Biomarkers, stable carbon isotope, and trace element distribution of source rocks in the Orange Basin, South Africa: implications for paleoenvironmental reconstruction, provenance, and tectonic setting

AbstractAptian to Campanian sediments from the Western offshore to Central Orange Basin were studied by integrating molecular geochemistry, inorganic and isotopic studies to recognize their geochemical characteristics via the reconstruction of the Orange basin’s paleoweathering, paleosalinity, paleovegetation, paleoclimate, and tectonic records. Molecular analyses of both aliphatic and aromatic compounds reveal an input dominantly from a marine source. The source rocks accumulated in a reduced, anoxic, saline water column. Based on various biomarker proxies and vitrinite reflectance data, some samples are thermally mature to produce petroleum, while others are not. According to the V/Ni ratio, samples from the Orange Basin in South Africa are mainly anoxic, with only a few samples ranging from suboxic to anoxic. This is congruent with biomarker and isotope analyses that further indicate the presence of marine-derived source rocks with some terrestrial remains generating hydrocarbons. The investigated sediments are made up of intermediate igneous rocks that have undergone moderate chemical weathering. Geochemical figures on tectonic setting discriminant function diagrams revealed a continental rift of passive margin settings. As a result, the extrapolated crustal processes are directly analogous to the genesis and evolution of the Orange Basin, demonstrating Gondwana’s breaking up and the opening of the Atlantic Ocean Margin.

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Geochemical Classification and Determination of Maturity Source Weathering in Beach Sands of Eastern San’ in Coast, Tango Peninsula, and Wakasa Bay, Japan

Earth Science Research ◽

10.5539/esr.v5n1p44 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 44 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Bah Mamadou Lamine Malick ◽

Hiroaki Ishiga

Keyword(s):

Chemical Weathering ◽

Tectonic Setting ◽

Passive Margin ◽

Beach Sand ◽

Moderate Degree ◽

Font Size ◽

Chemical Index ◽

Wakasa Bay ◽

Beach Sands ◽

Sand Sediments

<span style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 宋体; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;" lang="EN-US">Geochemistry of beach sand sediments collected from the Eastern San’in coast (n=17), Tango Peninsula (n=14) and Wakasa Bay (n=7) shorelines were investigated using XRF analyses for major and trace elements to characterize their composition, classification, maturity, provenance, tectonic setting and degree of weathering in source areas. Investigated sands from all sites were very similar showing depletion in all elements except SiO2, K2O and As relative to the UCCN and JUCN, suggesting a moderate geochemical maturation. Beach sand sediments from these locations can be classified as arkose, subarkose and litharenite that are chemically immature and formed under arid/semi-arid conditions with a tendency towards increasing chemical maturity suggesting that they are from multiple sources. The relatively low to moderate values of weathering indices of Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA), Plagioclase Index of Alteration (PIA) and Chemical Index of Weathering (CIW), the beach sands from all sites in the source area have undergone low to moderate degree of chemical weathering. A-CN-K and A-CNK-FM plots, which suggest a granitic source composition, also confirm that the sand samples from these sites have undergone low to moderate degree of chemical weathering in consistent with CIA, PIA and CIW values. A plot of the analyzed beach sands data on the provenance discriminating function F1/F2 showed that most of the investigated beach sand sediments in all locations fall within mafic to intermediate ocean island arc source; similar to the tectonic setting discrimination diagrams based on major elements suggesting a passive margin.

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Geochemistry of the mudrocks and sandstones from the Bredasdorp Basin, offshore South Africa: Implications for tectonic provenance and paleoweathering

Open Geosciences ◽

10.1515/geo-2020-0260 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 1187-1225

Author(s):

Temitope Love Baiyegunhi ◽

Kuiwu Liu ◽

Oswald Gwavava ◽

Christopher Baiyegunhi ◽

Maropene Rapholo

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Chemical Weathering ◽

Tectonic Setting ◽

Active Continental Margin ◽

Source Area ◽

Major And Trace Elements ◽

Rift System ◽

Moderate Degree ◽

East African Rift System ◽

Major Oxide

Abstract An inorganic geochemical investigation of mudrocks and sandstone from the southern Bredasdorp Basin, off the south coast of South Africa was carried out to unravel the provenance, paleoweathering, and tectonic setting of the basin. Seventy-seven representative samples from exploration wells E-AH1, E-AJ1, E-BA1, E-BB1, and E-D3 underwent geochemical analysis involving major and trace elements. The major oxide compositions show that the sandstones could be classified as sub-arkose and sub-lithic arenite. The provenance discrimination diagrams based on major oxide geochemistry revealed that the sandstones are mainly of quartzose sedimentary provenance, while the mudrocks are of quartzose sedimentary and intermediate igneous provenances. The discrimination diagrams indicate that the Bredasdorp sediments were mostly derived from a cratonic interior or recycled orogen. The bivariate plots of TiO2 versus Ni, TiO2 against Zr, and La/Th versus Hf as well as the ternary diagrams of V–Ni–Th∗10 suggest that the mudrocks and sandstones were derived from felsic igneous rocks. The tectonic setting discrimination diagrams support passive-active continental margin setting of the provenance. Also, the closely similar compositions of the analysed samples and recent sedimentary rocks of the East African Rift System perhaps suggest a rifted basin tectonic setting for the Bredasdorp Basin. Chemical index of alteration (CIA) indices observed in the sandstones suggest that their source area underwent low to moderate degree of chemical weathering. However, the mudrocks have high CIA indices suggesting that the source area underwent more intense chemical weathering, possibly due to climatic and/or tectonic variations.

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Petroleum Geochemistry Regional Study of Murzuq Basin: Insights from Biomarkers Characteristic, Stable Carbon Isotope and Environmental Characterization

Petroleum & Petrochemical Engineering Journal ◽

10.23880/ppej-16000215 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 1-14

Author(s):

Aboglila S

Keyword(s):

Carbon Isotope ◽

Vitrinite Reflectance ◽

Stable Carbon Isotope ◽

Source Rocks ◽

Crude Oils ◽

Type I ◽

Stable Carbon ◽

Potential Source ◽

Geochemical Parameters ◽

Rock Eval

This search aims to apply developed geochemical methods to a number of oils and source rock extracts to better establish the features of ancient environments that occurred in the Murzuq basin. Geochemical and geophysical approaches were used to confirm further a source contribution from other Paleozoic formations to hydrocarbon accumulations in the basin. One hundred and forty rock units were collected from B1-NC151, D1-NC174, A1-NC 76, D1-NC 151, F1-NC58, A1-NC 186, P1-NC 101, D1-NC 58, H1-NC58 and A1-NC58 wells. Seven crude oils were collocated A1-NC186, B1-NC186, E2-NC101, F3-NC174, A10-NC115, B10-NC115 and H10-NC115 wells. A geochemical assessment of the studied rocks and oils was done by means of geochemical parameters of total organic carbon (TOC), Rock-Eval analysis, detailed-various biomarkers and stable carbon isotope. The TOC values from B1-NC151 range 0.40% to 8.5%, A1-NC186 0.3% and 1.45, A1-NC76 0.39% to 0.74%, D1-NC151 0.40% to 2.00% to F1-NC58 0.40% to 1.12%. D1_NC174 0.30% to 10 %, P1-NC101 0.80% to 1.35%, D1-NC58 0.5% to 1.10%, H1-NC58 0.20% to 3.50%, A1-NC58 0.40% to 1.60%. The categories of organic matter from rock-eval pyrolysis statistics point to that type II kerogen is the main type, in association with type III, and no of type I kerogen recognized. Vitrinite reflectance (%Ro), Tmax and Spore colour index (SCI) as thermal maturity parameters reflect that the measured rock units are have different maturation levels, ranging from immature to mature sources. acritarchs distribution for most samples could be recognized and Palynomorphs are uncommon. Pristane to phytane ratios (> 1) revealed marine shale to lacustrine of environmental deposition. The Stable carbon isotope ( δ 13 C) values of seven rock-extract samples are -30.98‰ and -29.14‰ of saturates and -29.86‰ to -28.37‰ aromatic fractions. The oil saturate hydrocarbon fractions range between -29.36‰ to -28.67‰ and aromatic are among -29.98 ‰ to -29.55 ‰. The δ 13 C data in both rock extractions and crude oils are closer to each other, typical in sign of Paleozoic age. It is clear that the base of Tanezzuft Formation (Hot shale) is considered the main source rocks. The Devonian Awaynat Wanin Formation as well locally holds sufficient oil prone kerogen to consider as potential source rocks. Ordovician Mamuniyat Formation shales may poorly contain oil prone kerogen to be addressed in future studies. An assessment of the correlations between the oils and potential source rocks and between the oils themselves indicated that most of the rocks extracts were broadly similar to most of the oils and supported by carbon stable isotope analysis results.

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Geochemistry of Recent Brahmaputra River Sediments: Provenance, Tectonics, Source Area Weathering and Depositional Environment

Minerals ◽

10.3390/min10090813 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 813

Author(s):

Md Aminur Rahman ◽

Sudeb Chandra Das ◽

Mark I. Pownceby ◽

James Tardio ◽

Md Sha Alam ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rare Earth ◽

Rare Earth Element ◽

Chemical Weathering ◽

Earth Element ◽

Tectonic Setting ◽

River Sediments ◽

Source Area ◽

Source Rocks ◽

Heavy Minerals ◽

Brahmaputra River

Sediments from stable sand bars along a 40 km section of the Brahmaputra River in northern Bangladesh were analyzed for their major, trace and rare earth element contents to determine their provenance, compositional maturity, source area weathering and tectonic setting. Geochemically, the sediments were classified as litharenites and the Index of Compositional Variability (ICV) varied between 1.4 and 2.0, indicating low compositional and mineralogical maturity. A high mean SiO2 concentration (72.9 wt.%) and low Al2O3 (11.1 wt.%) were consistent with a low abundance of shale and clay components. The depletion of the oxide components Na2O, CaO and K2O relative to average upper crustal compositions (UCC) reflected loss of feldspar during chemical weathering in the source region. Average TiO2 values for most samples were higher than average crustal levels, consistent with the northern section of the Brahmaputra River being a potential resource for valuable Fe-Ti oxide heavy minerals. Major and trace element ratios indicated the sediments represented erosional products from typical felsic upper continental crustal materials with contamination (30%–40%) from more intermediate/mafic compositions. The rare earth element patterns showed negative Eu anomalies (0.57–0.71), indicating they were derived mainly from fractionated felsic rocks. Resemblance of the sediment compositions to mean compositions from Higher Himalaya crystalline rocks pointed to these being potential source rocks but with components from a mafic source also present. Major element chemistries and low to intermediate weathering indices for all sediments indicated a lack of substantial chemical weathering. Evidence from tectonic discrimination diagrams suggested the Brahmaputra River sediments were derived from rock types that formed in a transitional tectonic setting ranging from an ancient passive margin to an active continental margin. Deposition occurred under cool to semi-arid climatic conditions in an oxic environment.

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ORIGIN OF PETROLEUM IN THE BOWEN AND SURAT BASINS: GEOCHEMISTRY REVISITED

The APPEA Journal ◽

10.1071/aj94036 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 35 (1) ◽

pp. 579 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

C. J. Boreham

Keyword(s):

Vitrinite Reflectance ◽

Stable Carbon Isotope ◽

Isotope Analysis ◽

Source Rocks ◽

Gas Generation ◽

Delta Plain ◽

The North ◽

Biomarker Analysis ◽

And Migration ◽

A Minor

A detailed regional geochemical study of over 70 oils and condensates, eleven natural gases and over a hundred core samples from potential source rocks enable resolution of the generation and migration history of petroleum in the Bowen and Surat Basins. Biomarker analysis confirms a pre-Jurassic source for the petroleum. Stable carbon-isotope analysis further indicated a Permian-sourced petroleum and was able to differentiate a very minor and localised Triassic source contribution. The dominant source for the petroleum is terrestrial land plants as well as a minor contribution from bacteria and marine algae. In the north, Late Permian lower delta plain and alluvial Permian coals show the higher liquid potential compared with upper delta plain facies, while in the Taroom Trough, coals in the Blackwater Group have the highest liquid potential compared with mudrocks of the Blackwater Group, and sediments of the Back Creek Group. Initial liquid expulsion from the source rock occurred at vitrinite reflectance (Ro) of 0.65-0.7 per cent and continued to Ro of 1.05 per cent. This was followed by the main phase of gas generation between 1.05 per cent

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Geochemical Characteristics of the Campano-Maastrictian Sediments of the Anambra Basin, Southeastern Nigeria - Implication For Provenance, Paleodepositional Environment, Maturity and Tectonic Setting

10.2118/207170-ms ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Michael Edirin Okiotor ◽

EDeh Desiree Ogueh

Keyword(s):

Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽

Tectonic Setting ◽

Passive Margin ◽

Source Rocks ◽

Sediment Provenance ◽

Southeastern Nigeria ◽

Inductively Coupled ◽

Anambra Basin ◽

Plasma Mass Spectrometry ◽

Chemical Index Of Alteration

Abstract The present study investigates the Anambra Basin shales to determine the provenance and maturity of the sediments using standard geochemical techniques. Twelve (12) representative samples recovered from shale sequences of The Mamu Formation and Nkporo Group of The Anambra Basin were studied to determine the sediment provenance, paleoenvironment, diagenetic conditions, maturity as well as the tectonic setting. To consider in detail and establish the inherent constituents of the Major minerals, Trace and Rare Earth elements, Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) analyses techniques was employed. The detrital minerals determined are Al2O3 (18.27% and 21.16%), TiO2 (1.73% and 1.63%) and Fe2O3 (2.78% \ and 2.85%), for Nkporo Group and Mamu Formation respectively. The enrichment of SiO2, Al2O3 and TiO2 (1.14, 1.94, 3.67 respectively) supported by Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA) of 93.54 & 39.55 and Rb/Sr ratio of 0.57 & 0.40, indicate that the Anambra Basin sediments are matured. TiO2/AL2O3 binary plots, Th/Co Vs La/Sc crossplots, Th-Sc-Zr triplots and Cr, Ni concentration suggest mixed provenance of felsic to mafic source rocks for these sediments. From the log (K2O/Na2O) Vs SiO2 crossplots, a passive margin tectonic setting was determined for these sediments.

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Provenance and Tectonic Setting of Lower Cretaceous Huanhe Formation Sandstones, Northwest Ordos Basin, North-Central China

Minerals ◽

10.3390/min11121376 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. 1376

Author(s):

Xiaoneng Luo ◽

Ziying Li ◽

Yuqi Cai ◽

Chao Yi ◽

Zilong Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rare Earth ◽

Rare Earth Elements ◽

Lower Cretaceous ◽

Chemical Weathering ◽

Tectonic Setting ◽

Ordos Basin ◽

Distribution Patterns ◽

Passive Margin ◽

Central China ◽

Average Value

In adjustment to fulfill the requirements of the investigation regarding the lower Cretaceous sandstone uranium deposit in the Naogaodai area within the northwest of Ordos Basin, twenty-seven sandstone samples obtained from the Lower Cretaceous Huanhe Formation were analyzed for major, trace and rare earth elements (REE). The source of clastic and tectonic background was additionally analyzed. The results show that Huanhe sandstone is feldspar rich sandstone, and also the mineral composition is principally quartz, albite and plagioclase; the ratio of light to heavy rare earth elements (LREE/HREE) is 9.25–10.83, with an average value of 10.00; (La/Yb)CN is 10.20–12.53, with an average value of 11.24, demonstrating that LREE is enriched and fractionated compared with HREE. REE distribution patterns are similar, which additionally reveals that Huanhe sandstone has a homogenous source; the Index of Compositional Variability (ICV) value is 1.17–1.73, with an average value of 1.35, both greater than 1, showing an immature property, which may be first-order cycle deposition. The average value of the Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA) is 50.29, suggesting that the source rock has encountered weak chemical weathering; sandstones are near-source first-cycle provenance, which is not significantly influenced by sedimentary sorting and recycling. The geochemical qualities further indicate that Huanhe sandstone was deposited in a passive margin and experienced moderate weathering.

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Geochemistry, Depositional and Tectonic setting of the Barail Group of the Indo-Myanmar Ranges

Indian Association of Sedimentologists ◽

10.51710/jias.v38i1.103 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 38 (1) ◽

pp. 13-22

Author(s):

Salam Ranjeeta Devi

Keyword(s):

Continental Margin ◽

Chemical Weathering ◽

Depositional Environment ◽

Tectonic Setting ◽

Active Continental Margin ◽

Source Rocks ◽

Humid Climate ◽

Geochemical Study ◽

High Degree ◽

Semi Arid

The present paper deals with the study of the depositional environment and tectonic setting during the sedimentation of the Barail Group of rocks of the Indo-Myanmar Ranges (IMR). The Barail Group (Oligocene) consist of sandstone intercalated with shale and siltstone. Geochemical study suggests low to high degree of chemical weathering. ICV vs. CIA, Al2O3 vs. TiO2 diagrams indicate that the sediments were derived from the multiple source rocks dominantly of mafic composition. Arid to semi-arid/semi-humid climate prevailed during the deposition of the Barail Group sediments. Sedimentation occurred in a tectonic setting of overlap of passive to active continental margin under marine environment.

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Geochemical assessment of claystone deposits from the Patti Formation, Southern Bida Basin, Nigeria

Materials and Geoenvironment ◽

10.2478/rmzmag-2018-0018 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 65 (4) ◽

pp. 207-218

Author(s):

Ohanyiri C. Chiemezie ◽

Omotowo B. Aminat

Keyword(s):

Rietveld Method ◽

Tectonic Setting ◽

Passive Margin ◽

Source Rocks ◽

Quantitative Phase Analysis ◽

North Central ◽

Geochemical Parameters ◽

Discrimination Diagram ◽

Geochemical Studies ◽

Representative Samples

AbstractGeochemical studies of claystone deposits from the Patti Formation in the southern Bida Basin, north-Central Nigeria, were carried out on representative samples to determine the basin’s depositional conditions, provenance and tectonic setting. The localities within the study area included Gegu, Ahoko, Ahoko-Etigi, Omu and Idu.Semi-quantitative phase analysis using the Rietveld method and X-ray powder diffraction data revealed that the claystone samples had prominent kaolinite with other constituents such as quartz, illite–muscovite, K-feldspar, pyrite, marcasite, anatase, rutile and gorceixite.Enrichment of Al2O3, Ba, Th, Sr, Cr and La suggests that these elements are primarily controlled by the dominant clay minerals.Geochemical parameters such as U, U/Th, Ni/Co, V/Cr and Cu/Zn ratios strongly implied that these claystones were deposited in an oxidising environment. Provenance deducing ratios for felsic, mafic and basic igneous rocks were compared. Al2O3/TiO2 ratio suggested intermediate to felsic rocks as the probable source rocks for the claystone samples; however, Y/Ni, Cr/V, La/Sc and Th/Sc ratios suggested a felsic progenitor. The tectonic discrimination diagram showed that the samples’ plot was within the region specified for passive margin-type tectonic setting.

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Geochemical Evaluation of the Cretaceous Mudrocks and Sandstones (Wackes) in the Southern Bredasdorp Basin, Offshore South Africa: Implications for Hydrocarbon Potential

Minerals ◽

10.3390/min10070595 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 595

Author(s):

Temitope Love Baiyegunhi ◽

Kuiwu Liu ◽

Oswald Gwavava ◽

Nicola Wagner ◽

Christopher Baiyegunhi

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Oil And Gas ◽

Vitrinite Reflectance ◽

Source Rocks ◽

Geochemical Data ◽

Minor Amount ◽

Hydrocarbon Potential ◽

Hydrocarbon Generation ◽

Thermal Maturity ◽

The Mean

The southern Bredasdorp Basin, off the south coast of South Africa, is only partly understood in terms of its hydrocarbon potential when compared to the central and northern parts of the basin. Hydrocarbon potential assessments in this part of the basin have been limited, perhaps because the few drilled exploration wells were unproductive for hydrocarbons, yielding trivial oil and gas. The partial integration of data in the southern Bredasdorp Basin provides another reason for the unsuccessful oil and gas exploration. In this study, selected Cretaceous mudrocks and sandstones (wacke) from exploration wells E-AH1, E-AJ1, E-BA1, E-BB1 and E-D3 drilled in the southern part of the Bredasdorp Basin were examined to assess their total organic carbon (TOC), thermal maturity, organic matter type and hydrocarbon generation potential. The organic geochemical results show that these rocks have TOC contents ranging from 0.14 to 7.03 wt.%. The hydrogen index (HI), oxygen index (OI), and hydrocarbon index (S2/S3) values vary between 24–263 mg HC/g TOC, 4–78 mg CO2/g TOC, and 0.01–18 mgHC/mgCO2 TOC, respectively, indicating predominantly Type III and IV kerogen with a minor amount of mixed Type II/III kerogen. The mean vitrinite reflectance values vary from 0.60–1.20%, indicating that the samples are in the oil-generation window. The Tmax and PI values are consistent with the mean vitrinite reflectance values, indicating that the Bredasdorp source rocks have entered the oil window and are considered as effective source rocks in the Bredasdorp Basin. The hydrocarbon genetic potential (SP), normalized oil content (NOC) and production index (PI) values all indicate poor to fair hydrocarbon generative potential. Based on the geochemical data, it can be inferred that most of the mudrocks and sandstones (wackes) in the southern part of the Bredasdorp Basin have attained sufficient burial depth and thermal maturity for oil and gas generation potential.

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