Further study on the genesis of lamellar calcite veins in lacustrine black shale--A case study of Paleogene in Dongying Depression, China

Lamellar calcite veins are prevalent in carbonate-rich,lacustrine dark shale.The formation mechanisms of these veins have been extensively debated,focusing on factors such as timing,depth,material source,and driving forces.This paper examines dark lacustrine shale lamellar calcite veins in the Paleogene strata of Dongying Depression,using various analytical techniques:petrography,isotope geochemistry,cathodoluminescence,inclusion thermometry,and electron probe micro-analysis.Two distinct types of calcite veins have been identified:granular calcite veins and sparry calcite veins.These two types differ significantly in color,grain structure,morphology,and inclusions.Through further investigation,it was observed that vein generation occurred from the shallow burial period to the maturation of organic matter,with a transition from granular calcite veins to sparry calcite veins.The granular calcite veins exhibit characteristics associated with the shallow burial period,including plastically deformed laminae and veins,the development of strawberry pyrite,the absence of oil and gas,weak fractionation in oxygen isotopes,and their contact relationship with sparry calcite veins.These granular calcite veins were likely influenced by the reduction of sulfate bacteria.On the other hand,sparry calcite veins with fibrous grains are antitaxial and closely linked to the evolution and maturation of organic matter.They contain oil and gas inclusions and show a distribution range of homogenization temperature between 90℃ and 120℃ and strong fractionation in oxygen isotopes,indicating formation during the hydrocarbon expulsion period.The carbon isotope analysis of the surrounding rocks and veins suggests that the material for vein formation originates from the shale itself,specifically authigenic micritic calcite modified by the action of methanogens.The opening of horizontal fractures and vein formation is likely driven by fluid overpressure resulting from undercompaction and hydrocarbon expulsion.Veins may form rapidly or through multi-stage composite processes.Early veins are predominantly formed in situ,while late veins are a result of continuous fluid migration and convergence.Furthermore,the veins continue to undergo modification even after formation.This study emphasizes that the formation of lamellar calcite veins in shale is a complex diagenetic process influenced by multiple factors:biology,organic matter,and inorganic processes,all operating at various stages throughout the shale's diagenetic history.

Enlightenment of calcite veins in deep Ordovician Wufeng-Silurian Longmaxi shales fractures to migration and enrichment of shale gas in southern Sichuan Basin, SW China

The relationship between fracture calcite veins and shale gas enrichment in the deep Ordovician Wufeng Formation-Silurian Longmaxi Formation (Wufeng-Longmaxi) shales in southern Sichuan Basin was investigated through core and thin section observations, cathodoluminescence analysis, isotopic geochemistry analysis, fluid inclusion testing, and basin simulation. Tectonic fracture calcite veins mainly in the undulating part of the structure and non-tectonic fracture calcite veins are mainly formed in the gentle part of the structure. The latter, mainly induced by hydrocarbon generation, occurred at the stage of peak oil and gas generation, while the former turned up with the formation of Luzhou paleouplift during the Indosinian. Under the influence of hydrocarbon generation pressurization process, fractures were opened and closed frequently, and oil and gas episodic activities are recorded by veins. The formation pressure coefficient at the maximum paleodepth exceeds 2.0. The formation uplift stage after the Late Yanshanian is the key period for shale gas migration. Shale gas migrates along the bedding to the high part of the structure. The greater the structural fluctuation is, the more intense the shale gas migration activity is, and the loss is more. The gentler the formation is, the weaker the shale gas migration activity is, and the loss is less. The shale gas enrichment in the core of gentle anticlines and gentle synclines is relatively higher.

Precipitation of Calcite Veins in Serpentinized Harzburgite at Tianxiu Hydrothermal Field on Carlsberg Ridge(3.67°N),Northwest Indian Ocean:Implications for Fluid Circulation

Serpentinization and calcite precipitation of mantle peridotites exhumed along detachment faults at the slow-to ultraslow-spreading centers can provide important clues to the hydrothermal alteration processes.The Tianxiu hydrothermal field is a new-found active and ultramafichosted hydrothermal vent site along the Carlsberg Ridge,Northwest Indian Ocean.Two types of calcite veins are recognized in serpentinized harzburgite samples collected from the seafloor at the water depth of 3 500 m(3.67°N/63.83°E) and 400 m north of Tianxiu hydrothermal field.Calcite veins Ⅰ occur in the fractures that cut through mesh texture in the highly serpentinized harzburgite,while calcite veins Ⅱ precipitate within the mesh texture in the relatively weaker serpentinized harzburgite.Both veins show similar δ13CPDB(+0.54‰ and +0.58‰) but different δ18OPDB(-16.67‰ and +4.46‰) values,suggesting that they were derived from the same carbon source but precipitated at different temperatures.Taking the deep seawater temperature of 2℃as the precipitation temperature of the calcite veins I,the equilibrium δ18OV-SMOW of calcite-precipitating fluid was calculated to be 1.78‰,which is close to the average δ18OV-SMOW value(1.74‰) of vent fluid samples from the ultramafic-hosted hydrothermal systems worldwide.The formation temperature of calcite veins Ⅱ is inferred to be approximately 134℃,based on the calculated δ18OV-SMOW above.The temperature differences of calcite precipitation probably resulted from the fluid cooling conductively and mixing with seawater along the presumed fractures during slow upflow.The low-temperature calcite postdates the mesh texture,while the high-temperature calcite may precipitate under relatively low water/rock ratios,alkaline and reduced conditions among the mesh texture,which is revealed by the geochemical models.Therefore,it is suggested that they both have been influenced by hydrothermal fluids and the sampling site is near the discharge zone of hydrothermal circulation.

Fluid Inclusion and Geochemistry Studies of Calcite Veins in Shizhu Synclinorium,Central China:Record of Origin of Fluids and Diagenetic Conditions

Calcite veins in carbonate fracture have been investigated by petrographic, fluid inclusion, geochemical analyses and coupled with basin modeling techniques to provide useful insights into fluid activity and deformation conditions of the Cambrian to Triassic Shizhu synclinorium from the western region of Mid-Yangtze, central China. The results of the fluid inclusion microthermometry show a wide range of homogenization temperatures（78.6–215.5 °C） and salinities（0.18–23.11 wt.% NaCl equivalent）, indicating the formation under diverse fluid conditions. All the calcite veins have negative Ce anomalies, which are the typical characteristic of marine carbonate sediments; it is therefore plausible that calcite veins were precipitated from the marine basin fluid. The stable carbon isotopic compositions of calcites（δ^（13）CV-PDB=-2.5‰–4.26‰） and host limestones（δ^（13）CV-PDB=-3.56‰–5.80‰） are very similar with a correlation coefficient of 0.86, however, four calcites from the Lower Permian and Lower Triassic show lower δ^（13）C values relative to the host limestones, and they are depleted in total REE concentrations（∑REE ratio varies from 0.74 to 2.06）, suggesting the derivation of dissolved carbon from marine carbonates hosting the calcite veins and, less commonly, from the degradation of organic matter. Calculated δ^（18）O of the fluids-precipitating calcites（δ^（18）OV-SMOW=-0.41‰–14.42‰）, ^（87）Sr/^（86）Sr ratios varying in the range of coeval seawater and the distinct REE pattern simultaneously suggest calcite-forming fluids in each stratigraphic unit could have formed from the involvement of fluids that originated from coeval seawater and evolved through different degrees of water rock interaction. However, the presence of more radiogenic ^（87）Sr/^（86）Sr ratios than coeval seawater and pronounced positive Eu anomalies in calcites of Lower to Middle Ordovician rocks indicate that terrestrial input from upper strata mudstone and siliciclastic rocks could be involved in the precipitation of the Ordovician calcite. Fluid-inclusion data combined with burial and thermal history modeling indicate there was large-scale flow of evolved basinal fluids through the carbonate formation fractures spanning a time frame from 135 to 50 Ma（Early Cretaceous–Eocene）. Therefore, the geochemical characteristics of calcite veins can provide the basis for deformation events in Late Yanshanian and Early Himalayan orogeny.

Genesis of Fibrous Calcite in the Chang 7 Member of the Yanchang Formation,Ordos Basin,China

To explore the genesis of the laminated calcite veins developed in the black shale of Chang 73 submember of the Ordos Basin,the petrology,microstructure and geochemistry of calcite veins are studied using thin sections,fluid inclusions,trace elements and isotopic geochemistry.The source,the time of formation,the mechanism of formation,and the dynamic background of the veins are discussed.The veins are mostly made up of calcite,mixed with lenticular or spindle-shape solid wall rock inclusions.Three structures are identified in the calcite minerals:fibrous,rhombic cleavage,and wedge-like structure.Trace elements and isotopes of carbon and oxygen confirm that the calcite veins were formed from a high density hydrothermal fluid.It is assumed that calcite veins formed prior to wall rock consolidation during the formation of the Qinling Orogenic Belt in the Middle and Late Triassic.The results show that the sedimentary sources of Chang 73 submember were influenced by hydrothermal materials besides terrigenous detritus.The fibrous calcite is different from the fibrous calcite reported in the morphology and mechanism of formation.In this way,the research complements and improves the morphology and the mechanism of formation of fibrous calcite.

The origin of bedding-parallel fibrous calcite veins in the Lower Permian Chihsia Formation in western Hubei Province,South China

Bedding-parallel fibrous veins occurring as lenticular to flattened intercalations were found in the organic-rich marlstone/calcareous shale of the upper Lower Permian Chihsia Formation in western Hubei Province, South China. They dominantly consist of fibrous calcite crystals with smooth and tight boundaries, forming fence- like inward, syntaxial growth clusters toward the vein center along which a median suture line generally occurs. Petrographic evidence indicates that these veins may form at relatively shallow burial depth, where fluid overpres- sures would have incrementally created the bed-parallel vein space, resulting in displacive growth of fibrous calcite. On the other hand, the C, O and S isotopic data across the vein reveal slightly depleted δ13Ccarb values （-3.32 ‰ to ＋0.19‰ VPDB） and moderately depleted δSOcarb values （--9.6 ‰ to --7.3 ‰ VPDB） with respect to those of coeval seawaters and slightly heavier δ34Spyrite values （--7.88 ‰ CDT） with respect to those of ambient rocks. Stable isotope evidence consistently suggests significant contribution of bacterial sulfate reduction （BSR） to the formation of the fibrous calcite cements in the vein. The BSR could have been intensive with the availabilities of residual sulfate and abundant organic matters in the Chihsia sediments during shallow burial, increasing the alkalinity of pore waters and further promoting carbonate precipitation. Thus, the bedding-parallel fibrous calcite vein in the upper Lower Permian Chihsia Formation is an important time-specific petrographic capsule, providing clues for understanding the diagenetic process in organic- rich sediments.

Genesis of calcite vein in basalt and its effect on reservoir quality: A case study of the Carboniferous in the east slope of Mahu sag, Junggar Basin, NW China

The characteristics and genesis of the calcite veins in Carboniferous basalt in the east slope of Mahu Sag,Junggar Basin are investigated based on observation of cores and thin sections;analyses of X-ray fluorescence,in situ major,trace and rare earth elements(REE),carbon,oxygen and strontium isotopes,fluid inclusions,as well as basin modeling.There are three periods of calcite fillings.The Period I calcite is characterized by low Mn content,flat REE pattern,strong negative cerium(Ce)anomaly,weak to moderate negative Eu anomaly,and light carbon isotopic composition,indicating the formation of the calcite was affected by meteoric water.The Period II calcite shows higher Mn and light REE contents,weak positive Ce anomaly and slight positive europium(Eu)anomaly,and a little heavier carbon isotopic composition and slightly lower strontium isotope ratio than the Period I calcite,suggesting that deep diagenetic fluids affected the formation of the Period II calcite to some extent.The Period III calcite is rich in iron and manganese and has REE pattern similar to that of the Period II calcite,but the cerium and europium enomalies vary significantly.The Period I and II calcites were formed in shallow diagenetic environment at approximately 250–260 Ma,corresponding to Late Hercynian orogeny at Late Permian.The PeriodⅢcalcite was probably formed in the Indo-China movement during Late Triassic.It is believed that the precipitation of calcite in basalt fractures near unconformity was related to leaching and dissolution of carbonates in the overlying Lower Permian Fengcheng Formation by meteoric water,which destructed the Carboniferous weathering crust reservoirs in early stage.Relatively high quality reservoirs could be developed in positions with weak filling and strong late dissolution,such as structural high parts with Fengcheng Formation missing,distant strata from Fengcheng Formation vertically,buried hills inside lake basin,etc.

New indicators from bedding-parallel beef veins for the fault valve mechanism

Beef structures(bedding-parallel veins of fibrous calcite)are widespread within the Lower Triassic carbonate rocks in the Sichuan Basin of China,especially within clay-rich strata of low permeability.In the veins,fibrous calcite occurs in the outer zones,and coarse equant calcite in the inner zones.At least two generations of calcite crystallization took place during aqueous alteration,at the same time as deformation recorded by the calcite.The first-generation calcite fibers are at steep angles to the hydrocarbon-bearing host beds,and they grew vertically against the force of gravity at a time when the source rocks were maturing.Second-generation calcite occurs as coarse equant grains that sealed pores via localized fluid flow during horizontal tectonic compression,so that shear stresses acted at the fracture margins.Shearing of the host rock was accommodated in part by dissolution-precipitation creep(DPC),grain rotation,and grain slippage,recorded in crystallographic preferred orientations(CPOs)of the host calcite grains beside the crack walls.The beef veins formed during high pore-fluid overpressures along hydrofractures.We propose that the bedding-parallel veins with beef structures are evidence of a"crack-seal slip"fault valve process during hydrocarbon generation.The hydrocarbon-bearing calcite beef structure may be a good indicator of oil or gas migration,and of the flow direction of aqueous solutions.