The Cretaceous System in China

This paper provides an outline of Cretaceous stratigraphy and paleogeography in China, which is based on rich data obtained from recent researches. Cretaceous deposits are widespread in China. Most strata are of nonmarine origin and marine sediments occur only in Tibet, western Tarim Basin of Xinjiang, Taiwan and limited localities of eastern Heilongjiang. AH deposits are rich in fossils and well-constrained biostratigraphically. The stratigraphic successions of different regions are illustrated, and general stratigraphic division and correlation have been introduced. The marine deposits are described in the Tibetan Tethys, Kashi-Hotan Region of Xinjiang, eastern Heilongjiang, western Yunnan and Taiwan; the nonmarine deposits are outlined from northeast China, southeast China, southern interior China, southwest China, the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia region, and northwestern China intermontane basins. The sedimentary facies and paleogeography are diversified. In Tibet the basin evolution is largely related to the subduction and collision of the Indian Plate against the Eurasian Continent, and shows a tectonic evolution in the Cretaceous. Foraminifera are a dominant biota in the Tibet Tethys. Nonmarine sediments include variegated and red beds, coal- or salt-bearing horizons, and volcanic rocks. These deposits contain diverse and abundant continental faunas and floras, as well as important coal and oil resources. The Cretaceous stratigraphy and paleogeography in China have presented a foundation for geological studies.

Genesis of Low-Resistivity Oil layers from Cretaceous System in Luxi Area and Its Geological Significance

Genesis of low resistivity oil layers from cretaceous system in Luxi area was studied. The result shows that the resistivity of oil layers is lower than that of water layers from Tugulu Group(K 1tg),Cretaceous in Luliang area,Zhungeer basin, resulting in a disaccordance with logging interpretation on oil layers,oil water layers and water layers?The research on the petro texture of reservoirs also shows that the watered clay pellicle (I/S, I, ch) is well developed in K 1tg expands the section of conductive net and results in a low resistivity of oil layers.

Mineralogical and geochemical characterization of the Wadi Natash volcanic field(WNVF),Egypt:Alkaline magmatism in a Late Cretaceous continental rift system

The Wadi Natash volcanic field(WNVF)in the south of the Eastern Desert of Egypt is a typical example of well-preserved intraplate alkaline magmatism during the Late Cretaceous,i.e.,prior to the Oligo-Miocene Red Sea rift.We compiled stratigraphic sections at two sectors;namely East Gabal Nuqra and West Khashm Natash(WKN)where the volcanic flows are intercalated with the Turonian Abu Agag sandstone with occasional paleosols when volcanic activity is intermittent.Peridotite mantle xenoliths are encountered in the first sector whereas flows in the second sector are interrupted by trachyte plugs and ring dykes.On a geochemical basis,the maifc melt originating from the lithospheric mantle beneath the WNVF practiced~5%partial melting of phlogopite-bearing garnet peridotite.Basalts dominate in the two sectors and highly evolved(silicic)rocks are confined to the WKN sector.Rejuvenation of ancient Precambrian fractures following the NW-SE and ENE-WSW trends facilitated the ascend of Late Cretaceous mantle-derived alkaline magma.Structurally,the WNVF developed at the eastern shoulder of the so-called"Kom Ombo-Nuqra-Kharit rift system"that represents a well-defined NW-trending intracontinental rift basin in the southern Eastern Desert.In such a structural setup,the Natash volcanic are confined to half-grabens at the East Gabal Nuqra sector whereas the West Khashm Natash sector is subjected to extensional stresses that propagated eastwards.The WNVF is a typical example of fluvial clastics(Turonian)intercalation with rift-related alkaline volcanic rocks in northeast Africa.

Early-diverging Titanosauriform(Dinosauria,Sauropoda)Teeth from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of Southeastern Inner Mongolia,Northeast China

Three eusauropod teeth(SDUST-V1064,PMOL-AD00176,PMOL-ADt0005)are reported from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of Ningcheng,southeastern Inner Mongolia,China.Two of them(SDUST-V1064,PMOL-AD00176)are assigned to early-diverging titanosauriforms in having slightly mesiodistal expansion at the base of the tooth crown,a slenderness index value>2.0 and<4.0,and D-shaped cross section.Furthermore,SDUST-V1064 and PMOL-AD00176 are referred as an Euhelopus-like titanosauriform on the basis of having a sub-circular boss on the lingual surface and an asymmetrical crown-root margin which slants apically,respectively.CT scan data of SDUST-V1064 reveals new dental information of early-diverging titanosauriforms,for example,the enamel on the labial side thicker than that on the lingual side,an enamel/dentine ratio of 0.26 and a boss present on the lingual side of the dentine of the crown.

Flat-footed Females and Missing Males:A New Genus and Species of Pleciofungivoridae(Diptera:Bibionomorpha)Represents the First Record of the Family from Mid-Cretaceous Kachin Amber

A new genus and species,Cretopleciofungivora simpsoni gen.et sp.nov.,from the extinct family Pleciofungivoridae(Diptera:Bibionomorpha),is discovered in mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber.Previously,this family was known only from imprints in sedimentary rocks of the Jurassic and the Lower Cretaceous.Discovery of a representative of Pleciofungivoridae in Kachin amber confirms the presence of the family in the Upper Cretaceous.The new species has a unique structure of fore tarsus,with lobed and extended tarsal segments Ⅱ to Ⅳ,a feature hitherto known only in a few species of extant Sciaroidea.Although not particularly rare,the new species is currently known only from female specimens.Possible reasons for this phenomenon,very unusual in Sciaroidea,are briefly discussed,including parthenogenesis as a potentially plausible hypothesis.

Early Cretaceous Metasomatized Lithospheric Mantle beneath the Central Jiangnan Orogen in South China:Geochemical and Sr-Nd Isotope Evidence from the Tuanshanbei Dolerite

It is well established that Cretaceous magmatism in the South China Block(SCB)is related to the Paleo-Pacific subduction.However,the starting time and the associated deep crust-mantle processes are still debatable.Mafic dike swarms carry important information on the deep earth(including mantle)geodynamics and geochemical evolution.In the Jiangnan Orogen(South China).there is no information on whether the Mesozoic magmatic activities in this region are also directly related to the Pacific subduction or not.In this study,we present detailed zircon U-Pb geochronological,wholerock element and Sr-Nd isotope data for Early Cretaceous Tuanshanbei dolerite dikes,and provide new constraints on the condition of the lithospheric mantle and mantle dynamics of the SCB during that time.LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating suggests that this dolerite erupted in the Early Cretaceous(~145 Ma).All samples have alkaline geochemical affinities with K_(2)O+Na_(2)O=3.11-4.04 wt%,K_(2)O/Na_(2)O=0.50-0.72,and Mg^(#)=62.24-65.13.They are enriched in LILE but depleted in HFSE with higher initial^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr ratio(0.706896-0.714743)and lower ε_(Nd)(t)(-2.61 to-1.67).They have high Nb/U,Nb/La,La/Sm and Rb/Sr,and low La/Nb,La/Ta,Ce/Pb,Ba/Rb,Tb/Yb and Gd/Yb ratios.Such geochemical signatures suggest that the fractional crystallization is obvious but crustal contamination play a negligible role during magmatic evolution.Tuanshanbei dolerite were most likely derived from low-degree(2%-5%)partial melting of a phlogopite-bearing mantle material consisted of~85% spinel peridotite and~15% garnet peridotite previously metasomatized by asthenospherederived fluids/melts with minor subduction-derived fluids/melts.Slab-rollback generally lead to the upwelling of the hot asthenosphere.The upwelling of asthenosphere consuming the lithospheric mantle by thermo-mechanical-chemical erosion.The lithospheric mantle may have partially melted due to the heating by the upwelling asthenosphere and lithospheric extension.It is inferred that the Tuanshanbei dolerite might be associated with the initial slab rollback and corresponding lithospheric extension occurred potentially at ca.145 Ma.

Arlenea delicata gen.et sp.nov.,a new ephedroid plant from the Early Cretaceous Crato Formation,Araripe Basin,Northeast Brazil

Ephedroid macrofossils have been widely documented in Cretaceous deposits,including numerous from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of NE China.However,few ephedroid macrofossils have been reported from South America.Herein,we describe a new plant of the family Ephedraceae,Arlenea delicata gen.et sp.nov.,from the Lower Cretaceous Crato Formation of the Araripe Basin,Northeast Brazil,based on the vegetative and reproductive structures.It has the typical morphological characteristics of ephedroid plants,including fertile reproductive branches,opposite phyllotaxy,terminal female cones,a sympodial branching system,longitudinally striated internodes,and swollen nodes.Our new finding is unusual in having inner chlamydosperms subtended by two pairs of bracts,reproductive units connected to branches through swollen receptacles and a smooth seed surface.This new ephedroid taxon from the Crato Formation increases our understanding of plant diversity of this group during the Early Cretaceous.Furthermore,the general morphology(fleshy bracts and enlarged receptacles)of this new fossil discovery indicates that seeds of this plant may have been dispersed by animals such as pterosaurs(mainly the Tapejaridae)and birds(Enantiornithes and Ornituromorpha).If true,this would explain the cosmopolitan distribution of Ephedraceae in the Lower Cretaceous.

Discovery of nano organo-clay complex pore-fractures in shale and its scientific significance:A case study of Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation shale,Songliao Basin,NE China

A new pore type,nano-scale organo-clay complex pore-fracture was first discovered based on argon ion polishing-field emission scanning electron microscopy,energy dispersive spectroscopy and three-dimensional reconstruction by focused ion-scanning electron in combination with analysis of TOC,R_(o)values,X-ray diffraction etc.in the Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation shale in the Songliao Basin,NE China.Such pore characteristics and evolution study show that:(1)Organo-clay complex pore-fractures are developed in the shale matrix and in the form of spongy and reticular aggregates.Different from circular or oval organic pores discovered in other shales,a single organo-clay complex pore is square,rectangular,rhombic or slaty,with the pore diameter generally less than 200 nm.(2)With thermal maturity increasing,the elements(C,Si,Al,O,Mg,Fe,etc.)in organo-clay complex change accordingly,showing that organic matter shrinkage due to hydrocarbon generation and clay mineral transformation both affect organo-clay complex pore-fracture formation.(3)At high thermal maturity,the Qingshankou Formation shale is dominated by nano-scale organo-clay complex pore-fractures with the percentage reaching more than 70%of total pore space.The spatial connectivity of organo-clay complex pore-fractures is significantly better than that of organic pores.It is suggested that organo-complex pore-fractures are the main pore space of laminar shale at high thermal maturity and are the main oil and gas accumulation space in the core area of continental shale oil.The discovery of nano-scale organo-clay complex pore-fractures changes the conventional view that inorganic pores are the main reservoir space and has scientific significance for the study of shale oil formation and accumulation laws.

Hydrocarbon accumulation history in Lower Cretaceous in northern slope of Bongor Basin in Chad,Central Africa

Based on the analysis of the fluid inclusion homogenization temperature and apatite fission track on the northern slope zone of the Bongor Basin in Chad,this paper studied the time and stages of hydrocarbon accumulation in the study area.The results show that:(1)The brine inclusions of the samples from the Kubla and Prosopis formations in the Lower Cretaceous coexisting with the hydrocarbon generally present two sets of peak ranges of homogenization temperature,with the peak ranges of low temperature and high temperature being 75–105℃ and 115–135℃,respectively;(2)The samples from the Kubla and Prosopis formations have experienced five tectonic evolution stages,i.e.,rapid subsidence in the Early Cretaceous,tectonic inversion in the Late Cretaceous,small subsidence in the Paleogene,uplift at the turn of the Paleogene and Neogene,and subsidence since the Miocene,in which the denudation thickness of the Late Cretaceous and after the turn of the Paleogene and Neogene are~1.8 km and~0.5 km,respectively.The cumulative denudation thickness of the two periods is about 2.3 km;(3)Using the brine inclusion homogenization temperature coexisting with the hydrocarbon as the capture temperature of the hydrocarbon,and combining with the apatite fission track thermal history modeling,the result shows that the Kubla and Prosopis formations in the Lower Cretaceous on the northern slope of the Bongor Basin have the same hydrocarbon accumulation time and stages,both of which have undergone two stages of hydrocarbon charging at 80–95 Ma and 65–80 Ma.The first stage of charging corresponds to the initial migration of hydrocarbon at the end of the Early Cretaceous rapid sedimentation,while the second stage of charging is in the stage of intense tectonic inversion in the Late Cretaceous.

Formation of large-and medium-sized Cretaceous volcanic reservoirs in the offshore Bohai Bay Basin,East China

Based on the geological and geophysical data of Mesozoic oil-gas exploration in the sea area of Bohai Bay Basin and the discovered high-yield volcanic oil and gas wells since 2019,this paper methodically summarizes the formation conditions of large-and medium-sized Cretaceous volcanic oil and gas reservoirs in the Bohai Sea.Research shows that the Mesozoic large intermediate-felsic lava and intermediate-felsic composite volcanic edifices in the Bohai Sea are the material basis for the formation of large-scale volcanic reservoirs.The upper subfacies of effusive facies and cryptoexplosive breccia subfacies of volcanic conduit facies of volcanic vent-proximal facies belts are favorable for large-scale volcanic reservoir formation.Two types of efficient reservoirs,characterized by high porosity and medium to low permeability,as well as medium porosity and medium to low permeability,are the core of the formation of large-and medium-sized volcanic reservoirs.The reservoir with high porosity and medium to low permeability is formed by intermediate-felsic vesicular lava or the cryptoexplosive breccia superimposed by intensive dissolution.The reservoir with medium porosity and medium to low permeability is formed by intense tectonism superimposed by fluid dissolution.Weathering and tectonic transformation are main formation mechanisms for large and medium-sized volcanic reservoirs in the study area.The low-source“source-reservoir draping type”is the optimum source-reservoir configuration relationship for large-and medium-sized volcanic reservoirs.There exists favorable volcanic facies,efficient reservoirs and source-reservoir draping configuration relationship on the periphery of Bozhong Sag,and the large intermediate-felsic lava and intermediate-felsic composite volcanic edifices close to strike-slip faults and their branch faults are the main directions of future exploration.

A new gnetalean macrofossil from the Lower Cretaceous of the Laiyang Basin, eastern China

Gnetophytes are a key group of plant for understanding seed plant phylogeny,partly because of their unique and elusive morphology,such as xylem with vessels,phloem with chaperones,reticular veins,and double fertilization(Endress,1996).In particular,the ovule bears a membranous integument,the upper part of which extends beyond the seed envelope to form a micropylar tube.Therefore,gnetophytes occupy a unique evolutionary position in the phylogeny of seed plants and apparently represent a transition between angiosperms and other gymnosperms(Ran et al.,2018).Modern gnetophytes consist of only three families:Ephedraceae,Gnetaceae,and Welwitschiaceae,and each family contains only one genus.Ephedraceae(Ephedra L.)are the earliest diverging group of Gnetales,with a total of 70 extant species,and usually occur in cold and arid places in Asia,Europe,northern Africa,western North America and South America(Price,1996;Yang et al.,2017b).

Enrichment model and major controlling factors of below-source tight oil in Lower Cretaceous Fuyu reservoirs in northern Songliao Basin,NE China

Based on the geochemical,seismic,logging and drilling data,the Fuyu reservoirs of the Lower Cretaceous Quantou Formation in northern Songliao Basin are systematically studied in terms of the geological characteristics,the tight oil enrichment model and its major controlling factors.First,the Quantou Formation is overlaid by high-quality source rocks of the Upper Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation,with the development of nose structure around sag and the broad and continuous distribution of sand bodies.The reservoirs are tight on the whole.Second,the configuration of multiple elements,such as high-quality source rocks,reservoir rocks,fault,overpressure and structure,controls the tight oil enrichment in the Fuyu reservoirs.The source-reservoir combination controls the tight oil distribution pattern.The pressure difference between source and reservoir drives the charging of tight oil.The fault-sandbody transport system determines the migration and accumulation of oil and gas.The positive structure is the favorable place for tight oil enrichment,and the fault-horst zone is the key part of syncline area for tight oil exploration.Third,based on the source-reservoir relationship,transport mode,accumulation dynamics and other elements,three tight oil enrichment models are recognized in the Fuyu reservoirs:(1)vertical or lateral migration of hydrocarbon from source rocks to adjacent reservoir rocks,that is,driven by overpressure,hydrocarbon generated is migrated vertically or laterally to and accumulates in the adjacent reservoir rocks;(2)transport of hydrocarbon through faults between separated source and reservoirs,that is,driven by overpressure,hydrocarbon migrates downward through faults to the sandbodies that are separated from the source rocks;and(3)migration of hydrocarbon through faults and sandbodies between separated source and reservoirs,that is,driven by overpressure,hydrocarbon migrates downwards through faults to the reservoir rocks that are separated from the source rocks,and then migrates laterally through sandbodies.Fourth,the differences in oil source conditions,charging drive,fault distribution,sandbody and reservoir physical properties cause the differential enrichment of tight oil in the Fuyu reservoirs.Comprehensive analysis suggests that the Fuyu reservoir in the Qijia-Gulong Sag has good conditions for tight oil enrichment and has been less explored,and it is an important new zone for tight oil exploration in the future.

Influences of burial process on diagenesis and high-quality reservoir development of deep-ultra-deep clastic rocks:A case study of Lower Cretaceous Qingshuihe Formation in southern margin of Junggar Basin,NW China

Taking the Lower Cretaceous Qingshuihe Formation in the southern margin of Junggar Basin as an example,the influences of the burial process in a foreland basin on the diagenesis and the development of high-quality reservoirs of deep and ultra-deep clastic rocks were investigated using thin section,scanning electron microscope,electron probe,stable isotopic composition and fluid inclusion data.The Qingshuihe Formation went through four burial stages of slow shallow burial,tectonic uplift,progressive deep burial and rapid deep burial successively.The stages of slow shallow burial and tectonic uplift not only can alleviate the mechanical compaction of grains,but also can maintain an open diagenetic system in the reservoirs for a long time,which promotes the dissolution of soluble components by meteoric freshwater and inhibits the precipitation of dissolution products in the reservoirs.The late rapid deep burial process contributed to the development of fluid overpressure,which effectively inhibits the destruction of primary pores by compaction and cementation.The fluid overpressure promotes the development of microfractures in the reservoir,which enhances the dissolution effect of organic acids.Based on the quantitative reconstruction of porosity evolution history,it is found that the long-term slow shallow burial and tectonic uplift processes make the greatest contribution to the development of deep-ultra-deep high-quality clastic rock reservoirs,followed by the late rapid deep burial process,and the progressive deep burial process has little contribution.

Investigation of the Petrological and Geochemical Characteristics of Siderite in the Early Cretaceous Sandstone of Lacustrine Sedimentary Sequence in the Erlian Basin from Northeastern China

Siderite is a prevalent authigenic mineral in siliciclastic rocks, which usually occurred in eodiagensis period and could be used as an indicator of sedimentary environment. Some siderite precipitated in burial depth with geochemical information of basin fluid evolution. The crystal morphology, geochemical composition, and isotope values are influenced by physical and geochemical environment of precipitation. In this study, samples from the Early Cretaceous of Erlian basin in the northwestern China were collected, and mineralogy, bulk and in-situ geochemistry, C and O isotopes were analyzed to comprehensively investigate the sedimentary and diagenetic environment that the sediments experienced. Six lithofaices with three types of crystal habits were recognized in the siderite-rich sandstone, bundle crystal in spherical forms, blocky rhombs in intergranular pore and cleavage of muscovite, and micro bundle and mosaic crystals aggregates in nodular. The siderite growth proceeds through micro bundle and mosaic crystals to bundle siderite aggregates and then into blocky rhombs. The crystal evolution is also reflected by geochemical composition. The micro bundle and mosaic crystals are Casiderite. The spheritic shaped bundle aggregates are Ca-Mn-siderite. The blocky rhomb siderite shows gray part and bight part with Ca, Mg and Mn varies. Increase of Ca in block rhomb siderite suggests burial and mesodiagenesis, the high content of Mn may have linkage with eogenetic effects. The relatively positive and slightly negative δ13C value indicates meteoric water domination and influence of organic matter evolution in shallow buried time. The narrow ranges negative δ18O value suggest a small span of temperature of siderite formation.

Sequence Stratigraphy of the Desert System: A Case Study of the Lower Cretaceous in the Kuqa Basin in Xinjiang, Northwestern China

The Lower Cretaceous strata in the Kuqa Basin in Xinjiang are marked by a set of arid red beds. Several types of sedimentary fades can be identified in this set of arid red beds: mudstones of the plaza and intracontinental sebkha, aeolian sandstones, sandy conglomerates of the intermittent river, conglomerates of the pluvial fan, etc. These types of sedimentary facies constitute a typical desert system. Therefore, the Cretaceous strata in the Kuqa Basin provide a favorable condition for studies of sequence stratigraphic divisions of the desert system. With the rise and fall of the base level of the sedimentary basin, cyclicity is clearly revealed in stratigraphic records, which helps the identification of the third-order sequences. Based on the cyclicity in stratigraphic records, 5 third-order sequences can be found in the strata of the Early Cretaceous in the Kuqa Basin. These sequences comprise a second-order tectonic sequence. The primary feature of these third-order sequences is of an upward-fining sedimentary succession formed by a succession of 'coarse sediments of the alluvial system-fine sediments of the lake system'. The result of this study shows that aeolian sandstones are the best reservoirs of natural gas in the Cretaceous strata in the Kuqa Basin, and that the Kela-2 gas field is the first large gas field dominated by aeolian sandstone reservoirs in China.

A New Species of Huaxiapterus (Pterosauria: Pterodactyloidea) from the Lower Cretaceous of Western Liaoning, China with Comments on the Systematics of Tapejarid Pterosaurs

A new species of tapejarid pterosaur, Huaxiapterus coroUatus sp. nov. is erected on the basis of a nearly complete skull and postcranial skeleton from the Lower Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation of Liaoning Province, China. Huaxiapterus coroUatus sp. nov. is characterized by a hatchet-shaped rectangular process on the premaxilla, whose short axis is perpendicular to the anterior margin of the premaxillae. Except for this process, other characters of the skull such as the breadth of the snout between the anterior margin of the nasoantorbital fenestra and the anterior margin of the premaxilla are similar to that of Huaxiapterus jii. Huaxiapterus and a second Chinese tapejarid, Sinopterus, share several unique cranial characters in common with Tapejara and these three genera appear to be more closely related to each other than to other azhdarchoids. The Chinese tapejarids （Sinopterus and Huaxiapterus） have relatively elongate skulls and weakly developed cranial crests and seem to be less derived than Tapejara, with its shorter, deeper skull and large cranial crest. Tupuxuarids （Tupuxuara and Thalassodromeus） have often been associated with tapejarids in the family Tapejaridae, but this relationship is controversial because some phylogenetic analyses have supported the pairing of tupuxuarids with Azhdarchidae. We propose that Tapejaridae be restricted to Tapejara, Sinopterus and Huaxiapterus.

A Cretaceous Desert-Playa Sedimentary System Controlled the Potash Formation in the Simao Basin

Objective The Simao Basin in Yunnan Province has developed Cretaceous evaporite-bearing clastic deposits, including the Mangang and Mengyejing Formations which were originally interpreted as fluvial and lacustrine deposits. The Mangang Fm. composed of well-rounded quartz sandstones, were commonly considered as the bottom part of the Mengyejing salt series. Dttring last decades,

Late Cretaceous Transpressional Fault System: A Case Study of the Yishu Fault Belt, Shandong Province, Eastern China

On the basis of field observations of the structures of three profiles from the Linshu region, deformation characteristics and the tectonic background of the Yishu fault belt in the Late Cretaceous–Early Cenozoic have been discussed in detail.Three structural profiles, whose deformations consist mainly of earlier transpressional faults and later normal faults, were developed for the Mengtuan Formation of the Lower Cretaceous Dasheng Group.Typical positive flower structures, duplex structures, and break-through faults were found in these profiles.On the basis of analyses of the structural deformation and previous geochronological studies, it was concluded that the earlier transpressional faults of the profiles were triggered by the sinistral transpression of the Yishu fault belt in the Late Cretaceous–Early Paleogene, and that the later normal faults, formed during the Late Paleogene–Neogene extension, truncated the earlier transpressional faults.With consideration of the tectonic evolution of the Tan-Lu fault belt and the different drift directions of the Pacific plate since the Cretaceous, we suggest that the major tectonic events of the Late Cretaceous–Neogene in eastern China were mainly controlled by the subduction of the Pacific plate.

Sealing Features of Fluid-Rock System and its Control on Acidic Dissolution in Cretaceous Sandstone Reservoirs,Kuqa Subbasin

The Cretaceous Bashijiqike Formation is the main gas-bearing strata in the northern structural deformation zone of Kuqa subbasin. The acidic dissolution of this formation arose at 5-4Ma, which corresponds to the late burial stage of the Bashijiqike Formation. Variability of interlayer due to rock composition is negligible. Differentiation of acidic dissolution in sandstones was controlled by difference in amount of exogenous acid fluid from underlying strata. For the absence of sedimentary and structural carrier system between the isolated sandstone reservoirs, most fluid-rock systems show relative sealing feature during later burial stage by sealing feature of formation pressure, geochemical characteristics of formation water and content of diagenetic products in sandstones. Variation of sealing effects for different fluid-rock systems is obvious. The pressure coefficient is inversely proportional to acidic dissolved porosity of sandstone reservoirs, indicating that the variation of sealing effects for fluid- rock system mainly controls the differentiation of acidic dissolution.

The Late Cretaceous source-to-sink system at the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau:Insights from the provenance of the Lanping Basin

The surface uplift of the Tibetan Plateau(TP)and its geomorphology evolution has triggered aridification of Asia's interior and drainage development at the eastern margin of the plateau.However,how the pre-Cenozoic early growth histories of the TP impact the drainage system and climate is poorly constrained.The Late Mesozoic Lacustrine evaporite-bearing basins on the eastern margin of the TP record significant information on the uplift of the source terranes,source-to-sink system development and climate change.In this study,we presented detrital zircon U-Pb ages from the Upper Cretaceous Yunlong Formation in the Lanping Basin,as well as Hf isotopic,petrographic,direct statistical,and multidimensional scaling analyses,and use them to characterize the provenance and reconstruct the drainage system.All of the samples have five major age peaks at 200-290 Ma,400-490 Ma,750-1000 Ma,1750-1950 Ma,and 2400-2600 Ma with mostly negativeε_(Hf)(t)values(81%).We infer the sediments are primarily derived from recycled sediments of the Songpan-Garze terrane,and partly from the Sichuan Basin and the Southern Qiangtang terrane,as well as the exposed magmatic rocks of the Yidun Arc and SongpanGarze terrane.The provenance features of the contemporaneous sediments from the Sichuan,Xichang,Chuxiong,and Simao basins indicate a complex hierarchical drainage pattern on the eastern margin of the TP during the Late Cretaceous.The hierarchical drainage system exhibits a complete gradational cycle of lake-basin types from overfilled freshwater Sichuan Basin through balanced fill saline Xichang Basin and underfilled hypersaline Chuxiong,Lanping,Simao,and Khorat Plateau basins from proximal to distal.The early growth of the TP primarily controlled the drainage and lake-basin evolution by not only causing the uplift and exhumation of the source areas and providing large amounts of clastic material to the proximal sub-drainage areas but also intensifying the aridity and deposition of evaporites.