Shelf‐margin clinothem progradation,degradation and readjustment: Tanqua depocentre,Karoo Basin (South Africa)

Degradation of basin‐margin clinothems around the shelf‐edge rollover zone may lead to the generation of conduits through which gravity flows transport sediment downslope. Many studies from seismic‐reflection data sets show these features, but they lack small‐scale (centimetre to metre) sedimentary and stratigraphic observations on process interactions. Exhumed basin‐margin clinothems in the Tanqua depocentre (Karoo Basin) provide seismic‐reflection‐scale geometries and internal details of architecture with depositional dip and strike control. At the Geelhoek locality, clinothem parasequences comprise siltstone‐rich offshore deposits overlain by heterolithic prodelta facies and sandstone‐dominated deformed mouth bars. Three of these parasequences are truncated by a steep (6 to 22°), 100 m deep and 1·5 km wide asymmetrical composite erosion surface that delineates a shelf‐incised canyon. The fill, from base to top comprises: (i) thick‐bedded sandstone with intrabasinal clasts and multiple erosion surfaces; (ii) scour‐based interbedded sandstone and siltstone with tractional structures; and (iii) inverse‐graded to normal‐graded siltstone beds. An overlying 55 m thick coarsening‐upward parasequence fills the upper section of the canyon and extends across its interfluves. Younger parasequences display progressively shallower gradients during progradation and healing of the local accommodation. The incision surface resulted from initial oversteepening and high sediment supply triggering deformation and collapse at the shelf edge, enhanced by a relative sea‐level fall that did not result in subaerial exposure of the shelf edge. Previous work identified an underlying highly incised, sandstone‐rich shelf‐edge rollover zone across‐margin strike, suggesting that there was migration in the zone of shelf edge to upper‐slope incision over time. This study provides an unusual example of clinothem degradation and readjustment with three‐dimensional control in an exhumed basin‐margin succession. The work demonstrates that large‐scale erosion surfaces can develop and migrate due to a combination of factors at the shelf‐edge rollover zone and proposes additional criteria to predict clinothem incision and differential sediment bypass in consistently progradational systems.     

Discovery of the largest pterosaur from South America

A giant humerus (450 mm total length) belonging to one of the largest pterosaur recorded in South America is described. The specimen (UNCUYO-LD 350) was discovered in the Upper Cretaceous (upper Coniacian – lower Santonian) Plottier Formation of the Mendoza Province, northern Neuquén Basin, Argentina. It was found associated with a smaller pterosaur specimen represented by around thirty postcranial bones. The specimen is assigned to Tapejaroidea and show characters of both Tapejaridae and Azhdarchidae. Based on comparisions with other Azdharchidae species, a wingspan of 9.1 m is estimated for UNCUYO-LD 350, showing that giant pterosaurs were present in South America during the Upper Cretaceous.     

A new tree fern stem,Tempskya zhangii sp. nov. (Tempskyaceae) from the Cretaceous of Northeast China

A new Cretaceous tree fern species from the family Tempskyaceae, Tempskya zhangii sp. nov., from Keshan County, Heilongjiang Province, Northeast China, is described based on silicified fragments. The species is characterized by dichotomizing stems embedded in a matrix of adventitious roots, together forming a solid and compact false trunk. The dorsiventral stems are composed of solenosteles, and their internodes are short with 2–3 (rarely 4) leaf traces. A three-layered cortex includes a sclerenchymatous outer zone, parenchymatous middle zone, and an inner zone composed of sclerenchyma band and parenchyma cells. The pith consists of a parenchymatous outer zone and sclerenchymatous inner zone. The petiole has a single C- or U-shaped vascular strand. The adventitious root has diarch xylem surrounded by an inner sclerenchymatous and an outer parenchymatous cortex. In possessing these characters, T. zhangii is more similar to T. wyomingensis from the Cretaceous of North America than to other species of Tempskya. However, the Chinese species distinctly differs from T. wyomingensis in having a sclerenchymatous outer cortex, parenchymatous middle cortex, and sparse parenchyma in the xylem. It is the first record of Tempskya from China and the fourth from Asia. This species, together with Cyatheaceae, Osmundaceae, Cycadeoidaceae, and conifers found in the same region constituted the plant community at the time.     

柴达木盆地东部上石炭统克鲁克组碎屑岩储层特征及控制因素

柴达木盆地上石炭统克鲁克组是该区重要的古生界勘探层位,组内发育多套良好的碎屑岩层。为探究其岩石物性特征及控制因素,本次以野外露头调查为基础,利用普通薄片、铸体薄片鉴定及扫描电镜等手段,结合物性测试和压汞资料,对克鲁克组碎屑岩纵向分布规律,储层岩性、物性、孔喉特征及孔隙类型进行分析。认为克鲁克地层中克2段发育的三角洲前缘亚相和克3段的具障壁海岸潮坪相的大套含砾粗砂岩、粗砂岩砂体原生、次生孔洞发育,孔喉大、分布集中、分选好,为有利的碎屑岩储层。早成岩期压实作用、重结晶及胶结作用对克鲁克组砂岩的原生孔隙破坏严重,晚成岩期储层改造形成的溶孔、裂缝—溶孔是油气成藏的主要储存空间。该研究为预测柴东石炭系克鲁克组油气有利区域提供依据,为今后该地区的油气勘探提供理论支撑。     

松辽盆地大陆深部科学钻探2号井完井暨学术研讨现场会召开

正2018年5月26日,自然资源部中国地质调查局在黑龙江省安达市松科二井工程现场召开大陆科学钻探工程(松科二井)完井暨学术研讨现场会。中国地质学会常务副理事长兼秘书长、自然资源部中国地质调查局副局长、松科二井工程领导小组组长李金发宣布松辽盆地大陆深部科学钻探工     

沁水盆地原始水动力场类型及其对煤层气排采的影响

水动力场研究在煤层气勘探开发中具有重要作用。本文首先讨论了基于煤层气井排采资料的水动力场研究方法,在分析沁水盆地柿庄区块原始水动力场特点的基础上,结合前人在盆地其他区块水动力场的研究成果,分析了沁水盆地原始水动力场的类型,进而探讨了水动力场类型对煤层气排采的控制作用。研究表明:沁水盆地自边缘向腹部依次存在重力驱动型、滞流型和压实驱动型三种类型的区域原始水动力场;重力驱动型和滞流型水动力场具备煤层气保存条件,含气量高,煤层气排采效果相对较好,而压实驱动型水动力场虽具备一定的保存条件,但因地层压力较高,煤层气井排水降压困难,产气效果较差;无论是在重力驱动型还是滞流型的区域水动力场中,局部的低势汇聚区具备煤层气保存和排采的有利条件,煤层气开发效果一般较好。在未来煤层气勘探开发过程中,应将重力流驱型或滞流型水动力场所在区域中的局部低势汇聚区作为煤层气开发的甜点区。     

准噶尔盆地腹部地区生烃增压定量化评价——东道海子北凹陷为例

目前准噶尔盆地腹部地区超压演化过程仅提供了相对时间、概念、定性的认识,并未达到定量化。本文以东道海子北凹陷为例,基于流体包裹体、单井一维和剖面二维烃源岩成熟生烃史模拟技术,采用生烃增压模型定量化评价了侏罗纪八道湾组顶部和底部烃源岩的生烃增压演化过程。研究结果表明侏罗纪八道湾组为东道海子北凹陷主力烃源岩,具有幕式排烃的特点。八道湾组底部烃源岩经历了3 次超压增加和两次超压释放的过程,顶部烃源岩经历了两次超压增加和一次超压释放的过程。八道湾底部烃源岩3 次超压增加的时间分别为距今170～70 Ma、55～23 Ma、10～0 Ma,对应最大压力系数均为2.0,最大剩余流体压力50 MPa,两次超压释放的时间分别为70～55 Ma、23～10 Ma;八道湾组顶部烃源岩两次超压增加的时间分别为130～40 Ma、23～0 Ma,对应流体最大压力系数最大亦可达2.0 左右,最大剩余流体压力44 MPa,超压释放的时间为40～23 Ma。     

Paleo-environment and reservoir evolution of the Middle Ordovician Kelimoli Formation in the northern Tianhuan area,Ordos Basin,China: implications for high-quality reservoir development

The Middle Ordovician Kelimoli Formation carbonate reservoirs in the northern Tianhuan area, Ordos Basin, China are main exploration targets. Subsurface core samples, logging, drilling and production data from the area were used to characterise the carbonate reservoir and to construct a genetic model for exploration. The sedimentary facies identified include trough–continental rise, upper–lower slope, platform margin reef-shoal, open platform and evaporation-restricted platform. The slope and platform margin facies are potential zones for high-quality reservoirs. Porosity in the study area comprises intergrain, intercrystal, intragrain and intracrystal pores, fractures and vughs. The Sr/Ba (0.40–4.87) and V/(V + Ni) (0.64–0.97) ratios indicate deposition in a brackish water-dominated environment under reducing conditions, associated with sea-level fluctuations during the deposition of the Kelimoli Formation. The Sr/Ba, V/(V + Ni), ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios, δ¹⁸O values and crystal texture of dolomite samples suggest that meteoric water was involved in the diagenetic fluid in the near-surface depositional environment. Isotopes (δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O) and trace elements (Fe and Mn) allowed the identification of seepage-reflux and mixed-water dolomitisation. The crystal textures of the samples consist of micritic, bioclastic and reefal limestones, and dolomite with gypsum, which were easily dissolved during the early diagenetic stage. The epidiagenetic stage was the key period for the development of high-quality reservoirs because of large-scale bedding-parallel karstification from meteoric water. The reservoir zones, dominated by partially filled and unfilled vughs, and fractures, are favourable exploration targets in the northern Tianhuan area.     

Tectonothermal events in the Olympic IOCG Province constrained by apatite and REE-phosphate geochronology

The Olympic iron oxide–copper–gold province in South Australia contains numerous deposits and prospects, including the Olympic Dam Cu–U–Au–Ag deposit and the Acropolis prospect. The Acropolis prospect comprises massive, coarse-grained magnetite–apatite veins partly replaced by a hematite-stable assemblage. The apatite grains in the veins contain zones with abundant inclusions of other minerals (including monazite and xenotime) and low trace-element concentrations relative to the inclusion-free zones. The inclusion-rich apatite zones are interpreted to be formed from the recrystallisation of the inclusion-free apatite and remobilisation of U, Th and rare earth element (REE) from apatite into monazite and xenotime. Apatite, monazite and xenotime are all established U–Th–Pb geochronometers and offer the potential to constrain the alteration history of the Acropolis prospect. The LA-ICPMS U–Pb age of inclusion-free apatite is within error of the age of the host volcanic units (ca 1.59 Ga). Inclusion-rich apatite yields both near-concordant analyses that are within error of the inclusion-free apatite as well as highly disturbed (discordant) analyses. The most concordant analyses of monazite (Th–Pb) inclusions and xenotime (U–Pb) inclusions and rim grains indicate an alteration event occurred at ca 1.37 Ga and possibly also at ca 500 Ma. The disparity in age of the inclusion-rich apatite and the REE-phosphate inclusions (and rim grains) is suggested to be owing to the apatite being initially recrystallised at ca 1.59 Ga and modified again by a later event that also formed (or coarsened) most of the inclusions. Partial resetting of the majority of the monazite inclusions as well as the presence of significant amounts of common Pb has complicated the interpretation of the monazite results. In contrast, xenotime is a more robust geochronometer in this setting. The ages of the two post-1.59 Ga events that appear to have affected the Acropolis prospect do not correspond to any events known to have occurred in the Gawler Craton. The earlier (ca 1.37 Ga) age instead corresponds best with metamorphic–magmatic–hydrothermal activity in Laurentia, consistent with the proximity of Laurentia and the Gawler Craton inferred from palaeogeographic reconstructions. The later (ca 500 Ma) event corresponds to the Delamerian Orogeny and has been shown by prior studies to have also affected the Olympic Dam deposit.     

渤海湾盆地济阳坳陷碎屑锆石裂变径迹年龄记录的构造抬升事件

对采自渤海湾盆地东南部济阳坳陷的碎屑岩进行测年研究,目的是通过碎屑锆石裂变径迹年龄揭示源区及其抬升剥露史和构造热事件,为华北克拉通构造演化特别是元古宙构造演化提供新的热年代学约束。14件上白垩统-上新统砂岩/粉砂岩岩心样品测年结果显示,锆石裂变径迹年龄分布在308±35Ma~145±19Ma之间,且所有单颗粒锆石径迹年龄均大于其沉积年龄,表明这些锆石为碎屑锆石。除1件样品外,其余13件样品的单颗粒年龄的,可以用来识别源区及其构造抬升。未通过χ2检验的锆石二项式最佳拟合峰值年龄集中分为9组:P1(1187Ma)、P2(720~548Ma)、P3(526Ma)、P4(330~319Ma)、P5(296~274Ma)、P6(213~201Ma)、P7(195~177Ma、162Ma)、P8(134~102Ma)和P9(94Ma),加上通过χ2检验的三叠纪(230Ma),指示源区中元古代-晚白垩世经历的9期构造抬升/岩浆活动。它们分别是发生在中元古代的芹峪运动、新元古代的构造抬升(约720~575Ma)、~548Ma的蓟县运动;古生代~526Ma早寒武世末构造运动、海西期构造抬升;晚三叠世印支期挤压构造抬升、早-中侏罗世印支期弱挤压抬升、早白垩世燕山期强烈岩浆活动及晚白垩世燕山晚期的抬升。华北克拉通北缘、克拉通内部古陆和盆地内部是渤海湾盆地上白垩统-上新统的主要物源区,古生代以来剥露速率逐渐增大,古生代、三叠纪、早-中侏罗世和白垩纪分别为0.020~0.033mm/y,0.033~0.042mm/y,0.034~0.049mm/y和0.041~0.097mm/y,反映源区白垩纪构造/岩浆活动最强烈。锆石裂变径迹年龄记录的中元古代-晚白垩世构造运动对探讨华北克拉通的构造演化特别是元古宙的演化提供了年代学证据,综合分析推断华北克拉通可能参与了Rodinia超大陆的形成与裂解。