Geological characteristics and exploration breakthroughs of coal rock gas in Carboniferous Benxi Formation,Ordos Basin,NW China

To explore the geological characteristics and exploration potential of the Carboniferous Benxi Formation coal rock gas in the Ordos Basin,this paper presents a systematic research on the coal rock distribution,coal rock reservoirs,coal rock quality,and coal rock gas features,resources and enrichment.Coal rock gas is a high-quality resource distinct from coalbed methane,and it has unique features in terms of burial depth,gas source,reservoir,gas content,and carbon isotopic composition.The Benxi Formation coal rocks cover an area of 16×104km^(2),with thicknesses ranging from 2 m to 25 m,primarily consisting of bright and semi-bright coals with primitive structures and low volatile and ash contents,indicating a good coal quality.The medium-to-high rank coal rocks have the total organic carbon(TOC)content ranging from 33.49%to 86.11%,averaging75.16%.They have a high degree of thermal evolution(Roof 1.2%-2.8%),and a high gas-generating capacity.They also have high stable carbon isotopic values(δ13C1of-37.6‰to-16‰;δ13C2of-21.7‰to-14.3‰).Deep coal rocks develop matrix pores such as gas bubble pores,organic pores,and inorganic mineral pores,which,together with cleats and fractures,form good reservoir spaces.The coal rock reservoirs exhibit the porosity of 0.54%-10.67%(averaging 5.42%)and the permeability of(0.001-14.600)×10^(-3)μm^(2)(averaging 2.32×10^(-3)μm^(2)).Vertically,there are five types of coal rock gas accumulation and dissipation combinations,among which the coal rock-mudstone gas accumulation combination and the coal rock-limestone gas accumulation combination are the most important,with good sealing conditions and high peak values of total hydrocarbon in gas logging.A model of coal rock gas accumulation has been constructed,which includes widespread distribution of medium-to-high rank coal rocks continually generating gas,matrix pores and cleats/fractures in coal rocks acting as large-scale reservoir spaces,tight cap rocks providing sealing,source-reservoir integration,and five types of efficient enrichment patterns(lateral pinchout complex,lenses,low-amplitude structures,nose-like structures,and lithologically self-sealing).According to the geological characteristics of coal rock gas,the Benxi Formation is divided into 8 plays,and the estimated coal rock gas resources with a buried depth of more than 2000 m are more than 12.33×10^(12)m^(3).The above understandings guide the deployment of risk exploration.Two wells drilled accordingly obtained an industrial gas flow,driving the further deployment of exploratory and appraisal wells.Substantial breakthroughs have been achieved,with the possible reserves over a trillion cubic meters and the proved reserves over a hundred billion cubic meters,which is of great significance for the reserves increase and efficient development of natural gas in China.

Reservoir characteristics and formation model of Upper Carboniferous bauxite series in eastern Ordos Basin,NW China

Through core observation,thin section identification,X-ray diffraction analysis,scanning electron microscopy,and low-temperature nitrogen adsorption and isothermal adsorption experiments,the lithology and pore characteristics of the Upper Carboniferous bauxite series in eastern Ordos Basin were analyzed to reveal the formation and evolution process of the bauxite reservoirs.A petrological nomenclature and classification scheme for bauxitic rocks based on three units(aluminum hydroxides,iron minerals and clay minerals)is proposed.It is found that bauxitic mudstone is in the form of dense massive and clastic structures,while the(clayey)bauxite is of dense massive,pisolite,oolite,porous soil and clastic structures.Both bauxitic mudstone and bauxite reservoirs develop dissolution pores,intercrystalline pores,and microfractures as the dominant gas storage space,with the porosity less than 10% and mesopores in dominance.The bauxite series in the North China Craton can be divided into five sections,i.e.,ferrilite(Shanxi-style iron ore,section A),bauxitic mudstone(section B),bauxite(section C),bauxite mudstone(debris-containing,section D)and dark mudstone-coal section(section E).The burrow/funnel filling,lenticular,layered/massive bauxite deposits occur separately in the karst platforms,gentle slopes and low-lying areas.The karst platforms and gentle slopes are conducive to surface water leaching,with strong karstification,well-developed pores,large reservoir thickness and good physical properties,but poor strata continuity.The low-lying areas have poor physical properties but relatively continuous and stable reservoirs.The gas enrichment in bauxites is jointly controlled by source rock,reservoir rock and fractures.This recognition provides geological basis for the exploration and development of natural gas in the Upper Carboniferous in the study area and similar bauxite systems.

The Influence of Variable (Monsoon) Rainfall on Sedimentation in the Roaches Grit and Other Upper Carboniferous Delta Sequences in the UK Pennine Basin

The Roaches Grit in the UK Pennine Basin was a complex deep water deltaic sequence deposited during the Late Carboniferous glacial period. The channels of the upper part of the Roaches Grit, deposited towards the end of the cyclothem after the eustatic minimum, contain evidence for very high seasonal discharges related to strong monsoon rainfall in the catchment areas. In some channels, intense turbulence near the delta front, led to knick point recession and deep incision. These channels were filled with sediments during reduced discharge, including very large sets of cross-bedding up to 16 m thick. Channels were short-lived with frequent avulsions. Over time slightly lower discharges formed laterally migrating channels dominated by bar forms. Different discharge-controlled processes operated on the reactivated delta slope. Incised channels generated turbidity currents during floods which transported sediments directly into the basin far from the delta. Migrating channels built mouth bars;resedimentation during floods formed density currents which then deposited sediment on the lower parts of the slope.

Rehabilitation and Identification of Ancient Geomorphology in Pre-Carboniferous to the East Region of the 7^(th) Well in Lungu

After the break of sedimentation from middle Ordovician to early Carboniferous, Lunnan ancient buried hill received deposition again in the middle of Carboniferous. According to the seismic structural explanation and analysis of structural background, the research was carried out upon Ordovician soluble stratum and the distribution of soluble regions to the east of the 7th well in Lungu. In light of impression method and residual thickness method, and through the analysis of corresponding relations between upper and lower strata of ancient weathering crust in the research area, the gap between the bottom of doublet limestone, the symbol stratum in Carboniferous regions, and Ordovician buried hill stratum was filled. By applying impression method and residual thickness method, pre-Carboniferous paleokarst geomorphology in this region was rehabilitated, so as to prepare for the identification of ancient geomorphology. Geomorphic units such as karst highlands, karst gentle slopes and karst peak-cluster valleys were distinguished as alternative objective regions for further reservoir prediction work.

Carboniferous Post-collisional Rift Volcanism of the Tianshan Mountains, Northwestern China

The Tianshan Carboniferous post-collisional rift volcanic rocks occur in northwestern China as a large igneous province. Based on petrogeochemical data, the Tianshan Carboniferous post-collisional rift basic lavas can be classified into two major magma types: (1) the low-Ti/Y type situated in the eastern-central Tianshan area, which exhibits low Ti/Y (<500), Ce/Yb (<15) and SiO2 (43-55%), and relatively high Fe2O3T (6.4-11.5%); (2) the high-Ti/Y type situated in the western Tianshan area, which has high Ti/Y (>500), Ce/Yb (>11) and SiO2 (49-55%), and relatively low Fe2O3T (5.8-7.8%). Elemental data suggest that chemical variations of the low-Ti/Y and high-Ti/Y lavas cannot be explained by fractional crystallization from a common parental magma. The Tianshan Carboniferous basic lavas originated most likely from an OIB-like asthenospheric mantle source (87Sr/86Sr(t) ≈ 0.703-0.705, eNd(0 = +4 to +7). The crustal contamination and continental lithospheric mantle have also contributed significantly to the formation of the basic lavas of the Tianshan Carboniferous post-collisional rift. The silicic lavas were probably generated by partial melting of the crust. The data of this study show that spatial petrogeochemical variations exist in the Carboniferous post-collisional rift volcanics province in the Tianshan region. Occurrence of the thickest volcanics dominated by tholeiitic lavas may imply that the center of the mantle-melting anomaly (mantle plume) was in the eastern Tianshan area at that time. The basic volcanic magmas in the eastern Tianshan area were generated by a relatively high degree of partial melting of the mantle source around the spinel-garnet transition zone, whereas the alkaline basaltic lavas are of the dominant magma type in the western Tianshan area, which were generated by a low degree of partial melting of the mantle source within the stable garnet region, thus the basic lavas of the western Tianshan area might have resulted from relatively thick lithosphere and low geothermal gradient.

Relationships between Basic and Silicic Magmatism in Continental Rift Settings:A Petrogeochemical Study of Carboniferous Post-collisional Rift Silicic Volcanics in Tianshan,NW China

Petrogeochemical data are reported for silicic volcanic rocks from the Tianshan Carboniferous rift, with the aim of discussing the petrogenesis of silicic magmas. Incompatible element vs. incompatible element diagrams display smooth positive trends for the Tianshan Carboniferous rift-related volcanic rocks; the isotope ratios of the silicic lavas [^87Sr/^86S（t）=0.699880.70532; eNd（t）=4.76-8.00; ^206pb/^204pb（t）=17.435-18.017; ^207Pb/^204Pb（t）=15.438-15.509; ^208Pb/^204Pb（t） = 37.075-37.723] encompass those of the basic lavas. These data suggest a genetic link between rhyolites and basalts, but are not definitive in establishing whether silicic rocks are related to basalts through fractional crystallization or partial melting. Geochemical modeling of incompatible vs. compatible elements excludes the possibility that silicic melts are generated by the melting of basaltic rocks, and indicates a derivation by fractional crystallization plus moderate assimilation of wall rocks （AFC） starting from intermediate rocks to silicic rocks. Continuous AFC from basalt to rhyolite, with small rates of crustal assimilation, best explains the geochemical data. The presence or absence of bimodal volcanism （the ＂Daly Gap＂） might be related to cooling rates of magma chambers. In central and eastern Tianshan, the crust was thinner and the cooling rates of the magma chamber within the crust were greater. These conditions resulted in a rapid fall in temperature within the magma reservoir and caused a narrow temperature interval over which intermediate melts formed, effectively reducing the volume of the intermediate melts.

Permo-Carboniferous Radiolarians from the Wupata'erkan Group,Western South Tianshan, Xinjiang, China

The Wupata'erkan Group, also called Wupata'erkan Formation, distributed in the South Tianshan, Xinjiang, China, mainly consists of gray and dark gray fine-grained clastic rocks, interlayered with volcanic rocks, carbonates and cherts. Some ultra-basic rocks (blocks) punctuate the formation. The formation was variously assigned to Silurian-Middle Devonian, Silurian-Lower Devonian, and pre-Devonian, mainly based on Atrypa bodini Mansuy, Hypothyridina parallelepipedia (Brour.) and Prismatophyllum hexagonum Yoh collected from the limestone interlayers, respectively. However, radiolarian fossils obtained from 24 chert specimens of the Wupata'erkan Group, mainly include Albaillella sp. cf. A. undulata Deflandre, Albaillella sp. cf. A. paradoxa Deflandre, Albaillella cf. A. deflandrei Gourmelon, Albaillella sp. cf. A. indensis Won, Albaillella sp. cf. A. excelsa Ishiga, Kito and Imoto, Albaillella sp. and Latentifistulidae gen. et. sp. indet., are earliest Carboniferous and Late Permian. The earliest Carboniferous assemblage is characterized by Albaillella sp. cf. A. undulata Deflandre, Albaillella sp. cf. A. paradoxa Deflandre, Albaillella cf. A. deflandrei Gourmelon and Albaillella sp. cf. A. indensis Won, and the Late Permian assemblage by Albaillella sp. cf. A. excelsa Ishiga, Kito and Imoto. This new stratigraphic evidence indicates that the Wupata'erkan Group is possibly composed of rocks with different ages from Silurian to Permian, and therefore, it is probably an ophiolite melange. The discovery of Late Permian Albaillella sp. cf. A. excelsa provides more reliable evidence supporting the existence of a Permian relic ancient oceanic basin in the western part of Xinjiang South Tianshan.

Upper Devonian and Lower Carboniferous Sequence Stratigraphy of South China

In South China four depositional sequences are recognized in the upper part of Upper Devonian and Tournaisian. They are named SQ0 SQ1, SQ2 and SQ3 in ascending order. SQ0 is Strunian (uppermost Devonian), and the other three Tournaisian in age. These four depositional sequences appear to correlate fairly well with the four sequence recognized in Europe, North America and other areas. This may suggest that these sequences are synchronous depos- its resulted from the eustatic changes. The present study on sequence stratigraphy, biostratigraphy and event stratigraphy indicates that in neritic facies areas of South China, the Devonian-Carboniferous boundary, matching the boundary between Siphonodella praesulcata zone and S. sulcata zone in pelagic facies areas, is not only higher than the top of the Cystophrentis zone, but also higher than the top of the Devonian-Carboniferous boundary event bed. In neritic facies areas, the Devonian-Carbonifrerous boundary is marked by the most distinct transgressive surface within the Cystophrentiseudouralina interval zone, i. e. at the base of the TST of the SQ1. This boundary coincides with the top surface of the event bed resulted from the eustatic fall, and approximately corresponds to the basal part of Rseudouralina assemblage zone.

Geochemistry of Carboniferous Sandstones (Sardar Formation), East-Central Iran: Implication for Provenance and Tectonic Setting

Geochemical analysis of sandstones from the Sardar Formation （from two stratigraphic successions） in east-central Iran were used for identification of geochemical characterization of sandstones, provenance and tectonic setting. Sandstones in the two lithostratigraphic successions have similar chemical compositions suggesting a common provenance. Bulk-rock geochemistry analysis of Carboniferous sandstones from Sardar Formation indicates that they are mainly quartz dominated and are classified as quartzarenites, sublitharenites and subarkoses, derived from acid igneous to intermediate igneous rocks. Discrimination function analysis indicates that the sandstones of Sardar Formation were derived from quartzose sedimentary provenance in a recycled orogenic setting. Also, major and trace elements in sandstones of Sardar Formation （e.g., K2O/Na2O vs. SiO2 ） indicate deposition in a stable passive continental margin （PM）. Chemical index of alteration （CIA） for these rocks （65%） suggests a moderate to relatively high degree of weathering in the source area.

Paleoecology of Late Carboniferous Phylloid Algae in Southern Guizhou,SW China

Phylloid algae arc important rcef-builders in the late Carboniferous. This paper focuses on the paleoecology of phylloid algae in the Late Carboniferous on well-exposed reefs in Ziyun County, Guizhou Province. Phylloid algae growing closely packed arc attached via holdfast or similar structure to substrate. They were growing in environments such as shallow water, photic zone and below the wave base with medium energy currents. They have a variety of morphological forms, such as single cup-shaped, cabbage-shaped and clustering cup-shaped. The thalli arc of certain tenacity and intensity. In the areas dominated by phylloid algae, other marine orgam＇sms arc relatively scarce. Obviously, phylloid algae arc stronger competitors for living space than other co-occurring organisms.

Ramp facies in an intracratonic basin:A case study from the Upper Devonian and Lower Carboniferous in central Hunan,southern China

Detailed studies on Late Devonian to Early Carboniferous carbonate rocks in central Hunan, southern China have led to the recognition of 25 lithofacies which can be grouped into： （I） inner ramp peritidal platform, （2） inner ramp organic hank and mound, （3） mid ramp, （4） outer ramp, and （5） shelf basin facies associations. The peritidal platform facies association dominates the Zimenqiao Formation （Namurian A or late Datangian） and is characterized by gypsum and dolostone-containing sequences, indicating a peritidal platform environment. The other four facies associations dominate the Menggongao Formation （late Famennian）, Liujiatang Formation （Tournaisian or Yangruanian）, Shidengzi Formations （early Visean or early Datangian）. Five upward-shallowing cycles were distinguished in these three Formations. The predominant facies associations developed in each Formation demonstrate an overall transgression-regression cycle in the Late Devonian to Early Carboniferous in central Hunan. The overall transgressive sequence was preserved in the Shaodong, Menggongao, and Liujiatang Formations, and the overall regressive sequence was preserved in the Liujiatang, Shidengzi, Ceshui and Zimenqiao Formations.

Early Carboniferous Radiolarian Fauna from Heiyingshan South of the Tianshan Mountains and Its Geotectonic Significance

Abundant and well-preserved fossil radiolarians found from the Artencasher Formation, Heiyingshan of Baicheng County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, are identified, including 15 species and 2 unnamed species in 9 genera. The fauna is dominated by the Family Entactiniidae of Spumellaria. According to the faunal characteristics, the radiolarians may be divided into five assemblages, namely, the Triaenosphaera sicarius, Entatinosphaera palimbola, Entactinia vulgaris, Belowea cf. variabilis and Archocyrtium sp assemblages. The fauna may be correlated with that from the Early Carboniferous of Frankenwald and Rein in Germany. Thus, ophiolite was formed in the Carboniferous, while the age of collision between the ***Ili plate and the Tarim plate is Early Carboniferous.

On the Devonian-Carboniferous Boundary in Neritic Facies Areas of South China:A Viewpoint of Integrated StratigraPhy

Biostratigraphical data indicate that in the neritic facies areas of South China, the Devonian -Carboniferous boundary (DCB), matching the boundary between conodont Siphonodella praesulcata zone and S. sulcata zone, should be drawn between rugose coral Cystophrentis zone and Pseudouralina zone, i.e. the Cystophrentis\ Pseudouralina inter val-zone. The top of the sea level fall event bed near the DCB is lower than the boundary between S. praesulcata and S. sulcata zones, but higher than the top of the Cysto phrentis zone. Sequence stratigraphical study shows that the sea level fall event bed near the DCB constitutes the shelf margin system tract (SMST) of a depositional sequence (SQ1) in both neritic and pelagic facies areas. The top surfaces of SMST of SQ1 is slightly lower than the base of S. sulcata zone in the pelagic facies areas. In neritic facies areas of South China, therefore, the Devonian - Carboniferous boundary is marked by the most distinct transgressive surface within the Cystophrentis\ Pseudouralina interval-zone, i.e. the base of the TST of SQ1. This boundary coincides with the top surface of the event bed resulted from the eustatic fall, and approximately corresponds to the base of Pseudouralina assemblage zone.

On the Carboniferous Sequence Stratigraphy in the Tazhong Area, Xinjiang——A Model of the Sequence Stratigraphy Framework of Intracratonic Depressional Basins

The Carboniferous prototype sedimentary basin in the Tazhong (Central Tarimbasin) area is recognized as a compressive intracratonic depressional one. Three type Ⅰ sequenceboundaries and three type Ⅱ sequence boundaries can be identified in the CarboniferousSystem, which can accordingly be divided into five sedimentary sequences. These sequencespossess stratigraphic characters of the standard sequence and correspond to the depositionalstratigraphic unit of a third-order eustatic cycle. They can be regionally or globally correlatedwith each other. The framework of sequence stratigraphy of the intracratonict basin in thestudy area distinctly differs from that of the passive continental-margin basin in the lack ofdepositional systems of early-middle lowstand, poor development of the deeply incised valleyand condensed section of the maximum sea-flood, good development of type Ⅱ sequenceboundaries and coastal plain depositional systems coexisting with shelf-type fan deltas underwet climatic conditions, Which consequently led to the formation of a paralic lithofacies frame-work.

An Early Carboniferous Flora of the Huadu Locality from South China:Its Taxonomic Composition,Paleophytogeographical Position and Paleoecological Interpretation

The Huadu flora of Guangdong Province, South China contains the lepidodendrid Lepidodendron shanyangense Wu et He, its putative rhizophore Stigmaria cf. ficoides （Brongniart） Sternberg; sphenophyte s.l. Archaeocalamites scrobiculatus （Brongniart） Stur; bowmanitid Sphenophyllum tenerrimum （Ettingshausen） Stur; pteridophyll Sphenopteris sp. of uncertain taxonomic position; undetermined ferns gen. et sp. nov.; lyginopterid pteridosperm Rhodeopteridium hsianghsiangense （Sze） Zhang, Zhao et Wu, a trigonocarpoid pteridosperm represented by fronds and isolated pinnules of Paripteris gigantea （Sternberg） Gothan, male fructifications of Potoniea sp., and seeds of Trigonocarpus sp. Ecologically, the Early Carboniferous （Visean） Huadu vegetation was divided into two neighboring communities： （1） a near-shore hydrophilous ＂community A＂ with predominating Archaeocalamites and Rhodeopteridium; and （2） a wet forest ＂community B＂ with predominating shrubby trigonocarpalean pteridosperm Paripteris gigantea （Sternberg） Gothan and tall tree-like lepidodendrid Lepidodendron shanyangense Wu et He. The Huadu vegetation was physiognomically similar to present-day low-latitude mangrove forest.

Prospects of Carboniferous Shale Gas Exploitation in the Eastern Qaidam Basin

Shale gas is a resource of emerging importance in the energy field.Many countries in the world have been making big financial investments in this area.Carboniferous shale in the eastern Qaidam Basin shows good exploration prospects,but limited research and exploration work for shale oil and gas resources has been undertaken.Geochemical analyses were performed on shale derived from the Upper Carboniferous Hurleg Formation in the eastern Qaidam Basin,Qinghai Province,and secondary electron imaging capability of a Field Emission scanning electron microscope （FE-SEM） was used to characterize the microstructure of the shale.The reservoir and exploitation potential of the studied shale was assessed by comparison with research results obtained from the Barnett Formation shale in Fort Worth Basin,North America and the Basin shale of Sichuan province.The results indicate that the eastern Qaidam Basin Carboniferous shale is high-quality source rock.There are four major microstructural types in the study area：matrix intergranular pores,dissolution pores,intergranular pores,and micro-fractures.The size of the micropores varies from 6-633 nm,the majority of which is between 39-200 nm,with a relatively small number of micro-scale pores ranging from 0.13-1 μtm.The pore characteristics of the studied shales are similar to the North American and Sichuanese shales,indicating that they have good reservoir potential.No micropores are present in the organic matter,which is induced by its composition; instead we found an important lamellar structure in the organic matter.These micropores and microfractures are abundant,and are connected to natural visible cracks that form the network pore system,which controls the storage and migration of shale gas.This connectivity is favorable for shale gas exploitation,providing great scientific potential and practical value.

Carboniferous Highly Fractionated I-type Granites from the Kalamaili Fault Zone, Eastern Xinjiang, NW China: Petrogenesis and Tectonic Implications

Carboniferous magmatism is one of the most important tectonothermal events in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB). However, the final closure time of the Kalamaili Ocean between East Junggar and Harlik Mountain is still debated. Early Carboniferous(332 Ma) and late Carboniferous(307-298 Ma) granitic magmatism from Kalamaili fault zone have been recognized by LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating. They are both metaluminous highly fractionated I-type and belong to the high-K calc-alkaline. The granitoids for early Carboniferous have zircon εHf(t) values of-5.1 to +8.5 with Hf model ages(TDM2) of 1.78-0.83 Ga, suggesting a mixed magma source of juvenile material with old continental crust. Furthermore, those for late Carboniferous have much younger heterogeneous zircon εHf(t) values(+5.1 to +13.6) with Hf model ages(TDM2=1.03-0.45 Ga) that are also indicative of juvenile components with a small involvement of old continental crust. Based on whole-rock geochemical and zircon isotopic features, these high-K granitoids were derived from melting of heterogeneous crustal sources or through mixing of old continental crust with juvenile components and minor AFC(assimilation and fractional crystallization). The juvenile components probably originated from underplated basaltic magmas in response to asthenospheric upwelling. These Carboniferous highly fractionated granites in the Kalamaili fault zone were probably emplaced in a post-collisional extensional setting and suggested vertical continental crustal growth in the southern CAOB, which is the same or like most granitoids in CAOB. This study provides new evidence for determining the post-accretionary evolution of the southern CAOB. In combination with data from other granitoids in these two terranes, the Early Carboniferous Heiguniangshan pluton represents the initial record of post-collisional environment, suggesting that the final collision between the East Junggar and Harlik Mountain might have occurred before 332 Ma.

Thermal and maturation history for Carboniferous source rocks in the Junggar Basin, Northwest China: implications for hydrocarbon exploration

The reconstruction of thermal history is an important component of basin evolution and hydrocarbon exploration.Based on vitrinite reflectance data,we integrate the paleo-temperature gradient and paleo-heat flow methods to reconstruct the thermal history of Junggar Basin.Compared with present thermal state,the Junggar Basin experienced much a higher heat flow of ca.80–120 mW/m2 during the Carboniferous.This feature can be attributed to large-scale volcanic events and related thermal effects.The hydrocarbon maturation history of Carboniferous source rocks indicates that the temperature rapidly reached the threshold of hydrocarbon generation during the Late Carboniferous and has never achieved such a high level since then.This characteristic resulted in the early maturation of hydrocarbons in Carboniferous source rocks.Meanwhile,the results reveal that hydrocarbon maturities are different among various tectonic units in Junggar Basin.The kerogen either rapidly broke through the dry gas period so that cracking of gas occurred or remained in the oil maturation window forming oil reservoirs,which depended on the tectonic background and depositional environment.In this study,we present the thermal and hydrocarbon maturation history since the Carboniferous,which has important implications for further hydrocarbon exploration in Junggar Basin.

Carboniferous Alaskan-type complex along the Sino–Mongolian boundary,southern margin of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt

We present zircon ages and geochemical data for the Hongshishan Carboniferous Alaskan-type mafic–ultramafic complex exposed in the Beishan area along the Sino–Mongolian boundary, southern margin of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. This complex mainly consists of dunite,harzburgite, lherzolite, wehrlite, and gabbro, which intrudes Early Carboniferous volcanic rocks and reveals a zoned structure. Zircons of a gabbro sample yielded a 206Pb/238 U age of 357 ± 4 Ma, reflecting the time of Early Carboniferous magmatism. Zircon ages were also obtained for an andesite(322 ± 3 Ma) and a basaltic andesite(304 ± 2 Ma).High initial Nd isotope whole-rock values suggest that the Hongshishan gabbro [e_(Nd(t))= +9.6-+10.2] and basalt[eNd(t)= +10.0-+10.8] were derived from a depleted mantle source. Slightly lower eNd(t)values for the ultramafic rocks [eNd(t)= +8.5-+8.7] suggest some interaction of the parental magma with the continental crust. In contrast, the Late Carboniferous Quershan samples in this area represent subduction-related arc volcanic rocks with Adakite-like compositions. The early Carboniferous Hongshishan Alaskan-type complex was interpreted to represent the remnants of a magma chamber that crystallized at the base of a mature island arc, whereas the Quershan island arc volcanic rockssuggest the resurrection of the subduction process after arccontinent collision and uplift of the roots of the arc.

Intra-Oceanic Subduction of the Paleo-Asian Oceanic Slab: New Evidence from the Early Carboniferous Quartz Diorite in the Diyanmiao Ophiolite

Late Paleozoic supra-subduction zone(SSZ)-type ophiolites and intra-oceanic arc igneous petrotectonic assemblages are developed in the Erenhot-Hegenshan suture zone(EHSZ)in the eastern part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB).which contains information about the Late Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the Paleo-Asian Ocean(PAO)in the eastern CAOB.However,there are two main views and associated controversies about the closure time of the PAO in the eastern CAOB,which are“collision suture from Late Devonian to Early Carboniferous”and“final suture from Late Permian to Early Triassic”.