A Combination of N2 and CO2 Adsorption to Characterize Nanopore Structure of Organic-Rich Lower Silurian Shale in the Upper Yangtze Platform, South China： Implications for Shale Gas Sorption Capacity

The pores in shales are mainly of nanometer-scale, and their pore size distribution is very important for the preservation and exploitation of shale gas. This study focused on the organic-rich Lower Silurian black shale from four wells in the Upper Yangtze Platform, and their TOC, mineralogical composition and pore characterization were investigated. Low pressure N2 and CO2 adsorption were conducted at 77.35 K and 273.15 K, respectively, and the pore structures were characterized by modified Brunauer-Emmett-Teller （BET）, Dubinin-Radushkevich （DR）, t-plot, Barrett- Joyner-Halenda （BJH） and density functional theory （DFT） methods and then the relationship between pore structure and shale gas sorption capacity was discussed. The results indicate that （1） The Lower Silurian shale has high TOC content of 0.92%~96%, high quartz content of 30.6%-69.5%, and high clays content of 24.1%-51.2%. The total specific surface area varies from 7.56 m^2/g to 25.86 m^2/g. Both the total specific surface area and quartz content are positively associated with the TOC content. （2） Shale samples with higher TOC content have more micropores, which results in more complex nanopore structure. Micropore volumes/surface areas and non-micropore surface areas all increase with the increasing TOC content. （3） A combination of N2 and CO2 adsorption provides the most suitable detection range （~0.3-60 nm） and has high reliability and accuracy for nanopore structure characterization. （4） The TOC content is the key factor to control the gas sorption capacity of the Lower Silurian shale in the Upper Yangtze Platform.

Carbon and Strontium Isotopes of Late Palaeozoic Marine Carbonates in the Upper Yangtze Platform,Southwest China

238 marine carbonate samples were collected from seven sedimentary sections ofthe entire late Palaeozoic (Permian, Carboniferous and Devonian) in the Upper Yangtze Plat-form, southwest China. Based on the absence of cathodoluminescence and very low Mn (gener-ally<50 ppm) contents of the samples, it is thought that they contain information on the orig-inal sea water geochemistry. The results of isotopic analyses of these samples are presented interms of δ^(13)C and ^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr ratios versus geological time. The strontium data, consistent withother similar data based on samples from North America, Europe, Africa and other areas inAsia, support the notion of a global consistency in strontium isotope composition of marinecarbonates. The strontium data exhibit three intervals of relatively low ^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr ratios in thelate Middle Devonian to early Late Devonian, Early Carboniferous and Early Permian, corre-sponding to global eustatic high sea level stands. The lowest ^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr ratio recorded in theLate Permian was probably caused by substantial basalt eruptions in the Upper Yangtze Plat-form at the time. Three corresponding periods of relatively high δ^(13)C values at roughly the samethe intervals were caused by a relatively high rate of accumulation of organic carbon duringsea level rises at these times. The deposition of coal was probably responsible for the increaseof sea water δ^(13)C at other times. The δ^(13)C values drop dramatically near theDevonian/Carboniferous, Carboniferous/Permian and Permian/Triassic boundaries, con-sistent with other similar data, which further support the notion that geological time boundariesare associated with mass extinction and subsequent rejuvenation.

Sequence Boundary and Sea Level Changes in Western Margin of Upper Yangtze Platform during Permian and Triassic

During Permian and Triassic the western margin of Upper Yangtze platform had experienced an evolution from early rift stage to thermal subsidence and then to foreland basin. The tectonic transformations have resulted in five supersequences and nineteen third-order se- quences.During the rift stage,transgeressive carbonate platform was built up,while in the thermal subsidence stage,regressive carbonate platform with foreslope was formed.The closure of the Garze-Litang narrow oceanic basin resulted in the migration of foreland flexure toward the ctaton.The carbonate ramp in foreland basin setting was formed during the relative sea level rise which was caused by the change in basin volume.

Geochemical characteristics of upper Sinian Dengying dolomite at northern Yangtze platform: implication for Pb-Zn metallogenesis

1 Introduction and geological setting Several Pb-Zn ore deposits(i.e.,Mayuan Pb-Zn deposit)occurring inthe upper Sinian Dengying dolomitesin northern Yangtze platform have been discovered in recent years,interesting research of