Biomarker evidence for Botryococcus and a methane cycle in the Eocene Huadian oil shale,NE China

The saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons of two samples (HD-19 and HD-21) from the same section of the Middle Eocene lacustrine Huadian oil shale in NE China were identified and shown to be mainly from algal and bacterial sources. Comparison of the two samples provided an opportunity to explore the contribution from telalginite to the hydrocarbon profiles. Cells identified from microscopy as Botryococcus in the telalginite of HD-21 were confirmed as belonging to the L race of B. braunii from the presence of monoaromatic lycopane derivatives and small amounts of several lycopadienes. Lycopane was abundant and was probably derived from biohydrogenation of lycopadienes and related lipids on the basis of δ¹³C values. Hopane distributions showed a dominance of those with the biological 17β,21β-stereochemistry, as expected for an immature shale, with low amounts of 17β,21α-hopanes (moretanes) and 17α,21β-hopanes. Two hopenes were also abundant and assigned as C₂₉ and C₃₀ neohop-13(18)-enes, which occurred together with the C₂₉ and C₃₀ hop-17(21)-enes. These had depleted carbon isotope values (−43.7‰ to −50.8‰), indicative of production by methane oxidizing bacteria (methanotrophs). The high proportion of hopanoids with carbon numbers < C₃₂ indicates extensive post-depositional diagenetic alteration of bacteriohopanepolyols as well as a direct input of C₃₀ hopanoids. The data clearly indicate that there was active utilization of methane in this lacustrine depositional setting, but isoprenoid hydrocarbon biomarkers for methanogens, such as pentamethylicosane (PMI) and squalane, were in surprisingly low abundance. It is possible that these bacterial contributions were present as polar lipids. The origins of an unusual C₃₈ isoprenoid alkane assigned as bipristane are uncertain, but may be from methanogens. Steranes and sterenes were relatively minor components, but abundant diasterenes and 4-methyldiasterenes were present, reflecting significant conversion of the original lipid composition by way of clay-catalysed diagenesis. The biomarker data suggest that the bottom waters in the original depositional environment had low O₂ content, but the sediments were probably neither sulfidic nor strongly reducing. The high content of organic matter in the shale likely reflects both high (but fluctuating) productivity due to eutrophic conditions in the overlying water and good preservation in the sediments.     

深部埋藏条件下砂岩中碳酸盐胶结物的成因及储层改造——以济阳坳陷始新统孔店组为例

济阳坳陷始新统孔店组深部碎屑岩中普遍发育碳酸盐胶结物。依据普通薄片、扫描电镜、X衍射、阴极发光、流体包裹体测温和碳氧同位素等实验结果,对济阳坳陷始新统孔店组深部砂岩中的碳酸盐胶结物进行了深入研究。结果表明:碳酸盐胶结物类型有方解石、铁方解石、铁白云石和菱铁矿等,胶结方式有早期基底式胶结、成岩期点状胶结、成岩后期裂缝充填,胶结物的纵向上和横向上分布具有一定的规律性;早期基底式胶结主要形成于原始沉积水介质的化学沉积分异作用,这种沉积分异作用主要发生在湖盆沉积的同生期,由于化学物质的饱和度分异造成;成岩期胶结物主要跟成岩演化过程中流体的自由流动、粘土矿物转化、有机质的演化和地质环境的变化有关,断裂构造活动形成的深部热液也是形成部分碳酸盐胶结物的主要原因;碳酸盐胶结物对储层具有明显的改造作用,早期基底式胶结沉淀作用对岩石储层具有强烈胶结作用和抗压实作用,成岩期碳酸盐的沉淀作用对储层空间具有明显的堵塞作用,成岩过程中的碳酸盐矿物的溶解作用提高了深部地层的储层质量。     

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.     

Crustal thickening prior to 38 Ma in southern Tibet: Evidence from lower crust-derived adakitic magmatism in the Gangdese Batholith

The petrogenesis and geodynamic implications of the Cenozoic adakites in southern Tibet remain topics of debate. Here we report geochronological and geochemical data for host granites and mafic enclaves from Wolong in the eastern Gangdese Batholith, southern Tibet. Zircon LA-ICP-MS dating indicates that the Wolong host granites and enclaves were synchronously emplaced at ca. 38 Ma. The host granites are medium- to high-K calc-alkaline, metaluminous (A/CNK = 0.93-0.96), with high Al₂O₃ (15.47-17.68%), low MgO (0.67-1.18%), very low abundances of compatible elements (e.g., Cr = 3.87-8.36 ppm, Ni = 3.04-5.71 ppm), and high Sr/Y ratios (127-217), similar to those typical of adakite. The mafic enclaves (SiO₂ = 51.08-56.29%) have 3.83-5.02% MgO and an Mg^# of 48-50, with negative Eu anomalies (δEu = 0.59-0.79). The Wolong host granites and enclaves have similar Sr-Nd isotopic compositions (initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.7053-0.7055, ε_Nd(t) = − 2.7 to − 1.4), with varying zircon ε_Hf(t) values, ranging from + 6.0 to + 12.6. A comprehensive study of the data available for adakitic rocks from the Gangdese Batholith indicates that the Wolong adakitic host granites were derived from partial melting of a thickened lower crust, while the parental magmas of the mafic enclaves were most likely derived from lithospheric mantle beneath southern Tibet. The Wolong granitoids are interpreted as the result of mixing between the thickened lower crust-derived melts and lithospheric mantle-derived mafic melts, which are likely the protracted magmatic response to the break-off of the Neo-Tethyan oceanic slab at about 50 Ma. Our results suggest that the crustal thickening in southern Tibet occurred prior to ~ 38 Ma, and support the general view that the India-Asia collision must have occurred before 40 Ma.     

桦甸盆地始新统桦甸组扇三角洲和水下扇粒度分析与对比

桦甸盆地始新统桦甸组扇三角洲主要划分出泥石流、水上分流河道、水下分流河道、河口坝、席状砂等沉积微相; 水下扇主要划分出辫状沟道和远源浊积岩等沉积微相。扇三角洲沉积物以颗粒支撑为主,自下而上按席状砂、河口坝、水下分流河道、水上分流河道、泥石流的顺序,沉积物粒度和标准偏差递增; 频率曲线尖度递减; 概率累计曲线由高--较高斜度两段式逐渐过渡为中--低斜度两段式、微向上凸的弧线式。反映出上述各微相向上粒度由细变粗的反粒序沉积特征,分选由好变差,杂基含量和水介质能量均逐渐增加。水下扇沉积普遍为杂基支撑,自下而上从远源浊积岩到辫状沟道沉积,粒径和标准偏差增大; 频率曲线尖度减小; 概率累计曲线主要由斜度较高的一段式过渡为斜度不大的一段式或微向上凸的弧线式,说明从远源浊积岩到辫状沟道微相粒度逐渐变粗,分选逐渐变差,杂基含量和水介质能量也逐渐增强。本区扇三角洲CM 图像呈“S”形,主要表现为牵引流沉积特征; 水下扇CM 图像表现为与C = M 线平行的长条带状重力流沉积特征。     

用微体古生物定量水深法对东营凹陷沙四上亚段沉积早期湖泊水深再造

东营凹陷广布的始新统沙河街组四段上亚段滩坝砂岩具有十分巨大的勘探价值和潜力。对沙河街组沙四上亚段滩坝砂体的精细勘探,要求对古水深展开水深量化再造的研究。文中在对东营凹陷47口含沙四上亚层段低位域层段多门类微体古生物分析和高分辨层序地层学地层划分基础上,确定量化估计水深的古生物替代标志,获得如下主要研究成果:(1)获得较高分辨率(2m等深线表示)的东营凹陷沙四上亚段低位体系域沉积期间古水深量化等值图;(2)东营凹陷是一个以滨浅湖(水深0～15m)为主的湖泊;(3)湖盆具"北深陡南浅缓"的特点,湖边高地或隆起向湖方向深入的岬角一带与陡坡冲积环境相邻;(4)湖盆凹陷内"东西分异"的次级地貌格局,从东向西,出现较深水区、中央深水区和西南浅水带,其长轴均为北东-南西走向。上述结果可与前人研究比较或验证,表明文中所获的多门类微体化石叠合水深量化标志和结果可信。     

Mesophotic coral buildups in a prodelta setting (Late Eocene,southern Pyrenees,Spain): a mixed carbonate–siliciclastic system

Lower Priabonian coral bioherms and biostromes, encased in prodelta marls/clays, occur in the Aínsa‐Jaca piggyback basin, in the South Central Pyrenean zone. Detailed mapping of lithofacies and bounding surfaces onto photomosaics reveals the architecture of coral buildups. Coral lithosomes occur either isolated or amalgamated in larger buildups. Isolated lithosomes are 1 to 8 m thick and a few hundred metres wide; clay content within coral colonies is significant. Stacked bioherms form low‐relief buildups, commonly 20 to 30 m thick, locally up to 50 m. These bioherms are progressively younger to the west, following progradation of the deltaic complex. The lowermost skeletal‐rich beds consist of bryozoan floatstone with wackestone to packstone matrix, in which planktonic foraminifera are abundant and light‐related organisms absent. Basal coral biostromes, and the base of many bioherms, consist of platy‐coral colonies ‘floating’ in a fine‐grained matrix rich in branches of red algae. Corals with domal or massive shape, locally mixed with branching corals and phaceloid coral colonies, dominate buildup cores. These corals are surrounded by matrix and lack organic framework. The matrix consists of wackestone to packstone, locally floatstone, with conspicuous red algal and coral fragments, along with bryozoans, planktonic and benthonic foraminifera and locally sponges. Coral rudstone and skeletal packstone, with wackestone to packstone matrix, also occur as wedges abutting the buildup margins. Integrative analysis of rock textures, skeletal components, buildup anatomy and facies architecture clearly reveal that these coral buildups developed in a prodelta setting where shifting of delta lobes or rainfall cycles episodically resulted in water transparency that allowed zooxanthellate coral growth. The bathymetric position of the buildups has been constrained from the light‐dependent communities and lithofacies distribution within the buildups. The process‐product analysis used here reinforces the hypothesis that zooxanthellate corals thrived in mesophotic conditions at least during the Late Eocene and until the Late Miocene. Comparative analysis with some selected Upper Eocene coral buildups of the north Mediterranean area show similarities in facies, components and textures, and suggest that they also grew in relatively low light (mesophotic) and low hydrodynamic conditions.     

Evolution of an organic‐rich lake basin – stratigraphy,climate and tectonics: Piceance Creek basin,Eocene Green River Formation

The Piceance Creek basin formed as a continental foreland basin ca 53 to 48 Ma in the early to middle Eocene. On a global basis, the basin contains one of the richest oil shale resources known, where the profundal oil shale deposits, kerogen‐rich mudstones (clay and carbonate), exist over most of the basin. Despite its economic importance, the evolution of the Piceance Creek basin is still somewhat unclear. Based on facies association analysis, depositional trends, and gamma ray and Fischer assay data, six evolutionary lake stages are recognized: (i) fresh lake; (ii) transitional lake; (iii) highly fluctuating lake; (iv) rising lake; (v) high lake; and (vi) closing lake. Lake stages are composed of depositional units and characterize large‐scale changes in sedimentological patterns, depositional trends and fluctuations in the oil shale richness related to changes in climate and tectonics. Lake stage evolution is also consistent with the global Eocene climate trend. Stage 1 formed prior to the Eocene climate optimum. At the beginning of the Eocene climate optimum, a saline‐restricted lake formed (Stage 2) and evolved into the highly fluctuating lake (Stage 3) indicating rapid climate changes during the peak of the Eocene climate optimum. This stage was followed by the rising and high lakes (Stages 4 and 5) after the climate optimum and during a change to a more humid climate. The closing of the lake (Stage 6) was caused by increased sand input from the north, indicating the influence of both tectonics and climate. Based on depositional trends and climate evolution, it is suggested that, during the arid climate, laterally heterogeneous highly cyclic depositional units dominate, whereas, during the humid climate, depositional units form laterally continuous sediments that can be traced over long distances.     

Magnetostratigraphy of the Ouarzazate Basin: Implications for the timing of deformation and mountain building in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco.

Two magnetostratigraphic profiles (450 samples) have been carried out to constrain the age of synorogenic formations in the southern foreland of the High Atlas of Morocco. The Amekchoud profile covers the Aït Ouglif and Aït Kandoula alluvial formations that form the bulk of the Ouarzazate basin fill, indicating an age between the upper Langhian and the Messinian (Miocene). Data obtained in the previously unexplored Hadida formation profile covers the oldest terms of the foreland basin succession, but the low quality of the magnetic record only allows proposing a tentative age between the middle Lutetian and an undetermined middle to late Eocene. The correlation of the Amekchoud profile is based on the recognition of the long C5n chron (Tortonian) in the middle part of the section studied and a new vertebrate locality of upper Tortonian age found in the upper part. These results indicate a discontinuous record of foreland basin development in the southern Atlas domain from mid Eocene to late Miocene times, punctuated by an intermediate large hiatus of 20-25 ma (late Eocene to mid Miocene). Thrusting in the Sub-Atlas frontal thrust belt began before the Aït Ouglif and Kandoula formations, probably during the Oligocene, and extends up to recent times. The alternation of periods of deposition with others of no sedimentary record, which does not coincide with specific tectonic events, results probably from the interference of orogenic deformation and the mantle-related thermal uplift events that have been described for the Moroccan Atlas.