质、膏盐与砂岩铜矿生成关系的有机地球化学证据与机理

云南楚雄中生代陆相盆地发育了良好的含煤、含铜和含膏盐的三位一体的建造组合。煤、膏盐和砂岩铜矿床中有机质在丰度、类型、成熟度、可溶有机质及生物标志物上既有一定差异，又有一定的相似性。煤和膏盐均参与了砂岩铜矿成矿作用，煤系为改造成矿作用提供了丰富的还原性有机质，膏盐提供了氧化性的ＳＯ２－４，间接提供了硫源。     

楚雄盆地铜、盐、有机质相互作用与砂岩铜矿生成

矿床的有机地球化学研究表明:楚雄盆地含煤、含铜和含膏盐建造中的有机质在来源、类型和成熟度上是不一致的。成岩期干酪根降解形成的短链羧酸是矿源层中铜活化的重要因素,石油烃是矿质搬运的重要载体。改造成矿期,天水淋滤膏盐展形成富SO_4~(2-)的下渗氧化性流体,为改造成矿提片供了硫源。另一方面,来自基底的含矿流体沿同生断裂上涌,混染煤系地层形成还原性流体,沿次级断裂进入到高渗透的砂岩储集层。当两种流体在砂岩中相遇时,发生氧化-还原作用而形成改造期矿体。     

中国陆块海相盆地成钾条件与预测研究进展综述

中国古代海相钾盐找矿是一个"久攻不破"的难题,古代海相及海陆交互相盆地能否成钾也是长期争议的问题,也就是中国小陆块能否成钾、成大钾矿的关键问题。为此,本文以板块构造运动为主线,对中国主要小陆块漂移历史、成盆构造、古气候、古地理及海相/海陆交互相蒸发岩沉积特征进行了系统梳理和总结;在此基础上,基于盆地"构造-物源-气候"三要素耦合成钾理论,分析中国小陆块海相盆地成钾条件、成矿机理;同时,总结和借鉴全球海相钾盐成矿标志,建立钾盐成矿评价指标体系。基于这些研究基础,借助对主要陆块的区域构造和古地理特征、物质来源、古气候面貌等恢复及分析,对主要陆块的海相成钾潜力进行评价,同时预测找钾战略靶区。钾盐成矿模式研究表明:兰坪—思茅盆地白垩系、上扬子陆块四川盆地中—下三叠统、华北陆块陕北盆地中奥陶统及塔里木陆块库车盆地古近系等盆地及其层位具有较大的成钾潜力。结合成钾指标对比分析,优选圈定了思茅盆地南部、四川盆地中东部及塔里木的库车盆地等战略靶区内较为明确的重点靶区,可以进一步开展钻探验证。这些研究成果为在中国继续开展海相钾盐成矿研究和找钾提供科学依据。     

Occurrence and conceptual sedimentary model of Cambrian gypsum-bearing evaporites in the Sichuan Basin,SW China

During the Cambrian, gypsum-bearing evaporites formed in the Sichuan Basin, SW China. These rocks are important for oil and gas sealing, but details of their distribution and origin are not well established. This study examines the regional distribution and origin of the gypsum-bearing evaporites using a comprehensive analysis of drilling data from 34 wells, 5 measured cross-sections in the basin and surrounding area, and 96 maps of area-survey data. Results show that in the stratigraphic succession, the gypsum-bearing evaporites occur mainly in the Lower Cambrian Longwangmiao Formation, the Middle Cambrian Douposi Formation, and the Middle-Upper Cambrian Xixiangchi Group. Geographically, the rocks are found mainly in the southeastern part of the basin, and the distribution of deposits shows an overall SW-NE trend. The sedimentary environments for evaporite formation were evaporative lagoon and inter-platform basin in a platform setting. Gypsum was generated by the underwater concentration of sea water in a strongly evaporative environment. Both an evaporative restricted platform and a mixeddeposition restricted platform model appear to be applicable to the development of gypsum in the Sichuan Basin. The gypsum-bearing evaporites with the best sealing capacity are located mostly in the southeastern part of the basin. These constraints can be applied directly to regional exploration, and have implications for the regional paleogeography and paleoclimate.     

Meteoric diagenesis and dedolomite fabrics in precursor primary dolomicrite in a mixed carbonate–evaporite system

Dedolomitization is a common diagenetic process in shallow burial environments and is often associated with sulphates in mixed carbonate‐evaporite successions. In these settings, elevated Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺ ratios necessary for dedolomitization result from the dissolution of sulphate phases by the incursion of undersaturated groundwater. Reported dedolomite textures from other studies are varied, but the most prevalent is a rhombic texture interpreted to result from the partial to complete pseudomorphic replacement of secondary dolomite rhombs formed in the burial diagenetic realm. In this study of primary cryptocrystalline to finely crystalline dolomicrites in the Prairie Evaporite Formation of north‐eastern Alberta, dedolomitization has resulted in sutured to loosely packed mosaics of dedolomite that range from subhedral to distinctly euhedral (rhombic) crystal fabrics; however, no prior aggrading neomorphism producing dolomite rhombs is evident in the precursor dolomicrites. Non‐pseudomorphic dedolomitization of the dolomicrites results in textures that include rhombic dedolomite crystals with cloudy cores comprising remnant dolomicrite and clear rims. These textures are similar to those observed in the pseudomorphic dedolomitization of secondary dolomite rhombs. The Prairie Evaporite Formation of north‐eastern Alberta has experienced extensive karstification near the erosional margin of the sedimentary succession. Dedolomitization of dolomicrites occurs in marker beds within the Prairie Evaporite succession associated with evaporite karstification. Along with stratigraphic and petrographic considerations, stable isotope results support the interpretation of a shallow dedolomitization event influenced by meteoric waters derived from the basin margin. Negative δ ¹⁸O and low δ ¹³C values (averages of −13·6‰_VPDB and 0·5‰_VPDB, respectively) of the dedolomite, compared with those of the primary dolomicrite (averages of −6·0‰_VPDB and 1·2‰_VPDB, respectively), point to isotopically light diagenetic fluids. These results show that rhombic dedolomite textures can form through shallow, non‐pseudomorphic dedolomitization of dolomicrites by meteoric fluids in the presence of sulphates, with resulting textures that are similar to the pseudomorphic dedolomitization of secondary dolomite rhombs.     

Organic matter of the Mulhouse Basin, France: a synthesis

The lower Oligocene evaporite sequence of the Mulhouse Basin (France) contains organic matter-rich marl deposits. These marls display an overall cyclic variation of sedimentation rate, organic carbon content, hydrogen index and selected molecular parameters over a 30 m thick stratigraphic interval. The integration of all sedimentological and geochemical parameters has allowed the reconstruction and characterization of the paleoenvironment of deposition. The marls were deposited in a perennial lake that was at times connected to the sea. Two organic facies end members could be assigned to a lake stage with a marine connection and a lake stage that received dominantly continental water input. The overall stratigraphic variation in the organic matter content is interpreted to reflect the adaptation of the Oligocene flora to the changing paleoclimate and environmental conditions.     

Geochemistry of waters and brines from the Salinas Grandes basin,Córdoba,Argentina. I. Geomorphology and hydrochemical characteristics

This paper reports on hydrochemical features of diluted waters in the source areas and the brine end-members dominant in the playa of the Salinas Grandes Basin, Córdoba, Argentina. Special emphasis was placed on the study of the relationship between geomorphology and the resulting hydrochemical fractionation. Inflow is from springs and mountain streams which disappear before reaching the saline complex. The playa and intermittent saline lakes are mainly fed by groundwater flow and a few moderately saline and perennial springs. Conversely, ephemeral lakes are fed by atmospheric precipitation and groundwater, whereas small ponds are only fed by atmospheric precipitation. The absence of a clear linkage between geomorphological units and water types was evident in the source areas. Up to four types of water were recognized in a given geomorphological unit. From the sandflat downward towards the playa, the correspondence between geomorphological units and water types was clear, coinciding with a decreased hydrochemical heterogeneity. In this subenvironment, I have recognized two dominant types of water (SO ₄ ^2– –Cl^––HCO ₃ ^– –Na⁺ and Cl^––SO ₄ ^2– –HCO ₃ ^– –Na⁺), which can be considered the original members of the neutral brine in the playa (Cl^––SO ₄ ^2– –Na⁺ where Ca²⁺+Mg²⁺ do not surpass 5 meq per cent), and an intermediate type in the mudflat (Cl^––SO ₄ ^2– –Na⁺ where the contribution of Ca²⁺+Mg²⁺ reaches up to 15 meq per cent). It seems evident that in the zone between the source areas and the sandflat, hydrochemistry is governed by chemical weathering. In stream floodplains and in the distal alluvial plain, close to the saline complex, the increase in water types as well as the increase of HCO ₃ ^– with respect to SO ₄ ^2– , were explained by the mixture of aquifers controlled by the Salinas Grandes-Salinas de Ambargasta fracture. In the saline complex, the more concentrated end-members are the result of evaporation of the two more frequent water-types in the sandflat subenvironment, and salt dissolution of ancient evaporite deposit.