Chemical speciation of redox sensitive elements during hydrocarbon leaching in the Junggar Basin,Northwest China

Bleaching related to seepage of petroleum fluids and subsurface migration of crude oil and natural gas can alter the chemical and mineralogical properties of rocks, while concurrently depleting hydrocarbon reservoirs. Mud volcanoes constitute one type of petroleum seepage present in several areas on the southern margin of the Junggar Basin in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, NW China. The results of XRD, XRF, XANES, and Mössbauer spectroscopy on rock samples collected from areas affected by these mud volcanoes revealed an enrichment of certain minerals and elements, as well changes in mineralogical, molecular, or ionic carrier (“species”). After bleaching, reddish sedimentary rocks showed depletion in silica and enrichment of calcium, magnesium, manganese, and iron. Other elements, including aluminum, potassium, sodium, and titanium, were largely unchanged. Reduced iron and sulfur compounds predominated in the bleached rocks, producing changes in color from the original reddish into green, deep gray, and black. Iron and calcium were associated with carbonates, indicating carbonation of these elements during the bleaching processes. Manganese also appeared to be associated with carbonate, though not with sulfate even though sulfate was present in the bleached rocks. Alkaline conditions were apparently the dominant because reduced manganese would have been absent under acidic condition. The alteration of certain minerals, clay minerals in particular, was also observed in bleached rocks, the alteration of smectite-group minerals to chlorite and muscovite, for example. Mineralogical and geochemical changes in rocks bleached by hydrocarbon fluids could provide a better overall understanding of bleaching processes, and may have applications in surface geochemical exploitation and remote imaging.     

Characteristics and implication of clay minerals in the northern and southern parts of the Chelung-pu fault, Taiwan

In this study, we report the characteristics of clay minerals present in the Chelung-pu fault in Taiwan. In the 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake, different slip motions were recorded along the Chelung-pu fault in the northern and southern parts of the fault. The characteristics of clay minerals present in the fault zones can be attributed to the differences in motion. We analyzed the shallow drill core samples obtained from the northern and southern sites penetrating the fault. The clay minerals identified in most of the samples from both the sites are smectite, illite, and chlorite. There are illite–smectite mixed layers with a high illite content and no chlorite–smectite mixed layer. In some samples, no smectite is detected. We also examined the iron content and symmetry of iron and magnesium in the silicate and hydroxide layers in chlorite. At the northern site, the total iron content in chlorite of gouge is larger than that of the host rocks. On the other hand, at the southern site, the total iron content varies widely. It is hypothesized that the smectite consumption and differences in the characteristics of chlorite may be controlled by the differences in the lithology, fluid chemistry, fluid temperature, or fault activities (heating or breakage) between the northern and southern sites.     

羌塘盆地泥火山发育区天然气水合物地球化学勘查

泥火山是天然气水合物赋存的标志之一,是天然气水合物存在的主要证据.羌塘盆地冻土区发育大量泥火山.对泥火山发育区进行了地球化学勘查,结果表明,泥火山周围具有酸解烃、荧光光谱、碳酸盐、蚀变碳酸盐、微量元素等地球化学指标显著异常,甲烷碳同位素和三维荧光结果显示地球化学烃类异常为原油伴生气和凝析油成因,表明泥火山外围烃类富集是由油气藏渗漏形成.该结论对羌塘盆地天然气水合物勘查突破具有重要意义.     

兰州市取暖期可吸入颗粒物中单颗粒矿物组成特征

为研究兰州市2005年冬季大气可吸入颗粒物(PM10)中单颗粒的矿物组成,用能谱扫描电镜识别和统计了兰州市区(东方红广场)和郊区(榆中县)两个采样点的单矿物颗粒。结果在市区样品中识别出方解石、伊/蒙混层、石英、斜长石、伊利石、石膏、绿泥石、高岭石、浊沸石和钾长石等21种矿物,前7种占统计总量的75%以上;郊区样品中识别出20种矿物,以方解石、石英、伊利石、绿泥石、斜长石和伊/蒙混层为主(占70%以上),与市区相比缺少钾石膏、金红石和水铝酸钙而增加了硫酸镁和磷灰石。总体来看,大气PM10中的矿物颗粒可分为粘土类、长石类、碳酸盐类、硫酸盐类、氧化物类和其他六类,以粘土类和碳酸盐类矿物为主(约占60%);冬季市区颗粒物表面的“硫化”现象较郊区严重;这些矿物颗粒主要来自地表土,人为排放和大气中二次化学反应生成的矿物的贡献较小。     

A Reconstruction and Discussion of the Effect of Diagenetic Environment on Hydrocarbon Generation Based on Diagenetic Mineral Assemblage in Mudstone

Inorganic minerals in mudstone are composed of clay minerals,carbonate and detrital minerals.Detrital minerals(such as quartz and feldspar)are mainly original deposit.However,clay minerals(kaolinite,illite,and chlorite)and carbonate(calcite and dolomite)are mostly diagenetic minerals.Furthermore,conversion of the four kinds of clay minerals are common.The formation of clay minerals and carbonate is controlled by temperature,pressure,p H,Eh and type of cations during diagenesis.Therefore mineral assemblage can indicate the characteristics and change of diagenetic environment.In addition to inorganic minerals,there are also organic matter of different sources and chemical properties in mudstone.Traditionally,it is considered that evolution of organic matter is controlled by thermal effect.Now studies show that inorganic and organic matter can interact with each other and form clay-organic complexes.This suggest that attention should be paid to the influence of diagenetic mineral assemblage and diagenetic environment on the evolution of organic matter* Samples of mudstone from 1500-4500m of the Palaeogene in the Dongying Depression,China,were collected to investigate the changes of mudstone diagenetic environment.XRD,thin section and SEM were used to detect diagenetic minerals and assemblage characteristics.Results showed that content of detrital minerals,which are floating in mud matrix or preserved as silt laminae,is basically unchanged from shallow to deep strata.Clay minerals which are gathered as argillaceous matrix or preserved as argillaceous laminae have growth and decline relation to carbonate which mainly appear as micropoikilitic ferriferous calcite and ferriferous dolomite.All these characteristics indicate that detrital minerals are exogenetic,whereas carbonate is diagenetic minerals.Based on the SEM analysis of the clay minerals,it was found that smectite present honeycomb and reticulate structure,while illite present filiform and schistose structure and there are growth and decline relationship between them.Nevertheless,hexagonal tabular and stratified kaolinite has the highest content from 2400m to3300m.Rosette and stratified chlorite shows increase trend when the burial depth is deeper than 3300m.These characteristics indicated that clay minerals are diagenetic minerals and there are conversions among the four types.Therefore form shallow to deep,three diagenetic mineral assemblage zones can be divided based on the characteristics of carbonate and clay minerals in mudstone.Namely,smectite+illite/smectite zone in the depth of 2000-2500m;kaolinite+illite/smectite zone in the depth of 2500-3300m and illite+chlorite+carbonate zone below 3300m.Previous studies showed that kaolinite is stable under acidic conditions,while other clay minerals and carbonate are stable under alkaline conditions.Hence according to mineral assemblages feature,it was inferred that diagenetic environment of mudstonehasundergonethechangeof alkaline-acid-alkaline.For the organic matter with different chemical properties in mudstone,the hydrocarbon generation will be different in the acidic and alkaline diagenetic environment even if the conditions of temperature and pressure are the same.Therefore,for hydrocarbon generation we should not only focus on thermal effect,but also pay more attention to the differences of diagenetic environment which have great significance for the understanding of hydrocarbon generation,hydrocarbon expulsion and reservoir formation in mudstone.     

东海与泥底辟构造有关的天然气水合物初探

根据所获得的高分辨率地震资料分析,发现冲绳海槽南部西侧槽坡附近以及海槽内部发育有一系列泥火山（底辟）构造,在地形上表现为泥火山地貌,在穿过泥火山的地震剖面上,表现出典型的泥底辟构造。对穿过泥底辟构造的DMS01-5地震剖面进一步的处理和解释发现,泥底辟构造顶部存在明显的似海底反射（BSR）,其与海底反射波组极性相反,在BSR之上存在振幅空白带,在速度谱上出现速度异常,指示存在与泥火山有关的天然气水合物。从世界广泛发现的与泥底辟构造有关的天然气水合物来看,天然气水合物既可以在泥底辟构造的丘状外围成藏,也可以在其外围的海底沉积物中产出。在泥底辟构造的丘状外围附近,天然气水合物的形成机制类似于传统的矿物低温热液的形成;在泥底辟构造外围海底沉积物中,其形成过程类似于传统的矿物交代形成机制。冲绳海槽泥底辟构造的发育与很高的沉积速率和槽坡的活动断层有关。在冰期期间,长江携带大量的陆源物质直接输送到大陆坡地区,沉积速率达300 m/Ma,产生异常高压,同时张性断层极为发育,为流体的迁移提供了良好的通道,在异常压力以及上覆地层压力作用下大量流体向上运移,从而发育大量的泥底辟构造。富含甲烷的流体易在其外围及外围海底沉积物中形成天然气水合物藏。     

Clay petrology of the Upper Triassic/Lower Jurassic terrestrial strata of the Newark Supergroup,Connecticut Valley,U.S.A.

The clay mineralogy of the Newark Supergroup (Upper Triassic/Lower Jurassic) in the Connecticut Valley was studied by X-ray diffraction analysis. Clay minerals identified in 126 samples are illite, chlorite, smectite, kaolinite, vermiculite, expandable chlorite, mixed-layer illite/smectite, mixed-layer chlorite/smectite, and mixed-layer chlorite/vermiculite. In general, the rocks are illitic with subordinate amounts of chlorite. However, the various lithofacies in the Newark Supergroup are characterized by distinct clay-mineral assemblages. Red beds of floodplain origin contain clays mainly of detrital nature with 2M illite most abundant. Subordinate amounts of chlorite, smectite, vermiculite, kaolinite and mixed-layer illite/smectite are also present. An interstratified chlorite/vermiculite occurs in red mudstone underlying basalt flows. Lacustrine gray beds are generally characterized by the clay-mineral assemblage 1Md illite + chlorite with minor amounts of smectite ane expandable chlorite. An interstratified chlorite/smectite predominates in gray mudstone associated with perennial lake cycles in the East Berlin Formation. Black shales of deeper lacustrine origin contain the assemblage 1Md ifillite + trioctahedral smectite and traces of chlorite. Illite and smectite also occur as mixed-layer phases.In many respects, the distribution of clay minerals in the Connecticut Valley can be likened to the general scheme proposed for the Permo-Triassic basins of Europe and Africa. These display both vertical and horizontal variations in clay-mineral assemblages that reflect the chemical and spatiotemporal evolution of intrabasin depositional and diagenetic environments. Chemical data indicate that magnesium, especially, was concentrated in the black muds of large perennial lakes that intermittently occupied the Connecticut rift valley. Pore waters derived from these sediments played an important role in the development of Mg-rich 2 : 1 and interstratified clay minerals during early diagenesis.     

五大连池药用矿泥的主要特点及其药用价值

五大连池药用矿泥２００目筛上样品主要由玄武质火山碎屑、石英、辉石以及其它少量晶屑组成，２００目筛下样品由伊利石、绿泥石、高岭石和石英、少量长石等多种粘土矿物组成。该矿泥应属于与本区多期火山喷发物源有关的表生泥质沉积。由于这种沉积矿泥有特殊成因，从而具有药用价值     

Mud volcanoes, olistostromes and Argille scagliose in the Mediterranean region

Tectonic and sedimentary mélanges, rocks with block-in-matrix fabric often referred to as 'chaotic', are widespread in the circum-Mediterranean collisional orogenic belts as well as in submerged Mediterranean Arcs. These rock types have been defined originally as 'Argille scagliose' (Bianconi, 1840) and 'olistostromes' (Flores, 1955, 1959) in the outcrops of the Apennine chain (Italy). Both terminology and concepts have undergone a rather complex evolution through time owing to the gradual recognition of similar chaotic bodies in all the circum-Mediterranean orogenic belts. Submarine mud volcanoes of the Mediterranean region, also composed by block-in-matrix, more commonly referred to as mud breccias, have a much younger history. These mud breccias were discovered in 1981 and, since then, a growing number of sea-going geophysical and geological expeditions have allowed the recognition of a major mud volcano belt in the Eastern Mediterranean and of a number of mud diapirs and mud volcano fields from the Black Sea to the Gulf of Cadiz. Structural, textural and genetic similarities between the mud breccias of the Mediterranean mud volcanoes and the olistostromes and Argille scagliose of the Apennines were noted from the very beginning, but the matter has not been the focus of any detailed study. In this paper, the use of the terms in the geological literature is analysed, the distribution of these rock units in the Mediterranean region explored and the assumed genetic processes are identified in order to formulate a common genetic model that can be applied to the evolution of the circum-Mediterranean sedimentary basins.     

Diagenetic evolution of the volcaniclastic deposits: an example from Neoproterozoic Dokhan Volcanics in Wadi Queih basin,central Eastern Desert,Egypt

Wadi Queih basin hosts a ～2,500-m thick Neoproterozoic volcanoclastic successions that unconformably lie over the oldest Precambrian basement. These successions were deposited in alluvial fan, fluviatile, lacustrine, and aeolian depositional environments. Diagenetic minerals from these volcaniclastic successions were studied by X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, and analytical electron microscopy. The diagenetic processes recognized include mechanical compaction, cementation, and dissolution. Based on the framework grain–cement relationships, precipitation of the early calcite cement was either accompanied or followed by the development of part of the pore-lining and pore-filling clay cements. Secondary porosity development occurred due to partial to complete dissolution of early calcite cement and feldspar grains. In addition to calcite, several different clay minerals including kaolinite, illite, and chlorite with minor smectite occur as pore-filling and pore-lining cements. Chlorite coating grains helps to retain primary porosity by retarding the envelopment of quartz overgrowths. Clay minerals and their diagenetic assemblages has been distinguished between primary volcaniclastics directly produced by pyroclastic eruptions and epiclastic volcaniclastics derived from erosion of the pre-existing volcanic rocks. Phyllosilicates of the epiclastic rocks display wider compositional variations owing to wide variations in the mineralogical and chemical compositions of the parent material. Most of the phyllosilicates (kaolinite, illite, chlorite, mica, and smectite) are inherited minerals derived from the erosion of the volcanic basement complex, which had undergone hydrothermal alteration. Smectites of the epiclastic rocks are beidellite–montmorillonite derived from the altered volcanic materials of the sedimentary environment. Conversely, phyllosilicate minerals of the pyroclastic rocks are dominated by kaolinite, illite, and mica, which were formed by pedogenetic processes through the hydrothermal influence.     

Mud volcanoes of Italy

The locations and information about the sizes of 61 mud volcanoes on the Italian mainland and Sicily, plus an area of mud diapirism in the Italian Adriatic Sea, are presented. Data about the emission products are also provided. The majority of these mud volcanoes are found where thick sedimentary sequences occur within a zone of tectonic compression associated with local plate tectonic activity: the movement of the Adriatic microplate between the converging African and Eurasian plates. The principal gas emitted by these mud volcanoes is methane, which probably originates from deep within the sediments. Other mud volcanoes, associated with igneous volcanism, produce mainly carbon dioxide. The mud diapirs in the Adriatic Sea are thought to form as a result of the mobilization of shallow gassy sediments. It has been shown that radon emissions from mud volcanoes are indicators of forthcoming earthquake events. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

浙闽泥质区全新世物源和古气候演化研究进展

浙闽泥质区是全新世高海平面以来沉积物的汇。受东亚季风影响,浙闽沿岸流和台湾暖流具有季节性变化,长江口"夏储冬输"的沉积物输运模式对东海内陆架泥质区的形成有关键作用。浙闽泥质区的潜在物源主要有长江、浙闽河流以及台湾西部山地河流,以长江物质为主。黏土矿物、稀土元素、Sr-Nd同位素、环境磁学等方法是物源研究的重要手段。长江物质以伊利石为主,蒙脱石含量较少,高岭石和绿泥石含量中等;而台湾物质以伊利石和绿泥石为主,没有蒙脱石。磁黄铁矿是台湾河流沉积物特有的磁性矿物,可作为大陆河流与台湾河流物源识别的指标。泥质区位于东亚季风区,受低纬热带过程和高纬大气环流的影响,气候变化具有波动性。沉积物敏感粒级反演的东亚冬季风（EAWM）只记录了泥质区形成以来的气候变化,不能代表整个全新世。受台湾暖流和浙闽沿岸流的双重影响,敏感粒级作为EAWM演化的指标需进一步深入研究。     

松辽盆地晚白垩世粘土矿物特微及沉积环境分析

松辽盆地晚白垩世地层是由一套砂泥岩组成,储集了丰富的石油资源。过去一般认为这是一个内陆湖泊,为陆相沉积。近年来不少研究者从古生物、岩矿等方面提出与海有关的成因观点。本文根据对该区上白垩统泥岩粘土矿物进行了研究后认为,晚白垩世松辽盆地是个近海陆盆,气候温暖干燥,间转湿润,以淡水-半咸水碱性介质为主,青山口组及嫩江组沉积时,水域扩大,水体含盐度、碱性、还原性增强,可能遭受海侵。这些分析对含油地层的成因研究具有一定的意义。     

台湾西南部乌山顶泥火山的成因机制初探

乌山顶泥火山位于台湾西南部旗山断层沿线.由于台湾西南部具有独特的地质构造背景,沿着古亭坑背斜和旗山断层沿线分布了许多泥火山.本文以乌山顶泥火山为例,研究泥火山的成因.在了解泥火山地质背景、活动现状的基础上,分析了喷出物的矿物组成、古生物组合、流体地球化学特征.喷出的主要矿物有石英、伊利石、高岭石-蒙脱石混层矿物、伊利石-蒙脱石混层矿物,古生物有Reticulofenestra minuta、 Sphenolithus abies等,流体中的离子主要是Cl-、Na+等.由此探讨了泥浆来源和成因机制,认为泥火山的活动与深部古亭坑组地层存在异常高压有关,构造活动是泥火山活动的主要诱发因素.     

Clay Minerals in an Active Hydrothermal Field at Iheya‐North‐Knoll,Okinawa Trough

Iheya‐North‐Knoll is one of the small knolls covered with thick sediments in the Okinawa Trough back‐arc basin. At the east slope of Iheya‐North‐Knoll, nine hydrothermal vents with sulfide mounds are present. The Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Expedition 331 studied Iheya‐North‐Knoll in September 2010. The expedition provided us with the opportunity to study clay minerals in deep sediments in Iheya‐North‐Knoll. To reveal characteristics of clay minerals in the deep sediments, samples from the drilling cores at three sites close to the most active hydrothermal vent were analyzed by X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope. The sediments are classified into Layer 0 (shallow), Layer 1 (deep), Layer 2 (deeper) and Layer 3 (deepest) on the basis of the assemblage of clay minerals. Layer 0 contains no clay minerals. Layer 1 contains smectite, kaolinite and illite/smectite mixed‐layer mineral. Layer 2 contains chlorite, corrensite and chlorite/smectite mixed‐layer mineral. Layer 3 is grouped into three sub‐layers, 3A, 3B and 3C; Sub‐layer 3A contains chlorite and illite/smectite mixed‐layer mineral, sub‐layer 3B contains chlorite/smectite and illite/smectite mixed‐layer minerals, and sub‐layer 3C contains chlorite and illite. Large amounts of di‐octahedral clay minerals such as smectite, kaolinite, illite and illite/smectite mixed‐layer mineral are found in Iheya‐North‐Knoll, which is rarely observed in hydrothermal fields in mid‐ocean ridges. Tri‐octahedral clay minerals such as chlorite, corrensite and chlorite/smectite mixed‐layer mineral in Iheya‐North‐Knoll have low Fe/(Fe + Mg) ratios compared with those in mid‐ocean ridges. In conclusion, the characteristics of clay minerals in Iheya‐North‐Knoll differ from those in mid‐ocean ridges; di‐octahedral clay minerals and Fe‐poor tri‐octahedral clay minerals occur in Iheya‐North‐Knoll but not in mid‐ocean ridges.     

琼海凸起珠江组一段低电阻率油层的微观成因机理分析

琼海凸起珠江组一段低电阻率油层岩石类型为石英砂岩和长石石英砂岩,以高泥质、低碳酸盐胶结物特征,物性特征为高--中孔、中--低渗。油层表现为低电阻率特征的原因包括: ① 岩性为泥质粉砂岩与细砂岩与粉砂质泥岩互层,粒级较细; ② 黏土矿物以伊蒙混层和伊利石为主,且以贴附颗粒表面生长为主要产状; ③ 以微喉为主的喉道特征。导电矿物含量少,对油层电阻率贡献较小。     

东沙岛西南泥火山区的地震烃类检测

近年来通过多道地震、浅剖及海底采样调查在东沙岛西南海域发现了大量喷溢甲烷的泥火山,通过研究泥火山可能会发现含气层,具有重大的油气资源指示意义.一条多道地震剖面显示,在该海域一泥火山MV3附近存在一个具有极性反转的埋藏背斜构造,其振幅绝对值随偏移距增大而增大.为探究该背斜是否含有烃类气体,开展了速度分析、AVO反演和频率...     

Analcime in lake and lake-margin sediments of the Carboniferous Rocky Brook Formation, Western Newfoundland, Canada

In the Deer Lake Basin of western Newfoundland, Canada, analcime has been found within fine-grained, siliciclastic and carbonate, lake and lake-margin sediments of the Carboniferous Rocky Brook Formation. Analcime is the only zeolite observed in these unmetamorphosed and non-volcanogenic rocks. Microscopic analcime occurs as vug-filling, limpid, isotropic to anisotropic crystals. Microprobe analyses show this type of analcime to be lower in silica than most analcime in sedimentary rocks. A second textural type of finer-grained submicroscopic analcime can be detected from X-ray diffraction spectra of Rocky Brook Formation mudstones, where it is associated with phyllosilicates (illite, interstratified chlorite/smectite, smectite, chlorite), other silicates (quartz, feldspar) and carbonates (dolomite, calcite). Results of this study suggest that the analcime in the Rocky Brook Formation formed either by direct lakewater/porewater precipitation or by reaction of these waters with one or more clay mineral types or plagioclase.     

钱家店铀矿床表生含氧含铀流体与深层酸性含烃流体的耦合成矿作用——来自岩心蚀变矿物填图的证据

以岩心光谱蚀变矿物填图为主要研究手段,结合野外地质编录、偏光显微镜、扫描电镜、电子探针能谱分析、氢氧同位素测试等方法,对开鲁盆地钱家店砂岩型铀矿床85个有效钻孔岩心开展了系统的蚀变矿物填图和矿物学研究。结果表明:①主要含矿层上白垩统姚家组蚀变矿物主要有黏土矿物(高岭石、蒙脱石、伊利石、伊/蒙混层及局部绿泥石)、铁的三价氧化物、黄铁矿、碳酸盐(方解石、白云石、铁白云石)等,它们呈现明显的分带特征:氧化带为高含量的"高岭石+Fe³⁺氧化物"组合、过渡带为中等含量的"高岭石+蒙脱石(伊/蒙混层)"+高含量的"黄铁矿+铁白云石"组合;还原带则主要为高含量的"蒙脱石(伊/蒙混层)+伊利石+黄铁矿"组合,矿体主要分布在氧化-还原过渡带和高岭石变化的梯度带上,并见有明显的高岭石、黄铁矿、铁白云石富集。②含氧含铀流体主要来自于WS、WN方向,其次为ES方向(也可能是WS向流体的分支),酸性含烃流体主要来自于NE向的断裂构造,流体温度介于40～120℃,两种不同性质流体的耦合作用是该地区的主成矿作用。③主成矿事件应发生在白兴吐"天窗"构造隆升之后,构造天窗在成矿系统中主要承担着还原...     

Petrography and provenance of the Early Permian Fluvial Warchha Sandstone,Salt Range,Pakistan

The Warchha Sandstone of the Salt Range of Pakistan is a continental succession that accumulated as part of a meandering, fluvial system during Early Permian times. Several fining-upward depositional cycles are developed, each of which is composed of conglomerate, cross-bedded sandstone and, in their upper parts, bioturbated siltstone and claystone units with distinctive desiccation cracks and carbonate concretions. Clast lithologies are mainly of plutonic and low-grade metamorphic origin, with an additional minor sedimentary component. Textural properties of the sandstone are fine- to coarse-grained, poorly to moderately sorted, sub-angular to sub-rounded, and with generally loose packing. Based on modal analyses, the sandstone is dominantly a feldspathoquartzose (arkose to sub-arkose). Detrital constituents are mainly composed of monocrystalline quartz, feldspars (more K-feldspar than plagioclase) and various types of lithic clasts. XRD and SEM studies indicate that kaolinite is the dominant clay mineral and that it occurs as both allogenic and authigenic forms. However, illite, illite-smectite mixed layer, smectite and chlorite are also recognised in both pores and fractures. Much of the kaolinite was likely derived by the severe chemical weathering of previously deposited basement rocks under the influence of a hot and humid climate. Transported residual clays deposited as part of the matrix of the Warchha Sandstone show coherent links with the sandstone petrofacies, thereby indicating the same likely origin. Illite, smectite and chlorite mainly occur as detrital minerals and as alteration products of weathered acidic igneous and metamorphic rocks. Based primarily on fabric relationship, the sequence of cement formation in the Warchha Sandstone is clay (generally kaolinite), iron oxide, calcareous and siliceous material, before iron-rich illite and occasional mixed layer smectite–illite and rare chlorite. Both petrographic analysis and field characteristics of the sandstone indicate that the source areas were characterised by uplift of a moderate to high relief continental block that was weathered under the influence of hot and humid climatic conditions. The rocks weathered from the source areas included primary granites and gneisses, together with metamorphic basement rocks and minor amounts of sedimentary rocks. Regional palaeogeographic reconstructions indicate that much of the Warchha Sandstone detritus was derived from the Aravalli and Malani ranges and surrounding areas of the Indian Craton to the south and southeast, before being transported to and deposited within the Salt Range region under the influence of a semi-arid to arid climatic regime.