Geochemistry and origin of rare earth elements (REEs) in the Shengli River oil shale, northern Tibet, China

The Shengli River-Changshe Mountain oil shale zone, located in the North Qiangtang depression, northern Tibet plateau, represents a potentially large marine oil shale resource in China. Twenty-eight samples including oil shale, micritic limestone and marl were collected from the Shengli River area to determine the contents and distribution patterns of rare earth elements (REEs) in marine oil shale. Oil shale samples from the Shengli River area have high ash yield (61.86–67.48%) and TOC content (8.02–13.67%) with low total sulfur (S_t,d) content (0.76–1.39%) and intermediate shale oil content (3.60–16.30%). The total rare earth element (ΣREE) content in oil shale samples is notably depleted (46.79–67.90 μg/g), approximately one third of the mean value of the North American Shale Composite (NASC), and lower than that of world-wide black shales and Chinese coals, but higher than that of world-wide coals and micritic limestone samples (29.21 μg/g) from the Shengli River area. The oil shale samples from the Shengli River area exhibit shale-like Chondrite or NASC-normalized REE patterns similar to those of micritic limestone and marl samples from this area, indicating that REEs of these different lithological samples may have been derived from a similar terrigenous source.REE contents of oil shale samples are highly positive correlated with ash yield and show a positive correlation with Fe and a weakly positive correlation with organic sulfur, and the vertical variations of REEs mainly follow those of Si, Al, K and Ti. All these facts indicate that the REE contents in oil shale seams are mainly controlled by clay minerals and, to a lesser extent, by pyrite, as well as partly associated with oil shale organic constituents. Rare earth elements in the Shengli River oil shale have originated from two sources: a felsic volcanic rock source and a clastic or/and limestone source.     

鄂尔多斯盆地东南部上古生界海陆过渡相页岩储集性与含气性

鄂尔多斯盆地上古生界海陆过渡相页岩是重要的页岩气富集层系,但是含气性及其控制因素研究薄弱,制约了对该地区页岩气的勘探和研究。论文通过对鄂尔多斯东南部本溪和山西组大量页岩样品开展有机地球化学、矿物组成、页岩孔隙及分布的研究,评价了海陆过渡相页岩的储集性;通过含气量现场解吸和等温吸附实验,分析了页岩含气特征和影响因素。结论认为研究区海陆过渡相页岩有机质丰度高(TOC含量0.5%~11%),主要发育III型干酪根,有机质成熟度较高(1.0%~3.0% Ro);矿物组成以富黏土页岩为特征,黏土矿物含量可高达60%以上。总孔隙度分布在2%~8%,部分样品微裂缝发育。孔隙类型以平行板状的狭缝型孔隙介孔为主,在岩石孔隙比表面积和孔体积的贡献占90%以上;TOC含量与孔隙比表面积及孔隙总体积具有密切的相关性,有机质孔隙对岩石总孔隙构成具有重要贡献。现场解吸含气量为0.591~4.05 m3/t,兰氏体积从0.05 m3/t到14 m3/t都有分布,页岩实测含气量与气体吸附能力差异大。TOC含量是控制海陆过渡相页岩含气量和含气能力的重要因素,富黏土矿物的吸附作用可使样品含气能力显著增加。     

Occurrence and influence of residual gas released by crush methods on pore structure in Longmaxi shale in Yangtze Plate,Southern China

The composition of gas released under vacuum by crushing from the gas shale of Longmaxi Formation in Upper Yangtze Plate, Southern China was systematically investigated in this study. The effect of residual gas release on pore structures was checked using low-pressure nitrogen adsorption techniques. The influence of particle size on the determination of pore structure characteristics was considered. Using the Frenkel-Halsey-Hill method from low-pressure nitrogen adsorption data, the fractal dimensions were identified at relative pressures of 0−0.5 and 0.5−1 as D₁ and D₂, respectively, and the evolution of fractal features related to gas release was also discussed. The results showed that a variety component of residual gas was released from all shale samples, containing hydrocarbon gas of CH₄ (29.58% −92.53%), C₂H₆ (0.97% −2.89%), C₃H₈ (0.01% −0.65%), and also some non-hydrocarbon gas such as CO₂ (3.54% − 67.09%) and N₂ (1.88%−8.07%). The total yield of residual gas was in a range from 6.1 μL/g to 17.0 μL/g related to rock weight. The geochemical and mineralogical analysis suggested that the residual gas yield was positively correlated with quartz (R²=0.5480) content. The residual gas released shale sample has a higher surface area of 17.20−25.03 m²/g and the nitrogen adsorption capacity in a range of 27.32−40.86 ml/g that is relatively higher than the original samples (with 9.22−16.30 m²/g and 10.84−17.55 ml/g). Clearer hysteresis loop was observed for the original shale sample in nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms than residual gas released sample. Pore structure analysis showed that the proportions of micro-, meso- and macropores were changed as micropores decreased while meso- and macropores increased. The fractal dimensions D₁ were in range from 2.5466 to 2.6117 and D₂ from 2.6998 to 2.7119 for the residual gas released shale, which is smaller than the original shale. This factor may indicate that the pore in residual gas released shale was more homogeneous than the original shale. The results indicated that both residual gas and their pore space have few contributions to shale gas production and effective reservoir evaluation. The larger fragments samples of granular rather than powdery smaller than 60 mesh fraction of shale seem to be better for performing effective pore structure analysis to the Longmaxi shale.     

川南地区下古生界页岩气储层矿物组成与脆性特征研究

应用X射线衍射(XRD)分析技术,对川南地区下古生界下寒武统筇竹寺组和下志留统龙马溪组两套海相页岩气储层岩心样品进行了矿物组成与脆性特征研究。结果表明,川南地区筇竹寺组和龙马溪组海相页岩具有差异的矿物组成和含量特征。筇竹寺组页岩中,石英含量最高(28.4%~42.8%,平均35.7%),黏土矿物含量次之(25%~35.3%,平均28.7%),碳酸盐矿物含量较低(1.4%~21.7%,平均11.2%)。龙马溪组页岩中,黏土矿物和碳酸盐矿物含量高,前者为13.4%~66.1%(平均34.7%),后者为14.6%~80.0%(平均35.9%),石英含量相对较低(5.2%~41.4%,平均21.0%)。另外,这些页岩中还含有少量黄铁矿、长石、白云石等其他矿物。总的来说,该区下古生界海相页岩的矿物组成特征与北美海相页岩比较相似。川南地区筇竹寺组和龙马溪组页岩中脆性矿物丰富、含量高,前者为55.6%~73.9%(平均64.1%),后者为26.9%~86.6%(平均62.5%),整体上具有良好的脆性和可压性,有利于该区海相页岩气的压裂改造。     

黔北地区牛蹄塘组页岩气成藏条件及有利区评价

为评估黔北地区下寒武统牛蹄塘组页岩气资源潜力,根据井下岩心和露头岩样的地球化学实验分析结果,对黔北地区牛蹄塘组页岩气成藏条件进行了研究,并评价了该区页岩气成藏的有利区。研究表明:黔北地区牛蹄塘组页岩主要形成于深水陆棚相沉积,页岩埋深适中(<3 000 m),富有机质页岩厚度较大(30~110 m),有机碳含量高(平均TOC>3.0%),有机质类型主要为Ⅰ型,热演化程度高(R_o>2.0%,为过成熟),页岩储层物性为低孔渗,发育大量的微米-纳米级孔裂隙,富含石英等脆性矿物(平均含量>40%),页岩含气量较高(平均1.5 m3/t),具备良好的页岩气成藏条件。在上述基础上,提出东南部的石阡-余庆-施秉一带为黔北地区牛蹄塘组页岩气成藏有利区。      

鄂尔多斯盆地延长探区延长组页岩气储层孔隙结构特征

为了评价陆相页岩气储层的储集空间和储气能力,以鄂尔多斯盆地延长探区上三叠统延长组长7段、长9段页岩为研究对象,运用电子扫描显微镜、高压压汞、低温CO2和N2气体吸附等实验方法,对陆相页岩气储层孔隙类型特征、孔隙结构及其影响因素进行研究。结果表明：(1)延长探区上三叠统延长组陆相页岩发育多种类型微观孔隙,以粒间孔和粒内孔为主,少量晶间孔和溶蚀孔,有机质孔发育较少,为陆相页岩气赋存提供了储集空间;(2)延长组页岩中介孔(2～50 nm)贡献了其主要的孔容和比表面积,占总孔容的7437%,占总比表面积的6440%,且长9段页岩的总孔容和总比表面积均大于长7段页岩;(3)延长组页岩孔隙结构以狭缝型孔和板状孔为主,孔径主要分布在04～09 nm、3～25 nm和5～200 μm区间段内,延长组页岩平均孔径为853 nm,且长7段页岩平均孔径大于长9段页岩;(4)页岩有机碳含量、有机质成熟度及矿物成分含量共同影响着延长组页岩孔隙的发育,其中矿物成分含量是以介孔孔隙为主的延长组页岩孔隙发育的主控因素,有机碳含量及成熟度的增加主要对页岩中微孔孔隙的发育起到积极作用。     

Biological Marker of Middle Jurassic Oil Shale Sequence From Shuanghui Area,Northern Tibetan Plateau

BIOLOGICAL MARKER OF MIDDLE JURASSIC OIL SHALE SEQUENCE FROM SHUANGHUI AREA,NORTHERN TIBETAN PLATEAU     

Trace element mineral transformations associated with hydration and recarbonation of retorted oil shale

A laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the influence of hydration and recarbonation on the solidphase distribution of trace elements in retorted oil shale. The oil shale samples were retorted by the Paraho direct heating process and equilibrated with deionized—distilled water under controlled carbon dioxide conditions. A sequential extraction technique was then used to fractionate trace elements into soluble, KNO₃-extractable (easily exchangeable), H₂O-extractable (easily adsorbed), NaOh-extractable (organic), EDTA-extractable (carbonate), HNO₃-extractable (sulfide), and residual (nonextractable silicate) phases. The chemical fractions present in retorted oil shale and hydrated and recarbonated retorted oil shale were compared to identify trace element mineralogical changes that may occur in retorted oil shale disposal environments.Trace elements examined in this study were found to reside predominantly in the HNO₃-extractable and residual fractions. Hydration of retorted oil shale resulted in a shift in the majority of trace elements from residual to extractable forms. Cobalt, nickel, and zinc extractabilities were not significantly influenced by hydration, whereas antimony increased in the residual fraction. Subjecting retorted oil shale to atmospheric (0.033%) and 10% CO₂(g) levels over a nine-month equilibration period resulted in partial and full recarbonation, respectively. As the influence of recarbonation increased, trace elements reverted to residual forms. Vanadium, choromium, copper, zinc, antimony, and molybdenum in the 10% CO₂(g) recarbonated material were more resistant to sequential extraction than in retorted oil shale, whereas strontium, barium, and manganese were less resistant to sequential extraction. The extractabilities of cobalt, nickel, and lead were not affected by recarbonation. Recarbonation did not result in a predicted increase in EDTA-extractable trace elements. In general, the amounts of trace elements extracted by EDTA (and correlated to carbonate forms) were invariant with respect to equilibrium CO₂(g) levels.A significant result of this study was that the mineralogical residencies of trace elements in retorted oil shale were altered in response to conditions that may be present in a disposal environment. Thus, the long-term release of trace elements in retorted oil shale disposal environments may not be adequately predicted by applying the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP).     

Improvement of kerogen structural interpretations based on oxidation products isolated from aqueous solutions

A detailed investigation of kerogen oxidation products remaining in aqueous solutions after the usual isolation of degradation products by extraction with ether or precipitation, was carried out for the first time in kerogen structural studies. Three shale samples were investigated: Green River shale (type I kerogen), Toarcian shale, Paris Basin (type II), and Mannville shale, Canada (type III). The yields of acids from aqueous solutions were noticeable: 12.98, 15.32 and 22.32%, respectively, based on initial kerogens. Qualitative and quantitative capillary GC/MS analysis showed that the ratios of different kinds of identified acids depended much on the type of precursor kerogen. Some of the acids identified in aqueous solutions have not been found earlier among the degradation products of the same kerogen samples, or were obtained in different ranges and yields. Consequently, slight modifications were suggested of the image on the nature of various types of kerogens based on examination of ether-soluble acids only. Namely, slightly higher proportions of aromatic and alkane-polycarboxylic acids in the total oxidation products of both type I and type II kerogens indicated larger participation of aromatic and alicyclic and/or heterocyclic structures in these two kerogens. On the other hand, for type III Mannville shale kerogen, a somewhat larger share of aliphatic type structures was demonstrated.     

Metal mobility in alum shale from Öland,Sweden

A study was initiated to analyse metal flows from alum shale to the environment in an area in Öland, Sweden. The study was performed by elemental analysis and leaching experiments of alum shale together with analysis of groundwater and surface water samples.The metal concentrations in non-weathered alum shale were much higher than in weathered or burnt shale, especially for cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn), indicating a loss of metals during weathering or burning of the shale. The release of metals through weathering was clearly demonstrated by the leaching tests. A 36-week leaching period of non-weathered shale resulted in a drastic drop in pH and a significant increase in metal concentrations in the leachate. The metal concentrations in groundwater were inversely related to the pH. For surface waters, the concentrations of Cd, copper (Cu), Ni and Zn were generally increased compared to background values.In conclusion, metals are released through weathering or burning of alum shale, as well as from heaps of weathered or burnt shale. The release of metals is strongly related to low pH, especially for Cd, Ni and Zn.     

沁水盆地阳泉区块上古生界煤系页岩气储层特征

页岩储层特征是进行页岩气储集能力评价的基础内容。为探究高演化阶段煤系页岩气储层性质和优选有利储层,运用岩石热解、X射线衍射、扫描电子显微镜、高压压汞、低温N₂和CO₂气体吸附多种实验方法,对沁水盆地阳泉区块上古生界煤系页岩岩心样品进行储层特征研究。结果表明:沁水盆地阳泉区块上古生界煤系页岩,有机碳含量较高(TOC平均为4.9%),处于过成熟阶段(R_ran平均为2.32%),黏土矿物质量分数较高(平均为50.0%),具有低孔低渗的特征(孔隙率平均为6.61%,渗透率平均为0.006 3×10–3μm2),孔隙类型以粒间孔、粒内孔和微裂缝为主,微米–纳米级孔隙为页岩气的赋存提供了储集空间;孔隙总孔容为0.025 5~0.051 7 mL/g,平均0.038 9 mL/g,总比表面积为12.64~40.98 m2/g,平均28.43 m2/g,微孔(<2 nm)、介孔(2~50 nm)的孔容与比表面积呈良好的正相关性,宏孔(>50 nm)孔容与比表面积则相关性不明显,表明微孔和介孔是阳泉区块煤系页岩气储集的主要载体。总体来说,阳泉区块上古生界煤系页岩具有较好的页岩气储集性能,但页岩储层可压裂性较差,影响页岩气的开发。      

Depositional Environment and Lithofacies Analyses of Eocene Lacustrine Shale in the Bohai Bay Basin: Insights from Mineralogy and Elemental Geochemistry

The effect of various depositional parameters including paleoclimate, paleosalinity and provenance, on the depositional mechanism of lacustrine shale is very important in reconstructing the depositional environment. The classification of shale lithofacies and the interpretation of shale depositional environment are key features used in shale oil and gas exploration and development activity. The lower 3^rd member of the Eocene Shahejie Formation(Es₃^x shale) was sel...     

鄂尔多斯盆地南部长7暗色泥岩与黑色页岩生烃动力学特征对比分析

以往对鄂尔多斯盆地南部地区长7油层组(简称长7)中烃源岩生烃潜力的研究主要是采用静态地球化学指标进行的,目前尚无对生烃动态特征的系统评价,因而制约了对长7烃源岩生烃潜力和页岩油资源分布有利岩性的客观认识。为此,选取长7不同类型的烃源岩样品,通过开放和封闭热模拟实验,对比分析了不同类型烃源岩的动力学参数、生烃产物、产率特征及生烃演化规律。结果表明:(1)黑色页岩活化能分布范围比暗色泥岩更为集中,且主频活化能和频率因子均低于暗色泥岩,体现了快速生烃的特性;(2)在外推到地质条件下,黑色页岩主要生烃期对应的R_o值(0.70%~0.87%)低于暗色泥岩(1.06%~1.72%),且以生油为主;(3)R_o在0.9%~1.3%范围内,黑色页岩的总烃产率高于暗色泥岩,生油量高于暗色泥岩。结合研究区两类烃源岩的地球化学资料综合分析表明,黑色页岩是研究区页岩油资源形成与分布的有利烃源岩。     

Preliminary Study on PAHs Distribution in High-grade Oil Shale and Its Spontaneous Combustion Product in Fushun, Liaoning Province

Spontaneous combustion of oil shale is very common as a result of long-time exposure to the air in the Fushun West Open-Pit Mine and West Dump. The PAHs in the high-grade off shale and its spontaneous combustion product were analyzed semiquantitatively by GC-MS in order to investigate their distribution in different states and their potential negative effects on the environment. Totally 57 and 60 PAHs and their alkyl homologues were identified in the two analyzed samples, among which the alkyl derivatives were predominant, taking up to about 65% in the total PAHs. Those low-molecular mass PAHs （3- or 4-ring） were the main compounds in the two samples. Ten of sixteen USEPA priority pollutant PAHs were detected in two samples, of which phenanthrene was the richest whose contents were 6.93% and 15.03%. Based on comparison of analysis results, the amount and contents of PAHs, except for triaromatic steroid group, were higher in the burning oil shale. So it can be determined that the effects caused by spontaneous combustion of oil shale would be more serious and that the effects of the Fushun oil shale and its spontaneous combustion on the environment should not be ignored in the future work.     

Geochemical characterisation of Fika Formation in the Chad (Bornu) Basin,northeastern Nigeria: Implications for depositional environment and tectonic setting

Late Cretaceous shales of the Fika Formation in the Chad (Bornu) Basin, northeastern Nigeria, were analysed to define paleoenvironment and source of the organic matter, and their relation to tectonic setting. The organic carbon and sulphur contents of Fika shale samples are in the range of 0.51–2.13 and 0.31–1.65 wt.%, respectively, pointing that these shales were deposited in suboxic-anoxic marine conditions. The biomarker and chemical compositions provide evidence for a major contribution of aquatic algae and microorganisms with minor terrigenous organic matter input. Moderate salinity stratification and relatively anoxic-suboxic bottom water conditions are also likely in the Fika shales. Therefore, stratified water column with moderate salinity and relatively anoxic-suboxic bottom water conditions have contributed to organic matter (OM) preservation in the Fika shale layer. Fika shale samples are rich in SiO₂ (54.80 wt.%), followed by Al₂O₃ (23.75 wt.%) and Fe₂O₃ (10.19 wt.%). Compared with average shale, the analysed shale samples are obviously enriched in Al₂O₃ (23.75 wt.%), TiO₂ (1.34 wt.%), and P₂O₅ (0.30 wt.%), indicating that these sediments are rich in clay minerals and represent a good possibility for enhanced organic matter production and enrichment.Plots of Fika shale on bivariate discriminant function diagram suggest an active continental margin setting for the provenance. The inferred tectonic setting for the late Cretaceous shales of the Fika Formation of the Chad (Bornu) Basin is in agreement with the tectonic evolutionary history of the west and central Africa during the Cretaceous period.     

油页岩技术可采系数研究与应用

油页岩技术可采系数是将油页岩资源转化为油页岩技术可采资源的关键参数。由于我国油页岩井下开采少,且规模小,无经验借鉴。油页岩开采技术与煤炭开采技术相类似,通过分析油页岩技术可采系数的影响因素,参照煤炭规范中所规定的煤炭地下及露天开采回采率标准,建立了不同条件（开采方式、厚度、倾角和地质类型）、不同资源类型的油页岩技术可采系数的取值标准。油页岩技术可采系数影响因素确定为开采方式（露天开采和地下开采）、厚度（薄层、中厚层和厚层）、倾角（缓倾斜、倾斜和急倾斜）和地质类型（简单、中等和复杂）;不同资源类型（13种）确定技术可采系数时,选取了不同的可信度系数（1.0~0.5）。油页岩露天开采技术可采系数确定为95.0%～42.5%,地下开采油页岩技术可采系数确定为75%～22.5%。并以吉林省汪清罗子沟盆地油页岩资源评价为例进行了具体应用。     

Geochemical and Geological Characterization of Marine-Continental Transitional Shale: A Case Study in the Ordos Basin, NW China

The organic-rich shale of the Shanxi and Taiyuan Formation of the Lower Permian deposited in a marine-continental transitional environment are well developed in the Ordos Basin, NW China, which is considered to contain a large amount of shale hydrocarbon resources. This study takes the Lower Permian Shanxi and Taiyuan shale collected from well SL# in the Ordos Basin, NW China as an example to characterize the transitional shale reservoir. Based on organic geochemistry data, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) observations, the desorbed gas contents of this transitional shale were systematically studied and the shale gas potential was investigated. The results indicate that the Lower Permian Shanxi and Taiyuan shale has a relatively high total organic carbon (TOC) (average TOC of 4.9%) and contains type III kerogen with a high mature to over mature status. XRD analyses show that an important characteristic of the shale is that clay and brittle minerals of detrital origin comprise the major mineral composition of the marine-continental transitional shale samples, while the percentages of carbonate minerals, pyrite and siderite are relatively small. FE-SEM observations reveal that the mineral matrix pores are the most abundant in the Lower Permian shale samples, while organic matter (OM) pores are rarely developed. Experimental analysis suggests that the mineral compositions mainly govern the macropore development in the marine-continental transitional shale, and mineral matrix pores and microfractures are considered to provide space for gas storage and migration. In addition, the desorption experiments demonstrated that the marine-continental transitional shale in the Ordos Basin has a significantly potential for shale gas exploration, ranging from 0.53 to 2.86 m3/t with an average value of 1.25m3/t, which is in close proximity to those of terrestrial shale (1.29 m3/t) and marine shale (1.28 m3/t). In summary, these results demonstrated that the Lower Permian marine-continental transitional shale in the Ordos Basin has a significantly potential for shale gas exploration.     

A Combination of N2 and CO2 Adsorption to Characterize Nanopore Structure of Organic-Rich Lower Silurian Shale in the Upper Yangtze Platform, South China: Implications for Shale Gas Sorption Capacity

The pores in shales are mainly of nanometer-scale, and their pore size distribution is very important for the preservation and exploitation of shale gas. This study focused on the organic-rich Lower Silurian black shale from four wells in the Upper Yangtze Platform, and their TOC, mineralogical composition and pore characterization were investigated. Low pressure N2 and CO2 adsorption were conducted at 77.35 K and 273.15 K, respectively, and the pore structures were characterized by modified Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), Dubinin-Radushkevich (DR), t-plot, Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) and density functional theory (DFT) methods and then the relationship between pore structure and shale gas sorption capacity was discussed. The results indicate that (1) The Lower Silurian shale has high TOC content of 0.92%–4.96%, high quartz content of 30.6%–69.5%, and high clays content of 24.1%–51.2%. The total specific surface area varies from 7.56 m2/g to 25.86 m2/g. Both the total specific surface area and quartz content are positively associated with the TOC content. (2) Shale samples with higher TOC content have more micropores, which results in more complex nanopore structure. Micropore volumes/surface areas and non-micropore surface areas all increase with the increasing TOC content. (3) A combination of N2 and CO2 adsorption provides the most suitable detection range (~0.3–60 nm) and has high reliability and accuracy for nanopore structure characterization. (4) The TOC content is the key factor to control the gas sorption capacity of the Lower Silurian shale in the Upper Yangtze Platform.     

上扬子黔北地区下寒武统海相黑色泥页岩特征及页岩气远景区评价

依据大量野外页岩实测地质剖面和2口页岩气钻井、样品岩石矿物组分分析、有机地球化学实验等大量分析测试资料,系统研究了上扬子黔北地区下寒武统牛蹄塘组黑色泥页岩的发育特征与分布,并结合北美海相页岩气形成地质条件及我国页岩气选区评价标准,预测了黔北地区页岩气勘探的有利区。结果表明:黔北地区下寒武统牛蹄塘组海相黑色泥页岩厚度大、分布广泛,早期海侵体系域水体相对较深,沉积和沉降中心位于研究区的东南部,主要的物源来自西北部,沉积相类型主要为砂质陆棚、浅水陆棚和深水陆棚相沉积,深水陆棚相分布在东南部地区,呈北西-南东向带状展布。晚期高位体系域,水体深度逐渐降低,随着相对海平面的下降,研究区陆棚砂体范围进一步扩大,浅水陆棚和深水陆棚向东南迁移,范围缩小。黑色页岩的有机质类型为Ⅲ型干酪根,有机碳含量很高,平均值为4.880%,普遍大于2%;有机质成熟度平均值为2.7%,总体演化程度较高; 黑色页岩的矿物成分主要为碎屑矿物和粘土矿物,碎屑矿物含量平均值为61.3%,成分主要为石英和少量的长石;粘土矿物含量平均值为31.1%,主要为伊利石和伊蒙混层矿物。与美国产气页岩的各项指标相比较,黔北地区下寒武统海相黑色页岩具有厚度较大、有机质丰度平均值高、热演化成熟度高、脆性矿物含量低、粘土矿物含量中等,页岩孔隙度低的特征。具备了页岩气形成的基本地质条件,是我国海相页岩气勘探的主要地区之一。综合评价预测了黔北地区下寒武统牛蹄塘组页岩气的有利、较有利远景区。