The influence of organic sources and environments on source rock deposition during the periods of Cretaceous–Eocene and Oligocene–Miocene,northern Kalimantan

The sedimentary system of Kalimantan has undergone significant development since the Oligocene.Previous research have largely ignored the capacity of the Cretaceous–Eocene sediments to produce hydrocarbons,focusing instead primarily on the Oligocene–Miocene coal as the principal source rocks.Shales and coals from the outcrops in the northern margin of Kalimantan were analyzed with palynological and geochemical methods to characterize the palaeoenvironmental and palaeoecological differences between the Cretaceous–Eocene and the Oligocene–Miocene samples.The high proportion of Cheirolepidoaceae,Schizaeoisporites and Ephedripites in the pollen assemblage from the Cretaceous–Eocene outcrops reflects an arid tropical/subtropical climate.The relatively low abundances of gymnosperm-derived biomarkers including isopimarane,β-phyllocladane,β-kaurane,suggest the gymnosperm features in flora.High C_(27)/C_(29)ααα20R sterane ratios,(C_(19)–C_(29))tricyclic terpanes/C_(30)αβhopane and extremely low oleanane/C_(30)αβhopane,bicadinane T/C_(30)αβhopane,and diterpenoid abundance indicate that there was a dominance of algae relative to higher plants in the organic matter.The gymnosperm-derived biomarkers,including isopimarane,β-phyllocladane,β-kaurane,suggest that palaeovegetation during this period was dominated by gymnosperms.The saline and reducing conditions in the bathyal and abysmal sea,evidenced by rather low Pr/Ph and high Gammarerane index,are beneficial for the preservation of hydrogen-rich organic matter.It is presumed that the Cretaceous–Eocene shales had great hydrocarbon generation potential in the southern South China Sea.During the period of Oligocene to Miocene in the Zengmu Basin and the Baram-Sabah Basin,the climate changed to a dominant humid and warm condition,which is corroborated by abundant pollen of Florschuetzia and Magnastriatites hawardi.Low C_(27)/C_(29)ααα20R sterane ratios,(C_(19)–C_(29))tricyclic terpanes/C_(30)αβhopane,and high oleanane/C_(30)αβhopane,bicadinane T/C_(30)αβhopane suggest that the palaeovegetation was dominated by angiosperms including the mangrove plants.The extremely abundant higher plants provide ample terrigenous organic matter for the formation of coal-measures in delta facies.The low gammacerane index and high Pr/Ph indicate the fresh and sub-oxic water in delta-neriticabysmal faces,which is not beneficial for the accumulation of hydrogen-rich organic matter.Thus,the Oligocene–Miocene marine argillaceous rocks can be potential sources of natural gas.

Supply of terrigenous organic matter from tidal flat to the marine environment:An example of neritic source rocks in the Eocene Pinghu Formation,Xihu Depression,East China Sea Shelf Basin

The terrigenously-dominated marine shales which were deposited in the lower Eocene Pinghu Formation were thought to be a potential source rock in the Xihu Depression of the East China Sea Shelf Basin.However,the exceptionally high total organic carbon content(TOC,>6%on average)of the tidal sand ridge samples was not compatible with their sedimentary environment,indicating coal-bearing sedimentary debris may have been transferred from the coast to the ocean.In this study,new sights into the origins and supply of organic materials in the coastal environment were proposed in the neritic organic matter of the Eocene Pinghu Formation.A discriminant model was developed using plynofacies analysis data to pinpoint the source of organic materials in marine source rocks.The discrimination results suggested that marine mudstones were associated with tidal flat mudstones rather than deltaic ones.The biomarker characteristics of mudstones deposited in various environments support this assertion,indicating that the supply of plant materials in tidal flats is the primary organic matter source for the marine environment.The organic matter abundance was elevated in tidal flats due to their superior preservation conditions.Additionally,the lithological assemblage of tidal flats suggests that tidal currents can scour marshes and then transport dispersed terrigenous organic materials to neritic areas.These findings indicate that coal-bearing sedimentary debris was likely transferred from the coast to the ocean,and tidal currents are thought to be the dominant mechanism driving organic matter from the tidal to the marine environment.