微生物碳酸盐岩孔隙研究进展

微生物碳酸盐岩不仅是研究古环境、古气候和地质历史事件的重要沉积记录,也是油气资源重要的储层类型之一。不同微生物群落的生理活动特性影响了原生孔隙的形成及保存,微生物沉积形成的不同尺度的沉积组构影响了孔隙的孔径大小及空间分布。微生物碳酸盐岩微相及共生岩性的微相组合型式对孔隙有效性及规模有重要影响,所处沉积地貌及相带使得微生物碳酸盐岩受海水-大气水成岩环境的胶结-溶蚀作用次序及程度不同,导致孔隙的非均质性。微生物相关的白云石化、胶结及岩溶等不同成岩作用,因其所处成岩阶段不同,而分别可能起到形成原生孔隙、保护残余孔隙及形成次生孔隙等不同效果,因而对孔隙形成及保存具有积极意义。微生物碳酸盐岩孔隙具有从纳米-亚微米级微孔隙到厘米甚至米级宏观孔隙等多个尺度,且与多尺度沉积结构构造有一定的耦合关系。因此,需要合理配置不同尺度样品的空间分布,运用多种方法技术表征不同尺度的孔隙,并增强各类数据的融合。此外,加强地质学科与地球物理学科的结合,是推动微生物碳酸盐岩油气储集层地质研究和勘探开发工作的重要途径。     

微生物碳酸盐岩分类、沉积环境与沉积模式

针对现有微生物碳酸盐岩分类不够系统、岩石类型及组合的环境意义不明确、岩相古地理重建缺乏微生物碳酸盐岩沉积模式指导等科学问题,通过塔里木盆地、四川盆地和鄂尔多斯盆地2个元古宇剖面和3个显生宇剖面详细的岩类学和岩石组合序列研究,取得3项成果与认识:①建立了构造尺度和形态特征相结合的系统的微生物碳酸盐岩分类方案。②明确了微生物碳酸盐岩岩石类型及组合的环境意义。风暴浪基面之下远端以欠补偿黑色泥岩和硅质岩沉积为主,近端的下斜坡以具丘状结构的纹理石碳酸盐岩和灰泥丘建造为主;风暴浪基面和正常浪基面之间的上斜坡以小-中型泡沫状、团块状凝块石碳酸盐岩和小-中型柱状、锥状、穹窿状叠层石碳酸盐岩建造为主;正常浪基面与平均低潮线之间以大-中型波状叠层石碳酸盐岩建造为主;平均低潮线之上的潮坪环境以大-中型层(席)状微生物碳酸盐岩、丘状微生物碳酸盐岩建造为主。③建立了缓坡沉积体系和镶边沉积体系微生物碳酸盐岩沉积模式。这些认识对微生物碳酸盐岩岩相古地理重建和储层分布预测具重要的指导意义。     

Preservation of dinosaur tracks induced by microbial mats in the Sousa Basin (Lower Cretaceous), Brazil

Dinosaur footprints and tracks in the Sousa Basin (Lower Cretaceous, Brazil) occur in at least 37 localities, in distinct stratigraphic positions. Footprints are rare in the Antenor Navarro (lower) and Rio Piranhas (upper) formations, where lithofacies analyses point to sedimentation in ancient alluvial fan to fluvial braided palaeoenvironments. In the Sousa Formation, the generally finer grain sized sediments rendered them more suitable for footprint preservation, where lithofacies analyses point to sedimentation in warm, small/shallow and temporary lakes, swamps and meandering fluvial palaeoenvironments. Microbially induced sedimentary structures are observed in many of the fine-grained lithofacies where dinosaur tracks are also found, and the large number of these tracks in the Sousa Basin (particularly in the Sousa Formation, Lower Cretaceous) may be related to the role of the mats in their preservation. Observations on recent microbial mats show that footprint morphology is related to the mat thickness and to the water content of the mat and the underlying sediment. In dry mats, generally poorly defined or no footprints are produced, while in saturated ones the imprints are well-defined, sometimes with well-defined displacement rims. The formation of well-defined displacement rims around the prints of large dinosaurs occurs in thick, plastic, moist to water-unsaturated microbial mats on top of moist to water-unsaturated sediment. These aspects are commonly observed in the tracks of the Passagem das Pedras site in the Sousa Basin. The footprint consolidation and its early lithification probably occurred due the existence of microbial mats that allowed a more cohesive substrate, preventing the footprints from erosion. The sediments were initially stabilized by early cementation and by the mat fabric over the tracks. Successive flooding, and subsequent sediment influx allowed the large number of layers with dinosaur tracks and sedimentary structures.     

叠层石中的海绿石化和黄铁矿化:以天津蓟县中元古界铁岭组为例*

作为微生物碳酸盐岩的主要类型之一,叠层石是微生物席的主要建造物已成为共识。天津蓟县中元古界铁岭组二段叠层石生物礁灰岩发育,其中的细粒叠层石被前人解释为微生物席捕获碳酸盐泥的微生物建造物,使得其既不同于现代叠层石,也不同于显生宙尤其是寒武纪的叠层石。更为特殊的是,这些叠层石中的海绿石和黄铁矿代表着2种特殊的矿化作用,其中研究区普遍产出的黄铁矿,作为硫酸盐还原细菌的产物,是了解古代微生物的窗口;而发育在高能浅海的海绿石,产出环境不同于现代海绿石,不能作为慢速沉积环境的指示矿物,亦不具有沉积间断的地质意义。2种矿化作用表明铁岭组叠层石是由沉淀作用而非捕获碳酸盐泥形成,这为了解中元古代叠层石的形成和特征提供了一些有益的线索。     

Types, Petrophysical Properties and Pore Evolution of Late Ediacaran Microbial Carbonates, Tarim Basin, NW China

The Upper Ediacaran microbial carbonates of the Tarim Basin are potential reservoir geobodies for future hydrocarbon exploration with rising interest in exploration for deeply-buried reserves. However, little knowledge has been acquired on the types of microbial carbonates that are present, the properties of the reservoir and the pore evolution, hampering predictions of high-quality reservoirs in these carbonates. Integrated with petrography and in-situ U-Pb dating geochronology analyses, this study aims to clarify the types of microbial carbonates present and to reconstruct the pore evolution processes of the potential reservoir rocks. The Upper Ediacaran microbial carbonates of the Tarim Basin can be divided into four types, based on their features in terms of different scales (macro- to micro-): microbial laminite, stromatolite, spongiomicrobialite and microbial-peloidal wackestone/mudstone. Petrophysical properties show that all these microbial carbonates have low porosity and very low permeability with poor connectivity. These carbonates were subject to long-term and complex diagenetic processes, mainly consisting of dissolution, compaction, pervasive dolomitization, cementation and fracturing. The most important reservoir spaces are contributed by vugs and dissolution-enlarged pores, which are likely to have been associated with the widespread uplift of the Aksu area in the terminal Ediacaran. In contrast, the cementation of the fine-to-medium crystalline dolomite greatly reduced the pre-existing pores. Pore types are closely related to different microbial fabrics, which played an important role in the pore evolution of the microbial carbonates.     

光合作用微生物席主导的寒武系苗岭统崮山组均一石:以山东省泗水县圣水峪剖面为例*

作为一种缺乏沉积构造的隐晶质块状泥晶所表征的非纹层状微生物碳酸盐岩类型,均一石自从命名之后就很少被描述或自古老的地层记录之中被识别出来,再加上缺乏现代实例,造成了对这种微生物碳酸盐岩类型研究的困难。来自于山东省泗水县圣水峪剖面寒武系苗岭统崮山组中的均一石,以厚层块状、缺乏沉积构造的泥晶灰岩为主,表现为生物层状的微生物礁,与相对较深水的中厚层中至深缓坡相的条带状泥晶灰岩和泥灰岩一起,构成较为典型的潮下型碳酸盐岩米级旋回,集中发育在淹没不整合型三级沉积层序顶部的强迫型海退体系域之中,代表着相对海平面下降阶段的沉积记录。在这些主导着生物层状微生物礁灰岩的均一石中,不均匀地高密度保存着致密缠绕以及较薄的泥晶壁所成型的丝状葛万菌物质体是其最为基本的特征,表明均一石形成于光合作用微生物席复杂的钙化作用。另外,在均一石的致密泥晶组构中,局部发育毫米级至厘米级大小而且形态极端不规则的亮晶显微管状组构。基于其特别的组构特征,将这样的组构解释为具有公共鞘的丝状蓝细菌即念珠菌菌落的钙化作用残余物,其致密泥晶组构可能代表着蓝细菌公共鞘的钙化作用残余物,其中的亮晶显微管则可能为蓝细菌丝状体的钙化作用残余物,而且在这样的组构之中还发育和共生着丝状葛万菌菌落,从而延伸了对蓝细菌菌落钙化作用残余物的认识和解释,并对具这种组构的海绵木乃伊解释提供了另外一种重要的研究镜像。因此,山东省泗水县圣水峪剖面寒武系苗岭统崮山组上部生物层状微生物礁体中的均一石,不仅提供了一个较为典型的寒武纪苗岭世不借助于二氧化碳浓缩作用机制(CCM机制)的蓝细菌钙化作用的实例,而且提供了一个在丝状蓝细菌主导的微生物席之中发育着念珠菌菌落的多重状微生物席的典型实例,从而拓宽了对显生宙最高的大气圈CO₂含量以及较高的大气圈O₂含量条件下的较为典型的方解石海中与寒武纪后生动物大爆发相平行的蓝细菌繁荣和钙化作用的了解。     

微生物碳酸盐岩油气储层研究现状与展望

微生物碳酸盐岩是一种重要的油气储集岩。在中国古老深埋碳酸盐岩地层中它们是主要的岩石类型。微生物碳酸盐岩通常可划分为叠层石、凝块石、树枝石、均一石和核形石等五种类型。储层孔隙系统与微生物岩的沉积结构和构造密切相关,窗格孔（洞）和格架孔（洞）是主要储集空间类型。全球中新元古界至中生界都发现了以微生物碳酸盐岩为储层的油气田,资源潜力巨大。 微生物岩储层的岩石类型、沉积构造、相序结构、沉积模式和储层有利相带尚有许多不明晰之处,是今后进一步深化研究的重点方向。     

塔里木盆地肖尔布拉克剖面肖尔布拉克组下段微生物碳酸盐岩沉积特征

塔里木盆地阿克苏地区肖尔布拉克剖面肖尔布拉克组下段除底部条带状泥晶白云岩外,主要为微生物碳酸盐岩沉积,但目前关于这套微生物岩的研究很少。通过详细的野外露头观察及室内镜下薄片鉴定,对研究剖面肖尔布拉克组下段的微生物碳酸盐岩类型进行了识别、分类,并重构了其沉积环境。结果显示:肖尔布拉克组下段共发育六种岩相类型,其中包括四种微生物碳酸盐岩类型:粗纹层状凝块岩,具窗孔凝块岩,厚层状凝块岩和块状凝块岩。粗纹层状凝块岩和具窗孔凝块岩主要分布于潮间带;厚层状凝块岩和块状凝块岩主要沉积于中深—浅水局限潮下带。不同的微生物岩类型发育于不同的位置,主要受控于海平面变化、古地理位置及微生物群落等因素。     

Tepee-shaped agglutinated microbialites: an example from a Famennian carbonate platform on the Lennard Shelf, northern Canning Basin, Western Australia

Distinctive, metre‐scale antiformal structures are well developed in a Famennian carbonate platform in the Chedda Cliffs area of the Lennard Shelf reef complexes. The structures are distinguished by chevron‐shaped crests and thickened cores and contain abundant non‐skeletal allochems (ooids/pisoids, peloids and intraclasts) of silt to pebble size and variably developed laminations and fenestrae. The internal morphology and pervasive occurrence of fenestral clotted and wavy laminated fabrics suggest that these structures are microbial mounds composed of agglutinated stromatolites and thrombolites. Microbial fabrics most probably originated through sediment trapping and binding by microbial mats with early lithification involving microbial calcification and cementation of trapped sediment. The facies and stratigraphic context of the mounds support a shallow subtidal, transitional backreef to reef‐flat setting; however, alone these mounds do not provide unequivocal environmental information. Other large antiformal structures in Famennian platforms on the Lennard Shelf, previously described as tepee structures, show morphological similarities to the Chedda Cliffs mounds, which suggests that these other structures may also be microbial mounds. The presence of microbial mounds in platform successions further highlights the importance of microbial communities in the Lennard Shelf reef complexes.     

Facies and origin of shales from the mid-Proterozoic Newland Formation, Belt Basin, Montana, USA

Shales constitute more than 60% of the world's sediments, yet while facies models for sandstones and carbonates are at a high level of sophistication, the study of shales has clearly lagged behind. In the mid-Proterozoic Newland Formation six major shale facies types, deposited in nearshore to basinal environments, are distinguished on the basis of bedding characteristics, textural features, and the proportions of silt, clay and carbonate. Textural features of these shale types are related to sedimentary environments as deduced from associated lithologies. The shales are undisturbed by bioturbation, and their textural and sedimentary characteristics reflect subaqueous growth of microbial mats, erosion and deposition by storms, deposition of flocculated vs. dispersed clays, continuous slow background sedimentation, winnowing by waves or currents, and subaerial exposure.     

北京寒武系第二统昌平组凝块石特征及成因

北京西郊下苇甸地区下寒武统昌平组底部含燧石角砾白云岩之上发育的一套豹斑灰岩,实为发育在高能环境下的凝块石灰岩,宏观形态上可包括斑状凝块石、带状凝块石和网状凝块石3种,其成因多与厚微生物席相关,且分别具有不同的微观结构。露头实测和镜下观察结果表明凝块石的初始沉积组分受控于沉积大/微环境,且三者的互动决定了凝块石的最终沉积特征。该套沉积成因的凝块石,其白云质凝块不局限于潜穴,且潜穴内部见大量保存完好微生物结构和疑似球状原生白云石,因此这种白云质凝块很可能与微生物白云石化密切相关,并以此区别于局限于生物遗迹位置,且内部充填物为粉细晶白云石的成岩成因的豹斑灰岩。     

Thrombolite fabrics and origins: Influences of diverse microbial and metazoan processes on Cambrian thrombolite variability in the Great Basin,California and Nevada

Thrombolites are a common component of carbonate buildups throughout the Phanerozoic. Although they are usually described as microbialites with an internally clotted texture, a wide range of thrombolite textures have been observed and attributed to diverse processes, leading to difficulty interpreting thrombolites as a group. Interpreting thrombolitic textures in terms of ancient ecosystems requires understanding of diverse processes, specifically those due to microbial growth and metazoan activity. Many of these processes are reflected in thrombolites in the Cambrian Carrara, Bonanza King, Highland Peak and Nopah formations, Great Basin, California, USA; they comprise eight thrombolite classes based on variable arrangements and combinations of depositional and diagenetic components. Four thrombolite classes (hemispherical microdigitate, bushy, coalescent columnar and massive fenestrated) contain distinct mesoscale microbial growth structures that can be distinguished from surrounding detrital sediments and diagenetic features. By contrast, mottled thrombolites have mesostructures that dominantly reflect post‐depositional processes, including bioturbation. Mottled thrombolites are not bioturbated stromatolites, but rather formed from disruption of an originally clotted growth structure. Three thrombolite classes (arborescent digitate, amoeboid and massive) contain more cryptic textures. All eight of the thrombolite classes in this study formed in similar Cambrian depositional environments (marine passive margin). Overall, this suite of thrombolites demonstrates that thrombolites are diverse, in both internal fabrics and origin, and that clotted and patchy microbialite fabrics form from a range of processes. The diversity of textures and their origins demonstrate that thrombolites should not be used to interpret a particular ecological, evolutionary or environmental shift without first identifying the microbial growth structure and distinguishing it from other depositional, post‐depositional and diagenetic components. Furthermore, thrombolites are fundamentally different from stromatolites and dendrolites in which the laminae and dendroids reflect a primary growth structure, because clotted textures in thrombolites do not always reflect a primary microbial growth structure.     

Microbially induced sedimentary structures in Archean sandstones: A new window into early life

Until now, the most valuable information on the early life on the Archean Earth derived from bacterial fossils and stromatolites preserved in precipitated lithologies such as chert or carbonates. Also, shales contain complex biomarker molecules, and specific isotopes constitute an important evidence for biogeneicity.In contrast, because of their low potential of fossil preservation, sandstones have been less investigated. But recent studies revealed a variety of ‘microbially induced sedimentary structures — MISS’ that differ greatly from any other fossils or sedimentary structures. ‘Wrinkle structures’, ‘multidirected ripple marks’, ‘biolaminites’, and other macrostructures indicate the former presence of photoautotrophic microbial mats in shallow-marine to tidal paleoenvironments. The MISS form by the mechanical interaction of microbial mats with physical sediment dynamics that is the erosion and deposition by water agitation. The structures occur not only in Archean tidal flats, but in equivalent settings throughout Earth history until today.MISS are not identified alone by their macroscopic morphologies. In thin-sections, the structures display the carpet-like fabrics of intertwined filaments of the ancient mat-constructing microorganisms. Geochemical analyses of the filaments proof their composition of iron minerals associated with organic carbon.In conclusion, microbial mats colonize sandy tidal settings at least for 3.2 Ga years. Therefore, Archean sandstones constitute an important archive for the exploration of early life.     

Enterolithic folds in evaporites as microbially induced sedimentary structures: New model of formation and interpretation in the geological record

Enterolithic structures are stratigraphically localized folds in gypsum beds found in certain saline evaporitic sedimentary units in a wide variety of basins. Different models of formation have been proposed, all related to inorganic processes. These models include: diagenetic transformation of gypsum beds producing either displacive growth of crystals or volume changes; mechanical folding caused by compressional stress; and folding produced by slumping. The analysis of three Cenozoic evaporite sequences in Spain reveals that none of the previous models explains their origin and existence. In these outcrops, gypsum enterolithic structures occur in horizontal beds with parallel troughs and crests of the folds. They appear in shoreline facies of lacustrine environments and did not undergo major diagenetic transformations after the primary lithification of the original sediment. Based on these observations, together with the study of a modern analogue in Minorca, Spain, a new model is proposed for the genesis of enterolithic structures. This new model is based on the existence of a microbial mat exposed to brine concentration–dilution cycles and strong wind events. The high wind flow events enhanced folding of the microbial mat that became subaerially exposed and lithified due to subsequent evaporation. Therefore, the presence of enterolithic structures could be used as an indicator of shallow water environmental conditions subject to variations in brine concentration in areas with strong wind flow events. Previous studies of some evaporitic successions should be revisited, taking into account the proposed model, which would imply new depositional environment interpretations. At the same time, the proposed model could explain the existence of Kinneyia‐type structures, also known as wrinkle structures, formed beneath microbial mats in peritidal zones. Moreover, considering enterolithic structures as microbially induced sedimentary structures could be useful as evidence of microbial life in the ancient geological record and on other planets such as Mars.     

寒武纪芙蓉统均一石沉积组构及环境特征——以河北涞源长山组为例

均一石以隐晶质岩性、无纹层与凝块结构发育为特征,与叠层石、凝块石、树形石并列为典型的微生物岩。然而,由于均一石在1995年命名以来很少在地层记录中得到识别和描述,并且缺乏现代实例的类比物,使得关于均一石的报道极具研究价值。为研究华北地台寒武系均一石沉积组构与形成环境特征,系统性地针对河北涞源祁家峪剖面芙蓉统长山组均一石生物丘进行研究。芙蓉统长山组从下部陆棚相钙质泥岩向上变浅至浅缓坡相厚层块状泥晶灰岩,组成了一个淹没不整合型三级层序。三级层序顶部的浅缓坡相厚层块状泥晶灰岩层,代表强迫型海退过程沉积,其内部发育一系列米级均一石生物丘。研究结果表明,这些生物丘主体为致密泥晶及少量微量晶组成,其中可见到附枝菌(Epiphyton)、葛万菌(Girvanella)、肾形菌(Renalcis)等钙化微生物化石。这些钙化微生物(蓝细菌)化石的出现,代表了显生宙第一幕蓝细菌钙化作用事件的证据,同时间接的说明均一石生物丘形成于蓝细菌主导的微生物席的钙化作用过程之中。同时,生物丘内还局部集中发育底栖鲕粒与草莓状黄铁矿颗粒,表明了生物丘形成过程中复杂的微生物沉积作用机制。因此,河北涞源长山组顶部的均一石生物丘,尽管泥晶和微亮晶是其基本构成,但是各种钙化蓝细菌化石以及底栖鲕粒与草莓状黄铁矿颗粒的局部出现表明了在蓝细菌主导的微生物席中复杂的微生物活动信号,成为了解生物丘形成机制、显生宙第一幕蓝细菌钙化作用事件的典型实例。     

SYN-SEDIMENTARY MARINE LITHIFICATION OF MIDDLE JURASSIC LIMESTONES IN THE PARIS BASIN

SUMMARY
Bored surfaces in Middle Jurassic limestones in northeastern France indicate syn-sedimentary lithification. The sedimentary structures and textures, and age relationships between the bored carbonates and the argillaceous sediments above them suggest that the lithification has occurred in both submarine and intertidal environments. The diagenetic fabrics which have resulted from this early marine lithification include three types of calcite druse, echinoderm overgrowths, and microcrystalline cements. Most of these cements are comparable with those forming today in inter- and subtidal environments of the Persian Gulf.
The localization of bored surfaces ("hard grounds") at the tops of regressive carbonate sequences is interpreted as being the result of slow carbonate sedimentation and lithification of the Jurassic sea-floor prior to the onset of argillaceous colder, or deeper-water sedimentation.     

徐州—淮南地区新元古代臼齿碳酸盐岩成因探讨

臼齿碳酸盐岩是一种发育在中—新元古代，由微亮晶方解石组成的复杂褶皱构造，其成因一百多年来一直是个谜。通过对徐州-淮南地区新元古代臼齿碳酸盐岩特征、形成环境、分布时限研究，探讨了臼齿碳酸盐岩成因。该区臼齿碳酸盐岩发育在台地缓坡沉积体系中，可作为潮下浅水环境的标志，其形态在微层序中的分布反映沉积环境，具有重要的环境意义。建立了臼齿碳酸盐岩微相环境模式。快速石化作用形成均匀、等粒微亮晶方解石，是臼齿碳酸盐岩显著特征。现代类似于发育臼齿碳酸盐岩潮下环境没有这样的快速石化条件，它要求更高的超过饱和CaCO3沉淀。臼齿碳酸盐岩在本区分布时限介于850～720Ma间，在Sturtian冰期之前消失，与全球其他地区臼齿碳酸盐岩消失的时限一致，Sturtian冰期改变了海洋化学性质，是臼齿碳酸盐岩消失的根本原因。Sturtian冰期对海洋化学性质的影响，可能是揭开臼齿碳酸盐岩成因机理的一个重要新途径。     

Stromatolites in the Late Ordovician Eureka Quartzite: implications for microbial growth and preservation in siliciclastic settings

Well-preserved siliciclastic domal stromatolites, up to 2 m wide and 1·5 m high, are found in a 10 to 15 m thick interval within the Late Ordovician Eureka Quartzite of Southern Nevada and Eastern California, USA. These stromatolites appear as either isolated features or patchy clusters that contain more than 70% by volume quartz grains; their association with planar, trough and herringbone cross-bedding suggests that they were formed in an upper shoreface environment with high hydraulic energy. In this environment, sand bars or dunes may have provided localized shelter for initial microbial mat colonization. Biostabilization and early lithification of microbial mats effectively prevented erosion during tidal flushing and storm surges, and the prevalence of translucent quartz sand grains permitted light penetration into the sediment, leading to thick microbial mat accretion and the formation of domal stromatolites. Decimetre-scale to metre-scale stromatolite domes may have served as localized shelter and nucleation sites for further microbial mat colonization, forming patchy stromatolite clusters. Enrichment of iron minerals, including pyrite and hematite, within dark internal laminae of the stromatolites indicates anaerobic mineralization of microbial mats. The occurrence of stromatolites in the Eureka Quartzite provides an example of microbial growth in highly stressed, siliciclastic sedimentary environments, in which microbial communities may have been able to create microenvironments promoting early cementation/lithification essential for the growth and preservation of siliciclastic stromatolites.