Organic geochemical characterization and depositional paleoenvironments of the Devonian strata in Guizhong region,Guangxi, China

Devonian strata in the Guizhong region, Guangxi, China consist mainly of marine deposition carbonates (limestones and dolomites) as well as restricted clastic rocks. The strata thickness is measured as 2041m and classified into 14 formations. An integrated field geological, petrographic, sedimentological, palaeobiological, and geochemical study of these strata reveals that the depositional paleoenvironments were carbonate tidal flat, restricted platform, open platform, shelf, platform margin slop, and algal herm. The total organic carbon (TOC) of sedimentary organic matter ranges between 0.07% and 1.96% with average of 0.21%. The organic matter types are Type I and Type III. The vitrinite reflectance (R ₀) of kerogen ranges between 0.99% and 2.03%, indicating the maturated and highly maturated stages. The analytical results of the representative samples collected from shelf and subtidal facies show that the differences of organic matter type and biological diagnostic compounds are related to the types of source rocks deposited in different paleoenvironments.