New arthropod traces from the Lower Triassic Kockatea Shale Formation,northern Perth Basin,Western Australia: ichnology,taphonomy and palaeoecology

Abundant scratching traces are described from the Early Triassic Kockatea Shale Formation in the Northampton area of the northern Perth Basin, Western Australia. Except for the Radichnus trace that represents grazing of a possible decapod mecochirids, Scalpoichnus minchinensis igen. and isp. nov. is established to accommodate other scratching sculptures, which might have been produced by arthropods that share similar feeding behaviours to those of decapods. These arthropod traces occurred on a mat‐bound substratum defined by wrinkle structures. Microbial mats may have served as food resources for trace‐makers feeding on the substratum. Furthermore, microbial envelopes functioning as a sole veneer in early diagenesis acted as a crucial role for the preservation of those shallow‐tiered engraving traces. Abundant arthropod traces indicate frequent grazing activities probably by decapods or organisms having similar feeding habits upon microbial mat‐bound substratum, implying that the deposit‐feeders or omnivores survived on the matgrounds in the aftermath of the end‐Permian mass extinction in Gondwanaland. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987112000059

A lirst report on tuff beds from the Owk Shale in the Proterozoic Kurnool sub-basin in southern India is presented.The rhvolitic lo ihodacitic tuffs,overlying shclfal limestones formed at depths below storm wave base,have rheomorphic features indicative of viscoplaslic flow.and geochemical signatures of rhvolitic to rhyodacitic unwekled to welded tuffs,similar to those described from other Proterozoic intracratonie basins like Vindhvan and Chhattisgarh basins in India.Fragmentary naiure of altered glass with perlitic cracks and local admixture with intrabasinal sediments suggest phreatomagmatic reactions.The widespread and repealed occurrences of felsic luffs in these basins.possibly derived from low degree melting of continental crust.suggest intermittent(ectonothermal instability which likely intluenced hasinal topography and cyclic development of the carbonate platforms.     

Rubidium‐strontium geochronology of the encounter bay granite and adjacent Metasedimentary rocks,South Australia

Rubidium‐strontium and strontium isotope data for eight whole‐rock samples of granite varieties from the Encounter Bay area, South Australia, yield an isochron age of 487 ± 37 m.y. Two specimens of albitised granite, formed as a result of late‐stage metasomatic alteration of original megacrystic granite, conform to this isochron. These data support a genetic relation between granites and late‐stage metasomatic alteration as suspected from field, petrographical and geochemical studies. Eight samples from contiguous Kanmantoo Group metasedimentary rocks have an isochron age of 487 ± 60 m.y. Thus this metamorphic event is coincident with emplacement of the Encounter Bay Granite.

The initial Sr⁸⁷Sr⁸⁶ ratio for the Encounter Bay Granite (0.719) is significantly higher than initial ratios for the Palmer (0.709) and Anabama (0.705) Granites from the same region and can be attributed to either remobilisation or incorporation of strontium from older crustal material in the intrusion. The apparent initial Sr⁸⁷/Sr⁸⁶ ratio for the Kanmantoo Group metasedimentary rocks (0.722) can not be distinguished from that for the Encounter Bay Granite within the analytical uncertainties. Compatability of ages and high initial Sr⁸⁷Sr⁸⁶ ratios suggest that the granites formed by remobilisation of associated crustal rock.     

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。     

Stable carbon isotopic ratios of CH4-CO2-bearing fluid inclusions in fracture-fill mineralization from the Lower Saxony Basin (Germany) - A tool for tracing gas sources and maturity

The stable carbon isotopic ratios (δ¹³C) of methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) of gas-rich fluid inclusions hosted in fracture-fill mineralization from the southern part of the Lower Saxony Basin, Germany have been measured online using a crushing device interfaced to an isotopic ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS). The data reveal that CH₄ trapped in inclusions seems to be derived from different source rocks with different organic matter types. The δ¹³C values of CH₄ in inclusions in quartz hosted by Carboniferous rocks range between −25 and −19‰, suggesting high-maturity coals as the source of methane. Methane in fluid inclusions in minerals hosted by Mesozoic strata has more negative carbon isotope ratios (−45 to −31‰) and appears to represent primary cracking products from type II kerogens, i.e., marine shales. There is a positive correlation between increasing homogenization temperatures of aqueous fluid inclusions and less negative δ¹³C(CH₄) values of in co-genetic gas inclusions probably indicating different mtaturity of the potential source rocks at the time the fluids were released. The CO₂ isotopic composition of CH₄-CO₂-bearing inclusions shows slight negative or even positive δ¹³C values indicating an inorganic source (e.g., water-rock interaction and dissolution of detrital, marine calcite) for CO₂ in inclusions. We conclude that the δ¹³C isotopic ratios of CH₄-CO₂-bearing fluid inclusions can be used to trace migration pathways, sources of gases, and alteration processes. Furthermore, the δ¹³C values of methane can be used to estimate the maturity of the rocks from which it was sourced. Results presented here are further supported by organic geochemical analysis of surface bitumens which coexist with the gas inclusion-rich fracture-fill mineralization and confirm the isotopic interpretations with respect to fluid source, type and maturity.     

An integral-balance nonlinear model to simulate changes in soil moisture,groundwater and surface runoff dynamics at the hillslope scale

We present a system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) capable of reproducing simultaneously the aggregated behavior of changes in water storage in the hillslope surface, the unsaturated and the saturated soil layers and the channel that drains the hillslope. The system of equations can be viewed as a two-state integral-balance model for soil moisture and groundwater dynamics. Development of the model was motivated by the need for landscape representation through hillslopes and channels organized following stream drainage network topology. Such a representation, with the basic discretization unit of a hillslope, allows ODEs-based simulation of the water transport in a basin. This, in turn, admits the use of highly efficient numerical solvers that enable space–time scaling studies. The goal of this paper is to investigate whether a nonlinear ODE system can effectively replicate observations of water storage in the unsaturated and saturated layers of the soil. Our first finding is that a previously proposed ODE hillslope model, based on readily available data, is capable of reproducing streamflow fluctuations but fails to reproduce the interactions between the surface and subsurface components at the hillslope scale. However, the more complex ODE model that we present in this paper achieves this goal. In our model, fluxes in the soil are described using a Taylor expansion of the underlying storage flux relationship. We tested the model using data collected in the Shale Hills watershed, a 7.9-ha forested site in central Pennsylvania, during an artificial drainage experiment in August 1974 where soil moisture in the unsaturated zone, groundwater dynamics and surface runoff were monitored. The ODE model can be used as an alternative to spatially explicit hillslope models, based on systems of partial differential equations, which require more computational power to resolve fluxes at the hillslope scale. Therefore, it is appropriate to be coupled to runoff routing models to investigate the effect of runoff and its uncertainty propagation across scales. However, this improved performance comes at the expense of introducing two additional parameters that have no obvious physical interpretation. We discuss the implications of this for hydrologic studies across scales.     

A review and research on comprehensive characterization of microscopic shale gas reservoir space

In this paper, substantial domestic and foreign research results of microscopic shale reservoir space were systemically reviewed, the research history consisting of simple observation and qualitative classification, quantitative research, the combination of qualitative and quantitative research successively as well as the characteristics of each research stage were summarized. In addition, the current problems existing in the characterization methods of shale reservoir space were also analyzed. Furthermore, based on massive actual detection of typical core samples obtained from more than 50 global shale gas wells and relevant practical experience, a comprehensive characterization method of combining qualitative with the semi-quantitative characterization was put forward. In detail, the indicators of the qualitative characterization include pore combination type and organic-matter microscopic morphology type, while the core elements of the semi-quantitative characterization include the percentage of the organic-matter area and the plane porosity of the pores of different types. Based on the reference of the naming and classification of rocks, the three-end-member diagram method was used to characterize microscopic shale reservoir space. This is achieved by plotting the three end-member diagram of 3 kinds of first-order critical reservoir spaces, i.e., organic-matter pores, matrix pores, and micro-fractures, in order to intuitively present the features of the microscopic pore combination. Meanwhile, statistic histograms of organic-matter microscopic morphology type and the plane porosity of different types of pores were adopted to characterize the development degree of second-order pores quantitatively. By this comprehensive characterization method, the importance of both pore combination and the microscopic morphology of organic matter were emphasized, revealing the control of organic-matter microscopic morphology over the organic-matter pores. What is more, high-resolution FE-SEM was adopted to obtain semi-quantitative statistics results. In this way, the features of pore development and pore combination were quantified, not only reflecting the types and storage capacity of the microscopic shale reservoir space, but also presenting the hydrocarbon-generating potential of organic matter in shale. Therefore, the results of this research are capable of providing in-depth microscopic information for the assessment and exploration and development of shale gas resources.     

尼日尔三角洲的重力滑动构造

位于南大西洋东岸被动大陆边缘之上的尼日尔三角洲发育一大型重力滑动构造。自非洲大陆向南大西洋方向,该重力滑动构造可以划分出前缘挤压构造变形区和后缘拉张构造变形区。前缘挤压构造变形,形成褶皱冲断带;后缘拉张构造变形,形成堑垒构造;两者之间的过渡带发育滑脱褶皱。三角洲沉积的时代为始新世—第四纪,地层剖面自下而上依次是海相页岩(Akata组)、近海三角洲相砂岩—页岩互层(Agbada组)和陆相冲积砂岩(Benin组)。3个岩石地层单元都是穿时的,向大洋方向变新。重力滑动构造的主滑脱面位于Akata海相页岩中。根据生长地层、不整合以及卷入变形的地层时代,重力滑动构造起始于约12 Ma,伴生有广泛发育的泥构造。重力滑动构造的形成可能与新生代喀麦隆火山带(Cameroon volcanic line)的火山活动有一定的关系。     

Characterization of electrical properties of organic-rich shales at nano/micro scales

A new experimental protocol is explored to characterize electrical properties of hydrocarbon-bearing mudrocks at nano/micro scales. Two current flow regimes of peak force - tunneling atomic force microscopy (PF-TUNA) have been used: (1) the vertical out-of-plane current regime with hundred micrometer diameter top electrodes obtains homogenized conductivity quantitatively, (2) the horizontal in-plane current regime was shown powerful to visualize the conductive paths (related to connectivity and tortuosity) for heterogeneous and anisotropic shales. Results show that the approach works well with one to two layers of adsorbed water (25–55% relative humidity) under low frequency (0.5–20 Hz) for shale rocks. Current maps with sub-nanometer resolution emphasize the dominant role of hydrated ions associated with the hydrophilic clay minerals in driving the dielectric response of shales, while conductivity of pyrite and kerogen cannot be neglected for mature organic-rich shale conductive network. The acquired I-V curves at microscale provide a reliable mean to evaluate homogenized conductivity of such multiscale multi-component heterogeneous material under controlled environmental conditions. The procedure discussed herein serves as a complement for fine grained rocks and minerals of ionic-electronic hybrid conductive mechanism under partially water saturation. These results can be used to develop accurate electrical models, specifically for shale rocks with heterogeneous and sophisticated microstructure. The methodology can be also extended to other micro- or meso-porous geomaterials such as cementitious and bituminous nanoporous media.     

Geochemistry,reservoir characterization and hydrocarbon generation potential of lacustrine shales: A case of YQ-1 well in the Yuqia Coalfield,northern Qaidam Basin,NW China

Ever since a breakthrough of marine shales in China, lacustrine shales have been attracting by the policy makers and scientists. Organic-rich shales of the Middle Jurassic strata are widely distributed in the Yuqia Coalfield of northern Qaidam Basin. In this paper, a total of 42 shale samples with a burial depth ranging from 475.5 m to 658.5 m were collected from the Shimengou Formation in the YQ-1 shale gas borehole of the study area, including 16 samples from the Lower Member and 26 samples from the Upper Member. Geochemistry, reservoir characteristics and hydrocarbon generation potential of the lacustrine shales in YQ-1 well were preliminarily investigated using the experiments of vitrinite reflectance measurement, maceral identification, mineralogical composition, carbon stable isotope, low-temperature nitrogen adsorption, methane isothermal adsorption and rock eval pyrolysis. The results show that the Shimengou shales have rich organic carbon (averaged 3.83%), which belong to a low thermal maturity stage with a mean vitrinite reflectance (R_o) of 0.49% and an average pyrolytic temperature of the generated maximum remaining hydrocarbon (T_max) of 432.8 °C. Relative to marine shales, the lacustrine shales show low brittleness index (averaged 34.9) but high clay contents (averaged 55.1%), high total porosities (averaged 13.71%) and great Langmuir volumes (averaged 4.73 cm⁻³ g). Unlike the marine and marine-transitional shales, the quartz contents and brittleness index (BI) values of the lacustrine shales first decrease then increase with the rising TOC contents. The kerogens from the Upper Member shales are dominant by the oil-prone types, whereas the kerogens from the Lower Member shales by the gas-prone types. The sedimentary environment of the shales influences the TOC contents, thus has a close connection with the hydrocarbon potential, mineralogical composition, kerogen types and pore structure. Additionally, in terms of the hydrocarbon generation potential, the Upper Member shales are regarded as very good and excellent rocks whereas the Lower Member shales mainly as poor and fair rocks. In overall, the shales in the top of the Upper Member can be explored for shale oil due to the higher free hydrocarbon amount (S₁), whereas the shales in the Lower Member and the Upper Member, with the depths greater than 1000 m, can be suggested to explore shale gas.