Multiple enrichment mechanisms of organic matter in the Fengcheng Formation of Mahu Sag,Junggar Basin,NW China

Based on core and thin section data,the source rock samples from the Fengcheng Formation in the Mahu Sag of the Junggar Basin were analyzed in terms of zircon SIMS U-Pb geochronology,organic carbon isotopic composition,major and trace element contents,as well as petrology.Two zircon U-Pb ages of(306.0±5.2)Ma and(303.5±3.7)Ma were obtained from the first member of the Fengcheng Formation.Combined with carbon isotopic stratigraphy,it is inferred that the depositional age of the Fengcheng Formation is about 297-306 Ma,spanning the Carboniferous-Permian boundary and corresponding to the interglacial period between C4 and P1 glacial events.Multiple increases in Hg/TOC ratios and altered volcanic ash were found in the shale rocks of the Fengcheng Formation,indicating that multiple phases of volcanic activity occurred during its deposition.An interval with a high B/Ga ratio was found in the middle of the second member of the Fengcheng Formation,associated with the occurrence of evaporite minerals and reedmergnerite,indicating that the high salinity of the water mass was related to hydrothermal activity.Comprehensive analysis suggests that the warm and humid climate during the deposition of Fengcheng Formation is conducive to the growth of organic matter such as algae and bacteria in the lake,and accelerates the continental weathering,driving the input of nutrients.Volcanic activities supply a large amount of nutrients and stimulate primary productivity.The warm climate and high salinity are conducive to water stratification,leading to water anoxia that benefits organic matter preservation.The above factors interact and jointly control the enrichment of organic matter in the Fengcheng Formation of Mahu Sag.

Natural gas exploration potential and favorable targets of Permian Fengcheng Formation in the western Central Depression of Junggar Basin,NW China

Based on the organic geochemical data and the molecular and stable carbon isotopic compositions of natural gas of the Lower Permian Fengcheng Formation in the western Central Depression of Junggar Basin,combined with sedimentary environment analysis and hydrocarbon-generating simulation,the gas-generating potential of the Fengcheng source rock is evaluated,the distribution of large-scale effective source kitchen is described,the genetic types of natural gas are clarified,and four types of favorable exploration targets are selected.The results show that:(1)The Fengcheng Formation is a set of oil-prone source rocks,and the retained liquid hydrocarbon is conducive to late cracking into gas,with characteristics of high gas-generating potential and late accumulation;(2)The maximum thickness of Fengcheng source rock reaches 900 m.The source rock has entered the main gas-generating stage in Penyijingxi and Shawan sags,and the area with gas-generating intensity greater than 20×10^(8) m^(3)/km^(2) is approximately 6500 km^(2).(3)Around the western Central Depression,highly mature oil-type gas with light carbon isotope composition was identified to be derived from the Fengcheng source rocks mainly,while the rest was coal-derived gas from the Carboniferous source rock;(4)Four types of favorable exploration targets with exploration potential were developed in the western Central Depression which are structural traps neighboring to the source,stratigraphic traps neighboring to the source,shale-gas type within the source,and structural traps within the source.Great attention should be paid to these targets.

Origin of Overpressure and its Effect on Hydrocarbon Enrichment in the Hinterland of Junggar Basin,NW China

Overpressure is widely developed in deep petroliferous strata in the hinterland of the Junggar Basin.However,a comprehensive understanding of its origin and effect on hydrocarbon distribution and enrichment remains lacking.In this study,we employ five empirical methods and comprehensive geological analysis to identify the origin of overpressure,and uncover the effect of overpressure on hydrocarbon enrichment.The results indicate that disequilibrium compaction is not a significant factor in overpressure generation.Instead,hydrocarbon generation,pressure transfer and diagenesis are the primary causes.The empirical methods support this conclusion.There is a positive correlation between overpressure intensity and source rock thickness and maturity.Notably,widespread cross-formational migration of hydrocarbon bearing fluid occurred,with sandstone overpressure exceeding that of adjacent shale in non-source strata.Furthermore,there is a distinct transformation from smectite to illite near the top of overpressure.Hydrocarbon generation pressurization and pressure transfer significantly effect hydrocarbon enrichment.The overpressure caused by hydrocarbon generation drives hydrocarbon migration and accumulation,establishing an optimal energy configuration between reservoir and cap rock.Faults play a crucial role in hydrocarbon vertical migration and pressure relief.The overpressure in reservoirs can reduce the porosity and permeability thresholds and enhance the charging capacity of oil and gas.

Early Neoproterozoic Granite-Gneisses of the Junggar Alataw(Southeastern Kazakhstan):Age,Petrogenesis and Tectonic Implications

The combined petrographic,petrological,geochemical and geochronological study of the Neoproterozoic gneisses of the Sarychabyn and Baskan complexes of the Junggar Alataw of South Kazakhstan elucidate the Precambrian tectonic evolution of the Aktau–Yili terrane.It is one of the largest Precambrian crustal blocks in the western Central Asian orogenic belt.The U-Pb single-grain zircon ages indicate that granite-gneisses formed from the same source and crystallised in the early Neoproterozoic ca.930–920 Ma.The chemical composition of gneisses corresponds to A2-type granites.The whole-rock Nd isotopic characteristics(εNd(t)=−4.9 to−1.0 and TNd(DM-2st)=1.9 to 1.7 Ga)indicate the involvement of Paleoproterozoic crustal rocks in magma generation.Early Neoproterozoic ca.930–920 Ma A-type granitoids in the Aktau–Yili terrane of South and Central Kazakhstan might reflect within-plate magmatism adjacent to the collisional belt or a local extension setting in back-arc areas of the continental arc.

Understanding the hydrocarbon-generation potential on jurassic coal-measure source rocks in the Junggar Basin: From the perspective of hydrogen-rich molecular structure

The Jurassic coal-measure source rocks in the Junggar Basin have drawn considerable attention in recent years. In our hydrocarbon thermal simulation experiments of these rocks, we found that the dark mudstone evaluated as good source rock, had a much lower hydrocarbon generation capacity than the coal and carbonaceous mudstone, evaluated as poor source rock. Based on this background, we performed Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR) and combined the results of semi-open thermal simulation experiments to explore the association between the molecular structure and hydrocarbon production capacity, with the aim of obtaining a new understanding of hydrocarbon potential of Jurassic coal-measure source rocks from the perspective of molecular structure. The results indicate that coals exhibit lower condensation of aromatic structures and higher relative abundance of aliphatic structures with a higher degree of branched chaining than mudstones and carbonaceous mudstones. Apparent aromaticity(f_a), aromatic abundance parameter I, and degree of condensation(DOC) are negatively correlated with organic matter abundance. The aliphatic structural parameter H demonstrates a substantial positive correlation with organic matter abundance. Furthermore, aliphatic relative abundance factor A is associated with the type of organic matter;the better is the type of the organic matter, the larger is the A value. The combination of the molecular structures with the thermal simulation results shows that the aliphatic hydrogen enrichment of selected carbonaceous mudstone is similar to that of coal. However, the relative abundance of the aliphatic group of it is high, and the DOC of the aromatic structure is low, making the hydrocarbon generation base stronger and easier to crack. Thus, the hydrocarbon generation capacity of carbonaceous mudstone is slightly higher than that of coal. Mudstone has low H and I values, and the DOC is high, indicating that its hydrocarbon base is low, so it has low hydrocarbon generation capacity. Therefore, the molecular structure is closely associated with the hydrocarbon potential of coal-measure source rocks. When evaluating the qualities of coal-measure source rocks, the influence of molecular structure on these rocks should be considered.

Detrital Zircon U-Pb Dating for Clastic Rocks from Boreholes in the Eastern Junggar Basin:Constraints on Permian Tectonics in the Southern Central Asian Orogenic Belt

Permian sedimentary successions,widely distributed in the eastern Junggar Basin,may record key details on the closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean in this region.Results of boreholes show that Permian strata is mainly composed of mudstone,sandy mudstone,siltstone,sandstone,sandy conglomerate,dolomite,and limestone.Detrital zircon U-Pb dating results of three sandstone samples yielded the calculated maximum ages of 296 Ma,278 Ma and 293 Ma,indicating they possibly deposited during the Early Permian.Permian strata in the eastern Junggar Basin show similar rock associations and detrital zircon age data distribution patterns.Our new and compiled age data for sandstone samples in the eastern Junggar Basin and Bogda region yield predominant Paleozoic ages,close to their sedimentary ages.Such detrital zircon age data distribution patterns support the hypothesis that these Early Permian meta-clastic rocks in the eastern Junggar Basin and Bogda region were deposited in a subduction-related basin,and indicate an Early Permian Ocean prevented Precambrian detritus from the Central Tianshan block from depositing in the eastern Junggar Basin and Bogda region.

Geology and S-Pb isotope geochemistry of the Hatu gold deposit in West Junggar,NW China:Insights into ore genesis and metal source

The Hatu gold deposit is the largest historical gold producer of the West Junggar,western China,with an Au reserve of about 62 t.The orebodies were controlled by NE-,EW-,and NW-trending subsidiary faults associated with the Anqi fault.This deposit exhibits characteristics typical of a fault-controlled lode system,and the orebodies consist of auriferous quartz veins and altered wall rocks within Early Carboniferous volcano-sedimentary rocks.Three stages of mineralization have been identified in the Hatu gold deposit:the early pyrite-albite-quartz stage,the middle polymetallic sulfides-ankerite-quartz stage,and late quartz-calcite stage.The sulfur isotopic values of pyrite and arsenopyrite vary in a narrow range from-0.8‰to1.3‰and an average of 0.4‰,the near-zeroδ~(34)S values implicate the thorough homogenization of the sulfur isotopes during the metamorphic dehydration of the Early Carboniferous volcano-sedimentary rocks.Lead isotopic results of pyrite and arsenopyrite(^(206)Pb/^(204)Pb=17.889-18.447,^(207)Pb/^(204)Pb=15.492-15.571,^(208)Pb/^(204)Pb=37.802-38.113)are clustered between orogenic and mantle/upper crust lines,indicating that the lead was mainly sourced from the hostrocks within the Early Carboniferous Tailegula Formation.The characteristics of S and Pb isotopes suggest that the ore-forming metals of the Hatu orogenic gold deposit are of metamorphogenic origin,associated with the continental collision between the Yili-Kazakhstan and Siberian plates during the Late Carboniferous.

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.

A-type granites induced by a breaking-off and delamination of the subducted Junggar oceanic plate,West Junggar,Northwest China

The A-type granites with highly positiveε_(Nd)(t)values in the West Junggar,Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB),have long been perceived as a group formed under the same tectonic and geodynamic setting,magmatic sourceq and petrogenetic model.Geological evidence shows that these granites occurred at two different tectonic units related to the southeastern subduction of Junggar oceanic plate:the Hongshan and Karamay granites emplaced in the southeast of West Junggar in the Baogutu continental arc;whereas the Akebasitao and Miaoergou granites formed in the accretionary prism.Here the authors present new bulk-rock geochemistry and Sr-Nd isotopes,zircon U-Pb ages and Hf-O isotopes data on these granites.The granites in the Baogutu continental arc and accretionary prism contain similar zirconε_(Hf)(t)values(+10.9 to+16.2)and bulk-rock geochemical characteristics(high SiO_(2)and K_(2)O contents,enriched LILEs(except Sr),depleted Sr,Ta and Ti,and negative anomalies in Ce and Eu).The Hongshan and Karamay granites in the Baogutu continental arc have older zircon U-Pb ages(315-305 Ma)and moderate^(18)O enrichments(δ^(18)_(O_(zircon))=+6.41‰-+7.96‰);whereas the Akebasitao and Miaoergou granites in the accretionary prism have younger zircon U-Pb ages(305-301 Ma)with higher^(18)O enrichments(δ^(18)_(O_(zircon))=+8.72‰-+9.89‰).The authors deduce that the elevated^(18)O enrichments of the Akebasitao and Miaoergou granites were probably inherited from low-temperature altered oceanic crusts.The Akebasitao and Miaoergou granites were originated from partial melting of low-temperature altered oceanic crusts with juvenile oceanic sediments below the accretionary prism.The Hongshan and Karamay granites were mainly derived from partial melting of basaltic juvenile lower crust with mixtures of potentially chemical weathered ancient crustal residues and mantle basaltic melt(induced by hot intruding mantle basaltic magma at the bottom of the Baogutu continental arc).On the other hand,the Miaoergou charnockite might be sourced from a deeper partial melting reservoir under the accretionary prism,consisting of the low-temperature altered oceanic crust,juvenile oceanic sediments,and mantle basaltic melt.These granites could be related to the asthenosphere's counterflow and upwelling,caused by the break-off and delamination of the subducted oceanic plate beneath the accretionary prism Baogutu continental arc in a post-collisional tectonic setting.

Geochronology, geochemistry, and Sr-Nd isotopes of Early Carboniferous magmatism in southern West Junggar, northwestern China: Implications for Junggar oceanic plate subduction

West Junggar is a key area for understanding intra-oceanic plate subduction and the final closure of the Junggar Ocean.Knowledge of the Carboniferous tectonic evolution of the Junggar Ocean region is required for understanding the tectonic framework and accretionary processes in West Junggar,Central Asian Orogenic Belt.A series of Early Carboniferous volcanic and intrusive rocks,namely,basaltic andesite,andesite,dacite,and diorite,occur in the Mayile area of southern West Junggar,northwestern China.Our new LA-ICPMS zircon U-Pb geochronological data reveal that diorite intruded at 334(±1)Ma,and that basaltic andesite was erupted at 334(±4)Ma.These intrusive and volcanic rocks are calc-alkaline,display moderate MgO(1.62%-4.18%)contents and Mg#values(40-59),and low Cr(14.5×10-6-47.2×10-6)and Ni(7.5×10-6-34.6×10-6)contents,and are characterized by enrichment in light rare-earth elements and large-ion lithophile elements and depletion in heavy rare-earth elements and high-field-strength elements,meaning that they belong to typical subduction-zone island-arc magma.The samples show low initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios(range of 0.703649-0.705008),positiveεNd(t)values(range of 4.8-6.2 and mean of 5.4),and young TDM Nd model ages ranging from 1016 to 616 Ma,indicating a magmatic origin from depleted mantle involving partial melting of 10%-25%garnet and spinel lherzolite.Combining our results with those of previous studies,we suggest that these rocks were formed as a result of northwestward subduction of the Junggar oceanic plate,which caused partial melting of sub-arc mantle.We conclude that intra-oceanic arc magmatism was extensive in West Junggar during the Early Carboniferous.

The Junggar Immature Continental Crust Province and Its Mineralization

According to the study on the peripheral orogenic belts of the Junggar basin and combined with the interpretation of geophysical data, this paper points out that there is an Early Paleozoic basement of immature continental crust in the Junggar area, which is mainly composed of Neoproterozoic-Ordovician oceanic crust and weakly metamorphosed covering sedimentary rocks. The Late Paleozoic tectonism and mineralization were developed on the basement of the Early Paleozoic immature continental crust. The Junggar metallogenic province is dominated by Cr, Cu, Ni and Au mineralization. Those large and medium-scale deposits are mainly distributed along the deep faults and particularly near the ophiolitic melange zones, and formed in the Late Paleozoic with the peak of mineralization occurring in the Carboniferous-Permian post-collisional stage. The intrusions related to Cu, Ni and Au mineralization generally have low Is, and positive εNd(t) values. The δ34S values of the ore deposits are mostly near zero, and the lead isotopes are mostly of normal lead. All these indicate that the ore-forming material comes either directly from the mantle-derived magma (for chromite and Cu-Ni deposits) or from recirculation of the basement material of the Early Paleozoic immature crust (for most Cu and Au deposits).

Temporal and Spatial Distribution of the Late Devonian (Famennian) Strata in the Northwestern Border of the Junggar Basin, Xinjiang, Northwestern China

The base of the Saerba Member （Mbr） of the Hongguleleng Formation （Fm.） probably lies in the Famennian Palmatolepis crepida Zone; the Longkou Mbr is probably a sedimentary wedge that thins out northwards; the Duguer Mbr has an approximate age from the upper part of the Pa. marginifera Zone or the Lower Pa. rugosa trachytera Zone through the top of the Pa. perlobata postera Zone; the Wulan Mbr has an age approximately corresponding to the whole Pa. gracilis expansa Zone. In the Bulongguoer section, the Lower Mbr of the Hongguleleng Fro. corresponds to Famennian Pa. crepida Zone through Pa. marginifera Zone; the Middle Mbr probably ranges from the Pa. r. trachytera Zone through the Pa. g. expansa Zone. The basal Namu Mbr of the Heishantou Fm. is probably the product during and after the Hangenberg Event in the upper part of the Siphonodellapraesulcata Zone, which is still within the Devonian. In this context, the underlying Chasi Mbr may approximately correspond to the lower part of the S. praesulcata Zone （before the Hangenberg Event）. Lateral distribution of strata indicates that the Upper Devonian in the Gennaren and Saerba areas each constitutes a structure of syncline, which differs from the previous recognition of a monocline structure.

The Late Carboniferous–Early Permian Ocean-Continent Transition in the West Junggar,Central Asian Orogenic Belt: Constraints from Columnar Jointed Rhyolite

The West Junggar of the western Central Asian Orogenic Belt is one of the typical regions in the term of ocean subduction, contraction and continental growth in the Late Paleozoic. However, it is still controversial on the exact time of ocean-continent transition so far. This study investigates rhyolites with columnar joint in the West Junggar for the first time.Based on zircon U-Pb dating, we determined that the ages of the newly-discovered rhyolites are between 303.6 and 294.5 Ma, belonging to Late Carboniferous–Early Permian, which is the oldest rhyolite with columnar joint preserved in the world at present. Geochemical results show that the characteristics of the major element compositions include a high content of SiO_2(75.78–79.20 wt%) and a moderate content of Al_2O_3(12.21–13.19 wt%). The total alkali content(K_2O +Na_2O) is 6.14–8.05 wt%, among which K_2O is 2.09–4.72 wt% and the rate of K_2O/Na_2O is 0.38–3.05. Over-based minerals such as Ne, Lc, and Ac do not appear. The contents of TiO_2(0.09–0.24 wt%), CaO(0.15–0.99 wt%) and MgO(0.06–0.18 wt%) are low. A/CNK=0.91–1.68, A/NK=1.06–1.76, and as such, these are associated with the quasi-aluminum-weak peraluminous high potassium calc-alkaline and some calc-alkaline magma series. These rhyolites show a significant negative Eu anomaly with relative enrichment of LREE and LILE(Rb, Ba, Th, U, K) and depletion of Sr, HREE and HFSE(Nb, Ta, Ti, P). These rhyolites also have the characteristics of an A2-type granite, similar to the Miaoergou batholith,which indicates they both were affected by post-orogenic extension. Combining petrological, zircon U-Pb dating and geochemical characteristics of the rhyolites, we conclude that the specific time of ocean-continent transition of the West Junggar is the Late Carboniferous–Early Permian.

Genetic Mechanism of Dolomitization in Fengcheng Formation in the Wu-Xia area of Junggar Basin,China

The dolomitic rocks of the Fengcheng Formation are considered to be formed under special geologic conditions, and are significant hydrocarbon reservoir rocks in the Wu-Xia area in the Junggar Basin. Analyses of petrologic characteristics and stable isotope composition indicate that the dolomitizing host rock is volcanic and the dolomitizing fluids probably consists of brine from shore- shallow lakes with great evaporation and salinity in the Fengcheng Formation, which have formed under arid climatic conditions, as well as residual Mg-rich seawater from the underlying Jiamuhe Formation and Carboniferous. Dust tuff in the area has significant plagioclase content. Anorthite and labradorite hydrolysis by CO2 can be coupled with calcite precipitation. Late Mg-rich brine percolated and replaced calcite formed in the early time, which lead to precipitate dolostones with different occurrences, such as graniphyric, random bedded or lumpy. The diagenetic dolostones with different occurrences resulting from particular formation conditions occurred in different tectonic settings. The dolomitizing fluid has been driven by the thermal convection flow generated by volcanic eruptions. At the same time, the overthrusts of the Wu-Xia growth fault have speeded up the flow of deep Mg-rich water upwards, and induced the water to quickly penetrate and horizontally migrate in the strata. Fracture is the major and the most important reservoir space in dolomitic reservoir of the Fengcheng Formation. Fracture and fault plays a decisive role in controlling the formation of dolostone and the distribution of favorable reservoirs. The deliverability of oil and gas is determined by the development and match relations of dissolved pores and fractures to a certain degree.

Mineralization during Collisional Orogenesis and Its Control of the Distribution of Gold and Other Deposits in the Junggar Orogen, Xinjiang, China

The Junggar orogen, Xinjiang, China, is an important part of the Ural-Mongolian orogen.The collisional orogenesis in this region occurred primarily in the Carboniferous and Permianwith an evolutional process of early compression and late extension. Mineralization of gold andother metals in the Junggar orogen occurred mainly in the Permian and in a few cases in theLate Carboniferous. The deposits are largely distributed in areas where collisional orogenesiswas intensive and formed in a transitional stage from compression to extension. Therefore, goldmineralization in the Junggar orogen is fully consistent with the collisional orogenesis in time,space and geodynamic setting. This indicates that the mineral deposit model of collisionalorogenesis is applicable to prospecting and study of ore deposits in the Junggar orogen.Furthermore, the factual distribution of gold and other deposits in this region is just the same asthe collisional orogenic model presents.

Stratigraphy of the Triassic-Jurassic Boundary Successions of the Southern Margin of the Junggar Basin,Northwestern China

The Triassic-Jurassic （Tr-J） boundary marks a major extinction event, which （～200 Ma）resulted in global extinctions of fauna and flora both in the marine and terrestrial realms. There prevail great challenges in determining the exact location of the terrestrial Tr-J boundary, because of endemism of taxa and the scarcity of fossils in terrestrial settings leading to difficulties in linking marine and terrestrial sedimentary successions. Investigation based on palynology and bivalves has been carried out over a 1113 m thick section, which is subdivided into 132 beds, along the Haojiagou valley on the southern margin of the Junggar Basin of the northern Xinjiang, northwestern China. The terrestrial Lower Jurassic is conformably resting on the Upper Triassic strata. The Upper Triassic covers the Huangshanjie Formation overlaid by the Haojiagou Formation, while the Lower Jurassic comprises the Badaowan Formation followed by the Sangonghe Formation. Fifty six pollen and spore taxa and one algal taxon were identified from the sediments. Based on the key-species and abundance of spores and pollen, three zones were erected： the Late Triassic （Rhaetian） Aratrisporites-Alisporites Assemblage, the Early Jurassic （Hettangian） Perinopollenites-Pinuspollenites Assemblage, and the Sinemurian Perinopollenites-Cycadopites Assemblage. The Tr-J boundary is placed between bed 44and 45 coincident with the boundary between the Haojiagou and Badaowan formations. Beds with Ferganoconcha （？）, Unio-Ferganoconcha and Waagenoperna-Yananoconcha bivalve assemblages are recognized. The Ferganoconcha （？） bed is limited to the upper Haojiagou Formation,Unio- Ferganoconcha and Waagenoperna- Yananoconcha assemblages are present in the middle and upper members of the Badaowan Formation. The sedimentary succession is interpreted as terrestrial with two mainly lake deposit intervals within Haojiagou and Badaowan formations, yielding fresh water algae and bivalves. However, the presence of brackish water algae Tasmanites and the marine-littoral facies bivalve Waagenoperna from the Badaowan Formation indicate that the Junggar Basin was influenced by sea water caused by transgressions from the northern Tethys, during the Sinemurian.

Reservoir differences and formation mechanisms in the Ke-Bai overthrust belt,northwestern margin of the Junggar Basin,China

There are some differences in reservoir quality of clastic rock between the hanging wall and the foot wall of the Ke-Bai overthrust belt, northwestern margin of the Junggar Basin, western China, which affect the efficient petroleum exploration in this highly mature exploration area. Based on a large number of thin-sections, cast thin-sections, and physical property analysis of cores, we systematically discuss the Permian-Jurassic reservoir differences between the hanging wall and the foot wall of the Ke- Bai overthrust fault from the aspects of structural evolution, time-space distribution of the depositional system, diagenesis characteristics, and reservoir quality and analyzed the reasons for the differences in reservoir properties. The overthrusting of the Ke-Bai fault directly results in different burial histories, diagenesis evolution, and porosity evolution between the hanging wall and the foot wall. The diflbrences of reservoir characteristics are mainly embodied in buried depth, grain size, sedimentary facies, diagenetic stage, and reservoir quality. The analysis results showed that burial history and depositional characteristics controlled by overthrusting are direct influencing factors of reservoir differences. Because of shallow burial depth of the hanging wall, the reservoir compaction is weak and primary pores are preserved well. The porosity of reservoir on the hanging wall is generally 10%-25%. The strata on the foot wall are deeply buried, and there are mainly mixed pores with the average porosity of 5%-20%. The favorable reservoir on the foot wall is generally developed near faults or in the channel sand bodies, which are usually dissolution development areas.

Intra-continental deformation and tectonic evolution of the West Junggar Orogenic Belt,Central Asia:Evidence from remote sensing and structural geological analyses

The West Junggar Orogenic Belt(WJOB)in northwestern Xinjiang,China,is located in the core of the western part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB).It has suffered two stage tectonic evolutions in Phanerozoic,before and after the ocean–continental conversion in Late Paleozoic.The later on intracontinental deformation,characterized by the development of the NE-trending West Junggar sinistral strike-slip fault system(WJFS)since Late Carboniferous and Early Permian,and the NW-trending Chingiz-Junggar dextral strike-slip fault(CJF)in Mesozoic and Cenozoic,has an important significance for the tectonic evolution of the WJOB and the CAOB.In this paper,we conduct geometric and kinematic analyses of the WJOB,based on field geological survey and structural interpretation of remote sensing image data.Using some piercing points such as truncated plutons and anticlines,an average magnitude of^73 km for the left-lateral strike-slip is calculated for the Darabut Fault,a major fault of the WJFS.Some partial of the displacement should be accommodated by strike-slip fault-related folds developed during the strike-slip faulting.Circular and curved faults,asymmetrical folds,and irregular contribution of ultramafic bodies,implies potential opposite vertical rotation of the Miao’ergou and the Akebasitao batholiths,resulted from the sinistral strike-slipping along the Darabut Fault.Due to conjugate shearing set of the sinistral WJFS and the dextral CJF since Early Mesozoic,superimposed folds formed with N–S convergence in southwestern part of the WJOB.

Evolution of Tectonic Uplift, Hydrocarbon Migration, and Uranium Mineralization in the NW Junggar Basin： An Apatite Fission-Track Thermochronology Study

The Mesozoic–Cenozoic tectonic movement largely controls the northwest region of the Junggar Basin（NWJB）, which is a significant area for the exploration of petroleum and sandstone-type uranium deposits in China. This work collected six samples from this sedimentary basin and surrounding mountains to conduct apatite fission track（AFT） dating, and utilized the dating results for thermochronological modeling to reconstruct the uplift history of the NWJB and its response to hydrocarbon migration and uranium mineralization. The results indicate that a single continuous uplift event has occurred since the Early Cretaceous, showing spatiotemporal variation in the uplift and exhumation patterns throughout the NWJB. Uplift and exhumation initiated in the northwest and then proceeded to the southeast, suggesting that the fault system induced a post spread-thrust nappe into the basin during the Late Yanshanian. Modeling results indicate that the NWJB mountains have undergone three distinct stages of rapid cooling： Early Cretaceous（ca. 140–115 Ma）, Late Cretaceous（ca. 80–60 Ma）, and Miocene–present（since ca. 20 Ma）. These three stages regionally correspond to the LhasaEurasian collision during the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous（ca. 140–125 Ma）, the Lhasa-Gandise collision during the Late Cretaceous（ca. 80–70 Ma）, and a remote response to the India-Asian collision since ca. 55 Ma, respectively. These tectonic events also resulted in several regional unconformities between the J3/K1, K2/E, and E/N, and three large-scale hydrocarbon injection events in the Piedmont Thrust Belt（PTB）. Particularly, the hydrocarbon charge event during the Early Cretaceous resulted in the initial inundation and protection of paleo-uranium ore bodies that were formed during the Middle–Late Jurassic. The uplift and denudation of the PTB was extremely slow from 40 Ma onward due to a slight influence from the Himalayan orogeny. However, the uplift of the PTB was faster after the Miocene, which led to re-uplift and exposure at the surface during the Quaternary, resulting in its oxidation and the formation of small uranium ore bodies.

Control of Facies and Potential on Jurassic Hydrocarbon Accumulation and Prediction of Favorable Targets in the Hinterland Region of the Junggar Basin

Exploration practices show that the Jurassic System in the hinterland region of the Junggar Basin has a low degree of exploration but huge potential, however the oil/gas accumulation rule is very complicated, and it is difficult to predict hydrocarbon-bearing properties. The research indicates that the oil and gas is controlled by structure facies belt and sedimentary system distribution macroscopically, and hydrocarbon-bearing properties of sand bodies are controlled by lithofacies and petrophysical facies microscopically. Controlled by ancient and current tectonic frameworks, most of the discovered oil and gas are distributed in the delta front sedimentary system of a palaeo-tectonic belt and an ancient slope belt. Subaqueous branch channels and estuary dams mainly with medium and fine sandstone are the main reservoirs and oil production layers, and sand bodies of high porosity and high permeability have good hydrocarbon-bearing properties; the facies controlling effect shows a reservoir controlling geologic model of relatively high porosity and permeability. The hydrocarbon distribution is also controlled by relatively low potential energy at the high points of local structure macroscopically, while most of the successful wells are distributed at the high points of local structure, and the hydrocarbon-bearing property is good at the place of relatively low potential energy; the hydrocarbon distribution is in close connection with faults, and the reservoirs near the fault in the region of relatively low pressure have good oil and gas shows; the distribution of lithologic reservoirs at the depression slope is controlled by the distribution of sand bodies at positions of relatively high porosity and permeability. The formation of the reservoir of the Jurassic in the Junggar Basin shows characteristics of favorable facies and low-potential coupling control, and among the currenffy discovered reservoirs and industrial hydrocarbon production wells, more than 90% are developed within the scope of facies- potential index FPI〉0.5, while the FPI and oil saturation of the discovered reservoir and unascertained traps have relatively good linear correlation. By establishing the relation model between hydrocarbon- bearing properties of traps and FPI, totally 43 favorable targets are predicted in four main target series of strata and mainly distributed in the Badaowan Formation and the Sangonghe Formation, and the most favorable targets include the north and east of the Shinan Sag, the middle and south of the Mobei Uplift, Cai-35 well area of the Cainan Oilfield, and North-74 well area of the Zhangbei fault-fold zone.