Diagenesis in the Middle Jurassic Khatatba Formation sandstones in the Shoushan Basin,northern Western Desert,Egypt

The Middle Jurassic Khatatba Formation acts as a hydrocarbon reservoir in the subsurface in the Western Desert, Egypt. This study, which is based on core samples from two exploration boreholes, describes the lithological and diagenetic characteristics of the Khatatba Formation sandstones. The sandstones are fine‐ to coarse‐grained, moderately to well‐sorted quartz arenites, deposited in fluvial channels and in a shallow‐marine setting. Diagenetic components include mechanical and chemical compaction, cementation (calcite, clay minerals, quartz overgrowths, and a minor amount of pyrite), and dissolution of calcite cements and feldspar grains. The widespread occurrence of an early calcite cement suggests that the Khatatba sandstones lost a significant amount of primary porosity at an early stage of its diagenetic history. In addition to calcite, several different cements including kaolinite and syntaxial quartz overgrowth occur as pore‐filling and pore‐lining cements. Kaolinite (largely vermicular) fills pore spaces and causes reduction in the permeability of the reservoir. Based on framework grain–cement relationships, precipitation of the early calcite cement was either accompanied by or followed the development of part of the pore‐lining and pore‐filling cements. Secondary porosity development occurred due to partial to complete dissolution of early calcite cements and feldspar. Late kaolinite clay cement occurs due to dissolved feldspar and has an impact on the reservoir quality of the Khatatba sandstones. Open hydraulic fractures also generated significant secondary porosity in sandstone reservoirs, where both fractures and dissolution took place in multiple phases during late diagenetic stages. The diagenesis and sedimentary facies help control the reservoir quality of the Khatatba sandstones. Fluvial channel sandstones have the highest porosities and permeabilities, in part because of calcite cementation, which inhibited authigenic clays or was later dissolved, creating intergranular secondary porosity. Fluvial crevasse‐splay and marine sandstones have the lowest reservoir quality because of an abundance of depositional kaolinite matrix and pervasive, shallow‐burial calcite and quartz overgrowth cements, respectively. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Mineral Geochemical Discrimination of the Calcite Crystals in the Pores of Upper Ordovician Limestone and Its Environmental Significance: Take Tazhong Oilfield of Tarim Basin for Example

Based on the analysis of the morphology, order, cathodoluminescence and microelement of the calcite crystals in the pores of Upper Ordovician limestone in Tazhong oilfield of Tarim Basin, this paper suggest that the calcite crystals can divided 11 kinds of cements into three stages, and confirms their cementation sequence characteristics and formation environment. First stage of the cementation occurred on the bottom of the diagenetic environment, the product of which mainly are microcrystalline, fine shape, radiation fibrous, fasciculation, radiation axis shape calcites and a ball-like aragonite, whose filling pore is 0%–30%; the second one occurred in the atmospheric fresh water environment, with main cement types of crescent or pendulous shape, vadose silt, hyperplasia of coaxial, the filling pore of which is 5%–100%; the third one occurred in a burial environment, the crystals of which are bright and thick, mainly coarse sparry and poikilitic calcite, with filling pore of 5%–5%. In this paper, influence from each stage of cementation on porosity is analyzed, and pore evolution is established.     

安塞油田长2油层成岩作用及其对储层物性的影响

安塞地区长2油层储层以中细粒长石砂岩为主，主要成岩矿物为绿泥石环边、方解石胶结物、石英和长石加大生长、伊利石、伊一蒙混层、钠长石和高岭石等。绿泥石环边的发育对原生粒间孔的保存起到有利的作用。石英加大级别达Ⅲ级，加大边含有丰富的有机包体，均一温度范围48．1～76．5℃，烃类进入储层的时间为早白垩世中期至晚白垩世。储层发育多种孔隙类型，面孔率平均为11．60％．主要类型有粒间孔、骨架颗粒溶孔和微裂缝等。残余粒间孔和骨架颗粒溶孔是本区长2储层的主要孔隙类型。根据成岩作用的矿物岩石学标志、有机质成熟度及古温度，将长2油层砂岩的成岩作用划分为3个成岩阶段：早成岩阶段、晚成岩阶段和表生成岩阶段。储层性质明显地受到沉积微相和成岩作用的影响，沉积物粒度较粗、厚度较大的分流河道储集物性明显优于各种粒度较细、厚度较薄的分流间席状砂体。     

Petrography and geochemistry of Paleocene–Eocene limestones in the Ching-dar syncline, eastern Iran

The Ching-dar syncline is located to the west of the city of Birjand, in the east of han. The ca. 500 m thick studied section at the eastern flank of the syncline contains a sequence of almost continuous shallow- marine limestones that exhibit no major sedimentary breaks or evidence for volcanic activity. Skeletal grains consist of large benthic foraminifera and green algae whereas non-skeletal grains are mostly peloids and intraclasts. They were deposited on a shallow-marine carbonate ramp. The limestones have undergone extensive diagenetic processes with varying intensities, the most important of which are micritization, cementation, compaction （chemical and mechanical）, internal filling and stylolitization. Chemical analysis of the limestone samples revealed high calcium and low magnesium content. Major and minor element values were used to determine the original carbonate mineralogy of these lime- stones. Petrographic evidence and elemental values indicate that calcite was the original carbonate mineral in the limestones of the Ching-dar syncline. The elemental composition of the Ching-dar car- bonates also demonstrates that they have stabilized in a meteoric phreatic environment. Variation of Sr/ Ca vs. Mn values suggests that diagenetic alteration occurred in an open geochemical system.     

Porosity in chalk – roles of elastic strain and plastic strain

Chalks originate as Cretaceous to Recent pelagic or hemipelagic calcareous ooze, which indurate via burial diagenesis to chalk and limestone. Because they accumulate in pelagic settings with high environmental continuity, chalks may form thick formations and even groups. For this reason, and because chalks have a simple mineralogy (low magnesium calcite, silica and clays), they are ideal for the study of diagenetic processes including the depth-related decrease of porosity. It is the aim of this study to illustrate how the evaluation of in situ elastic strain can help in understanding these processes including the interplay between stress-controlled diagenetic processes and processes furthered by thermal energy. Petrophysical core and well data can be used for analyses of how porosity reduction via pore collapse and pressure dissolution is related to in situ elastic strain. The data in question are: depth, density of overburden, pore pressure, ultrasonic P-wave velocity and dry density/porosity. The analysis reveals that the transition from ooze to chalk is associated with high elastic strain and consequent pressure dissolution at calcite–particle contacts causing contact cementation. The transition from chalk to limestone is also associated with high elastic strain, especially at clay–calcite interphases causing development of stylolites via pressure dissolution, and consequent pore-filling cementation. Following each transformation the elastic strain drops rapidly. The observation of this diagenesis-related pattern in elastic strain of the sedimentary rock is novel and should not only be helpful in understanding the porosity development in sedimentary basins, but also add basic scientific insight.     

歧口凹陷沙河街组火山岩成岩作用及对储集性能的控制

根据岩心观察资料,利用偏光显微镜、扫描电镜等对歧口凹陷沙河街组火山岩的成岩作用进行了详细地研究,把成岩作用类型分为早期和晚期两个阶段、13种成岩作用类型。根据成岩作用阶段划分依据,结合盆地埋藏-热演化史和烃类充注史等资料,将歧口凹陷沙河街组火成岩成岩作用阶段划分为早期和晚期两个阶段。火成岩共发生了3期溶蚀作用、2期构造作用、2期油气充注作用,以及绿泥石、硅质、碳酸盐等胶结作用。主要成岩序列为溶蚀作用Ⅰ→构造作用Ⅰ→栉壳状绿泥石→细纤维状绿泥石→硅质Ⅰ→较粗纤维状绿泥石→烃类充注Ⅰ→硅质充填Ⅱ→亮晶方解石Ⅰ→构造作用Ⅱ→溶蚀作用Ⅱ→烃类充注Ⅱ→亮晶方解石Ⅱ→铁方解石→硅质充填Ⅲ→溶蚀作用Ⅲ。成岩作用对储集性能的控制具有改善和破坏的双重作用,对储集性能具有改善作用的成岩作用类型有挥发分逸出作用、熔蚀作用、冷凝收缩作用、脱玻化作用、机械压实破裂作用、风化淋滤溶蚀作用、次生溶蚀作用。对储集性能具有破坏作用的成岩作用类型有熔结作用、充填作用、机械压实压溶作用、胶结作用。     

鄂尔多斯盆地古隆起东北侧马五41储层膏模孔类型及充填过程分析

利用岩芯和薄片资料,通过薄片孔隙描述、铸体薄片图像分析等方法,在对研究区马五₄1储层孔隙类型划分的基础上,详细划分了膏模孔充填类型,并对其充填过程进行了阐述。研究结果表明,研究区马五₄1储层主要发育溶蚀孔（膏模孔和其他溶孔）、晶间孔、晶间溶孔、微裂缝4种类型的孔隙,且以膏模孔为主。通过镜下薄片对膏模孔内不同充填物观察发现,充填物主要为白云石、方解石、硬石膏,其中半充填的膏模孔中主要充填物为白云岩粉砂、白云岩粉砂+石英、白云岩粉砂+铁白云石3种类型,而全充填的膏模孔中主要充填物为白云岩粉砂+方解石、白云岩粉砂+石英+方解石、白云岩粉砂+硬石膏3种类型。综合分析认为膏模孔是含膏云岩中石膏等易溶晶体溶蚀后,晶体轮廓保留而形成的,首先裸露风化壳期先充填白云岩粉砂和深灰色方解石,其次深埋藏期充填自生石英、白色亮晶方解石、铁白云石及硬石膏。     

陕甘宁盆地庆阳地区长8油层砂岩成岩作用及其对储层性质的影响

庆阳地区长8油层为湖泊三角洲前缘沉积。水下分流河道和河口砂坝组成的指状砂坝控制了水下三角洲沉积格局。砂岩主要由细砂和少量中砂组成,砂岩类型主要为细粒岩屑长石砂岩和长石岩屑砂岩。主要成岩矿物为绿泥石环边、方解石胶结物、石英和长石加大生长、伊利石、伊-蒙混层、钠长石和高岭石等。绿泥石环边的发育对原生粒间孔的保存起到有利的作用,对石英和长石加大起到抑制作用。烃类注入时储层埋深已较大,不利于孔隙保存。储层发育粒间孔隙、粒内溶孔、铸模孔隙、特大孔隙、裂缝孔隙和微孔隙等多种孔隙类型,其中以粒间孔隙最为发育。局部发育的特大孔隙和伸长状孔隙表明该区发生了一定规模的次生溶蚀作用。长8油层主要受埋藏作用的影响,成岩演化处于晚成岩A期。主要成岩相类型为绿泥石环边胶结成岩相、压实充填成岩相、压实压溶成岩相和碳酸盐胶结成岩相,不同成岩相类型决定了油气储层性质不同,绿泥石环边胶结成岩相构成了本区最好的储层类型。     

Deformation bands in chalk,examples from the Shetland Group of the Oseberg Field,North Sea,Norway

Deformation bands are described in detail for the first time in carbonate rock from the subsurface and in chalk from the North Sea. The samples are from 2200 to 2300 m below sea level, in upper Maastrichtian to Danian chalk in the Oseberg Field. The deformation bands were investigated using thin-section analysis, SEM and computed tomography (CT). There is a reduction in porosity from 30 to 40% in the matrix to ca. 10% or less inside the deformation bands. They have apparent thicknesses ranging from less than 0.05–0.5 mm and have previously often been referred to as hairline fractures. Their narrowness is probably the reason why these features have not previously been recognised as deformation bands. The deformation bands in chalk are very thin compared to deformation bands in sandstone and carbonate grainstones which have mm to cm widths. This is suggested to be due to the fine grain size of the chalk matrix (2–10 μm), and it appears to be a positive correlation between grain-size and width of deformation bands. The deformation bands are suggested to have been formed as compactional shear bands during mechanical compaction, and also related to faulting.     

Origin of subaerial Holocene calcareous crusts: role of algae, fungi and sparmicritisation

The Pleistocene Miami Limestone that crops out on the lower Florida Keys is overlain by thin (16 cm or less), discontinuous, Holocene calcareous crusts (caliche) that are usually laminated, composed dominantly of calcite micrite and may or may not incorporate part of the underlying limestone. Both allochems and sparry calcite cement in the former unit contain endolithic algae and fungi, borings and unicellular algae. Biogenic structures identical to those in the Miami Limestone also occur in the calcareous crusts but are somewhat less abundant in the latter unit versus the former unit. The calcareous crusts were formed in the vadose diagenetic environment. Some of the CaCO₃ necessary for the micrite that comprises the bulk of the crusts was probably derived from solution of carbonate from a soil cover and some from wind blown salt spray. Most of the micrite, however, was formed by replacement of the uppermost portions of the Miami Limestone. Replacement involved micritisation of allochems and a previously unreported process, sparmicritisation, the degrading recrystallization of sparry calcite to micrite. Minor sparmicritisation was caused by micrite calcification of endolithic fungi or algae within sparry calcite cement or by micrite precipitation in empty borings within such cement. Most sparmicritisation took place by dissolution of sparry calcite and concomitant precipitation of micrite in the space occupied previously by the dissolved spar. Such sparmicritisation is interpreted to be caused by chemical reactions involving the crystals, pore water which is moving slowly but steadily and organic compounds released during bacterial decomposition of fungi, algae or both. It is recognized that sparmicritisation occurs in the marine diagenetic environment and is not, therefore, necessarily indicative of vadose diagenesis. Incomplete sparmicritisation is responsible for some of the clotted textures typically found within calcareous crusts and may explain such textures in many other carbonate rock types. A combination of sparmicritisation and micritisation has probably greatly influenced the porosity of many reefs and, in some cases, led to the formation of ‘micritic reefs’.     

The Vigny limestones: a record of Palaeocene (Danian) tectonic-sedimentary events in the Paris Basin

Danian marine sedimentation in the Paris Basin occurred between two major erosional phases. The earlier was responsible for the stripping of presumably deposited Maastrichtian sediments and of a variable thickness of Campanian chalk. The later occurred during the late Palaeocene and resulted in the erosion of almost all Danian deposits, which are now limited to small and scattered outcrops. One of these outcrops corresponds to reefal and peri‐reefal limestones of middle to late Danian age, exposed in the quarries of Vigny (NW of Paris). Danian deposits here show intricate relations with the surrounding Campanian chalk. Danian sedimentation was contemporaneous with faulting, which generated signifiant sea‐floor relief and resulted in contrasting depositional areas: topographic highs with coralgal reefs, and depressions where calcirudite channel fill accumulated. Normal faulting occurred along WNW–ESE master faults. The generation of submarine fault scarps gave rise to various types of gravity‐driven phenomena, including the sliding and slumping of large blocks of reefal limestone and the deposition of carbonate debris flows. Along with the redeposition of the Danian carbonates, flows of fluidized and reworked Campanian chalk resulted from the peculiar physical properties of the undercompacted chalks. Erosion and faulting occurred predominantly during the Palaeocene and represent a major episode in the physiographic evolution of the Paris Basin.     

Contrasting diagenesis of two Carboniferous Oolites from South Wales: a tale of climatic influence

Two oolites in the Dinantian (Mississippian/Lower Carboniferous) of Glamorgan, SW Britain, were deposited in similar depositional environments but have contrasting diagenetic histories. The Brofiscin and Gully Oolites occur in the upper parts of shallowing-upward sequences, formed through strandplain progradation and sand shoal and barrier growth upon a southward-dipping carbonate ramp. The Brofiscin Oolite is characterized by a first-generation cement of equant calcite spar, preferentially located at grain-contacts and forming non-isopachous fringes around grains, interpreted as meteoric vadose and phreatic in origin. Isopachous fibrous calcite fringes of marine origin are rather rare and occur only at a few horizons. Burial compaction was not important and porosity was occluded by poikilotopic calcite spar. Fitted grain-grain contacts locally occur and could be the result of near-surface vadose dissolution-compaction. Syntaxial overgrowths on echinoderm debris are common. Pre-compaction overgrowths are cloudy (inclusion-rich) and probably of meteoric origin, and post-compaction overgrowths are inclusion-free. By contrast, the Gully Oolite has little first-generation cement. However, marine fibrous calcite is common in oolitic intraclasts, as isopachous fringes of acicular calcite crystals closely associated with peloidal internal sediment; and early equant, drusy calcite spar occurs in the uppermost part of the Gully, beneath a prominent palaeokarst where pedogenic cements also occur. The major feature of Gully diagenesis is burial compaction, resulting in extensive grain-grain dissolution and microstylolitic grain contacts, and post-compaction poikilotopic spar occluded remaining porosity. The Brofiscin Oolite is pervasively dolomitized up-dip but the Gully Oolite for the most part only contains scattered pre-compaction dolomite rhombs and late veins of baroque dolomite, with less pervasive dolomitization. The difference in diagenetic style of the two Dinantian oolites is attributed to prevailing climate. The paucity of early meteoric cements in the Gully is a result of an arid climate, and this is supported by the nature of the capping palaeokarst. The abundant meteoric cements in the Brofiscin reflect a more humid climate, and effective meteoric recharge also resulted in up-dip pervasive mixing-zone dolomitization. The style of early diagenesis in these two oolites exerted a major control on the later burial diagenesis: in the Brofiscin, the early cements inhibited grain-grain dissolution and pressure solution, while these processes operated extensively in the Gully Oolite. Thus, prevailing climate can influence a limestone's diagenetic history from near-surface through into deep burial.     

Mg and Sr distribution in carbonate rocks from the Maastrichtian/Danian boundary of the Danish subbasin and the North Sea Central Graben

Examination of the Mg and Sr concentrations in carbonate rocks in a number of sections provides the basis for the establishment of two geochemical facies within the region studied: (1) a basinal facies, including the axial part of the Danish Subbasin and the North Sea Central Graben, indicating relatively stable geochemical conditions; and (2) an eastern marginal facies in the Danish Subbasin reflecting unstable geochemical conditions and distinguished by partial cementation and increasing Mg and Sr concentrations towards the northeastern limits of the basin. A slight microtextural variation in the chalk between the basinal and marginal facies indicates that the origin and composition of the biogenic carbonate components strongly influence the bulk-rock geochemistry.

The elemental distribution reveals a negative correlation between the Mg and Sr concentrations in the topmost Maastrichtian chalk, expressed by increasing Mg and decreasing Sr upwards towards the Maastrichtian/Danian boundary. This relation occurs in both geochemical facies and in all sections studied and is believed to have been governed by changing physicochemical conditions in the late Maastrichtian sea.     

Diagenetic development of a Precambrian limestone as interpreted from a modern analogue

A strong correlation in the geometry and mineralogy of two cement generations of a Quaternary with a Precambrian calcarenite enables us to reconstruct the diagenetic history of the Precambrian limestone. Both calcarenites contain two cement generations (A and B) of which A consists of dolomite, B of calcite. The following diagenetic stages can be recognized: after deposition of the allochems in a shallow marine environment, cementation in the intertidal zone with magnesian calcite (cement A) led to the formation of beachrock (Stage 1). By lowering of the sea level, the beach rock was shifted into the supratidal zone, but still remained under the predominant influence of the sea water (breakers, spray). During longer periods of aridity, the magnesian calcite of cement A and of the allochems was transformed into dolomite by brines derived from sea water with very high Mg/Ca ratio (> 15), whereas aragonite and calcite remained unaffected. After further lowering of the sea, an increasing influence of meteoric water caused the wet transformation of aragonitic allochems to sparry calcite and to the precipitation of sparry calcitic cement B.     

黄骅坳陷三马地区中-深部储层成岩作用及主控因素分析

黄骅坳陷三马地区储集岩样品的显微特征及成岩矿物的组合关系分析结果表明，三马地区下第三系中深层储层主要处于晚成岩A期，成岩现象包括石英、长石的次生加大、碳酸盐矿物胶结作用、矿物交代作用、溶解作用和粘土矿物转化作用等。其中石英次生加大于2700m左右开始出现，随埋深增大，石英增生加强；长石次生加大现象不十分普遍；碳酸盐胶结作用包括早期自生泥晶方解石胶结作用、连晶方解石和晚期白云石(或铁方解石)的胶结作用。在扫描电镜下可见到方解石与含铁方解石集合体充填在粒间孔隙中或与石英、钠长石及粘土矿物共生，白云岩多呈菱形粒状分布于粒间；常见的交代现象主要有方解石交代长石、石英及粘土矿物，粘土矿物交代长石、石英等；溶解作用主要有长石的溶解、碳酸盐颗粒的溶解和方解石胶结物的溶解等，粘土矿物的转化主要为蒙脱石、高岭石向伊利石(或绿泥石)转化。还讨论了储层岩相、岩性特征、孔隙水中有机酸含量、早期方解石的充填、烃类早期注入等因素对储层成岩演化的控制作用。     

四川盆地东北部地区长兴组碳酸盐岩成岩作用及储层孔隙演化

以四川盆地东北部长兴组碳酸盐岩为研究对象,应用薄片、铸体、阴极发光和X射线衍射等室内分析技术,对其成岩作用、成岩演化序列、储层孔隙演化及其特征进行了详细研究。研究区常见的成岩作用有：压实压溶作用、胶结作用、充填作用、交代作用、白云化作用、重结晶作用、溶蚀作用、破裂作用等成岩作用。其中对储层孔隙发育影响较大的主要是胶结作...     

Diagenetically formed ooids and intraclasts in South African calcretes

Certain South African calcrete (caliche) beds contain structures that very closely resemble normal marine ooids and intraclasts. The ooids/intraclasts are actually non-marine in origin, and were formed by an in situ process of calcretization and selective neomorphism. The term ‘diagenetic ooids/intraclasts’ is thus applied to distinguish these grains from marine ooids/intraclasts. Quaternary calcretes contain the only known ooids/intraclasts in any South African Cretaceous or Cainozoic rocks. The diagenetic grains are believed to have formed in the following manner. Rain water percolates through an unlithified calcareous sand deposit, dissolving carbonate along its downward path. This carbonate-laden water is eventually checked in its descent and drawn upward somewhat by capillary action. Evaporation and soil suction in the uppermost zones of the sediment body cause precipitation of a concentric coating of carbonate mud around individual grains (incipient ooids) or composites of grains (incipient intraclasts). As this dissolution-precipitation cycle is repeated the micritic coatings thicken and locally push grains apart. At this stage three things can happen: (a) sparry calcite may be introduced as an intergranular cement (very rare in these calcretes), (b) wet carbonate mud may fill the pore spaces and lithify to micrite (common), or (c) wet carbonate mud may fill the pore spaces and neomorphose to microspar (common). The last process causes ooids/intraclasts to stand out distinctively, since they are opaque, micrite-coated grains set in a fabric of clear microspar. This selective neomorphism of the micritic mud in pore spaces, rather than the micritic mud forming ooids/intraclasts, is probably a function of rapidity of lithification. The micrite of the coatings must have lithified quickly, before neomorphic crystal enlargement could occur, whereas lithification of the intergranular mud was delayed long enough for the growth of microspar crystals.     

Evolution diagénétique dans la craie pélagique dolomitisée du crétacé supérieur du bassin de Paris (région de Provins, France)

Two deep scientific boreholes, named Poigny 701 and Sainte-Colombe 702, located in the Paris Basin near Provins (Seine-et-Marne, France), recovered a complete Upper Cretaceous chalk succession. A correlation between the boreholes lithostratigraphy, reflexion seismic profiles and diagenetic patterns shows that major velocity variations measured in the seismic reflection profiles correspond to dolomitized chalk intervals. Dolomitisations occurred during early and burial diagenesis. The understanding of these complex diagenetic events has an important economic consequence on the static correction of the chalk formation in the Paris Basin. Optimisation of petroleum prospecting below chalk cover is thus possible. The chalk series of the 701 and 702 boreholes range from the Cenomanian to the upper Campanian. In this succession, micrite has a primarily biogenic origin; it consists of pelagic organisms, indicative of warm seawater with values around 25°C. Several hiatuses occur in the 701 borehole. These hiatuses indicate the existence of particular hydrodynamic conditions. Deep-water channels were locally recognised in the Paris Basin as in Normandy and Picardy. In the 702 borehole, massive dolomitisation affected the upper meters of sediment below the sea floor. This early phase of massive dolomitisation was induced by slow circulation of a magnesium-rich seawater mass, along the seawater/sediment interface. Thus, this area was a zone of intense marine circulation between the North-West infralittoral and the South-West bathyal domains, across the London-Paris Basin. Magnesium-rich seawater had as origin the recrystallisation of the biogenic peri-plateform carbonates. During both dolomitisation and dissolution of the calcite matrix of the massive dolomite, the calcite had cemented chalk around the massive dolomite body. After deposition, the chalk series was progressively compacted and lithified by burial calcite cement. During the late Campanian-Maastrichtian, the burial compaction of the chalk and thermal gradient reached their maximum, as compressive stresses from the Pyrenean orogenesis affected the Paris Basin. At this time, compaction of the massive dolomite induced the expulsion of magnesian-rich fluids into the underlying already compacted chalk series. In 702 borehole, a diffuse dolomitisation then affected strongly underlying the chalk series. In 701 borehole, this diffuse dolomitisation affected slightly the lower half of the chalk series. Laterally, dolomitisation decreases gradually and affected a only smaller thickness of the chalk series, disappearing laterally. During the progressive emergence of the Paris Basin, from the Paleogene to the Quaternary, the chalk series were partially invaded by continental fresh water. Thus partial dedolomitisation affected the massive dolomite, whereas total dedolomitisation affected only the upper first meters of it.Manuscrit reçu le 20 juin 2003 Révision acceptée le 9 septembre 2004     

Shallow subsurface diagenesis of Pleistocene periplatform ooze: northern Bahamas

Previous studies on early submarine diagenesis of periplatform carbonates have implied that these originally polymineralic (aragonite, magnesian calcite, calcite) sediments are susceptible to early diagenesis only in current-swept open seaways or where surficially exposed by erosion on the seafloor. It has also been proposed that while in the shallow subsurface, periplatform oozes retain their original mineralogy for at least 200,000–400,000 yr and remain unlithified for tens of millions of years. Evidence is reported here for extensive calcitization and selective lithification of periplatform oozes of late Pleistocene age in two piston cores collected from water depths of ～ 1,000 m north of Little Bahama Bank. It is shown that shallow (<30 m) subsurface diagenesis can significantly alter the original mineralogy of periplatform oozes to predominantly calcite in less than 440,000 yr, and that cementation by calcite can produce chalk-ooze sequences within the same time-frame. Periplatform oozes that originally contain a high percentage of bank-derived magnesian calcite appear to have a higher diagenetic potential than those originally low in magnesian calcite. Shallow subsurface calcitization and fithification greatly reduce the diagenetic potential of periplatform carbonates, and chalk-ooze sequences apparently can persist for tens of millions of years and to burial depths of at least 300 m. Shallow subsurface diagenesis, at water depths > 1,000 m, proceeds via dissolution of magnesian calcite and aragonite and reprecipitation of calcite as allochem fillings, exterior overgrowths and cement. It is speculated that density-driven ‘Kohout convection‘, where seawaters under-saturated with respect to magnesian calcite and aragonite and saturated/supersaturated with respect to calcite flow through the margins of carbonate platforms, is the primary driving mechanism for shallow subsurface diagenesis. Removal of Mg during early stages of deep seafloor and shallow subsurface diagenesis should increase the Mg content of interstitial waters which is likely to increase the ‘dolomitizing potential’ of Kohout convection fluid flow.     

Stylolites, porosity, depositional texture, and silicates in chalk facies sediments. Ontong Java Plateau – Gorm and Tyra fields, North Sea

Comparison of chalk on the Ontong Java Plateau and chalk in the Central North Sea indicates that, whereas pressure dissolution is controlled by effective burial stress, pore-filling cementation is controlled by temperature. Effective burial stress is caused by the weight of all overlying water and sediments as counteracted by the pressure in the pore fluid, so the regional overpressure in the Central North Sea is one reason why the two localities have different relationships between temperature and effective burial stress. In the chalk of the Ontong Java Plateau the onset of calcite-silicate pressure dissolution around 490 m below sea floor (bsf) corresponds to an interval of waning porosity-decline, and even the occurrence of proper stylolites from 830 m bsf is accompanied by only minor porosity reduction. Because opal is present, the pore-water is relatively rich in Si which through the formation of Ca–silica complexes causes an apparent super-saturation of Ca and retards cementation. The onset of massive pore-filling cementation at 1100 m bsf may be controlled by the temperature-dependent transition from opal-CT to quartz. In the stylolite-bearing chalk of two wells in the Gorm and Tyra fields, the nannofossil matrix shows recrystallization but only minor pore-filling cement, whereas microfossils are cemented. Cementation in Gorm and Tyra is thus partial and has apparently not been retarded by opal-controlled pore-water. A possible explanation is that, due to the relatively high temperature, silica has equilibrated to quartz before the onset of pressure dissolution and thus, in this case, dissolution and precipitation of calcite have no lag. This temperature versus effective burial stress induced difference in diagenetic history is of particular relevance when exploring for hydrocarbons in normally pressured chalk, while most experience has been accumulated in the over-pressured chalk of the central North Sea.