Potash–Forming Regularity of the Ordovician Marine Northern Shaanxi Salt Basin: Insight from Review and Prospect of the Deep Geology of the Ordos Basin

The Ordovician Northern Shaanxi Salt Basin(ONSSB), located in the east–central Ordos Basin, western North China Craton(NCC), is one of the largest marine salt basins yet discovered in China. A huge amount of halite deposited in the Mid-Ordovician Majiagou Formation, and potashcontaining indication and local thin layer of potash seam were discovered in O2 m65(6 th submember, 5 th member of the Majiagou Formation). This makes ONSSB a rare Ordovician potash-containing basin in the world, and brings new hope for prospecting marine solid potash in this basin. However, several primary scientific problems, such as the coupling relationship between ONSSB and the continent nucleus, how the high-precision basement fold controls the ONSSB, and how the basement faults and relief control ONSSB, are still unclear due to the limitations of the knowledge about the basement of the Ordos Basin. This has become a barrier for understanding the potash-forming regularity in the continental nucleus(CN) area in marine salt basin in China. Up to now, the material accumulation has provided ripe conditions for the answers to these questions. Latest zircon U-Pb ages for the basement samples beneath the Ordos Basin reveal that there exists a continental nucleus(Yi-Meng CN) beneath the northern Ordos Basin. And this brings light into the fact that the ONSSB lies not overlying on the YiMeng CN but to south Yi-Meng CN. Both do not have superimposed relationship in space. And borehole penetrating into the basement reached Palaeoproterozoic meta-sedimentary rocks, which suggests the ONSSB is situated in the accretion belt of Yi-Meng CN during geological history. Basement relief beneath the ONSSB area revealed by seismic tomography and aeromagnetic anomaly confirms the existence of basement uplift and faults, which provides tectonic setting for sedimentary center migration of the ONSSB. Comparative research with various data sources indicates that the expanding strata in the ONSSB adopted the shape of the basement folds. We found that the orientations of the potash sags showed high correlation with those of several basement and sedimentary cover faults in the ONSSB. The secondary depressions are also controlled by the faults. Comparative research between all the global salt basins and continental nuclei distribution suggests that distribution of the former is controlled by the latter, and almost all the salt basins developed in or at the margin of the continental nucleus area. The nature of the tectonic basement exerts a key controlling effect on potash basin formation. And on this basis we analyzed in detail the geological conditions of salt-forming and potash-forming in the ONSSB.     

Origin of Halite in the Lanping–Simao Basin, Southeastern Tibetan Plateau, China: Evidence from Sr and Cl Isotopes

The Lanping?Simao Basin is located on the southeastern Tibetan Plateau, China, and contains massive evaporites. The origin of evaporites in the basin has been hotly debated because of the strong transformation by tectonic movement. Forty halite samples from borehole MK-3 in the Mengyejing area of the basin were collected and analyzed using XRD, Cl-Sr isotopes and chemical compositions to trace the origin of the evaporites in the basin. The Br × 103/Cl ratios of the halite samples are between 0 and 0.55, most of which are synchronized with the law of seawater evaporation and at the stage of halite precipitation from seawater, indicating that the evaporites are mainly of marine origin. The 87Sr/86Sr ratios range from 0.707489 to 0.711279; after correction, the 87Sr/86Sr 145 Ma ratios range from 0.704721 to 0.707611, equivalent with the 87Sr/86Sr ratios of seawater at 145 Ma, indicating a marine origin. The decay of 87Rb in the evaporite during deposition, change of the depositional environment and the unsealed environment at a later period resulted in the present 87Sr/86Sr ratios of some samples being high. The δ37Cl value compositions range from ?0.38‰ to 0.83‰, which is consistent with the δ37Cl value composition of the world marine halite (?0.6‰ to 0.4‰), further confirming that seawater is the main origin. In addition, the high δ37Cl value of some samples at the boundary of the upper and lower evaporite layers might be related to the influence of δ37Cl-rich brine and the incomplete dissolution of the halite.     

Molecular Geochemical Evidence for the Origin of Natural Gas from Dissolved Hydrocarbon in Ordovician Formation Waters in Central Ordos Basin

1IntroductionTheOrdosBasinisthesecondlargestoilandgas bearingbasininChina .ItislocatedinthePaleo zoicplatformandbelongstoacratonbasin ,whichisincongruencewiththePaleozoicdepressionattheedgesoftheplatformandtheMesozoic Cenozoicdepressionwithintheplatform .SincethediscoveryofnaturalgasesinWellShancan 1andWellYu 3in 1989,theassessmentandexplorationofOrdovicianweatheringcrustnaturalgasesintheOrdosBasinhaveattractedextensiveatten tion (YangJunjieetal.,1996 ;DaiJinxingetal.,1997) .Thecentral…     

Geochemical Characteristics of Mid-oceanic Ridge Volcanic Glass from Lau Basin: Evidence from the Major Elements Variation

Orientale size craters are not recognized on Earth nor expected for Phanerozoic and Proterozoic eons from conventional crater size frequency distributions (Ivanov et al., 2002). Here suggested are three such Phanerozoic craters, modified by plate tectonics, and tentatively correlated with extinction and “ophiolite obduction” events. Hypothesis testing is proposed and plate tectonics implications are discussed. Such basins might manifest:

• circular to elliptical rims (or rim segments), with exposed lithospheric mantle, as strain markers for plate boundary motion;
• thick ejecta near rim expressed as “ophiolitic melange”;
• power law decay of ejecta thickness with radial distance from rim (McGetchin et al., 1973) and/or systematic azimuthal variation of ejecta thickness for low angle impacts (Schultz, 1999);
• weathering resistant shocked mantle minerals (Bohor et al., 1990) in ejecta;? global spherule layer with PGE anomalies (Alvarez et al., 1980);
• rim structures consistent with cratering mechanics (Melosh, 1989; Kenkmann, 2014);
• impact melt basement (Grieve et al., 1992; Pierazzo et al. 2000) recording uniform cooling age and Earth's magnetic polarity of the time. Tentatively suggested Phanerozoic impact basins:
• Yucatan Basin: Greater Antilles ophiolite rim – KPg Boundary? Maastrichtian ophiolite obduction in southeast Cuba (Iturralde‐Vinent et al., 2006).
• Sulu Sea Basin: Palawan, Sabah etc. ophiolite rim – Middle Miocene Disruption? MM ophiolitic mélange emplacement in Sabah (Clennell, 1991).
• Loyalty Basin: New Caledonia ophiolite and d'Entrecasteaux ridge rim – EO Boundary? EO ophiolite obduction in New Caledonia (Cluzel et al., 2012).

     

Specific Features in the Deep Structure of the Naryn Basin–Baibichetoo Ridge–Atbashi Basin System: Evidence from the Complex of Geological and Geophysical Data

New magnetotelluric data were obtained for the Karabuk profile crossing the Naryn basin–Baibichetoo Ridge–Atbashi basin geodynamic system (Central Tien-Shan). The complex geological–geophysical cross section along the profile provides a good agreement between the surface tectonic structures and the deep geoelectric model. The electric conductivity anomalies revealed as subvertical conductors striking along the flanks of basins may be explained by the zones of dynamic influence of faults and cataclasis of granite.     

Geochemical evolution of groundwater in the Cambrian–Vendian aquifer system of the Baltic Basin

The shallowly buried marginal part of the Cambrian–Vendian confined aquifer system of the Baltic Basin is characterised by fresh and low δ¹⁸O composition water, whereas the deeply settled parts of the aquifer are characterized by typical Na–Ca–Cl basinal brines. Spatial variation in water geochemistry and stable isotope composition suggests mixing origin of the diluted water of three end-members—glacial melt water of the Weichselian Ice Age (115 000–10 000 BP), Na–Ca–Cl composition basin brine and modern meteoric water. The mixing has occurred in two stages. First, the intrusion and mixing of isotopically depleted glacial waters with basinal brines occurred during the Pleistocene glacial periods when the subglacial melt-water with high hydraulic gradient penetrated into the aquifer. The second stage of mixing takes place nowadays by intrusion of meteoric waters. The freshened water at the northern margin of the basin has acquired a partial equilibrium with the weakly cemented rock matrix of the aquifer.     

Geochemical Characteristics of Natural Gases in the Sichuan Basin—A Further Discussion

This paper is the continuation of the paper published in 1985, with the emphasis on the irregular components of natural gases from the Sichuan Basin—the isotopic compositions of C,H and S, the n-and iso-alkane predominance (C₆-C₁₃) of methane homologues, the compositional characteristics of benzene and methylbenzene, and the distribution and geochemical characteristics of organic sulfur-bearing compounds including thiophen, thio-alcohol, etc. It is considered that natural gases from the Sichuan Basin have different distributional characteristics in different layers and locations, suggesting that they are controlled by a combination of factors such as kerogen type, maturity of organic matter and wall-rock assemblage.

1. The type of source material (or precursor) is a main factor affecting the geochemical characteristics of natural gases. T_3x-h and P₂l produce coal-series gases with type-III source material dominant. The C and H isotopic compositions of natural gases are heavier, the contents of C₆H₆ and C₇H₈ are high, C₇H₈/C₆H₆ < 1. the content of C₄H₄S is low, and the predominance in isoalkane (C₆C₁₃) is obvious. J₁t. P₁y. Z₂b. etc. produce oil-series gases with type-I and -II kerogens dominant, indicating that the geochemical characteristics of natural gases are different from those described above.
2. The maturity of organic matter is an important factor affecting the composition of natural gases.With increasing maturity of organic matter, the C and H isotopic compositions tend to become light. C₁ and C₂ isotopic values are nearly equal or even inverse, and C₄H₄S decreases in content.
3. Wall-rock assemblage has apparent influence on the S isotopic composition. The Middle-Lower Triassic series belongs to sulfate-carbonate formations enriched in gypsum. Therefore, the (δ³⁴S values of natural gases are relatively high (< 20 %.) against the lower values for other layers due to the absence of gypsum layers.

     

Geochemistry of Brines from Salt Ore Deposits in Western Tarim Basin

In the geological evolution of the Tarim Basin, many transgressions and relictions happened. So there have been plentiful sources of salt. Moreover, because of uttermost drought, a lot of salt has been deposited. It is possible to find potash salt in this area. In our fieldwork, we have found salt and brine in western Tarim Basin. Based on a geological survey and the characteristics of sedimentary facies and paleogeography, this paper deals with the geochemical parameters and discusses the possibility of formation of potash salt in terms of the chemical analyses of samples collected from western Tarim Basin. Results of brine analysis lead to some conclusions: most of these salt brines have eluviated from very thick halite beds, mainly chloridetype salt and this kind of halite does not reach the stage of potash deposition in all aspects; WKSL (Wukeshalu) occupies a noticeable place, and we should attach importance to this district because there have been some indicators of the occurrence of potash deposits as viewed from the contents of Br and K. Finally, low Br contents are recognized in the Tarim Basin as a result of salt aggradation, and this point of view has been proved by the results of this experiment and the data available. It cannot depend upon the index of Br to judge the evolution stage of halite. We must look for other facies of potash except marine facies.     

罗布泊盐湖成钾规律研究与找矿进展

第四纪时期,罗布泊盐湖独特的地理及气候环境形成了世界罕见的巨量钙芒硝沉积及其晶间富钾卤水的大规模聚集成矿。故此,罗布泊盐湖环境演化与钾盐矿床的成因一直备受国内外地质学家关注。罗北超大型卤水钾盐矿床从1995年发现至今已有20余年,其钾盐地质科学研究、勘查开发等均取得了重大进展,并已建成世界最大的硫酸钾肥生产基地。文章详细回顾、总结罗布泊超大型卤水钾矿发现以来的盐湖沉积演化、成钾条件、成钾理论研究及找矿勘查方面的重要成果,探索成矿理论创新与找矿突破的内在规律与联系。罗布泊钾盐成矿研究基本演变是:(1)基于盆地分隔、矿随盆移的概念,发展从"高山深盆"模式到"高山深盆-迁移成矿"模式,取得罗北凹地找矿突破;(2)基于巨量钙芒硝的发现,突破盐湖石盐阶段成钾的"三阶段"模式,提出"二阶段"模式,推动罗北及外围大规模勘查;(3)基于地堑式断陷带的发现,提出"含水墙"成藏模式,使找矿从"水平状"到"直立状"储藏模式转变,取得深部找矿突破等。总之,罗布泊盐湖成钾理论的每次创新认识,相应地带来找矿突破进展;继续深入加强盐湖钾盐矿床形成规律研究,可能还会带来钾盐成矿的新认识,开拓找矿方向。     

塔里木盆地西部卤水地球化学特征及成钾远景预测

在塔里木盆地的地质发展史上，尤其是在白垩纪和第三纪，经历了多次新特提斯海的海进和海退，带来了大量成盐物质，再加上后期持续干旱的气候条件和适宜的岩相古地理条件，使塔里木盆地沉积了一套厚层石盐岩、膏泥岩、碳酸盐岩以及泥质岩等，为钾盐资源的形成奠定了一定物质基础，同时由于受地质构造和中生代盆地断裂的控制所形成的若干次级盆地，加上适宜的古地理环境，使其具备了钾盐矿床形成的基本条件。通过野外实地考察取样，采集岩盐及卤水样品共300多件，用于实验分析的共142件（卤水43件）。通过对塔里木盆地西部卤水的地球化学特征分析，讨论了寻找钾盐的直接指标K+含量和各种地球化学特征系数，探讨了塔里木盆地的成盐模式、卤水浓缩阶段和成钾可能性，得出:塔里木盆地的钾盐远景区是喀什凹陷和阳霞凹陷；依据溴和硼含量以及各种特征系数值与正常卤水浓缩值比较，可知塔里木盆地是溴和硼等微量元素含量较少的地区，不能完全依靠这些特征参数来判断塔里木盆地的卤水浓缩程度和钾盐资源状况，同时也说明了塔里木盆地是一个成盐环境相对比较复杂的地区。     

老挝万象盆地钾盐矿床成盐晚期沉积环境: 来自硼酸盐矿物的证据

老挝万象盆地蕴含着丰富的钾资源,是研究古蒸发岩和古海水形成演化的热点地区之一.老挝万象盆地含盐建造包含3个蒸发岩?碎屑岩沉积韵律,而钾镁盐矿赋存在下盐段顶部.通过对老挝通芒钾盐矿区钾镁盐矿层的硼酸盐矿物的提取,发现在成钾晚期硼酸盐矿物有方硼石单晶和鲕粒方硼石两种形式.钻孔中方硼石单晶含量较少,而鲕粒方硼石分布较多且基本...     

Spatial Distribution of Halite in Kuqa Basin from Paleogene to Neogene and Signification of Potash Survey

正Evaporites with gigantic thickness had been developed in Kuqa Basin from Paleocene to early Miocene,and the sediment thickness changed from tens to thousands of meters.By 3D mine software,spatial distribution model of     

Degree of Brine Evaporation and Origin of the Mengyejing Potash Deposit: Evidence from Fluid Inclusions in Halite

The Mengyejing potash deposit is located in the southern port of the Simao Basin, Yunnan Province, and is hosted in mid-Cretaceous strata. The chemical compositions of fluid inclusions in halite crystals, collected from the level-610 adit in the deposit, were analysed by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). The results show that the brine is of the Na-K-Mg-Ca-Cl type and has K concentrations that are distinctly higher than those of Mg and Ca, unlike normal brines associated with Cretaceous halite. The high K concentrations indicate that the degree of evaporation of the ancient Mengyejing saline lake was very high, reaching the sylvite deposition stage but rarely reaching the carnallite deposition stage. The trajectory of the H and O isotopic compositions of the brines in the halite-hosted fluid inclusions corresponds to intense evaporation, indicating that the net evaporation exceeded the net inflow of brines. These brine compositions in halite-hosted fluid inclusions were likely formed by the dissolution of previously deposited K-bearing minerals by fresh continental and/or seawater, forming a type of modified seawater, with deep hydrothermal fluids potentially supplying additional potassium. The basin likely experienced multiple seawater incursion, dissolution and redeposition events in a high-temperature environment with high evaporation rates.     

老挝中部沙湾拿吉盆地晚白垩世钾盐蒸发岩:非海相输入的地球化学证据

老挝中部沙湾拿吉盆地上白垩统农波组钾盐蒸发岩是研究区域成矿卤水演化的重要材料。盐类矿物中微量元素的含量及其变化特征共同揭示了成盐物质应该主要来自海水,但深部水的补给也具有重要作用。研究结果表明,所谓的含盐系"基底"硬石膏只是水-岩作用下下盐层底部溶滤后的残余物。光卤石中偏负的δD、δ18O值及Br的海相特征则指示了该矿物是浓缩海水混合大气水后蒸发的产物,陆相水对成矿卤水演化过程产生了一定影响。农波组下盐层蒸发岩可分为3个不同的演化阶段。(1)海相输入阶段:海水进入成盐盆地,石盐大量沉积,海侵作用早期具有明显的波动性而后期较稳定;该阶段末期发生了海相输入向陆相输入的转变,陆相输入在水文封闭和收缩的成盐盆地中逐渐占据主导地位,卤水组分因深部水输入而发生变化。(2)非海相输入及混合卤水蒸发阶段:混合卤水蒸发形成钾盐,光卤石沉积过程中发生了一次轻微的卤水淡化事件。(3)沉积后改造阶段:已沉积的光卤石岩在陆相水淋滤作用下转变为钾石盐岩,钾石盐是光卤石被交代后的次生矿物。系统的微量元素和氢氧同位素分析表明,非海相输入在成矿卤水演化及沉积后的改造过程中扮演了重要角色。     

塔里木盆地西部古岩盐地质地球化学特征与成钾条件分析

塔里木盆地是我国重要的成盐盆地,为我国最有远景的找古钾矿地区之一。本文通过多年野外实地调查和大量岩盐样品的化学分析,特别是岩盐中可以指示沉积阶段的Br×103/Cl系数等区域分布特征,联系前人研究资料,分别从构造环境、地层和岩相古地理、地球化学特征等方面进行了成钾条件分析。结果表明,莎车盆地西部喀什坳陷和库车盆地中部拜城坳陷宏观地质特征均有利于钾盐沉积;岩盐地球化学组成相对于正常海相沉积表现出明显的贫Br特征,属海陆交互相或海源陆相沉积。相比之下,莎车盆地的喀什次级坳陷是目前最有前景的找钾远景区。     

大陆裂谷盆地钾盐矿床特征与成矿作用

全球板块运动对表生成钾控制明显,即从古生代到中新生代,从巨型稳定克拉通陆表海盆成钾,到中生代特提斯海域海盆成钾,再到新生代的大陆裂谷盆地成钾,地球表生成钾模式发生了重大转变;成钾物质来源从海水补给为主,转变为非海相(以火山活动带来深部物质和陆表水)与海相混合型,甚至以非海相深部物质补给为主.全球裂谷成钾时期正好处于Pangea超大陆解体及新特提斯洋闭合时期,成钾的裂谷型蒸发岩盆地也主要位于这两个构造域内,这些进一步表明裂谷成钾是地球板块构造运动演化历史的必然结果.典型的裂谷盆地钾盐矿床有:大西洋裂谷形成初期沉积的刚果(布)白垩纪钾盐矿、欧洲大陆莱茵地堑第三纪钾盐矿、非洲大陆埃塞俄比亚达纳基尔钾盐矿等;同时,还有众多裂谷盆地蕴藏有富钾卤水矿,如死海裂谷富钾卤水、东非大裂谷一些富钾盐湖、美国加州索尔顿海高温富钾热卤以及中国江陵凹陷富钾热卤等.这些钾盐矿的共同特点是:盆地内发育火山岩和温热泉,具有深源补给的明显特征;尽管裂谷盆地规模一般很小,但形成的钾盐规模最大可达数十亿吨.总结世界大陆裂谷盆地钾盐矿床特征、物质来源与成矿作用,提出了大陆裂谷型小盆地成钾模式.其裂谷成钾过程可分解为“二个阶段”,第一阶段,地表盐湖-太阳能作用,第二阶段,埋藏-岩浆热能作用;成钾作用有三个,即蒸发沉积作用、沉积后淋滤改造作用和埋藏变质改造作用.中国中新生代裂谷型盆地比较发育,进一步研究大陆裂谷盆地成钾作用,可以为此类盆地找钾提供理论依据和指导.     

云南兰坪—思茅盆地勐野井钾盐矿床物质组分对成因的指示

云南兰坪—思茅盆地勐野井钾盐矿床是我国目前唯一的古代固体钾盐矿床。长期以来一直认为该矿床为海源陆相成因, 也有人提出成矿物质还有其他来源, 但并未给出确凿的证据。为了查明该矿床的物源及成因, 本文采用XRD、ICP-MS、电子探针(EPMA)和显微镜等方法对云南江城勐野井钾盐矿床物质组分进行研究, 并在此基础上, 对矿床的成因进行剖析, 指出成矿物质来源于两个方面。一为海水。微量元素Br在勐野井组盐层中的均值为578×10-6, 远大于200×10-6, 指示海源; 同时在底板扒沙河组石英砂岩中存在少量海相矿物——海绿石。二为深部热液。勐野井组灰绿色泥岩中存在大量富含钴镍的黄铁矿; 其次, 盐层裂隙的充填物出现含钴镍的羟碳钴镍石; 同时在扒沙河组砂岩中普遍见到含铜矿物——蓝铜矿和孔雀石等。由于该矿床地处强烈构造活动带, 这些富含Cu、Co、Ni的矿物指示, Cu、Co、Ni等金属元素来源于深部热液。因此, 云南勐野井钾盐矿床除海水提供成矿物质外, 深部热液亦为矿床的形成提供了重要物源。     

云南兰坪-思茅盆地和老挝钾盐矿床物质来源新认识

云南兰坪-思茅盆地勐野井钾盐矿与泰国—老挝的钾盐矿的成矿关系被认为可能具有同源性,尤其深部热液可能是其重要的物质来源之一。针对该观点氢氧同位素证据缺乏、且深部热液到底是哪种热液尚不清楚的问题,文中根据老挝钻孔ZK2893中石盐包裹体水的氢氧同位素分析结果:δ~(18)O为-2.3‰~9.5‰,平均值为2.9‰,δD的范围为-78‰~-150‰,平均值为-108.6‰,大部分小于-90‰;在δD-δ~(18)O关系图上,数据点均在交代热液范围内,因此推断,老挝钾盐成矿的深部热液为大气降水与围岩形成的交代热液,围岩提供了重要的成矿物质。此项分析还表明老挝的交代热液温度主要集中在150℃左右,即包裹体形成的温度可能也在150℃左右,云南兰坪—思茅石盐包裹体的捕获温度为145℃左右,最高达170℃,二者比较接近,这为两地钾盐矿同源的可能性提供了新的证据。