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Calcareous interbeds control the migration of oil and water in marine strata. However, in China, the origins of such calcareous interbeds have not been investigated in detail. In this paper, we present a study of calcareous interbeds in marine strata of the Zhujiang Formation in the Wenchang Oil Field, which is located in the southeast of Hainan Province, China. The lithological characteristics, types and features of diagenesis, and formation of the calcareous interbeds were investigated using core, thin-section, scanning electron microscopy, and cathodoluminescence observations, and stable carbon and oxygen isotope data. The calcareous interbeds consist of mixed sediments, which are dominated by bioclastic limestones containing terrigenous clasts, along with subordinate calcareous sandstone. The interbeds are densely cemented. The bioclasts are dominantly brachiopods, pleopods, and foraminifera, with minor amounts of echinodermata, bivalves, red algae, ostracods, and bryozoa. Diagenesis involved calcitic cementation, associated with relatively weak compaction. Carbon and oxygen isotopic data indicate the pore water that formed the carbonate cement was mostly sourced from seawater and minor amounts of meteoric water. The degree of carbonate cementation was significantly related to the bioclast content. On the basis of our study, a genetic model for the macroscopic and microscopic formation of calcareous interbeds is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To characterize the polyphase palaeokarst development of Wumishan formation in Jizhong depression, the data of outcrops, cores, thin sections, SEM, core plugs, drilling relief and leakage, and carbon isotope have been analyzed in this paper. The results reveal that the polyphase palaeokarst was petrography controlled of microbial dolostone and grain dolostone, and was identified as three phases: (1) poly-period eogenetic karst during Wumishan depositional environment, (2) two-period telogenetic karst in Triassic and Cretaceous, and (3) hydrothermal karst in Paleogene. The eogenetic karst was related to high frequent sea level fluctuations with development of vugs and selective dissolution porosities which distributed at the top of microbial dolostone and grain dolostone layers. The origin of the telogenetic karst was related to Indosinian and Yanshan orogeny which formed widespread fold belts and thrust faults, and provided the endokinetic force and a strong topography difference. Each period's telogenetic karst was characteristic of one-period fracture-cave system, and the Cretaceous telogenetic karst was stronger than the Triassic telogenetic karst in karst intensity. Moreover, the karst intensity increased downward in superimposed telogenetic karst zones. Hydrothermal karst was related to volcanic activities and provided the hydrothermal environment for its formation. It was featured by solution-enlarged porosities and new forming porosities. The microbial dolostone and grain dolostone layers with three-phase palaeokarst were the best exploration targets for high-quality reservoirs. This paper rebuilds a suitable karst model to show the palaeokarst evolution process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Upper Permian Changhsing Formation is one of the most important gas-bearing formations in the Eastern Sichuan Basin. Nonetheless, the primary factors controlling the reef-shoal gas reservoirs of different regions are diverse. Clarifying the controlling factors for the formation of intra-platform reef-shoal reservoirs will promote the exploration and development process of the Changhsing Formation. By using outcrop data, core observation, thin section identification, scanning electron microscope analysis, physical property study, and logging interpretation, this paper analyse the characteristics and factors controlling the reef-shoal reservoir in Dianjiang area of the Eastern Sichuan Basin. The results show that the reef cap and reef base microfacies fine-to-medium crystalline dolomite reservoir have the best physical properties, and the reservoir spaces are primarily composed of intercrystalline pores, intercrystalline solution pores, karst caves, and fractures. The main lithology of reservoir formation is reef-shoal facies. The results for the carbon and oxygen isotopes show that dolomites of different particle sizes are formed in three environments. Affected by regression in the late Changhsingian Age, the reef-shoal of the Changhsing Formation were subaerially exposed to meteoric water diagenesis environments, resulting in the highly dispersed particles in rocks that formed a honeycomb karst system, which greatly improved the physical properties of the reservoirs. After reflux dolomitization, the honeycomb karst system was well preserved due to strong resistance to pressure and dissolution of dolomite. Therefore, dolomitization in the Changhsing formation contributed to reservoir porosity. Later, tectonic fracturing has adjusted and modified the reef-shoal reservoir. In summary, penecontemporaneous karstification was the key to the formation of the reef-shoal reservoir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The beginning of the Late Paleozoic Ice Age was characterized by localized events with small ice depocenters occurring in South America and a series of cyclic shallow-water limestones in far-field regions, in late Visean to Serpukhovian. This paper documents two topmost Visean–Serpukhovian sections in Guangxi, South China: a stromatolite-bearing deep-water succession in Helv village and a shallow-water succession in Dujie village. Seventeen microfacies types have been recognized and grouped into six microfacies associations. The vertical evolution of the microfacies associations from deep-water to shallow-water depositional environments in both sections indicate a major relative sea-level fall in the latest Visean. The repetitive successions comprising different morphological stromatolites in Helv section and the cyclic alternation of subtidal and peritidal facies in Dujie section imply high-frequency sea-level fluctuations during latest Visean to Serpukhovian, most likely eustatic in origin. The carbon isotope data of Dujie limestone exhibit a pronounced positive δ13C excursion with ± 4.3‰ in the peritidal deposits. This shift is interpreted as the result of enhanced organic carbon burial in other regions and depletion of the ocean in light carbon. The widespread coeval cyclicity occurring in settings in South China, Western Europe, and North America is most likely the results of glacio-eustatic sea-level fluctuations, possibly with local influences of tectonic movements. This pattern is interpreted to represent the expression of the onset of the major glaciation during the LPIA in low-latitudinal successions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stable carbon isotope composition (δ13C) of lacustrine sediments, which can record changes in past environmental conditions such as the C4/C3 terrestrial vegetation composition, has been widely used for the reconstruction of terrestrial ecosystems and global climate changes. It has also been widely used in paleolimnological studies in arid northwestern China. In recent years, however, an increasing number of studies have enriched the environmental significance reflected by the stable carbon isotope geochemistry of lakes; therefore, the interpretation of lake δ13C variations in paleoenvironmental reconstructions should be carefully evaluated from various aspects. In this paper, previous studies from the past several decades on the lacustrine δ13C variations in arid northwestern China were reviewed, and the possible mechanisms of the δ13C variations were discussed. Our study will provide a reference for the application of carbon isotope geochemistry in paleoenvironmental reconstructions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The archaeological culture found in Xiaohe Cemetery (1980-1450 BC) is one of the early Bronze Age cultures in Xinjiang, northwestern China. The material assemblages from Xiaohe culture display features with both eastern and western influences. These east-west cultural and dietary interactions may be observed via the diet of the Xiaohe population. This paper examined the stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes of human and animal bones and human hairs from the Xiaohe Cemetery and compared with those of human bones from the Gumugou Cemetery, another Xiaohe culture site. The results indicate that the diets of the peoples from the Xiaohe culture varied significantly over different periods. The unified diets of the earlier periods reflect that an admixed population first settled in the Lop Nur region and primarily engaged in animal husbandry. In the later periods, the transformations in the human diets in this region reflect that new immigrants constantly relocated here and promoted population complexity over time. Moreover, this population occasionally produced small quantities of domesticated wheat and millet. The complex population and diversified economy of the Xiaohe culture were due to the expansion of the coeval cultures in the Eurasian steppe and eastern immigrants. Additionally, the millet cereal was probably mainly used for ritual practices rather than for staple food in the later periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three positive carbon isotope excursions are reported from Middle-Upper Ordovician in Tahe oil-gas field, northern Tarim Basin. Based on conodont biostratigraphy, the Middle Darriwilian Isotope Carbon Excursion (MDICE) and the Guttenberg Carbon Isotope Excursion (GICE) are identified from Darriwilian to Early Katian by the aid of whole-rock carbon isotope data from two well cores. Positive excursion within conodont Pygodus anserinus zone is developed in Early Sandbian, and the fluctuation range is no less than MDICE. Because the range of this excursion in the generalized global carbon isotope curve is short, previous studies paid little attention to it, and named Early Sandbian Isotope Carbon Excursion (ESICE) in this paper. Furthermore, these positive excursions are not directly related to sea level fluctuations and the MDICE and GICE identified in northern Tarim can be globally correlated to that in southern China, North America, South America, and Europe. The Saergan Fm. source rocks of Middle-Upper Ordovician in Kalpin Dawangou outcrop are in accord with the geologic time of MDICE and ESICE, and GICE have strong ties to the source rock of Lianglitag Fm. in basin. Abundant organic carbon burial is an important factor in genesis of positive isotope carbon excursions. Positive oxygen isotope excursion, conodont fauna turnover, decreased conodont total diversity, and the change of sedimentary facies indicated that dramatic changes of paleoceanographic environment of Early-Middle Ordovician in Tarim Basin started from the end of Darriwillian, and an obvious icehouse climate of Late Ordovician occurred in ESICE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crude oils typically from the Cambrian-Lower Ordovician source rocks of Tarim Basin, NW China, such as TD2Є and TZ62S, are C-enriched with the stable carbon isotopic ratios (VPDB) approaching −28 ‰. In this paper, the main research viewpoints on this issue are summarized, and combined with results from organic and inorganic carbon isotope stratum curves of the outcrop at the Ya'erdang Mountain in Tarim Basin. In addition, more alternative interpretations are discussed. On one hand, the inverse fractionation features of stable carbon and hydrogen isotopes of these crude oils may imply their protogenous nature. On the other hand, the anisotropy of source rocks and contribution from older stratum source rocks need verifying as well. For the sake of the final resolution of this issue, some further study topics are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]