微生物诱导白云石沉淀研究进展及面临的挑战

白云岩成因机理一直是地质学家们关注的焦点,微生物诱导沉淀白云石模式是对"白云岩问题"的重要补充.一方面,微生物作用能显著改善邻近水体化学条件,形成利于白云石沉淀的微环境;另一方面,微生物及代谢产物为白云石沉淀提供成核位点.两者共同克服低温白云石沉淀的动力学障碍.但对于古老地层而言,判识白云石是否为微生物成因具有难度,目...     

白云石(岩)有机成因研究现状及进展

白云岩是地质历史中常见的一种碳酸盐岩,但在现代近地表环境下却很难见其踪迹,因此其成因问题成为研究热点。近年来的研究表明,白云石的形成与有机物密不可分。本文在调研大量文献的基础上,从形成白云石动力学障碍这一微观机制出发,探究了其成因。结果表明,微生物的新陈代谢所起的调节作用是白云石形成过程中的关键因素。另外,有机大分子如多糖、羧甲基纤维素、羧基等也能以与硫酸盐还原菌类似的方式促进白云石的形成,这为研究白云石的成因机制提供了新的思路。     

“白云岩问题”与“前寒武纪之谜”研究进展

白云岩的成因是沉积学界倍受关注的研究主题;众多的白云岩化模式可以用来解释各种成岩白云岩的成因;然而原生白云岩的成因一直是困扰沉积学界的难题,被称为“白云岩问题”。究其原因主要在于：在近地表环境的常温、常压实验条件下不能生成完美有序的白云石矿物。近年来,野外观测和实验模拟研究发现某些微生物的生命活动可导致白云石于地表常温、常压条件下发生沉淀。如硫酸盐还原细菌和产烷菌的调节作用可以克服白云石晶核形成的动力学障碍,在这些厌氧菌的参与下,白云石晶核形成和沉淀并不需要高镁离子和过饱和状态的溶液环境。这种微生物学和沉积学的结合代表了一个新的研究方向,同时也为解决“白云岩问题”带来了新希望。泥晶白云岩化作用（mimetic dolomization）可以保留原矿物（文石或方解石）的晶形、原岩的微细组构,对解释地史时期保存原生构造的白云岩具重要的启示。“前寒武纪之谜”是指前寒武纪叠层石中缺乏钙化蓝细菌化石的现象。参与碳酸盐岩叠层石建造的微生物群组成可能随着地质历史的演化发生变化,蓝细菌在显生宙的叠层石建造过程中起主导作用,细胞体积更小的真细菌很可能是参与前寒武纪叠层石建造的主要微生物。     

“白云石（岩）问题”与湖相白云岩研究

 近30年来,微生物白云石模式推动“白云石（岩）问题”前进了一大步,大量的实验和实例证明微生物（硫酸盐还原菌、产甲烷古菌、中度嗜盐有氧细菌等）的代谢活动对于促进白云石低温沉淀起了关键作用。微生物白云石特殊的微结构、微形貌和稳定同位素特征是其主要识别标志。然而,该模式在微生物成岩规模、诱导机制、是否存在纳米细菌化石以及现代微生物白云石成因模式能否用来解释古代白云石的成因等方面仍存在较大争议。我国古代湖相白云岩因其时空分布广、成因机制多样等特点可为“白云石问题”的研究提供良好的条件。     

对白云岩形成机理的再认识

在碳酸盐岩体系中,白云岩通常能形成最好的储层。对白云岩成因演化和储层展布的认识直接决定勘探部署。而白云岩成因是碳酸盐岩岩石学中最复杂、争论时间最久、最难解决的问题之一。根据机理的不同,当前各种主要的白云岩成因模式可划分为两大类:原生白云石模式和次生白云石化模式。虽然原生白云石的例子已被大量发现,但它们是否属真正的原生白云石仍需后续研究;理清白云岩成因问题,对认识白云岩及其相关的碳酸盐岩储层的油气勘探工作尤为重要。     

微生物白云石模式评述

Vasconcelos等在实验室模拟巴西Lagoa Vermelha潟湖条件,成功地沉淀出白云石,由此提出了微生物白云石模式。该模式在南澳大利亚、阿拉伯海湾、西印度外陆棚边缘以及意大利南部等地区得到了不同研究者的肯定,我国鄂尔多斯盆地奥陶系马家沟组五段白云岩也可以解释为微生物成因。此模式对白云石形成机理的研究具有突破性的意义。当硫酸盐还原细菌利用SO42-时,也吸收了Mg2+,因为Mg2+与SO42-形成了很强的离子对。微生物由于其新陈代谢作用利用SO42-而克服了动力障碍,同时从离子对中释放出Mg2+。在白云石形成的化学反应中,微生物因素把硫酸根离子从反应的抑制剂变成了催化剂。白云石一旦成核,就会在埋藏过程中长大。尽管不是所有的白云石都可以用微生物白云石模式来解释,但野外研究和模拟实验都证明这一模式是有说服力和生命力的。     

埋藏环境白云石结构类型

近年来我国在白云岩储层油气勘探方面取得了重大进展,这些白云岩储层绝大多数为埋藏阶段形成的白云岩,同时大量研究也证实地层中大部分白云岩形成于埋藏环境。国际学术界对埋藏环境白云石的成因结构分类比较细致,但在我国这方面的研究还不够深入,因此本文借助国际上对埋藏环境白云石成因结构的分类方法,并结合中国白云岩研究的实际情况尝试提出埋藏环境白云石结构分类方案。该方案首先以白云石在岩石中的产状分为基质白云石和胶结白云石两大类,再以晶粒大小、晶型、晶面特征、接触关系为分类依据,将埋藏环境白云石分为六种结构类型。     

白云石化作用及白云岩储层研究进展

白云石化作用和白云岩储层一直都是碳酸盐岩研究中的重要领域。近年来,随着实验分析技术的进步以及油气勘探的深入,对白云岩的研究也取得了诸多进展:1数值模拟技术逐步应用到白云岩研究中,实现了白云石化模式研究由定性到定量的转变;2对微生物白云石化的研究不断加强,识别出了微生物相关白云石的特殊显微形貌特征并对其生物矿化机制进行了分析;3对已有白云石化模式的重新审视:包括对混合水白云石化的修正、对回流白云石化的扩展以及对构造—热液白云石化模式的丰富;4在白云石化与孔隙相关关系的研究中,突破了白云石化增孔的传统认识,逐步强调白云石化在孔隙保存方面的作用;5注重研究白云岩结构、成岩环境、原始相带以及白云岩形成之后的溶蚀改造等因素对白云岩储层发育的控制作用。在未来的研究中,应加强3个方面内容,一是对白云岩结构演化规律的定量研究,二是在成岩流体示踪方面要加强对新技术手段(如二元同位素、Mg同位素)的使用,同时注意借鉴成矿流体研究中的成熟技术和方法,三是要加强对深部白云岩储层形成和保存机制的探索。     

塔里木盆地寒武系膏盐岩对盐下白云岩储层的影响

塔里木盆地寒武系盐下白云岩作为重要的战略接替区已成为近年来的研究热点。前人主要集中对寒武系白云岩的形成机制和膏盐岩的封盖作用进行了研究,而关于膏盐岩对白云岩储层的影响则少有涉及。本文总结了塔里木盆地寒武系白云岩储层特征,同时探讨了膏盐岩对白云岩储层的影响机制,以期为寒武系盐下白云岩勘探提供指导。塔里木盆地寒武系白云岩主要分为结晶白云岩和微生物白云岩两大类,其中结晶白云岩又可分为泥微晶白云岩、晶粒白云岩和颗粒白云岩,微生物白云岩又可分为凝块石白云岩、叠层石白云岩和泡沫绵石白云岩。受膏盐岩影响的白云岩储层类型可划分为膏溶孔型白云岩储层、晶间孔型白云岩储层和溶蚀孔型白云岩储层。蒸发潮坪环境中,膏盐岩的沉淀有利于克服白云石化的Mg2+的动力学障碍而形成白云岩,同时,微生物作用下SO24-的还原会促进白云石的沉淀。膏盐岩对白云岩储层孔隙的影响主要体现在:含硬石膏结核泥粉晶白云岩易于形成膏溶孔型白云岩储层;膏盐层较高的热导率有利于倒退溶蚀作用的发生;近地表低温条件下硫酸盐的溶解有利于白云石的沉淀;热化学硫酸盐还原作用形成酸性气体有利于深埋溶蚀作用,形成溶蚀孔型白云岩储层。     

《沉积地球化学应用》讲座(四)第四讲 稳定同位素在白云岩研究中的应用

白云石这种特殊矿物不论其矿物性质还是经济价值早已引人瞩目。白云岩是重要的油气储集层以及许多Pb—Zn等金属的容矿岩石。然而关于白云石的成团,一直是地质学界长期争论的问题。由于人们在现代化沉积环境中未能发现大量白云石的沉积,在低温下亦未能合成白云石,所以不能将今论古地对自然界中大多数白云岩(高温条件下形成的白云岩除外)沉淀期间的物化条件进行解释,只是对特定白云岩成因提出了若干种推断,即模式,如蒸发     

塔里木盆地和田1井中寒武统膏岩层段发现原生白云石

岩石学与地球化学研究表明,塔里木盆地和田1井中寒武统膏岩层中白云石为原生白云石。岩石学特征上,白云石晶体微小,属隐晶—微晶(5μm),呈他形—次圆形,并且不含灰质前驱物。白云石与自生石膏有密切联系,根据其与石膏的关系及岩石学特征,可以将其分为两类:A类原生白云石,包裹在石膏内,晶体较大,一般大于3μm;B类原生白云石,石膏分散在其中,具有极好的长柱状晶形,白云石晶体较小,一般小于3μm。地球化学特征上,两类白云石差别也较明显。A类白云石具有高的n(Mg)/n(Ca)比,平均为0.96,接近化学计量白云石。Na_2O,Sr O,Fe O,Mn O平均含量分别为160μg/g,270μg/g,2250μg/g,120μg/g。δ~(13)C(PDB)与δ~(18)O(SMOW)平均值分别为0.3‰,24.6‰;与A类原生白云石相比,B类原生白云石n(Mg)/n(Ca)比较低,平均值为0.90。具有较高的Na_2O,Fe O,Mn O含量与稍低的Sr O含量,平均值分别为290μg/g,2540μg/g,200μg/g,200μg/g。δ~(13)C(PDB)与δ~(18)O(SMOW)变化不大,δ~(13)C稍低,平均值为-0.3‰,δ~(18)O值较高,平均值为25.2‰。研究表明,文中白云石为原生沉淀,而非交代前驱物灰岩形成,Mg的来源为强烈蒸发形成的高盐度咸水。微生物可能参与了白云石沉淀过程。     

Microbial dolomite crusts from the carbonate platform off western India

Abstract The occurrence of Late Pleistocene dolomite crusts that occur at 64 m depth on the carbonate platform off western India is documented. Dolomite is the most predominant mineral in the crusts. In thin section, the crust consists of dolomitized microlaminae interspersed with detrital particles. Under scanning electron microscopy, these laminae are made up of tubular filaments or cellular structures of probable cyanobacterial origin. Dolomite crystals encrust or overgrow the surfaces of the microbial filaments and/or cells; progressive mineralization obliterates their morphology. Well-preserved microbial mats, sulphide minerals (pyrrhotite and marcasite) and the stable isotope composition of dolomite in the crusts indicate hypersaline and anoxic conditions during dolomite formation. The crusts are similar to dolomite stromatolites, and biogeochemical processes related to decaying microbial mats under anoxic conditions probably played an important role in dolomite precipitation. The dolomite is therefore primary and/or very early diagenetic in origin. The dolomite crusts are interpreted to be a composite of microbial dolomite overprinted by early burial organic dolomite. The results of this study suggest that a microbial model for dolomite formation may be relevant for the origin of ancient massive dolomites in marine successions characterized by cryptalgal laminites. The age of the crusts further suggests that the platform was situated at shallow subtidal depths during the Last Glacial Maximum.     

“白云石问题”及其实验研究

“白云石问题”无疑是地质学上最有趣最长久的难题之一。作为一种常见的碳酸盐矿物,白云石在地质历史时期大量 发育,却在现代海洋沉积环境中鲜少沉积,并且在实验室模拟海水条件下也几乎无法低温合成。白云石[CaMg(CO3)2]不同于 Ca2+、Mg2+无序的高镁方解石,具有阳离子有序超结构,空间群为R-3,在地表条件下为热力学稳定相。尽管人们尝试模拟 自然界中白云石存在的物理化学条件,但却几乎没有从实验中成功合成有序白云石。在已有的实验室研究中,有序白云石 仅能通过高温水热实验形成。这说明白云石的形成极可能是一个动力学控制过程。而近些年被人们广泛接受的白云石微生 物成因模式认为微生物活动是低温白云石形成的关键,相关的微生物矿化实验也证实微生物的存在能够促进高镁方解石的 形成。对白云石问题的探讨不仅对理解白云岩成因具有重要意义,还能够促进矿物学理论研究发展。此次研究从高温合成 实验、低温合成实验、微生物协同沉淀实验等方面综述了有关白云石问题的实验室研究进展,阐明了目前对于白云石问题 认识的局限,有助于更好的理解“白云石问题”和其中所包含的矿物学和物理化学问题,乃至于帮助寻找到它的答案。     

Precipitation of dolomite using sulphate-reducing bacteria from the Coorong Region, South Australia: significance and implications

Dolomite was successfully precipitated in culture experiments that simulated microbiogeochemical conditions prevailing during late stages of evaporation in ephemeral, hypersaline dolomitic lakes of the Coorong region, South Australia. Analyses of lake- and pore-water samples document rapid geochemical changes with time and depth in both dolomitic and non-dolomitic lakes. Extremely high sulphate and magnesium ion concentrations in lake waters decline rapidly with depth in pore waters throughout the sulphate-reduction zone, whereas carbonate concentrations in pore waters reach levels up to 100 times those of normal sea water. Ultimately, sulphate is totally consumed and no solid sulphate is recorded in the dolomitic lake sediments. ‘Most probable number’ calculations of lake sediment samples record the presence of large populations of sulphate-reducing bacteria, whereas sulphur-isotope analyses of lake-water samples indicate microbial fractionation in all the lakes studied. Viable populations of microbes from the lake sediments were cultured in anoxic conditions in the laboratory. Samples were then injected into vials containing sterilized clastic or carbonate grains, or glass beads, immersed in a solution that simulated the lake water. Falls in the levels of sulphate and rising pH in positive vials were interpreted as indicating active bacterial sulphate reduction accompanied by increased concentrations of carbonate. Within 2 months, sub-spherical, sub-micron-size crystals of dolomite identical to those of lake sediments were precipitated. It is concluded that bacterial sulphate reduction overcomes kinetic constraints on dolomite formation by removing sulphate and releasing magnesium and calcium ions from neutral ion pairs, and by generating elevated carbonate concentrations, in a hypersaline, strongly electrolytic solution. The results demonstrate that bacterial sulphate reduction controls dolomite precipitation in both the laboratory experiments and lake sediments. It is proposed that dolomite formation, through bacterial sulphate reduction, provides a process analogue applicable to thick platformal dolostones of the past, where benthic microbial communities were the sole or dominant colonizers of shallow marine environments.     

Dolomite Mountains and the origin of the dolomite rock of which they mainly consist: historical developments and new perspectives

Beginning in the late 18th Century, the Dolomite Mountains in Northern Italy have been the location for major sedimentological developments, from the discovery of the mineral dolomite to the formulation of the coral-reef hypothesis to explain the origin of the massive dolomite structures that define the splendid scenery of the region. Further, the Dolomite Mountains have inspired voluminous research into the origin of dolomite, questioning whether dolomite is a primary precipitate or a secondary replacement product. Recently, with the recognition that microbes can mediate dolomite precipitation, a new geomicrobiological approach, combining the study of modern natural environments with bacterial culture experiments, is now being used to calibrate or interpret microbial evidence derived from the dolomite rock record. This three-pronged methodology applied to the study of dolomite formation holds great promise for future research into the 'Dolomite Problem' and provides a new impetus to revisit the Dolomite Mountains in the 21st Century.     

Microbial dolomite in the sabkha environment of the middle Cambrian in the Tarim Basin,NW China

In the Tarim Basin, dolomite, which formed during the middle Cambrian associated with evaporites, has been attributed to the sabkha-style dolomite formed during the syndepositional period. The sedimentary microfacies suggests dolomite formation in the middle Cambrian is an ancient analogue of the sabkha of Abu Dhabi. Poorly crystallised dolomite spheroids or ovoids within or on the surface of dolomite crystals are a common phenomenon that can be widely observed in different stromatolites in the upper part of the intertidal zone and strongly resemble the morphology in modern sabkha dolomite-producing microbial mats and in microbial culture experiments. These lines of evidence suggest organic substrates for dolomite nucleation. Dolomite formation in the middle Cambrian in the Tarim Basin has been considered a classic analogue for carbonate and evaporate assemblages. The extent of microbial dolomite in ancient sabkha environments is proposed as an alternative model for dolomite formation, in which the mineral properties of organic substrates play a crucial role.     

湖相原生白云石的微生物成因机理探讨*

近年来,随着对微生物白云石模式研究的不断深入,为解释“白云石问题”提供了新思路。前人对微生物白云石成因研究侧重于微生物对未固结沉积物的改造,即有机准同生白云石化作用,这与实验室中以微生物为媒介形成的“有机原生白云石”在成因机理上存在差异。笔者将微生物白云石机理引入湖相原生白云石成因解释中,认为在湖水—沉积物交界处也会发生微生物成因的原生白云石沉淀,即有机原生白云石。湖水与沉积物交界处的微环境存在明显区别,总体可分为有氧和缺氧2种亚环境,不同亚环境中生活有不同的微生物群落。根据湖泊亚环境特性和微生物种类及其在白云石形成过程中所发挥的作用,可以区分出细菌有氧氧化模式、硫酸盐还原模式和产甲烷模式3种微生物白云石模式。不同模式对应于不同的湖泊环境: 细菌有氧氧化模式主要发生于有氧、高Mg/Ca值的咸水/盐湖环境;硫酸盐还原模式主要发生于缺氧、高Mg/Ca值的咸水/盐湖环境;产甲烷模式主要发生于缺氧、低Mg/Ca值的淡水/咸水湖环境。另外,还探讨了pH值变化、SO42-的存在和硫化物对镁水合物脱水的影响以及微生物白云石沉淀的环境因子。对微生物成因的原生白云石模式的深入认识,将为湖相白云石成因研究提供新的理论基础和研究思路。     

Microbially mediated dolomite in Cambrian stromatolites from the Tarim Basin,north‐west China: implications for the role of organic substrate on dolomite precipitation

Dolomite [CaMg(CO₃)₂] is abundant in sedimentary rocks throughout the geological record, but it is rarely found in modern sediments. Also, it cannot be precipitated under low‐temperature conditions in the laboratory without microbial mediation and, as a result, its origin remains a long‐standing enigma. This study reports biologically mediated dolomite precipitation in ancient microbial mats and biofilms from the Cambrian Tarim Basin. The ambient temperature at the time of dolomite precipitation was estimated from δ¹⁸O values from early diagenetic dolomite, and the presence of structures associated with extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), is composed of fibres arranged in a reticular pattern, would favour epitaxial crystallization of dolomite on an organic substrate. In addition, poorly crystallized dolomite formed nanocrystal aggregates that strongly resemble the morphology and size distribution observed in microbial culture experiments. These lines of evidence confirm that microbial structures can be preserved in ancient dolomite and validate their use as biosignatures.