Microbial Mats in the Mesoproterozoic Carbonates of the North China Platform and Their Potential for Hydrocarbon Generation

The well-preserved Mesoproterozoic succession in the North China platform consists mainly of three llthological associations including peritidal quartz sandstone, shallow marine and lagoonai dark to black shales, and shallow epeiric carbonates, with a total thickness of up to 8 000 m. In addition to well-documented microplants, macroalgae, and microbial buildups, abundant microbially induced sedimentary structures (MISS) and mat-related sediments have been recognized in these rocks. Intensive microbial mat layers and MISS are especially well preserved in the carbonates of the upper Gaoyuzhuang (高于庄) (ca. 1.5 Ga) and lower Wumishan (雾迷山) (ca. 1.45 Ga) formations, Indicating diversified microbial activities and a high organic production. In these petrified blomats, putative microbial fossils (both coccoidal and filamentous) and framboidal pyrites have been identified. The abundance of authigenic carbonate minerals in the host rocks, such as, acicular aragnnites, rosette barites, radial siderites, ankerites, and botryoidai carbonate cements, suggests authigenlc carbonate precipitation from anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) under anoxic/euxinic conditions. Warm climate and anoxic/euxinic conditions in the Mesoproterozoic oceans may have facilitated high microbial productivity and organic burial in sediments. Although authigenic carbonate cements may record carbonate precipitation from anaerobic methane oxidation, gas blister (or dome) structures may indicate gas release from active methanogenesls during shallow burial Bituminous fragments in mat-related carbonates also provide evidence for hydrocarbon generation. Under proper conditions, the Mesoproterozoic mat-rich carbonates will have the potential for hydrocarbon generation and serve as source rocks. On the basis of petrified biomats, a rough estimation suggests that the Mesoproterozoic carbonates of the North China platform might have a hydrocarbon production potential in theorder of 10×108t.     

中元古代微指状叠层石: 超微组构和有机矿化过程

微指状叠层石(microdigitate stromatolites,以下简称MDS)是新太古代—中元古代一种重要的沉积构造。由于其内部以纤维状组构为重要特征,而缺乏直接的微生物化石证据,被认为代表特定海洋化学条件下形成的一种海底碳酸盐沉淀,属无机成因。本文对华北中元古代雾迷山组硅化MDS的显微组构研究发现,其柱体由亚毫米级浅色微亮晶纹层(平均厚约65μm)和暗色微晶纹层(平均厚约680μm)交互叠加而成。前者含较少细菌残余,重结晶显著;后者富含细菌残余、微晶多面体及微球粒,并进一步分为具密集连续次级微纹层的(平均厚约380μm)和具稀疏断续微纹层的(平均厚约300μm)两种暗纹层。这三种纹层在纵向上的规律性交互可能反映了季节性变化。毛发状垂向纤维贯穿于整个柱体,但在亮纹层内稀疏。这种纤维可能由垂向生长的丝状菌束(宽<10μm)矿化而成,有些由微球粒(粒径为10～30μm)定向富集构成。微球粒富含细菌残余、胞外聚合物(EPS)以及与之密切共生的纳米颗粒(粒径<45nm)。纳米颗粒可粘结形成亚μm级多面体,构成碳酸盐晶体生长的基点。包围微球粒的微亮晶环边和纤维组构间的微亮晶条带内少细菌残余,可能属微生物影响的矿化成因,而纤维体和微球粒则是微生物诱发矿化的结果。故中元古代MDS属微生物成因,它所展现的有机矿化过程可能也适用于更古老的叠层石。此外,MDS内有机矿物从纳米颗粒到微球粒的有序聚合可能代表了有机矿化的普遍过程,并可用作判定微生物成因碳酸盐岩的重要标识。     

豫西栾川地区栾川群的层序、沉积环境及其构造古地理意义

运用构造分析与地层研究相结合的方法,修订了豫西栾川地区栾川群的地层层序,进而研究了栾川群的沉积环境及构造古地理特征。研究结果表明,栾川群主要为浅海一潮坪相的碳酸盐及碎屑泥质沉积,其中碎屑岩的成分和结构成熟度均较高,具有被动大陆边缘稳定型沉积特点。下栾川群沉积时期环境比较稳定,上栾川群反映沉积环境的动荡多变,可能为被动大陆边缘向主动大陆边缘转化的先期特征．     

豫西栾川地区大红口组、鱼库组的特征及其大地构造背景

本文在构造变形分析的基础上,厘定了大红口组和鱼库组的地层层序及上下关系。火山岩岩石化学特征、稀土元素及微量元素特征的研究表明,大红口组火山岩应属大陆边缘裂陷槽环境下的偏碱性粗面岩。晚元古代青白口纪与震旦纪之交,由于南部秦岭洋壳开始向华北地台俯冲,在原秦岭地块的部位发育了岛弧。岛孤以北的弧后盆地发育了以二郎坪群下部为代表的火山-碎屑沉积组合。受弧后扩张影响,更北的华北地台南缘则出现了边缘裂陷槽。大红口组和鱼库组以及其上的三岔口组,就是这种构造环境下发育的火山-沉积岩组合。