Calcitic, aragonitic and mixed calcitic-aragonitic ooids from the mid-Proterozoic Belt Supergroup, Montana

A great variety of ooid types occurs within the Siyeh and Snowslip Formations of the mid-Proterozoic Belt Supergroup, Montana. Cortical layers are inferred to have been composed either of calcite in a radial-concentric or radial-with-dark-rays fabric or, aragonite in a radial or concentric fabric. The calcitic cortical layers record their original fabrics but the originally aragonitic cortical layers have been replaced by calcite in a range of textures and by quartz and dolomite. Some formerly aragonitic cortical layers are replaced by calcite spar which contains relics of the original cortical structure. Others consist of calcite spar without inclusions, or columnar calcite which grew radially from the nucleus, commonly a calcitic ooid. Some ooids were wholly composed of calcite, others were of aragonite, but two phase ooids were common, mostly consisting of an inner calcitic part and an outer aragonitic part. Probable microdolomite inclusions suggest a high Mg content of the calcitic cortical layers. The depositional environment of these oolites was probably analogous to Baffin Bay, Texas, where a similar range of ooid types is forming today.     

The origin and economic potential of sandstone-hosted disseminated Pb-Zn mineralization in pyritic shale horizons of the Mid-Proterozoic Newland Formation,Montana, USA

Pyritic shale horizons of the Newland Formation (Belt Series, Mid-Proterozoic) show striking similarities to Proterozoic pyritic shales elsewhere that are host to major lead-zinc deposits, such as Mt. Isa and McArthur River. However, in contrast to these deposits the pyritic shales of the Newland Formation contain only minute quantities of lead and zinc. Elevated concentrations of lead and zinc are only found in pore spaces of intercalated sandstone beds. Petrographic and geochemical data indicate that pyritic shale deposition and elevated lead-zinc concentrations in sandstone beds are unrelated, that base metal mineralization is controlled by initial porosity, and that iron and base metals were derived from different sources.Petrographic studies show that base metal sulphides are diagenetic and resemble disseminated mineralization described from sandstone hosted lead-zinc and copper deposits in the Belt basin and elsewhere. The absence of orebodies of disseminated lead-zinc mineralization in sandstones of the Newland Formation may be due to a comparatively thin sedimentary sequence below the sandstone occurrences, as well as to unfavourable geometry and small volume of sandstone bodies.     

Paragenesis of cobalt and nickel in the Black Butte shale-hosted copper deposit,Belt Basin,Montana, USA

The Black Butte copper deposits (formerly known as Sheep Creek) are a group of sediment hosted, laterally extensive Cu–(Co–Ag) deposits hosted in dolomitic shale of the mid-Proterozoic Newland Formation. Copper–cobalt mineralization occurs in zones of massive, laminated pyrite that were locally reworked and infiltrated by Cu-rich fluids during early diagenesis. Cobalt, along with substantial nickel and arsenic, mainly occurs as impurities within early, porous pyrite, or as minute grains of sulpharsenides (i.e., cobaltite, glaucodot, and/or alloclasite). Later thermal events remobilized the Co, Ni, and As to form intergrowths of siegenite (Co,Ni)₃S₄ and tennantite. The temperature of this later event is constrained by the mineralogical assemblage to have been relatively low, between 125 and 225 °C. Although many of the characteristics of SEDEX-type deposits are present at Black Butte (e.g., laterally extensive massive pyrite horizons, interbedded black shales, abundant barite and local phosphate horizons, and rifted continental margin setting), the lack of economic Pb and Zn mineralization in the main deposits, and the abundance of Cu with high Co, is more typical of sediment-hosted stratiform copper deposits. The Neihart Formation, a hematitic quartz sandstone resting below the base of the Belt Supergroup, may have been an important source bed for Cu–Co–Ni–Ag fluids. It is speculated that these fluids, ideal for forming Cu deposits, were expelled along growth faults near the margin of the Belt Basin and deposited metals on or just below the sea floor in a setting that is typical of SEDEX deposits. This unique mineral deposit model may have applications to other districts where Cu–Co-rich sulfides are deposited in an exhalative setting.     

北羌塘盆地油页岩形成环境及其油气地质意义

最近在北羌塘长蛇山地区新发现了晚侏罗世—早白垩世大套油页岩及巨厚膏盐层,该油页岩与近年来作者在胜利河、长梁山地区发现的多处油页岩连成一片,构成了目前我国规模最大的中生代海相油页岩带—北羌塘油页岩带。沉积岩相、古地理研究表明,晚侏罗世—早白垩世时期,北羌塘盆地总体上为一个向北西开口的相对闭塞的巨大海湾,发育了河流-三角洲、海湾(潮坪-潟湖)和浅海-陆棚等沉积相组合。古气候、古环境研究表明,油页岩(段)沉积期,胜利河地区处于潮湿的热带-亚热带环境,大量淡水的注入以及高的生产力等综合因素,控制了油页岩的形成,其分布主要位于局限海湾-潟湖的边缘带;膏盐层(段)沉积则发育于相对干旱、炎热气候条件下的闭塞环境。北羌塘晚侏罗世—早白垩世油页岩及其上覆膏盐层是重要的烃源岩和区域性封盖层。油页岩及含膏盐层沉积组合的发现,对于重新认识羌塘盆地生烃条件及保存条件,具有十分重要的意义。     

Silicification in the Belt Supergroup (Mesoproterozoic), Glacier National Park, Montana, USA

Nodular cherts can provide a window on the original sediment composition, diagenetic history and biota of their host rock because of their low susceptibility to further diagenetic alteration. The majority of Phanerozoic cherts formed by the intraformational redistribution of biogenic silica, particularly siliceous sponge spicules, radiolarian tests and diatom frustules. In the absence of a biogenic silica source, Precambrian cherts necessarily had to have had a different origin than Phanerozoic cherts. The Mesoproterozoic Belt Supergroup in Glacier National Park contains a variety of chert types, including silicified oolites and stromatolites, which have similar microtextures and paragenesis to Phanerozoic cherts, despite their different origins. Much of the silicification in the Belt Supergroup occurred after the onset of intergranular compaction, but before the main episode of dolomitization. The Belt Supergroup cherts probably had an opal-CT precursor, in the same manner as many Phanerozoic cherts. Although it is likely that Precambrian seas had higher silica concentrations than at present because of the absence of silica-secreting organisms, no evidence was observed that would suggest that high dissolved silica concentrations in the Belt sea had a significant widespread effect on silicification. The rarity of microfossils in Belt Supergroup cherts indicates that early silicification, if it occurred, was exceptional and restricted to localized environments. The similarity of microtextures in cherts of different ages is evidence that the silicification process is largely controlled by host carbonate composition and dissolved silica concentration during diagenesis, regardless of the source of silica.     

Facies nature of clay minerals from the Inta Formation, southern Pechora Coal Basin

A facies classification of sedimentary rocks is presented for the Upper Permian Inta Formation of the southern Pechora Coal Basin. A correlation has been revealed between clay mineral assemblages and certain facies types of lacustrine sediments.     

Possible indicators of microbial mat deposits in shales and sandstones: examples from the Mid-Proterozoic Belt Supergroup, Montana, U.S.A.

It has been suspected for some time that microbial mats probably colonized sediment surfaces in many terrigenous clastic sedimentary environments during the Proterozoic. However, domination of mat morphology by depositional processes, post-depositional compaction, and poor potential for cellular preservation of mat-building organisms make their positive identification a formidable challenge. Within terrigenous clastics of the Mid-Proterozoic Belt Supergroup, a variety of sedimentary structures and textural features have been observed that can be interpreted as the result of microbial colonization of sediment surfaces. Among these are: (a) domal buildups resembling stromatolites in carbonates; (b) cohesive behaviour of laminae during soft-sediment deformation, erosion, and transport; (c) wavy–crinkly character of laminae; (d) bed surfaces with pustular–wrinkled appearance; (e) rippled patches on otherwise smooth surfaces; (f) laminae with mica enrichment and/or randomly oriented micas; (g) irregular, curved–wrinkled impressions on bedding planes; (h) uparched laminae near mud-cracks resembling growth ridges of polygonal stromatolites; and (i) lamina-specific distribution of certain early diagenetic minerals (dolomite, ferroan carbonates, pyrite). Although in none of the described examples can it irrefutably be proven that they are microbial mat deposits, the observed features are consistent with such an interpretation and should be considered indicators of possible microbial mat presence in other Proterozoic sequences.     

尼日尔Termit盆地上白垩统Madama组地震相识别与沉积相演化分析

以层序地层学及沉积学理论为指导,综合运用测井、录井以及地震资料,将尼日尔Termit盆地上白垩统Madama组划分为一个三级层序(MS),并进一步识别出低位体系域、海侵体系域以及高位体系域。在等时层序地层格架内,识别出前积反射地震相、河道充填反射地震相、平行-亚平行反射地震相以及杂乱反射地震相等四种类型,并识别出辫状河三角洲的沉积相类型。认为层序MS的低位体系域主要发育辫状河三角洲前缘亚相,高位体系域则主要发育辫状河三角洲平原亚相。Madama组整体表现为一个海退的沉积演化过程。     

开鲁盆地陆东凹陷九佛堂组-沙海组地震相研究

开鲁盆地陆东凹陷是辽河油田的外围探区,依据地震反射终止关系,结合区域地质背景,将陆东凹陷下白垩统的九
佛堂组-沙海组划分成2 个地震层序,即九佛堂层序和沙海层序。利用地震反射内部结构和外部几何形态,结合地震反射
同相轴的振幅和连续性等参数,在九佛堂层序和沙海层序内识别出平行席状、亚平行席状、楔状、前积、杂乱、透镜状共
6 种地震相,并对其特征进行了描述。各种地震相平面分布具有差异性、纵向上具有继承性和演化性。经过综合解释,建
立地震相与单井沉积相之间的响应关系,把地震相转化为沉积相。以湖泊沉积理论为指导,建立目的层各层序地震相-沉
积相模式,结果表明,目的层主要发育扇三角洲、近岸水下扇、浊积扇以及湖泊等沉积相。     

Facies analysis and depositional environments of the OligoceneeMiocene Asmari Formation,Zagros Basin,Iran

The Asmari Formation(a giant hydrocarbon reservoir)is a thick carbonate sequence of the Oligocenee Miocene in the Zagros Basin,southwest of Iran.This formation is exposed at Tang-e-Lendeh in the Fars interior zone with a thickness of 190 m comprising medium and thick to massive bedded carbonates.The age of the Asmari Formation in the study area is the late Oligocene(Chattian)eearly Miocene(Burdigalian).Ten microfacies are defned,characterizing a gradual shallowing upward trend;the related environments are as follows:open marine(MF 8e10),restricted lagoon(MF 6e7),shoal(MF 3e5),lagoon(MF 2),and tidal fat(MF 1).Based on the environmental interpretations,a homoclinal ramp consisting of inner and middle parts prevails.MF 3e7 are characterized by the occurrence of large and small porcelaneous benthic foraminifera representing a shallow-water setting of an inner ramp,infuenced by wave and tidal processes.MF 8e10,with large particles of coral and algae,represent a deeper fair weather wave base of a middle ramp setting.     

辽东苏子河盆地聂尔库组沉积相与沉积环境研究

辽东苏子河盆地是早白垩世形成的小型断陷盆地,盆地内发育了相对连续的陆相沉积,是研究白垩纪陆地环境及气候演化的理想地区。早白垩世晚期沉积的聂尔库组地层出露连续,沉积现象典型。通过分析聂尔库组沉积岩类型、沉积构造、古生物化石及垂向沉积序列,可识别出扇三角洲相和湖泊相,其中扇三角洲相包括扇三角洲平原亚相、扇三角洲前缘亚相和前扇三角洲亚相,湖泊相主要为滨浅湖泥砂沉积。研究表明,聂尔库组形成于断陷盆地边缘陡坡带,属于间歇性洪水控制的扇三角洲—湖泊沉积体系,经历了扇三角洲—湖泊—扇三角洲的沉积环境变化,代表了断陷湖盆由深陷扩张期—抬升收缩早期的沉积充填过程。根据沉积岩与沉积相特征,结合古生物、特殊沉积、黏土矿物及地球化学资料,认为早白垩世晚期辽东地区总体与当时全球"温室气候"的大背景相一致,处于高温干旱/潮湿的气候条件,但这种高温气候具有不均一性,存在气候波动。     

Facies architecture and sequentiality of nearshore and 'shelf'sandbodies; Haystack Mountains Formation, Wyoming, USA

The Haystack Mountains Formation (Campanian, Mesaverde Group, US Western Interior Basin, Wyoming) contains a series of shallow-marine sandbodies, extending tens of kilometres out from a basin margin. The study succession (around 200 m thick) is composed of eight major sandstone tongues (Bolten Ranch, O'Brien Spring, Seminoe 1–2–3–4, Hatfield 1 and 2 members), each partially encased within marine shale intervals. The Formation is ‘sequential’at several scales. At the largest scale, the whole succession presents an aggradational to basinward-stepping stacking pattern of the sandstone tongues. At a lower level, each tongue (member) is characterized internally by two different types of lithosome: the first represents shoreface progradation with hummocky cross-strata passing up to swaley and trough cross-stratified sandstones. This lithosome is erosively truncated at its top in most cases, and has a general sheet-like geometry along strike, whereas down dip it displays a series of sharp-bounded clinothems. The latter sometimes indicate a downward as well as a basinward shift through time, as suggested by the occurrence of coarser and/or shallower facies at a lower level in the shoreface profile. The second type of lithosome is sheet- or wedge-like and sharply overlies the shoreface deposits. The lithosome consists of laterally widespread units of planar tabular to trough cross-bedded medium sandstones passing laterally (in a dip direction) into bioturbated sandstones. The lower part of this lithosome is progradational, becoming retrogradational into the overlying shales. The facies within the cross-bedded lithosome suggest a tidally dominated delta front to estuarine depositional setting. The two types of lithosome are not related genetically. The erosion surface separating the two lithosomes is a sequence boundary separating forced-regressive (relative sea-level fall) shoreface deposits from lowstand to transgressive (early relative sea-level rise), cross-bedded deposits. The uppermost part of the cross-stratified lithosome shows a landward-stepping of component parasequences and is abruptly blanketed by open-marine shales. The most widespread cross-bedded lithosomes are apparently best developed in the lowermost members of the Haystack Mountains Formation, i.e. in the aggradational part of the large-scale progradational succession. In the uppermost, highly progradational sandstone tongues, the shoaling-upward shoreface lithosome dominates, whereas the cross-bedded lithosome occurs in narrow, lensoid belts, or is absent. The middle portion of the succession shows intermediate characteristics. The vertical variation in geometry, thickness and progradational extent of successive cross-bedded lithosomes results from greater confinement of the incised nearshore systems both in space (landward direction) and in time (from the aggradation to the progradation architecture). The latter is a consequence of a decreasing rate of accommodation creation through time.     

鄂尔多斯盆地中东部奥陶系马家沟组沉积相演化模式研究

通过野外露头、岩心和薄片观察,结合测井资料,综合古气候、古沉积格局分析,系统地总结了鄂尔多斯盆地中东部奥陶系马家沟组沉积微相类型,并建立了沉积相演化模式。研究表明:(1)鄂尔多斯盆地中东部马家沟期具有"隆洼相间型"和"平底锅型"两种古沉积格局并存的特征;(2)主要发育9种微相类型,根据不同海平面高度的沉积微相平面组合类型,可将一个完整的海侵—海退旋回细分为海侵初期、中期和末期,海退初期、中期和末期等6个演化阶段;(3)古气候、古沉积格局和海平面升降变化共同控制了马家沟组生储盖分布,指出位于海侵期的东部隆起带及邻近区域发育的颗粒滩和白云岩坪,具有良好的成藏条件,有望成为一个碳酸盐岩勘探新领域。     

藏南日喀则弧前盆地帕达那组沉积相分析

藏南桑桑地区帕达那组是上白垩统日喀则弧前盆地浅水沉积。基于野外实测剖面对帕达那组进行了详细的沉积相研究。帕达那组岩相类型主要有五类:砾岩相、砂岩相、粉砂岩相、页岩相和灰岩相。砂岩中发育大量楔状和板状交错层理、平行层理、粒序层理及泥砾、潜穴、生物扰动等沉积构造,页岩中发育潜穴及大量钙质结核。根据岩相和沉积构造特征识别出陆棚相和三角洲相。三角洲相包括前三角洲、三角洲前缘及三角洲平原三个亚相,可进一步划分为水下分支河道、河口砂坝、支流间湾、分流河道、洪泛平原、沼泽等微相。帕达那组地层自下向上发育陆棚相和三角洲相（依次为前三角洲、三角洲前缘及三角洲平原亚相）,整体显示出古水深变浅的趋势。这一沉积环境的变化代表着日喀则弧前盆地由欠充填到过充填阶段的演化。     

松辽盆地泰康地区青山口组沉积相及与油气分布关系研究

系统地研究了松辽盆地泰康地区青山口组沉积相类型及沉积特征,其中对青一段与青二、三段的沉积相平面分布与垂向演化规律做了较深入地探讨。研究表明,青山口组主要发育湖泊相与三角洲相2种沉积相类型,其中湖泊相包括2种亚相与4种微相,三角洲相包括2种亚相和2种微相。沉积演化分析表明,青一段以深湖、半深湖相泥岩沉积为特征,青二、三段以浅湖相与三角洲相砂泥岩互层为特征。区内青山口组主要存在三种类型的储层砂体,分别为三角洲前缘河口坝砂体、三角洲前缘远砂坝砂体和浅湖砂体,其中浅湖砂体是最好的含油砂体,浅湖砂体发育的优势区也即浅湖沉积亚相发育区是区内最重要的油气富集区,是今后油气勘探的有利地区。     

准噶尔盆地玛北地区三叠系百口泉组储层成岩相特征

通过岩芯观察、薄片鉴定、扫描电镜分析、测井和录井资料分析,对准噶尔盆地玛北地区三叠系百口泉组的储层特征和成岩作用特征进行了研究,结果表明该区主要发育砂砾岩、不等粒砾岩、含砾砂岩、细砂岩等,储层成分成熟度和结构成熟度均较低;储层主要经历了压实作用、胶结作用、溶蚀作用的改造,且泥质杂基含量对储层成岩作用及孔隙演化产生了较大的影响。在综合储层岩石学特征、成岩作用特征、泥质杂基含量对储层影响的基础上,建立了研究区成岩相划分方案,将砂砾岩储层划分为6个成岩相:高成熟强溶蚀相、高成熟中胶结中溶蚀相、高成熟强压实弱溶蚀相、高成熟强胶结相、低成熟强压实相、低成熟强胶结相;不同的成岩相反映了不同的沉积环境和成岩作用的关系,与储层的孔隙类型及物性条件存在着密切关系,具有不同的成岩序列特征、孔隙演化模式、剖面及平面展布特征,这种剖面和平面分布特征可为优质储层的预测提供借鉴。     

Facies-controlled shrinkage-crack assemblages in Middle Proterozoic mudstones from Montana, USA

Shrinkage-crack morphotypes in the Libby Formation (upper Belt Supergroup) are confined to distinct environmental facies. The lower facies is characterized by flat rip-up clasts, stromatolites, oolites, small-scale symmetrical ripples, and fenestral fabric. These rocks were deposited above fair-weather wave base on a periodically exposed mudflat. Shrinkage cracks in this facies are predominantly branching, incompletely connected features in plan view, except for local examples of completely connected polygonal cracks on purple argillite bed tops and rare, long spindle-shaped cracks on bed tops of dark grey argillite. The upper facies was deposited below fair-weather wave base and contains mainly unconnected, short spindle-shaped shrinkage cracks, and rare slightly branching cracks. Restriction of some crack types to certain facies better constrains interpretation of the origin of these shrinkage cracks. The cracks in the upper facies were strongly influenced by sediment loading, and may have formed by compaction-induced expulsion of water from pore space, resulting in synaeresis cracks. In the underlying shallower facies, polygonal cracks formed by desiccation. Elsewhere in this facies, incomplete, partially connected cracks and long spindle-shaped cracks on the same bedding plane are interpreted as having formed by desiccation. Shrinkage cracks are an under-used source of environmental information, but confusion as to their origin sometimes restricts their potential. More intensive analysis of properties of host sediment and crack fills may further our understanding of depositional and diagenetic influence on crack morphology. Crack cross-sections, which are often more commonly exposed than bedding plane cracks, may provide critical additional information on crack genesis. Better understanding of crack genesis will strengthen our ability to interpret unfossiliferous muddy sequences common in Precambrian and lacustrine settings.     

二连盆地白音查干凹陷下白垩统腾格尔组沉积相

根据岩心、电测曲线、录井、分析化验、地震等资料,研究了白音查干凹陷下白垩统腾格尔组沉积相类型和沉积特征,以及腾格尔组沉积相分布规律。结果表明,腾格尔组发育扇三角洲、辫状河三角洲、湖泊和浊积扇4种沉积相,扇三角洲分布在北部陡坡,辫状河三角洲分布南部缓坡,从盆地边缘到盆地中心,沉积相由扇三角洲、辫状河三角洲沉积渐变为半深湖—深湖相沉积,在三角洲侧翼发育滨—浅湖相沉积,在三角洲前缘以及前三角洲和半深湖中发育浊积扇,整体呈南北分异、东西分化,这种沉积格局受盆地周边断层和古地形控制。扇三角洲和辫状河三角洲前缘亚相带仍然是油气聚集的重要相带,而与断层相关的其前缘近岸浊积扇是岩性油气藏勘探的有利目标。