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Diagenesis and Geochemistry of Carbonates

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A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Mineral Geochemistry and Geochronology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 August 2022) | Viewed by 20708

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Dr. Lei Jiang

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Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources Research, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China
Interests: diagenesis; petroleum geology; carbonate and evaporite
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Dr. Ardiansyah Koeshidayatullah

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1. Department of Geosciences, College of Petroleum Engineering & Geosciences, Building 76, KFUPM, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
2. Department of Geological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
Interests: sedimentology; carbonate petrography; image processing; computer vision; deep learning
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Dear Colleagues,

Sedimentary marine carbonates are one of the targets most favored by geologists, mainly due to their significance in recording the primary signals for paleoclimate modeling, as well as in hosting petroleum, geothermal, and mineral resources.

Diagenesis is the process that describes the physical and chemical changes in sediments caused by water–rock–microbial–organic interactions and mechanical compaction after deposition in the Earth’s crust. The diagenesis of carbonates may have resulted in the cycling of important geochemical elements and their isotopes (e.g., C, O, S, U, Mg, Ca), which significantly altered their promises in paleoclimate reconstruction. In addition, the alteration of diagenesis would have great impacts on petrophysical parameters (e.g., porosity, permeability, and pore connections), leading to heterogeneity in the carbonate reservoir.

The developments of novel geochemical analysis methods, including high-spatial and mass-resolution microprobes (e.g., LA-ICP-MS, SIMS), clumped isotopes, and micro-CT, have allowed for the measurement of carbonate component-dependant in situ U–Pb dating, the temperature, and the microporosity and the pore structure.

This Special Issue of Minerals aims to contribute to the disclosure of all the applications of traditional and novel methods to decipher the processes of diagenesis in carbonates, as well as their effects on primary geochemical signals and carbonate reservoir development in the deep subsurface.

Dr. Lei Jiang
Dr. Ardiansyah Koeshidayatullah
Guest Editors

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Keywords

carbonate
diagenesis
dolomitization
reservoir quality
geochemical cycling
paleoclimate reconstruction

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 2295 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characteristics of Calcium Isotopes at Different Water Depths and Their Palaeoenvironmental Significance for Carbonate Rocks of the Permian-Triassic Boundary in Chibi, Southern China

by Hongyu Zhao and Junhua Huang

Minerals 2022, 12(11), 1440; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12111440 - 14 Nov 2022

Viewed by 1705

Abstract

Calcium isotopes of carbonate rocks can trace calcium cycles and record changes in the marine environment. As published calcium isotope profiles of carbonate rocks at the Permian-Triassic boundary are rare, comparative studies on deep-water profiles were lacking for the major extinction event that occurred during this time. We present sections of different water depths in the Chibi area of southern China that we have selected for a comparative study. We analyzed carbon isotopes, calcium isotopes, as well as major and trace elements of carbonates from two sections (Chibi North and Chibi West) to obtain information on the volcanic activity, ocean acidification, as well as sea level rise and fall in the Chibi area during the mass extinction period. All carbon and calcium isotopes of carbonates from both sections are all negative after the mass extinction boundary. Carbonates from the Chibi North section have higher δ^44/40Ca values and lower Sr/Ca ratios than the rocks from the Chibi West section. We propose that the negative bias of the calcium isotopes in the two sections result from diagenesis. Diagenesis transforms primary aragonite into calcite, showing the characteristics of high δ^44/40Ca value and low Sr/Ca. By comparing our data with three published profiles of shallow-water carbonate rock, we recognize that calcium isotopes record gradients at different water depths. In the slope environment, the enhancement of pore fluid action near the coast caused an increase of the fluid buffer alteration, and we propose that a regression event occurred in the Chibi region during the Late Permian. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagenesis and Geochemistry of Carbonates)

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22 pages, 18899 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Diagenesis and Reservoir Evolution Model of the Ediacaran Dengying Formation in the Sichuan Basin: Evidence from Laser Ablation U-Pb Dating and In Situ Isotope Analysis

by Zhanfeng Qiao, Jianhua Dong, Zhou Yu, Wenzheng Li, Xiaofang Wang, Lei Jiang and Hairuo Qing

Minerals 2022, 12(11), 1372; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12111372 - 28 Oct 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1897

Abstract

The microbial dolomite of the Ediacaran Dengying Fm., Sichuan Basin, SW China is endowed with abundant oil and gas resources. A complex diagenetic history greatly complicates the development of such microbial dolomite reservoirs, and has severely restrained hydrocarbon exploration. This study focused on key field profiles in Eastern Sichuan and aimed to decipher the origin and evolution of dolomites, using novel techniques, including elemental mapping, laser ablation U-Pb dating as well as carbon, oxygen, and strontium isotope analyses. Additionally, we compared the diagenesis and reservoir development model for the Dengying microbial dolomites of the Central Sichuan to other areas, with the aim to provide practical guidance for oil and gas exploration across the entire Sichuan Basin. Our results have shown that the Ediacaran microbial dolomite in Eastern Sichuan experienced four stages of diagenetic modification–specifically: (1) syn-sedimentary dolomitization; (2) penecontemporaneous cementation of fibrous dolomite cement; (3) bladed dolomite and brown-dark very fine crystalline dolomite cementation during the Ordovician; and (4) fine crystalline dolomite and medium-coarse crystalline dolomite cementation during the Silurian-Devonian. Petrology and geochemistry data imply that each diagenetic phase of dolomitization was mainly sourced from marine-dominated fluids. The influence of tectonically related fluids was rarely noted. Significantly, U-Pb ages of these dolomites reveal that the history of dolomite infill to pores within the Eastern Sichuan Basin clearly post-dated that in the Central Sichuan region, resulting in high porosities (6%–11%) that favored hydrocarbon accumulation. This study suggests that the platform margin at the eastern edge of the Xuanhan-Kaijiang paleo-uplift is favorable as the next key exploration target for microbial dolomites in the Sichuan Basin. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagenesis and Geochemistry of Carbonates)

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27 pages, 8553 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Processes Associated with Multiphase Dolomitization and Other Related Diagenetic Events in the Jurassic Samana Suk Formation, Himalayan Foreland Basin, NW Pakistan

by Hamad-ur- Rahim, Shazia Qamar, Mumtaz Muhammad Shah, Mercè Corbella, Juan Diego Martín-Martín, Hammad Tariq Janjuhah, Dídac Navarro-Ciurana, Vasiliki Lianou and George Kontakiotis

Minerals 2022, 12(10), 1320; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12101320 - 19 Oct 2022

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 2747

Abstract

Foreland fold and thrust belts always represent a complex diagenetic history of carbonate succession, particularly multiphase dolomitization, due to the multi-sourcing nature of fluids affecting syn-to post-depositional successions. The present work documents a comprehensive study on the diagenetic changes, particularly dolomitization patterns in the Jurassic carbonates (Samana Suk Fm) in the Lesser Himalayan fold and thrust belt, NW Pakistan. To better understand the processes involved, integrated field/petrographic, geochemical, isotopic, and micro-thermometric studies were carried out. Field observations indicate that dolostones appear as light grey to brown stratabound and patchy units within the formation. Petrographic analysis reveals that fabric destructive matrix dolomite (RD-I) and fabric preserving replacive dolomite (RD-II) phases are present as distinct units. In addition, saddle dolomite cement (SD) and fracture-filling calcite (CC) are also observed in association with replacive dolomite cement. Geochemical analysis (EPMA) showed that Fe, Mn, and Ba concentrations in matrix dolomite are relatively less than those of replacive/saddle dolomite and fracture-filling calcite, suggesting a hydrothermal source of replacive/saddle dolomite in reducing conditions. Furthermore, stable isotope studies of RD-I showed non-depleted δ¹⁸O values, which represent coeval seawater signatures of Jurassic carbonates. RD shows depleted δ¹⁸O values and non-depleted δ¹³C, respectively, indicating burial or elevated temperature of dolomitization. Fracture-filled calcite represents lighter δ¹⁸O values and δ¹³C, indicative of relatively high temperatures. ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of all diagenetic phases range from 0.707718 to 0.710747, showing more radiogenic values indicates interaction fluids with more radiogenic sources. Fluid inclusion micro-thermometry data of saddle dolomite shows T_H ranging from 102.8 to 186 °C, and salinity ranging from 11.7 to 19.4 eq. wt.% NaCl, suggesting hot saline brines are responsible for the dolomitization. Fracture-filling calcite shows T_H ranging from 68.0 to 98.4 °C and salinity ranging from 6.9 to 13.1 eq. wt.%. NaCl suggests moderately hot and saline solutions are responsible for their formation. In conclusion, the above-mentioned studies indicate two distinct processes of dolomitization are involved in the formation of matrix and replacive/saddle-type dolomites. RD-I has formed in the evaporative setting, whereas RD has formed due to the interaction of hydrothermal fluids during burial. Fracture-filling calcite is produced from hot subsurface solutions during uplift related to the Himalayan orogeny. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagenesis and Geochemistry of Carbonates)

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21 pages, 9136 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Paleoenvironment of Mesoproterozoic Gaoyuzhuang and Wumishan Formations, North China: New Insights from Geochemistry and Carbon and Oxygen Isotopes of Dolostones

by Feng Ma, Tingxin Li, Yun Zhou, Jin Cai and Yongfeng Cai

Minerals 2022, 12(9), 1111; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12091111 - 31 Aug 2022

Viewed by 1778

Abstract

The Mesoproterozoic Gaoyuzhuang and Wumishan Formations are major geothermal reservoirs in the Hebei Province, North China. Compared to the exploration of geothermal resources and heat-controlling structures, carbon and oxygen isotopic records of the two formations are limited. Here, we present integrated field, petrological, geochemical, carbon, and oxygen isotopic data of carbonate rocks from the Gaoyuzhuang and Wumishan Formations. The Wumishan Formation is characterized by higher CaO and MgO contents and lower SiO₂ contents than the Gaoyuzhuang Formation, indicating that the source of the Wumishan Formation likely contains less terrigenous clastic materials. The two formations have low total rare earth element contents, similar to marine carbonate rocks. They show different Eu and Ce anomalies, Al/(Al + Fe + Mn) and Fe/Ti ratios, and (Co + Ni + Cu) contents. They generally show similar carbon isotopic compositions, whereas the carbonate rocks of the middle-upper Gaoyuzhuang Formation show lower δ¹⁸O values than the samples from the Wumishan and lower Gaoyuzhuang Formations. These data suggest that the two formations have experienced different transgressive–regressive cycles and that their sedimentary environments varied and were unstable in different sedimentary periods. The middle-upper Gaoyuzhuang Formation was likely affected by hydrothermal fluids, whereas the Wumishan Formation is composed of normal seawater deposits. Integrated evidence reveals that both of the Mesoproterozoic Gaoyuzhuang and Wumishan Formations were deposited in rift environments caused by the breakup of the Columbia/Nuna supercontinent. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagenesis and Geochemistry of Carbonates)

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31 pages, 11810 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multiphase Diagenetic Processes and Their Impact on Reservoir Character of the Late Triassic (Rhaetian) Kingriali Formation, Upper Indus Basin, Pakistan

by Imran Ahmad, Mumtaz Muhammad Shah, Hammad Tariq Janjuhah, Anna Trave, Assimina Antonarakou and George Kontakiotis

Minerals 2022, 12(8), 1049; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12081049 - 20 Aug 2022

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3625

Abstract

Multiple episodes of dolomitization of the shallow marine carbonates of the Late Kingriali Formation resulted in regional scale mappable dolostone geobodies in the Kohat and Potwar sub-basins. With the exception of few unaltered patches of the host limestone, more than 90% of the carbonates of the studied formation are diagenetically altered by replacive dolomites with associated dolomite cementation. Petrographical and geochemical data interpretation reveals that during the initial stage of dolomitization, the precursor limestone was significantly modified by the fabric-retentive replacive dolomite (RD-I) and produced bulk dolostones with non-planar-a to planar-s crystals. Neomorphic recrystallization (RD-II) was observed as an overgrowth of the already formed RD-I dolomite crystals during progressive dolomitization. The seawater at shallow depths is enriched with Fe-ions due to its interaction with Fe-rich beds within the studied formation. The modified seawater actively participated in the formation of ferroan replacive dolomites (RD-III). Stable isotopic composition of the unaltered Echinoderm plates, calcite cement (CC-I), and RD-I demonstrates signatures of δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C within the limit of late Triassic marine seawater or modified seawater. Depletion in the stable oxygen isotopic composition (from −0.99‰ to −3.75‰ V-PDB) demonstrates that RD-II and RD-III were formed in a sequence with progressively higher temperature fluids than normal seawater. Precipitation of dolomite cements as cavity filling rhombs (DC-I) and crystal overgrowth (DC-II) with highly depleted δ¹⁸O values (−5.44‰ to −7.45‰ V-PDB) illustrates dolomite cementation at higher temperatures and greater depths. The highly depleted values of δ¹⁸O (up to −9.16‰ V-PDB) and (up to 0.42‰ V-PDB) for δ¹³C of saddle dolomite (SD-I) indicate the precipitation of SD-I as a cavity filling dolomite at considerable depth. Calcite cementation and calcitization actively participated in the early, middle, and late diagenetic modifications as interpreted from their petrographic and stable isotopic studies. Porosity enhancement is clearly demonstrated by dissolution, stylolization, fracturing, and replacement dolomitization. Dolomite and calcite cementation had a negative impact on the reservoir character and occluded the dolostone porosity to a greater extent. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagenesis and Geochemistry of Carbonates)

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17 pages, 39649 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Geochemical Characteristics and Their Geological Significance of Lower Cambrian Xiaoerblak Formation in Northwestern Tarim Basin, China

by Jianfeng Zheng, Yongjin Zhu, Lili Huang, Guo Yang and Fangjie Hu

Minerals 2022, 12(6), 781; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12060781 - 20 Jun 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1911

Abstract

Lower Cambrian Xiaoerblak Formation is one of the major exploration targets in Cambrian pre-salt Tarim Basin; however, the exploration breakthrough is restricted by insufficient understanding of its sedimentary evolution and reservoir genesis. In this paper, based on a systematic description of the outcrop in the Xiaoerblak section, northwestern Tarim Basin, some samples were selected for tests of stable carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions, strontium isotopic composition, order degree, trace and rare earth elements, U-Pb isotopic age and clumped isotope. It is found that the Xiaoerblak Formation mainly develops nine types of dolomites, i.e., laminated microbial dolomite, thrombolite dolomite, stromatolite dolomite, foamy microbial dolomite, grain dolomite, etc. According to the lithofacies associations, it can be divided into three members: Xi 1, Xi 2, and Xi 3, of which member Xi 2 is subdivided into three submembers. The characteristics of lithofacies assemblage formed bottom to top indicate that it can be described as a third-order sequence. The Xiaoerblak Formation was deposited in a nearshore shallow seawater environment characterized by high water salinity and temperature under a warm and humid climate during the Early Cambrian, giving rise to the sedimentary sequence of inner ramp lagoon, subtidal microbial mound shoal and tidal flat in the carbonate ramp setting from bottom to top. Its dolomitization occurred in the penecontemporaneous–shallow burial period when the temperature was relatively low and high-salinity seawater acted as the main dolomitizaiton fluid. The reservoir space mainly comprises primary microbial framework pores and vugs formed by the atmospheric freshwater dissolution. Reservoirs were controlled by lithofacies, high-frequency sequence boundary and early dolomitization. The research results are of great significance for presalt Cambrian lithofacies paleogeographic mapping and reservoir prediction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagenesis and Geochemistry of Carbonates)

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21 pages, 40733 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Rare Earth Element Geochemistry of Late Cenozoic Island Carbonates in the South China Sea

by Xiao-Feng Liu, Shikui Zhai, Xi-Kai Wang, Xinyu Liu and Xiao-Ming Liu

Minerals 2022, 12(5), 578; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12050578 - 3 May 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3088

Abstract

Marine carbonates, precipitating from seawater through inorganic geochemical and biogeochemical processes, are considered to have recorded the seawater geochemical signatures reflecting the marine environmental conditions during their formation. However, they are susceptible to post-depositional diagenetic alteration. The redox conditions and chemical composition of the diagenetic fluid may be different from those of the overlying seawater. Therefore, assessing whether carbonate rocks that have experienced variable diagenesis could still preserve primary seawater geochemistry is a prerequisite before inferring ancient marine environments using geochemical tracers such as the cerium anomaly (Ce/Ce*). Here, we investigate rare earth elements plus yttrium (REY) geochemical features of reefal carbonates from the XK-1 core in the Xisha Islands of the South China Sea. We aim to evaluate whether island carbonates have the potential to preserve reliable primary seawater REY geochemical characteristics after experiencing meteoric diagenesis, marine burial diagenesis, or dolomitization. The results show that even after variable diagenetic alteration, all carbonate samples exhibit seawater-like REY patterns, which are characterized by negative Ce anomalies (Ce/Ce* < 1), distinctively high Y/Ho ratios (>44), and uniform depletion of light rare earth elements (LREE) relative to heavy rare earth elements (HREE) ((Pr/Yb)_N < 1). This suggests that the original seawater REY signatures are retained, regardless of varying degrees of changes in the mineralogical composition, diagenetic fluid composition, and redox state. The unmodifiable REY characteristics in carbonates during diagenesis can be attributed to three aspects: (1) during meteoric diagenesis, the low REY content of meteoric fluids and the short-term reactions between fluids and carbonates make it difficult to significantly alter the REY composition of carbonates; (2) during marine burial diagenesis, the ubiquitous cementation creates a relatively closed environment that facilitates the inheritance of REY signatures from primary carbonates; (3) during dolomitization, the dolomitizing fluids derived from penecontemporaneous seawater would not destroy but rather promote the preservation of the original seawater REY signatures in dolostones. The Ce/Ce* variations indicate that the Xisha carbonates have been deposited under constantly oxic conditions since the Neogene, consistent with paleontological and redox-sensitive element geochemical evidence. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagenesis and Geochemistry of Carbonates)

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18 pages, 4281 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fluid Properties and Genesis of Dolomites in the Devonian Guanwushan Formation of Upper Yangtze Platform, SW China

by Shuguang Huang, Mingcai Hou, Anqing Chen, Shenglin Xu, Benjian Zhang, Yuwei Deng and Yu Yu

Minerals 2022, 12(3), 317; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12030317 - 3 Mar 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2354

Abstract

The Guanwushan Formation (GWSF) of Devonian dolomite are extensively developed in the northwest of Sichuan Basin in the Upper Yangtze region, but the properties of dolomitization fluid and the geneses are still unclear. Three types of dolomites can be divided by petrological characteristics: the fine-microcrystalline dolomites (FMD), the fine crystalline dolomites (FCD) and the medium crystalline dolomites (MCD). The order degree of these three types of dolomites increased in turn, and they all showed dark cathodoluminescence (CL) luminescence. The total amount of Rare Earth Elements (∑REE) of the dolomite was low, while the dolomite enriched with light REE and lacking heavy REE presented a distribution pattern consistent with that of limestone. The weak negative anomalies of the Ce and Eu indicated that the dolomites were formed in a weak redox environment with relatively low temperature. The dolomitization fluids were inherited from the original seawater. The respective δ¹³C_PDB values of the three types of dolomites varied a little, indicating that they were not affected by the biological effects. Specifically, the δ¹⁸O_PDB values of the FMD and FCD dolomites were higher than that of the limestone, indicating that the dolomitization fluid was influenced by evaporation at the penecontemporaneous stage. The interpretations were also supported by the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios, as the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of FMD comparable to the Middle Devonian seawater. The δ¹⁸O_PDB value of the MCD dolomite was lower than that of the limestone. It also showed poor automorphic extent, which clarified that the dolomite experienced more intense dolomitization in greater burial depth and at higher temperatures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagenesis and Geochemistry of Carbonates)

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