Microstructural observations on natural syntectonic fibrous veins: implications for the growth process

Syntectonic antitaxial and ataxial fibrous veins were investigated using SEM, microprobe, cathodoluminescence (CL) and optical microscopy. In antitaxial calcite veins, fibres and surrounding selvage grew simultaneously, with similar growth rates of crystallographically differently oriented grains. New material precipitated at the vein margin in antitaxial and bi-mineralic ataxial microstructures. Bridges of country rock material formed during vein growth in an initial en-echelon vein system. In our antitaxial and bi-mineralic ataxial samples, the spacing of solid inclusions does not reflect individual crack-seal openings.     

Progress on Formation Mechanism of the Fibrous Veins in Mudstone and Its Implications to Hydrocarbon Migration

The fibrous mineral veins are widespread in mudstones. According to the different microscopic morphology of the minerals, the fibres can be divided into stretched crystals, elongate-blocky crystals and the very fibrous crystals. Veins can also be classified according to the growth direction of these crystals into stretched veins, syntaxial veins and antitaxial veins. The resulting texture in the vein depends on the morphology of the fracture surface, the width of the fracture and the growth habit of the vein forming mineral. The crack-seal mechanism can only interpret the formation of the stretched crystal veins and the elongate-blocky crystal veins, and the antitaxial well-developped fibrous veins form without fracturing and the growth competition is inhibited during the rock deformation, which implies that the nutrient transport is by diffusional flow transport. Horizontal crack is the primary condition of the formation of the antitaxial bedding-parallel fibrous calcite veins in muddy hydrocarbon source rocks. The formation of the horizontal crack which caused by the abnormal high pressure can enhance the hydrocarbon generation efficiency and has a great effect on the rate and direction of hydrocarbon migration in the local. The presence of the veins indicates the hydrocarbon fluid can migrate laterally along the layers. The antitaxial bedding-parallel fibrous calcite veins in muddy hydrocarbon source rocks can be the sign of the generation and migration of hydrocarbon under the abnormal high pressure condition in petroleum-bearing basins.