Tectonic-thermal history and hydrocarbon potential of the Pearl River Mouth Basin,northern South China Sea:Insights from borehole apatite fission-track thermochronology

The Pearl River Mouth Basin(PRMB)is one of the most petroliferous basins on the northern margin of the South China Sea.Knowledge of the thermal history of the PRMB is significant for understanding its tectonic evolution and for unraveling its poorly studied source-rock maturation history.Our investigations in this study are based on apatite fission-track(AFT)thermochronology analysis of 12 cutting samples from 4 boreholes.Both AFT ages and length data suggested that the PRMB has experienced quite complicated thermal evolution.Thermal history modeling results unraveled four successive events of heating separated by three stages of cooling since the early Middle Eocene.The cooling events occurred approximately in the Late Eocene,early Oligocene,and the Late Miocene,possibly attributed to the Zhuqiong II Event,Nanhai Event,and Dongsha Event,respectively.The erosion amount during the first cooling stage is roughly estimated to be about 455-712 m,with an erosion rate of 0.08-0.12 mm/a.The second erosion-driven cooling is stronger than the first one,with an erosion amount of about 747-814 m and an erosion rate between about 0.13-0.21 mm/a.The erosion amount calculated related to the third cooling event varies from 800 m to 3419 m,which is speculative due to the possible influence of the magmatic activity.

Hydrocarbon generation history constrained by thermal history and hydrocarbon generation kinetics:A case study of the Dongpu Depression,Bohai Bay Basin,China

With the increasing exploration and development of typical hydrocarbon-rich depressions,such as the Dongpu Depression,the exploitation difficulty of shallow formations is increasing.There is an urgent need to clarify the hydrocarbon generation mode and hydrocarbon generation histories in deep formations.In this study,a gold tube-autoclave closed system was used to simulate the hydrocarbon generation processes and establish the hydrocarbon generation mode of different types of kerogen.Then,constrained by the thermal history and hydrocarbon generation kinetics,hydrocarbon generation histories were modeled.The results show that hydrocarbon generation evolution can be divided into five stages,and the maturity of each stage is different.The hydrocarbon generation history of the source rocks of the Shahejie 3 Formation mainly dates from the early depositional period of the Shahejie 1 Formation to the middle depositional period of the Dongying Formation.Hydrocarbon generation history constrained by thermal history and hydrocarbon generation kinetics is more in line with actual geological conditions.Moreover,this research can provide important hydrocarbon generation parameters for deep oil and gas exploration and exploitation of the Shahejie 3 Formation in the Dongpu Depression.

Geothermal Regime,Thermal History and Hydrocarbon Generation Types of Sedimentary Basins in the Continental Area of China

The thermal regimes in sedimentary basins in the continental area of China are varied and reflect differences in geological settings. As a result of these variable thermal regimes, the history of hydrocarbon generation in each basin is also different. An east-west profile of the thermal threshold across the continental basins of China, like the Liaohe Basin, the North China Basin, the Ordos Basin, the Qaidam Basin and the Tarim Basin, was constructed using large numbers of heat flow measurements, temperature data and rock thermophysical parameters. Isotherms, surface heat flow, mantle heat flow and Moho temperature beneath the basins are shown in the profile, which illustrates changes in some thermal characteristics between basins in east China and those in west China. Thermal evolution histories in basins were reconstructed using Easy%Ro method, apatite fission track annealing and other paleothermometers. Typical hydrocarbon generation histories of the primary source rocks were modeled by referring to the thermal evolution data. Thermal stages controlled source rocks maturation and oil and gas generation, and influenced the type of hydrocarbon (oil and gas) production in the basins.

Free Radicals in Organic Matter for Thermal History Reconstruction of Carbonate Succession

Geothermometer is one of the most useful methods to reconstruct the thermal history of sedimentary basins. This paper introduces the application of free radicals concentration of organic matter as a thermal indicator in the thermal history reconstruction of carbonate succession, based on anhydrous thermal simulation results of type I and H1 kerogen. A series of free radicals data are obtained under thermal simulation of different heating temperatures and times, and quantitative modds between free radical concentration （Ng） of organic matter and time-temperature index （TTI） for types I and type H1 kerogen are also obtained. This Ng.TTI relation was used to model the Ordovician thermal gradients of Well TZ12 in the Tarim Basin. The modeling result is corresponding to the results obtained by apatite fission track data and published data. This new method of thermal history reconstruction will be benefit to the hydrocarbon generation and accumulation study and resource assessment of carbonate succession.

A STUDY OF ELECTROCHEMICAL BEHAVIOUR OF VARIOUS THERMAL HISTORY ZONES AND DIFFERENT PHASE STRUCTURES ON THE WELDMENT FOR LOW ALLOY STEEL 16Mn IN NITRAfE SOLUTION

The electrochemical behaviour, including free corrosion potential, free corrosion current density and polarization curve, of various thermal history zones on the weldment was measured in this paper. The weldment consisted of matrix, tempering zone. incomplete normalized zone, normalized zone, overtemperature zone, fusion line zone and weld metal zone. The electrochemical behaviour of the ferrite, pearlite and mixed structure in various zones have successfully measured. The results showed that there was a difference of free corrosion potential which is smaller than ca. 200mV between various zones and about 20-150mV potential difference between ferrite and pearlite in every zone. The free cormsion potential of fusion line zone was the most negative between various zones. The free corrosion potential of pearlite was some dozens mV more negative than ferrite. The corrosion course of various zones and of different phase structures on the weldment and their effect on corrosion attack of weldment were discussed.

Dependence of viscosity of Cu_9In_4 intermetallics melt on thermal history

The temperature dependence of the dynamic viscosity of Cu9In4 intermetallics melt has been investigated in five kinds of different heating and cooling processes with a torsional oscillation viscometer, It has been found that the viscosity of all Cu9In4 intermetallics decreases with increasing temperature in five kinds of different thermal processes. Thermal history has considerable effect on the viscosity. The viscosity in the cooling process with high superheating is greater than that in the cooling process with low superheating. The viscosity in the heating process is greater than that in the cooling process. No anomalous change in viscosity is measured in three kinds of cooling processes with low superheating. The anomalous change occurs at about 1050℃ in cooling with high superheating and at 800℃ in heating. Furthermore, the structural variation in different thermal processes has also been discussed on the basis of the change in viscosity and DSC analysis.

Impact of thermal history of spherical silicon crystal on its crystal quality

Spherical Si solar cells were fabricated based on multicrystalline Si spheres produced by a dropping method. The thermal history of Si spheres were calculated by numerical simulation. The simulation result reveals that heat transfered by convection is greater than heat transfered by radiation. Considering the calculation results, Si spheres were dropped in the free-fall tower at low pressure state (0.2×105-0.5×105 Pa) to slow heat transfer by convection. After dash etching for 60 min, low pressure Si spheres have less etch pits, i.e., 80% for etch pit density and 8% for etch pit-area ratio compared to normal one. Furthermore, the conversion efficiency was improved from 6.57% (normal pressure spherical Si solar cell) to 9.56% (low one), which is 45% relative increase. The improvement is due to decrease of undercooling and increase of crystal growth duration. These results demonstrate that the dropping method at low pressure state is useful for fabricating high performance spherical Si solar cells.

THE MOVEMENT AND THERMAL HISTORY OF AN ALUMINIUM PARTICLE IN A RF PLASMA GENERATOR

In previous studies on plasma-particle interaction, as far as we know, the rf plasma flow and temperature fields are all simulated by the non-self-consistent one-dimensional electromagnetic (1-D EM) field model. In the present paper, the complete self-consistent two-dimensional electromagnetic (2-D EM) field model in- corporating the axial Lorentz force component, which is neglected in the 1-D model, is firstly adopted to calculate the aluminium particle trajectory and thermal history in atmospheric rf Ar plasma with the particle evaporation effect included. The cru- cial effect of reverse flow within the coil region on the particle trajectory is discovered and the results show that the 2-D EM field model must be adopted instead of the 1-D model when the plasma-particle interaction is studied. The effect of carrier gas flux on the particle movement and heating are also studied, resulting in some useful conclusions for both plasma theory and application.

Thermal History of Rocks in the Shiwandashan Basin, Southern China: Evidence from Apatite Fission Track Analysis

Based on interpretations of the apatite fission track analysis data for 10 outcrop samples and forward modeling of confined fission track length distributions, the thermal history of rocks in the Shiwandashan basin and its adjacent area, southern China, has been qualitatively and semi quantitatively studied. The results reflect several features of the thermal history. Firstly, all the samples have experienced temperatures higher than 60-70 ℃. Secondly, the time that the basement strata (T 1 b ) on the northwestern side of the Shiwandashan basin were uplifted and exhumed to the unannealed upper crust (with a paleogeotemperature of below 60-70 ℃) is much earlier than the basement rocks ( γ 1 5) on the southeastern side of the basin. Thirdly, the thermal history of samples from the basin can be divided into six stages, i.e., the fast burial and heating stage (220-145 Ma), the transient cooling stage (145-135 Ma), the burial and heating stage (135-70 Ma), the rapid cooling stage (70-50 Ma), the relatively stable stage (50-20 Ma) and another rapid cooling stage (20 Ma to present).

Thermal History of Cambrian Burgess Shale-Type Deposits:New Insights from the Early Cambrian Chengjiang and Qingjiang Fossils of South China

Burgess Shale-type deposits provide a wealth of information on the early evolution of animals.Questions that are central to understanding the exceptional preservation of these biotas and the paleoenvironments they inhabited may be obscured by the post-depositional alteration due to metamorphism at depth and weathering near the Earth’s surface.Among over 50 Cambrian BST biotas,the Chengjiang and Qingjiang deposits are well known for their richness of soft-bodied taxa,fidelity of preservation,and Early Cambrian Age.While alteration via weathering has been well-investigated,the thermal maturity of the units bearing the two biotas has not yet been elucidated.Here we investigate peak metamorphic temperatures of the two deposits using two independent methods.Paleogeotemperature gradient analyses demonstrate that the most fossiliferous sections of the Chengjiang were buried at a maximum depth of∼8500 m in the Early Triassic,corresponding to∼300°C,while the type area of the Qingjiang biota was buried at a maximum depth of∼8700 m in the Early Jurassic,corresponding to∼240°C.Raman geothermometer analyses of fossil carbonaceous material demonstrate that peak temperatures varied across localities with different burial depth.The two productive sections of the Chengjiang biota were thermally altered at a peak temperature of approximately 300°C,and the main locality of the Qingjiang biota experienced a peak temperature of 238±22°C.These results from two independent methods are concordant.Among BST deposits for which thermal maturity has been documented,the Qingjiang biota is the least thermally mature,and therefore holds promise for enriching our understanding of BST deposits.

Low Temperature Thermal History Reconstruction Based on Apatite Fission-Track Length Distribution and Apatite U-Th/He Age Using Low-T Thermo

Low temperature thermochronology plays a key role in the study of the tectonic evolution of the upper crust.History modeling of apatite fission-track requires the apparent age and the confined track-length distribution of spontaneous tracks.Obtaining length data does not require either thermal neutron irradiation or LA-ICP-MS measurements of the uranium content of the grains.This paper attempts to decouple the apatite fission-track age from the apatite fission-track length,but to combine the fission-track lengths with the respective apatite U-Th/He age to model the thermal history.The experiments were designed and conducted using a new Mathematica®modeling software“Low-T Thermo”.Results of this modeling show that the thermal history modeling of apatite U-Th/He and fission-track ages can constrain the apatite fission-track length thermal history in the He partial retention zone and fission-track partial annealing zone,respectively.It implies that this combination of apatite fissiontrack length and apatite U-Th/He age has not been implemented before but is presented here as an alternative way of determining thermal histories without the addition of apatite fission-track age.

Numerical Approach for Thermal History Modelling in Multi-Episodic Rifting Basins

Pre-existing models for thermal history modelling have shown deficiency in explicit algorithms to establish the quantitative relationship between maturity indices and thermal gradients in some sedimentary basins that experienced multi-episodic rifting evolution. In this study, a forward and inverse combination model（FICM） is proposed to estimate the vitrinite reflectance（Ro） and thermal gradients. The forward module is used to calculate Ro values. It couples the EASY%Ro model with burial history reconstruction with consideration of thermal gradient variations during basin evolution. The inverse module reconstructs histoical thermal gradients by calibrating cmputed Ro against measured Ro data. The time-temperature series is a necessary input for both forward and inverse modules. Sample density is a profound factor influencing the accuracy of modelling results. In order to obtain satisfying outputs, a sufficient sample density is required. Thermal gradients are assumed to vary linearly between two given samples. Modelling results of case studies indicate that the sensitivity of heating time to Ro evlution is differnt with thermal gradients depending on geolgoical setting. Three difffernt districts, which include the time-sensitive area, the temperature-sensitive area and the non-sensitive area, can be recognized on the the relationship map among Ro variations, heating time and geothermal gradients. This model can be applied to reconstruct the thermal history and maturation evolution in a basin that has undergone complex multi-episodic rifting.

Isothermal γ →ε phase transformation behavior in a Co-Cr-Mo alloy depending on thermal history during electron beam powder-bed additive manufacturing

Powder bed fusion with electron beam(PBF-EB),allows Co-Cr-Mo(CCM) implants with patientcustomization to be fabricated with high quality and complex geometry.However,the variability in the properties of PBF-EB-built CCM alloy,mainly due to the lack of understanding of the mechanisms that govern microstructural heterogeneity,brings limitations in extensive application.In this study,the microstructural heterogeneity regarding the γ-fcc→ε-hcp phase transformation was characterized.The phase transformation during PBF-EB was analyzed depending on the thermal history that was elucidated by the numerical simulation.It revealed that isothermal γ→ε transformation occurred during the fabrication.Importantly,the difference in γ/ε phase distribution was a result of the thermal history determining which method phase transformation was taking place,which can be influenced by the PBF-EB process parameters.In the sample with a low energy input(Earea=2.6 J/mm2),the martensitic transformation was dominant.As the building height increased from the bottom,the e phase fraction decreased.On the other hand,in the sample with a higher energy input(Earea=4.4 J/mm2),the ε phase fo rmed via diffusional-massive transformation and only appea red in a short range of the lower part away from the bottom.

Mesozoic Tectonic Evolution and Thermal History of the Yuanba Area of Northeast Sichuan Basin-Low-Temperature Thermochronology of Apatite and Zircon

By means of the vitrinite reflectance and U-Th/He dating of apatite and zircon in cut- ting samples from the T3x-K1j formations in the Yuanba （元坝） area of Northeast Sichuan （四川） Basin, a correlation has been established between the He-derived age and depth/temperature in this area assuming helium closure temperature of apatite in this area being 95 ℃. Mesozoic strata （T3x-Kd＇） experienced helium closure temperature of apatite approaching 95 ℃, but didn＇t reach the helium closure temperature of zircon （ca. 170-190 ℃） although some reached the highest pa- laeogeothermal temperature of about 170 ℃. The Mesozoic strata in the Yuanba area experienced an important uplift and denudation during Paleogene-Neogene periods （0.2-36.4 Ma）, the erosion rate being about 109.9 m/Ma. The K1] Formation and overlying strata experienced a maximum de- nudation loss of about 4 000 m. Geotemperatures gradually fell to the helium closure temperature of apatite and then fell further to the current temperature. The thermal evolution history of this area indicates that the maximum palaeogeothermal temperature of Mesozoic strata was close to 170- 190 ℃, prior to the strata being uplifted. During the period between 176 and 36 Ma, the palaeogeo- thermal temperature fell to 95-170 ℃. and after 36 Ma, it continued to fall to the present geotem- perature of less than 95 ℃.

Tectono-thermal evolution of the Liwan Sag, deepwater area in the Zhujiang River Mouth Basin, northern South China Sea

The Liwan Sag, with an area of 4 000 km-2, is one of the deepwater sags in the Zhujiang River（Pearl River） Mouth Basin, northern South China Sea. Inspired by the exploration success in oil and gas resources in the deepwater sags worldwide, we conducted the thermal modeling to investigate the tectono-thermal history of the Liwan Sag,which has been widely thought to be important to understand tectonic activities as well as hydrocarbon potential of a basin. Using the multi-stage finite stretching model, the tectonic subsidence history and the thermal history have been obtained for 12 artificial wells, which were constructed on basis of one seismic profile newly acquired in the study area. Two stages of rifting during the time periods of 49–33.9 Ma and 33.9–23 Ma can be recognized from the tectonic subsidence pattern, and there are two phases of heating processes corresponding to the rifting.The reconstructed average basal paleo-heat flow values at the end of the rifting events are -70.5 and -94.2 mW/m^2 respectively. Following the heating periods, the study area has undergone a persistent thermal attenuation phase since 23 Ma and the basal heat flow cooled down to -71.8–82.5 mW/m^2 at present.

Parameterized thermal model of a mixed mantle convection

Simple parameterized models, either whole mantle convection or layered mantleconvection, cannot explain the tectonic characteristics of the Earth's evolution history, therefore a mixed mantle convection model has been carried out in this paper. We introduce a time-dependent parameter F, which denotes the ratio betWeen the mantle material involved in whole mantle convection and the material of the entire mantle, and introduce a local Rayleigh number Raloc as well as two critical numbers Ra1 and Ra2. These parameters are used to describe the stability of the phase boundary between the upper and lower mantle. The result shows that the mixed mantle convection model is able to simulate the episodic tectonic evolution of the Earth.

A Tiny Piece of Basalt Probably from Asteroid 4 Vesta

Grove Mountains (GRV) 99018 is a new eucrite (0.23 g), consisting mainly of pyroxene (50.5 vol%) and plagioclase (37.2 vol%) with minor silica minerals (7.0 Vol%) and opaque minerals (5.2 vol%). It was intensely shocked, leading to partial melting, formation of abundant tiny inclusions in pyroxenes and plagioclase, and heavy brecciation. Exsolution of most pyroxenes (1-3μm in width of the lamellae), recrystallization of the shpck-induced melt pockets and veins (5-20μm in size), and homogeneous compositions of pyroxenes of various occurrences suggest the intense thermal metamorphism of GRV 99018 in the asteroidal body Vesta. This new eucrite will bring additional constraints on the chemical composition and multi-stage thermal and shock history of Vesta.

Apatite Fission Track Evidence of Uplift Cooling in the Qiangtang Basin and Constraints on the Tibetan Plateau Uplift

The Qiangtang basin is located in the central Tibetan Plateau. This basin has an important structural position, and further study of its tectonic and thermal histories has great significance for understanding the evolution of the Tibetan Plateau and the hydrocarbon potential of marine carbonates in the basin. This study focuses on low temperature thermochronology and in particular conducted apatite fission track analysis. Under constraints provided by the geological background, the thermal history in different tectonic units is characterized by the degree of annealing of samples, and the timing of major （uplift-erosion related） cooling episodes is inferred. The cooling history in the Qiangtang basin can be divided into two distinct episodes. The first stage is mainly from the late Early Cretaceous to the Late Cretaceous （69.8 Ma to 108.7 Ma）, while the second is mainly from the Middle- Late Eocene to the late Miocene （10.3 Ma to 44.4 Ma）. The first cooling episode records the uplift of strata in the central Qiangtang basin caused by continued convergent extrusion after the Bangong- Nujiang ocean closed. The second episode can be further divided into three periods, which are respectively 10.3 Ma, 22.6-26.1 Ma and 30.8-44.4 Ma. The late Oligocene-early Miocene （22.6-26.1 Ma） is the main cooling period. The distribution and times of the earlier uplift-related cooling show that the effect of extrusion after the collision between Eurasian plate and India plate obviously influenced the Qiangtang basin at 44.4 Ma. The Qiangtang basin underwent compression and started to be uplifted from the middle-late Eocene to the early Oligocene （45.0-30.8 Ma）. Subsequently, a large-scale and intensive uplift process occurred during the late Oligocene to early Miocene （26.1-22.6 Ma） and the basin continued to undergo compression and uplift up to the late Miocene （10.3 Ma）. Thus, uplift-erosion in the Qiangtang basin was intensive from 44.5 Ma to about 10 Ma. The timing of cooling in the second episode shows that the uplift of the Qiangtang basin was caused by the strong compression after the collision of the Indian plate and Eurasian plate. On the whole, the new apatite fission-track data from the Qiangtang basin show that the Tibetan Plateau started to extrude and uplift during 45-30.8 Ma. The main period of uplift and formation of the Tibetan Plateau took place about 22.6-26.1 Ma, and uplift and extrusion continued until the late Miocene （10.3 Ma）.

Fission Track Thermochronology Evidence for the Cretaceous and Paleogene Tectonic Event of Nyainrong Microcontinent, Tibet

Fission track dating was applied to analyze the 20 samples from Nyainrong microcontinent, and we obtained 20 apatite and 15 zircon fission track ages. The results show single population grain ages with a single mean age and associated central ages mainly ranging from 108±7Ma to 35±4Ma.Their mean track lengths are 12.2-13.9 μm with a single peak. Zircon fission track age range from 78±3 Ma to 117±4 Ma. The results represented the two tectonic uplift events in the study area, namely the Cretaceous and Paleogene periods. According to thermal history modeling results, uplifting rates of two tectonic events is 0.31-0.1 mm/a and 0.07-0.04 mm/a respectively. Combined with field condition and study results, it is suggested that the Cretaceous tectonic uplift event was related to the closure ocean basin caused by Qaingtang-Lhasa collision, and the Paleogene tectonic uplift event was related to the south to thrust system caused by Indo-Asian collision.

Meso–Cenozoic Tectono-Thermal Evolution History in Bohai Bay Basin, North China

The thermal history of sedimentary basins is a key factor for hydrocarbon accumulation and resource assessment, and is critical in the exploration of lithospheric tectono-thermal evolution. In this paper, the Cenozoic thermal histories of nearly 200 wells and the Mesozoic thermal histories of 15 wells are modeled based on the vitrinite reflectance and apatite fission track data in Bohai Bay Basin, North China. The results show that the basin experienced Early Cretaceous and Paleogene heat flow peaks, which reveals two strong rift tectonic movements that occurred in the Cretaceous and the Paleogene in the basin, respectively. The thermal evolution history in Bohai Bay Basin can be divided into five stages including（1） the low and stable heat flow stage from the Triassic to the Jurassic, with the heat flow of 53 to 58 m W/m2;（2） the first heat flow peak from the Early Cretaceous to the middle of the Late Cretaceous, with a maximum heat flow of 81 to 87 m W/m2;（3） the first post-rift thermal subsidence stage from the middle of the Late Cretaceous to the Paleocene, with the heat flow of 65 to 74 m W/m2 at the end of the Cretaceous;（4） the second heat flow peak from the Eocene to the Oligocene, with a maximum heat flow of 81 to 88 m W/m2; and（5） the second thermal subsidence stage from the Neogene to present, with an average heat flow of 64 m W/m2.