1. Geochemical characteristics and formation process of zebra dolomites in Lower Permian Qixia Formation, northwestern Sichuan Basin: a case study of well ST 18
- Author
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Lichao WANG, Yang ZHOU, Linhui HU, Ya ZHANG, Bozhi WANG, and Yanping QIAO
- Subjects
hydrothermal dolomite ,order degree of dolomite ,zebra texture ,qixia formation ,lower permian ,northwestern sichuan basin ,Geophysics. Cosmic physics ,QC801-809 ,Geology ,QE1-996.5 - Abstract
Abundant natural gas resources are stored in the Lower Permian Qixia Formation of the Sichuan Basin. In recent years, great breakthrough for oil and gas exploration has been achieved in the Qixia Formation in the NW Sichuan Basin, and high-quality reservoirs mainly locate in dolomite strata. However, the origin of dolomites in the Qixia Formation is still unclear. Special zebra-textured dolomites were observed in the Qixia Formation from the cores of well ST 18. In this paper, a comparative study of the light and dark belts in the zebra texture was systematically carried out with petrological and geochemical methods. Results show that the light belt is mainly composed of medium to coarse crystalline saddle dolomites and its cathodoluminescence is bright red, while the dark zone is composed of medium to fine crystalline dolomites and its cathodoluminescence is dark red. The δ13C values in light and dark zones are within the δ13C range of contemporary seawater, while the δ18O values are more negative than those of contemporary seawater. It is then indicated that the dolomitization fluid was derived from seawater and the oxygen isotopes were fractionated by the affection of high temperature. The order degrees of dolomites in the light and dark zones are consistently high. It was speculated that the order degrees of dolomites in the light and dark zones had been matured to the same degree during the later burial stage. In addition, the occurrence of pyrite confirmed the involvement of hydrothermal fluids in the formation of dolomites. Therefore, the formation of zebra dolomites in well ST 18 mainly went through the following three stages: (1) Fluids dissolved and dolomitized primary limestones along tectonic fractures to form medium to fine crystalline dolomites in the dark zone; (2) Hot fluids precipitated to form medium to coarse crystalline saddle dolomites in the light zone; (3) The order degrees of dolomites in the dark and light zones had adjusted to the same degree in the later deep burial stage.
- Published
- 2022
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