The significant role of sediment bio-retexturing within a contemporary carbonate platform system: Implications for carbonate microfacies development

Assessments of carbonate platform reef–lagoon sediments and benthic habitats around Rodrigues Island (south-west Indian Ocean) have been undertaken in order to examine carbonate sediment textural properties and the controls on texturally-defined sediment fabrics. Reef–lagoon sediments, sampled from across the expansive (~ 8 km wide) carbonate-dominated windward platform, principally comprise poorly sorted medium- to coarse-grained bioclastic sands, composed of a low diversity of grain constituents — predominantly non-geniculate coralline algal bioclasts. Despite a marked homogeneity in sediment compositional and grain size properties, eight distinct sediment textural groups can be identified that form a heterogeneous mosaic across the contemporary reef–lagoon system. Only along the narrow outer platform margins (reef crest, sand apron and outermost lagoon environments) do we observe consistent (predictable) transitions in sediment textural groups, where physical processes are the primary drivers of selective sediment transport and sorting. In contrast, across the main expanse of the lagoon, the sediment substrates are characterised by an irregular mosaic of texturally-defined sediment groups — formed primarily as a function of sediment bio-retexturing. The burrowing activities of alpheid and callianassid shrimps are particularly important in this respect and impart a distinctly unique textural fabric to the upper sediment horizons in the environments in which the respective organisms occur. The consequence of this is that, at the platform system scale, individual, texturally-defined sediment groups are relatively poor indicators of prevailing hydrodynamic regimes or of local sediment production, reflecting more the biological action of organisms inhabiting the substrate. This has important implications for understanding the development of carbonate sediment fabrics in the context of palaeoenvironmental reconstructions and for interpreting a key diagnostic criteria of carbonate microfacies.     

Tidal deposits of carbonate facies and their microfacies types in the Qiziqiao Formation of Middle Devonian,South China

Tidal-flat and shoal deposits of carbonate fades in the Qiziqiao Formation are widely distributed over the vast areas of Guangxi, Guangdong and Hunan provinces, constituting an important stratigraphic unit where strata-bound and stratiform ore deposits (galena-sphalerite-pyrite) are found. These types of ore deposit seem to have close relations to the tidal deposits. Recognition of tidal deposits is based upon rock fabric, texture, structure, fossil assemblage, and particular sedimentary cycle. The typical sequence of tidal-flat deposits consists mainly of three units:Amphipora limestone, laminated limestone and dolostone (from the bottom to the top). This sequence represents a complete process of sedimentation from low-tideflat through intertidal to high-tideflat or supratidal. The sequence of shoal deposits of carbonate facies consists chiefly of grainstone and algal oösparite. Two major types of tidal deposit (open and restricted marine facies) can be distinguished, with eleven microfacies as follows: 1) calcarenite (grainstone) with sparite (MF-1); 2) algal oösparite (MF-2); 3) oncolite (alga-, or stromatoporoid-encrusted grains) (MF-3); 4) bioclastic grainstone (biosparite) or rudstone with sparite (MF-4);5) Amphipora limestone (MF-5); 6) dark fossil-poor micrite (MF-6); 7) pelsparite or peloidal grainstone with sparite (MF-7); 8) laminated pellet mudstone-wackstone (MF-8); 9) micrite with onkoids (MF-9); 10) rudstone or floatstone (MF-10; and 11) bedded dolomite-gypsum-dolomite (MF-11).     

Peritidal carbonate facies models: A review

Existing facies models for peritidal carbonates are limited in number and do not reflect the wide spectrum of possible types. The major depositional processes in peritidal carbonate environments are reviewed in order to stress the complex nature of the systems. The tidal channel model is critically discussed and it is suggested that channel deposits may be of minor importance in typical shoaling-up sequences. The possible causes of multiple asymmetrical sequences are reviewed.     

碳酸盐岩白垩状结构成岩环境及成因

白垩状结构碳酸盐岩是一种白色或淡色疏松、酥脆、多微孔的灰岩。狭义白垩状结构灰岩是指深水盆地、陆棚斜坡及内台地局限海(如潟湖)相中形成的白垩状微孔隙灰泥岩及粒泥岩。广义白垩状结构灰岩指盆地相和陆棚相中包括生物礁、滩的各种沉积体内各种沉积组构产生的白垩状灰岩,也包括白垩状去白云化灰岩及(真)白垩。综合各国学者的有关研究资料,建议将白垩状结构化定义为:"碳酸盐沉积物和碳酸盐岩中的镁方解石和文石在不同成岩阶段通过新生变形而转变成低镁方解石微晶和微亮晶格架,并在其中产生和保存晶间孔喉网络的作用;强化白垩状结构化是指微晶和微亮晶格架受到进一步溶蚀和淋滤,从而形成次生溶蚀孔隙网络的作用"。论述了世界各地的地史中不同成岩阶段白垩状结构碳酸盐岩成岩环境的例证和白垩状结构化成因。     

碳酸盐岩微相分析及其在岩相古地理研究中的意义

微相分析是碳酸盐岩沉积学研究的重要方法和手段。笔者从微相概念演化的角度对在微相分析中有关的概念予以澄清;介绍了微相分析的研究内容和工作方法以及微相研究的新近进展;探讨了微相分析在岩相古地理研究中的意义,并展望了它在其它沉积学研究领域中的应用前景。     

碳酸盐岩成岩相研究方法及其应用——以扬子地块北缘飞仙关组鲕滩储层为例

成岩相是研究成岩作用展布的重要方法和途径,其与沉积相不同,反映岩石在一定的成岩环境下发生的各种成岩作用的综合表现。在详细的成岩作用和成岩环境研究的基础上,划分了扬子地块北缘地区飞仙关组8类成岩相、7类成岩亚相,总结了各类成岩相(亚相)的识别标志,探索了成岩相与沉积相、测井相、地震相的关系,探索了成岩相在点、线、面上的分布,预测了有利成岩相区展布,取得了良好效果。形成了一套有效的成岩相研究方法,并将成岩相研究成果应用到勘探实践,具有较好的推广价值。     

Spatial geochemistry of a Carboniferous platform-margin-to-basin transect: Balancing environmental and diagenetic factors

Conventional (one-dimensional) chemostratigraphy of marine carbonates assesses the chemical archive of individual stratigraphic sections and their correlation in space and time. Whereas this approach has shown to be of value when linking isobathymetric domains, usually characterised by similar facies, more caution is needed when correlations are extended across different physiographic settings and hence different facies belts. Here, the spatial geochemical record of Pennsylvanian platform-margin-to-basin transects across a bathymetric range of about 800 m is documented and discussed in a process-oriented context. Particularly, the presence of layered palaeo-water masses and their potential control on slope facies distribution and geochemical properties requires attention. Whereas Carboniferous thermo- and/or chemo-clines most likely affected depth-related slope facies zonation, it was facies change and hence, variances in porosity–permeability properties, that controlled differential early burial diagenetic alteration. Specifically, the lower-slope related breccia facies is characterised by higher volumes of early burial carbonate cements. This implies that these sediments entered the shallow-burial domain with a considerable open pore space and gave way to an increased rock:fluid ratio. Whereas the δ¹³C record is invariant with bathymetry, the more diagenesis-sensitive δ¹⁸O proxy, records pronounced shifts observed across major facies boundaries. From this it is concluded that although the primary controlling factor of slope facies distribution with depth is probably palaeoceanographic in nature, it is differential rock:fluid ratios that control the first-order, spatial shifts in δ¹⁸O composition. These findings show that one-dimensional chemostratigraphy will severely underestimate the complexity of three-dimensional (bathymetric) data sets across platform margins. This is of relevance for the interpretation of the geochemical archive of fossil carbonate platforms in general.     

Architectural characteristics and petrophysical properties evolution of a strike-slip fault zone in a fractured porous carbonate reservoir

This paper describes the structural, petrophysical and hydromechanical properties relationships between a small fault zone and the porous layered carbonate series which host it. In a gallery located at 250-m depth, the deformation of a 22-m thick section of layered carbonates-, affected by a strike slip-fault have been characterized by means of structural (Q-value), acoustic velocities (V_p), porosity and uniaxial compressive strength (σ_c) measurements conducted in situ at the meter scale, and on laboratory samples at the infra-centimeter scale. A clear influence of the layers initial properties on fault architecture and properties evolution is underlined. In the porous layers with a low σ_c, there is an important accommodation of the deformation by micro-mechanisms resulting in a progressive decrease in the porosity toward the fault core. In the low-porosity layers with a high σ_c, deformations are accommodated toward the fault core by: an increase in the fracture porosity, in the micro-cracks porosity, and by displacements along pre-existing fractures resulting from a joint roughness decrease. The fault zone appears as relatively stiff and low permeable zones intercalated with low stiffness and high fracture permeability zones that extend one to tens of meters from the fault following the initial properties contrasts and geometry of the sedimentary layers.     

陕北地区延长组长10_1储层成岩作用与成岩相

通过大量野外地质调查、钻井岩心观察和室内分析测试,对陕北地区长101储层的成岩作用和成岩相进行了研究。结果表明,研究区长101储层处于中成岩A期阶段,压实作用与碳酸盐、粘土(高岭石、伊利石)矿物胶结、浊沸石胶结和硅质胶结作用是造成储层原生孔隙丧失的主要原因;绿泥石胶结抑制孔隙充填,长石、浊沸石矿物的溶蚀作用使孔隙间的连通性得到改善,储层物性得到提高。成岩相类型可划分为8种,优质储层与成岩相关系密切,其中压实相、碳酸盐胶结相、粘土矿物胶结相、石英加大相、浊沸石充填相不利于储层的发育,而长石溶蚀相、绿泥石膜胶结相、浊沸石溶蚀相对储层物性的改善具有重要作用。     

藏南岗巴—定日地区始新世化石碳酸盐岩微相与沉积环境

藏南岗巴-定日地区发育着西藏最晚期的海相沉积，对这套海相沉积的研究，可提供关于西藏特提斯演化晚期的良好信息，本文对岗巴-定日地区始新世遮普惹组的化石碳酸盐岩微相进行了较为详细的分析和研究。参考Wilson(1975)的标准微相，初步识别出10种微相和5种生物相类型。同时对遮普惹组中的砾状灰岩的成因机制作了有益的探讨，它完全是由沉积作用而成；胶结物不是源于物质的重新分配，而是台地边缘斜坡的等深流沉积。以此为基础，对西藏特提斯晚期沉积环境的演变进行了较为详细的分析。笔者认为：岗巴-定日盆地在始新世Ypresian-Lutetian早期接受海侵；自Lutetian晚期开始，区内总体处于一种海退环境，但由于受板块碰撞作用的影响，岗巴地区在Lutetian晚期-Bartonian晚期成为-深水坳陷盆地；至Priabonian早期，海水完全退出本区。     

Two populations of carbonate in ALH84001: geochemical evidence for discrimination and genesis

We present major and trace-element, oxygen isotope, textural, and structural data for carbonates and related phases in the SNC meteorite ALH84001. These data document the existence of at least two distinct carbonate populations: one composed of finely zoned, chemically and isotopically heterogeneous concretions of magnesio-siderite with distinct white magnesite rims, and a second composed of relatively homogeneous, isotopically and compositionally simple domains of ankeritic carbonate and intimately intergrown glass and fine-grained pyroxene. We suggest on the basis of textural evidence and geochemical systematics that the first population consists of low-temperature aqueous precipitates, and the second is produced by shock melting of the first. Values of δ¹⁸O and Sr/Ca ratios are correlated with one another in magnesio-siderite concretions; the trend formed by these data is consistent with the predicted relationship for inorganic precipitation of carbonate from a solution of constant composition between temperatures of ∼190°C (for concretion cores) to 20°C (for magnesite-rich concretion rims). Given the assumptions inherent in this temperature estimate, the aqueous fluid parental to carbonate concretions is constrained to have a δ¹⁸O of −5‰ VSMOW (significantly mass fractionated compared with expected juvenile martian volatiles) and minor-element abundances broadly similar to terrestrial seawater.     

Nutrients, sea level and tectonics: constrains for the facies architecture of a Miocene carbonate ramp in central Italy

ABSTRACT In the western part of the central Apennines, Lower–Middle Miocene carbonates were deposited on a tropical–subtropical carbonate ramp. They record two long-term cycles, the first of which is illustrated in this paper. Between 21 and 17.5 Ma, Miocene carbonates, paraconformably overlying the Cretaceous limestones, record a transgressive event during a time of global (2nd order) sea-level lowstand. It is postulated that this deviation is related to an increase in tectonic subsidence. Between 17.5 Ma and 16–15 Ma, with a progressive relative sea-level rise, the inner–middle ramp facies belt stepped back, whereas the bryozoan-dominated outer ramp facies belt stepped back but simultaneously prograded. This bloom of suspension-feeding organisms is interpreted to reflect an increased nutrient availability, hence a change from oligotrophic to eutrophic conditions. Strontium-isotope dates constrain correlation of the second phase with a eutrophic event possibly linked to the influence of the neighbouring Apenninic accretionary wedge and foredeep system.     

“常么阶”沉积相及微相的研究与对比

研究、对比了广西宜山、隆林常么及贵州紫云扁平剖面常么阶的沉积相及微相类型。多元统计分析及碳酸盐岩岩石学的研究表明，这一地区常么阶至少有台前斜坡、台缘生物礁、礁后湖、台缘生物滩、开阔台地、局限台地及蒸发台地等７种沉积相类型及１２种具有不同环境意义的微相类型。古地理位置、水动力条件、循环状况是控制各剖面沉积过程及生物分布的主要环境因素；某些生物（如藻类）的繁盛可以对局部环境进行改造，并进而造成其它生物在种类和数量上的差异。西南地区常么阶代表了马平期与栖霞期之间海退序列的沉积，这一时期的环境变化对有关古生物类群的地理分布产生了重要影响     

Numerical analysis as applied to the environmental interpretation of carbonate microfacies of some sub-Himalayan carbonates (lower upper precambrian) in northwestern India

Forty-three samples of (1) Sirban Limestone of Riasi, Jammu and Kashmir State, India, based on six mineralogic and petrographic presence-absence variables, and (2) 36 samples of Bilaspur Limestone based on 11 presence-absence mineralogic and petrographic variables, were numerically classified by Q-mode cluster analysis using Sokal and Michner's Simple Matching Coefficient. Sirban Limestone of Riasi yielded 10 clusters or groups indicating four depositional environments: (1) intertidal, (2) intertidal to subtidal, (3) subtidal, and (4) deep-water basinal. Similarly, Bilaspur Limestone yielded nine clusters indicative of the same four environments. A Q-mode ordination of the Riasi samples and of Bilaspur Limestone shows a generalized shelf-to-basin carbonate deposition profile. Results of this study substantiate earlier conclusions of Rao (1979) based on field, mineralogic, and petrographic study of the above-mentioned carbonates.     

川东北二叠系长兴组碳酸盐岩深埋成岩过程及其意义

上二叠统长兴组储层是川东北地区主力产层之一,储层岩性主要为结晶白云岩、残余生屑/砂屑白云岩、生物礁白云岩和亮晶生屑灰岩,储集空间以晶间孔、晶间溶孔为主,生物体腔孔、残余粒间孔次之,溶洞和裂缝少量发育。长兴组优质储层主要分布于台地边缘生物礁、台地边缘滩等沉积相带,该相带发育大量原生孔隙,易遭受大气淡水溶蚀改造。原生孔隙的发育为白云岩化流体与岩石相互作用提供空间,早期孔隙演变为晶间孔。白云岩抗压实能力较强,有利于高孔隙白云岩的保存。早三叠世快速深埋使长兴组迅速进入中深埋藏,深埋阶段,裂缝少量发育,部分被方解石充填,对储层贡献有限。晚三叠世油气充注隔绝了岩石与地层水的接触,抑制了孔隙内白云石的溶蚀和沉淀,储层先存孔隙得到较好的保存。快速深埋使孔隙迅速被埋藏封闭,深埋阶段水-岩反应处于近封闭的平衡状态,溶蚀-沉淀现象有限,深埋藏环境主要是储层孔隙保存和调整的场所,孔隙空间的位置可能重新分配。     

Silicification of sulphate evaporites and their carbonate replacements in Eocene marine sediments, Tunisia: two diagenetic trends

Samples of chert nodules, diagenetic carbonates and evaporites (gypsum/anhydrite) collected from the gypsiferous limestones of the Kef Eddour Member (Ypressian‐Priabonian) near Metlaoui and Sehib (Tunisia) show selective silicification with great variety in the silicified by‐products. Based on δ¹³C values, which support an organic origin for the carbon, carbonates replaced evaporites microbially through bacterial sulphate reduction. Observations and results suggest two scenarios for chert formation that are related to the rate and timing of diagenetic carbonate replacement of the evaporites (anhydrite/gypsum). In the absence of early diagenetic carbonate phases, silica with δ¹⁸O values from +25 to +28·6‰ [standard mean ocean water (SMOW)] replaced the outer parts of anhydrite nodules at pH < 9. In contrast, pore‐fluid pH values > 9 in the innermost parts of the anhydrite nodules prevented silica precipitation. The record of this chemical barrier is preserved in the microquartz rims and geode features that formed in the inner parts of the nodules after dissolution of the anhydrite nucleus. The microbial diagenetic replacement of evaporites (bacterial sulphate reduction) by carbonates (calcite, aragonite and dolomite) favoured silica replacement of carbonates rather than evaporites. Silica, with δ¹⁸O signature of +21 to +26‰ (SMOW), replaced carbonates on a volume‐for‐volume basis, yielding a more siliceous groundmass, and accounting for 90–95% of the nodules. The relatively higher δ¹⁸O values of quartz replacing anhydrite can be explained by a diagenetic fluid in equilibrium with mixed (meteoric/marine) to marine water. The lower δ¹⁸O values of the quartz that replaced the diagenetic carbonates are ascribed to flushing by meteoric water in a later diagenetic stage. The silica supply for chert formation could be derived from the reworked bio‐siliceous deposits (diatomites) to the west of the basin [vestiges of an opal‐CT precursor undetectable by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) were revealed by δ²⁹Si magic‐angle‐spinning nuclear magnetic resonance investigations], diagenesis of the extraformational and overlying clay‐rich beds (the host limestones are clay‐poor as shown by XRD measurements), and minor volcanogenic and hydrothermal contributions during early diagenetic stages.     

Dehydration veins in diagenetic and very-low-grade metamorphic rocks: features of the crustal seismogenic zone and their significance to mineral facies

Abstract Declining temperatures during decay of a hydrothermal system, or during uplift and erosion, tend to result in veins involving progressive hydration reactions, e.g. veins with laumontite cutting prehnitepumpellyite facies rocks, and stilbite veins cutting laumontite veins. In contrast, examples are described of analcime replacement of heulandite along fractures in heulanditized vitric tuff, of replacement of analcime by albite along fractures in quartz-analcime rock, of joint-controlled replacement of heulandite in tuff by laumontite + quartz + (Na, K)-feldspars, of replacement of laumontite by prehnite + quartz along fractures in alumontitized vitric tuff, and of laumontitebearing feldspathic sandstones cut by vein assemblages of quartz and prehnite ° Calcite. The vein mineral assemblage, sometimes with pumpellyite and/or epidote in the prehnite-bearing veins, tends to spread as a zone of dehydration into the adjacent country rock. Except perhaps for albite replacement of analcime, and for laumontite replacement of heulandite, these open-system reactions involve cation activity ratios in the fluid. All involve dehydration. They are favoured by an increase in temperature, and except under certain situations where P-T equilibrium curves have negative slopes, are favoured by a fall in P_H2O. Evidence indicates that in at least some cases the triggering mechanism was a drop in P_H2O; this may be a widespread phenomenon associated with brittle fracture in the seismogenic upper crust. This may cause fluid pressure to drop from values approaching lithostatic to nearer hydrostatic, and equilibrium may be displaced to yield a less hydrous assemblage that appears as a dehydration vein and vein verge. The dehydration vein assemblage may be diagnostic of a higher grade mineral facies and adds to the mineral complexity attributable to varying permeabilities and fluid pressures in upper crustal strata. Mineral facies are likely to be more uniformly distributed in higher grade rocks from below the brittle-ductile transition zone. Reactions involving complex solid solutions are inappropriate as facies boundaries.     

阿姆河盆地卡洛夫-牛津阶碳酸盐岩储层地球化学特征和成岩流体分析

卡洛夫-牛津阶碳酸盐岩为土库曼斯坦阿姆河盆地主力天然气产层,以储层岩石学分析为基础,结合Fe、Sr、Mn微量元素和C、O、Sr同位素及流体包裹体地球化学特征,分析了储层成因和成岩流体性质,得出以下几点认识:(1)由厚壳蛤壳体测定的87Sr/86Sr比值在全球锶同位素地层曲线上可标定的年龄为157.2Ma,储层发育层位属于卡洛夫-牛津阶;(2)卡洛夫-牛津阶为一持续海侵-海退旋回,持续海侵期是礁、滩相储层形成期,而持续海退期为致密盖层发育期;(3)较高的Fe和Sr及较低的Mn含量,以及伴随成岩强度加大δ13C变化不大而δ18O向负值方向偏移的演化趋势,证明成岩作用发生在缺乏大陆淡水影响和以温度为主控因素的还原性封闭系统中;(4)综合同位素地球化学与流体包裹体和镜质体反射率特征,可确定洛夫-牛津阶碳酸盐岩仍处在中成岩阶段;(5)礁、滩相灰岩的溶蚀、埋藏白云化和充填缝、洞的方解石是不同成岩阶段的水-岩反应产物,成岩流体主要来自于深部富Sr的地层热卤水。     

Groundwater dolocretes from the Upper Triassic of the Paris Basin, France: a case study of an arid, continental diagenetic facies

Thick dolomite-cemented horizons (dolocretes) occur within a fluvial sandstone-mudstone sequence of Late Triassic age in the western part of the Paris Basin, France. Two types of dolomites can be distinguished: (a) nodular dolomitic beds less than a few metres thick, which formed within mottled overbank siltstones and mudstones; and (b) massive dolomite up to 16 m thick, which occurs in coarse grained channel sandstones and conglomerates. The majority of the dolomite consists of a finely crystalline groundmass of dolomicrospar and, less commonly, dolomicrite. Glaebules, irregular spar-filled cracks, spheroidal dolomite, silicification and vuggy porosity are locally abundant in the massive dolomite. In contrast, biologically induced micromorphological features such as rhizocretions and alveolar-septal fabrics were observed in the thin, nodular dolomite beds. The dolomite is near stoichiometric, well ordered and non-ferroan. 18O values range from ?7·7 to ?0·4%o PDB and 18O values range from ?5·1 to + 1·8%0 PDB and no obvious difference in the stable isotopic composition between both types of dolomites was observed. Sr isotope ratios range from 0·7101 to 0·7126 and are invariably higher than the contemporary Triassic sea water. A vadose—pedogenic origin for the thin dolocrete layers is indicated by the occurrence of rhizocretions and other biological structures. Several features, however, argue against a pedogenic origin for the massive carbonates, most notably the absence of biologically induced structures, the occurrence in coarse grained channel (and not overbank) deposits, and the great thickness. These units are thus interpreted as groundwater in origin. Phreatic calcretes of Quaternary age, widespread in inland Australia, are regarded as a modern analogue for the Triassic Paris Basin dolocretes. Petrographic observations argue in favour of primary (proto)dolomite precipitation, although early diagenetic replacement of calcite by (proto)dolomite cannot be ruled out. Strontium and carbon isotope data of early diagenetic dolocrete cements and oxygen isotope data of early diagenetic silica indicate an entirely non-marine, continental origin for the groundwaters. The poorly ordered and non-stoichiometric protodolomite probably underwent stabilization upon further burial resulting in a near-stoichiometric, well ordered dolomite that clearly lacks evidence for pervasive recrystallization.