Study on oil–source correlation by analyzing organic geochemistry characteristics: a case study of the Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation in the south of Ordos Basin, China

In the south of the Ordos Basin, the oil source of the Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation is confused all the time, which affects further exploration. In this study, oil sources from the oil layers of Ch6, Ch8 and Ch9 are all analyzed and confirmed. Through their carbon isotope value and biomarkers, characteristics of crude oils from the Yanchang Formation are analyzed. Then, the oil–source relation is discussed, with the source rocks' features.Finally, the oil–source relation is calculated through cluster analysis. It is believed that the oils from the Yanchang Formation deposit in a similar redox environment, with weak oxidation–weak reduction, and have all entered maturity stage. Ch9 crude oil is more mature than crude oils from Ch6 and Ch8, and has more advanced plants and fewer algae. Gas chromatography(GC) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry(GC–MS) analysis show that crude oils from Ch6 and Ch8 may come from Ch7, and Ch9 crude oil may not. Cluster analysis displays that crude oils from Ch6 and Ch8 have closer squared Euclidean distance with Ch7 source rocks than Ch9 crude oil does,indicating crude oils from Ch6 and Ch8 stem from Ch7 source rocks. And Ch9 crude oil has rather close squared Euclidean distance with Ch9 source rocks, illustrating Ch9 crude oil may be from Ch9 source rocks. This research may provide the theoretical basis for the next exploration deploy in the south of Ordos Basin.

Influence on lacustrine source rock by hydrothermal fluid： a case study of the Chang 7 oil shale, southern Ordos Basin

Hydrothermal fluid activity during sedimentation of the Triassic Yanchang Formation in the Ordos Basin and the impact of said activity on formation and preservation conditions of source rocks have received little attention. Oil yield, major element, trace element, rare earth element, and total sulfur(TS) data from the oil shale within the Yanchang are here presented and discussed in the context of hydrothermal influence. Oil shale samples returned relatively high total organic carbon(TOC), in the range of 4.69%–25.48%. A high correlation between TS and TOC suggests TS in the oil shale is dominated by organic sulfur and affected by organic matter. The low Al/Si ratio of oil shale samples implies quartz is a major mineralogical component. Si/(Si + Al + Fe) values suggest close proximity of the oil shale to a terrigenous source.d Eu; Fe versus Mn versus(Cu + Co + Ni) 9 10; and Si O2/(K2 O + Na2 O) versus Mn O/Ti O2, Fe/Ti, and(Fe + Mn)/Ti are evidence of hydrothermal fluid activity during oil shale sedimentation, and d U and U/Th of the oil shale indicate reducing conditions. The Sr/Ba of oil shale samples suggests fresh-water deposition. The high correlations of Fe/Ti and(Fe + Mn)/Ti with d U, U/Th, and TS demonstrate that hydrothermal fluid activity promotes reducing conditions. Sr/Ba ratios had low correlation with Fe/Ti and(Fe + Mn)/Ti, implying that hydrothermal fluid activity had little impact on paleosalinity. Fe/Ti,(Fe + Mn)/Ti, d U, U/Th, and Cu + Pb + Zn all exhibitedhigh positive correlation coefficients with TOC in oil shale samples, suggesting that more intense hydrothermal fluid activity improves conditions in favor of formation and preservation of organic matter.

Elemental characteristics and paleoenvironment reconstruction： a case study of the Triassic lacustrine Zhangjiatan oil shale, southern Ordos Basin, China

Using trace elements to reconstruct paleoenvironment is a current hot topic in geochemistry. Through analytical tests of oil yield, ash yield, calorific value, total sulfur, major elements, trace elements, and X-ray diffraction, the quality, mineral content, occurrence mode of elements, and paleoenvironment of the Zhangjiatan oil shale of the Triassic Yanchang Formation in the southern Ordos Basin were studied. The analyses revealed relatively high oil yield(average 6.63%) and medium quality. The mineral content in the oil shale was mainly clay minerals,quartz, feldspar, and pyrite; an illite–smectite mixed layer comprised the major proportion of clay minerals. Compared with marine oil shale in China, the Zhangjiatan oil shale had higher contents of quartz, feldspar, and clay minerals, and lower calcite content. Silica was mainly in quartz and Fe was associated with organic matter, which is different from marine oil shale. The form of calcium varied. Cluster analyses indicated that Fe, Cu, U, V, Zn, As,Cs, Cd, Mo, Ga, Pb, Co, Ni, Cr, Sc, P, and Mn are associated with organic matter while Ca, Na, Sr, Ba, Si, Zr, K,Al, B, Mg, and Ti are mostly terrigenous. Sr/Cu, Ba/Al, V/(V+ Ni), U/Th, AU, and δU of oil shale samples suggest the paleoclimate was warm and humid, paleoproductivity of the lake was relatively high during deposition of the shale—which mainly occurred in fresh water—and the paleo-redox condition was dominated by reducing conditions. Fe/Ti ratios of the oil shale samples suggest clear hydrothermal influence in the eastern portion of the study area and less conspicuous hydrothermal influence in the western portion.

The subducted slab of Yangtze Continental block beneath the Tethyan orogen in western Yunnan

The western Yunnan area is a natural laboratory with fully developed and best preserved Tethyan orogen in the world. Seismic tomography reveals a slab-like high velocity anomaly down to 250 km beneath the western Yunnan Tethyan orogen, to its west there is a low-velocity column about 300 km wide. in the region from Lancangjiang to Mojiang an obvious low velocity in the lower crust and uppermost mantle overlies on the slab. Synthesizing the available geological and geochemical results, the present paper demonstrates that this slab-like high velocity anomaly is a part of the subducted plate of Yangtze Continental segment after the closure of Paleotethys. The collision of India and Eurasia continent starting from 50-60 MaBP might trigger thermal disturbance in the upper mantle and cause the uprising of asthenosphere, in that case the subducted Yangtze plate could be broken off, causing Cenozoic magmatic activities and underplating in the Lancangjiang-Mojiang region.

Seismic tomography showing subduction and slab breakoff of the Yangtze block beneath the Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt

Seismic tomography reveals that a subducted ancient block has been preserved beneath the Moho of the Dabie-Sulu orogenic belt. Taking into account of geological and geochronological data, we inferred from the tomographic images that the Yangtze block was subducted northward beneath the Sino-Korean block and broken off at the depth 【200 km during 200-190 Ma. The slab breakoff of the Yangtze block is the most important dynamic mechanism to control the exhumation of UHP rocks.