Using in situ REE analysis to study the origin and diagenesis of dolomite of Lower Paleozoic,Tarim Basin

In situ REE concentrations of various dolomites from Tarim Basin were obtained by LA-ICP-MS analysis, and the data were normalized to standard seawater (Seawater Normalized=SWN). Most of the samples have a ΣREE range of less than 20 ppm. All samples show similar REE_SWN distributions with heavy REE depletion, and positive Ce anomaly, which indicates that they have the same dolomitization fluids (seawater). According to the origin and diagenetic process of dolomite, two types of dolomite are determined and described as follows: 1) syndepositional dolomite, with the highest REE concentrations (more than 20 ppm), the cores of which are more enriched in REE compared with their cortexes, indicating that they underwent the dolomitization of calcareous sediments by hypersaline and subsequent diagenesis decreased the REE content of the cortex because of the low REE concentration of the diagenetic fluids; 2) diagenetic dolomite, which can be subdivided into four groups. (1) burial dolomite which has higher REE concentrations than limestone, but lower than syndepositional dolomite. This shows that pore fluids with high salinity dolomitized the pre-existing limestone; (2) void filling dolomite which has the similar REE patterns with the matrix dolomite. In addition, the Eu anomaly is not obvious, suggesting that the dolomitization fluids originated from the diagenetic fluids; (3) recrystallized dolomite, whose REE concentration was obviously decreased, indicating that the REE concentration was decreased during the recrystallization processes; and (4) hydrothermal altered void-filling dolomite, which has the lowest REE concentration, but obvious positive Eu anomaly, reflecting its hydrothermal activity related origin. Thus, the diverse REE signatures, which were recorded in different dolomites, retain the information of their formation conditions and subsequent diagenetic processes. In situ REE analysis of dolomite is an effective probe into the origin and diagenetic process of dolomite. Supported by National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2005CB422103)