The homogenization temperature in the fluid inclusions of Ordovician halite and paleoclimatic implication

1 Introduction The homogenization temperature of fluid inclusions reflects the temperatures of the brines from which halite crystals grew.Therefore,it is a powerful mean to reveal the paleoclimate.Northern Shaanxi Salt Basin is located in the central and eastern of Ordos Basin.We have detail petrographical research and the homogenization

Degree of Brine Evaporation and Origin of the Mengyejing Potash Deposit：Evidence from Fluid Inclusions in Halite

The Mengyejing potash deposit is located in the southern port of the Simao Basin, Yunnan Province, and is hosted in mid-Cretaceous strata. The chemical compositions of fluid inclusions in halite crystals, collected from the level-610 adit in the deposit, were analysed by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry（LA-ICP-MS）. The results show that the brine is of the Na-K-Mg-Ca-Cl type and has K concentrations that are distinctly higher than those of Mg and Ca, unlike normal brines associated with Cretaceous halite. The high K concentrations indicate that the degree of evaporation of the ancient Mengyejing saline lake was very high, reaching the sylvite deposition stage but rarely reaching the carnallite deposition stage. The trajectory of the H and O isotopic compositions of the brines in the halite-hosted fluid inclusions corresponds to intense evaporation, indicating that the net evaporation exceeded the net inflow of brines. These brine compositions in halite-hosted fluid inclusions were likely formed by the dissolution of previously deposited K-bearing minerals by fresh continental and/or seawater, forming a type of modified seawater, with deep hydrothermal fluids potentially supplying additional potassium. The basin likely experienced multiple seawater incursion, dissolution and redeposition events in a high-temperature environment with high evaporation rates.

New Sr Isotope Evidence to Support the Material Source of the Mengyejing Potash Deposit in the Simao Basin from Ancient Marine Halite or Residual Sea

Objective The Mengyejing potash deposit in the Simao Basin is the only producing area of solid potash at present in China. There is still controversy about the material source and distribution of the potash in this deposit （Shen Lijian et al., 2017）, which has influenced not only the prospecting direction and efficiency but also the understanding of the control of Tethys tectonic evolution on the formation and distribution of the mineral resources. This work analyzed the Sr isotope geochemical characteristics of evaporites from core samples in the well MZK-3 in order to further clarify the material source and to explore the potash distribution in the Simao Basin.

Evaporation Stage of Paleo-saline Lake in the Sichuan Basin, China: Insight from Fluid inclusions in Halite

Sichuan Basin is one of the most important marine–salt forming basins in China. The Simian and Triassic have a large number of evaporites. The Triassic strata have found a large amount of polyhalite and potassium-rich brine. However, no soluble potassium salt deposit were found. In this study, the halite in well Changping 3 which is located at the eastern part of the Sichuan basin was studied using the characteristics, hydrogen and oxygen isotopes of the fluid inclusion in halite to reconstruct the paleoenvironment. The salt rocks in well Changping 3 can be divided into two types: grey salt rock and orange salt rock. The result shows that the isotopic composition of the halite fluid inclusion is distinct from the global precipitation line reflecting that the salt formation process is under strong evaporation conditions and the climate is extremely dry. At the same time, compared with the hydrogen and oxygen isotopes of brine in the Sichuan Basin and the hydrous isotope composition of the inclusions in the salt inclusions of other areas in China, it is shown that the evaporation depth of the ancient seawater in the Sichuan Basin was high and reached the precipitation of potassium and magnesium stage.

Characterization and recovery of the halophiles in the fluid inclusions in halite

1 Introduction It is the focus of geology and biology that the creature preserved in the geological history and the organic evolution.The creature preserved in geological history by these things:sedimentary,frozen earth,chrysophoron and evaporation salt.Evaporation salt can preserve the microbe

Spatial Distribution of Halite in Kuqa Basin from Paleogene to Neogene and Signification of Potash Survey

Evaporites with gigantic thickness had been developed in Kuqa Basin from Paleocene to early Miocene,and the sediment thickness changed from tens to thousands of meters.By 3D mine software,spatial distribution model of

Origin of Halite in the Lanping–Simao Basin,Southeastern Tibetan Plateau,China:Evidence from Sr and Cl Isotopes

The Lanping−Simao Basin is located on the southeastern Tibetan Plateau,China,and contains massive evaporites.The origin of evaporites in the basin has been hotly debated because of the strong transformation by tectonic movement.Forty halite samples from borehole MK-3 in the Mengyejing area of the basin were collected and analyzed using XRD,Cl-Sr isotopes and chemical compositions to trace the origin of the evaporites in the basin.The Br×10^(3)/Cl ratios of the halite samples are between 0 and 0.55,most of which are synchronized with the law of seawater evaporation and at the stage of halite precipitation from seawater,indicating that the evaporites are mainly of marine origin.The^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr ratios range from 0.707489 to 0.711279;after correction,the^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr 145 Ma ratios range from 0.704721 to 0.707611,equivalent with the 87Sr/86Sr ratios of seawater at 145 Ma,indicating a marine origin.The decay of 87Rb in the evaporite during deposition,change of the depositional environment and the unsealed environment at a later period resulted in the present^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr ratios of some samples being high.The δ^(37)Cl value compositions range from−0.38‰to 0.83‰,which is consistent with the δ^(37)Cl value composition of the world marine halite(−0.6‰to 0.4‰),further confirming that seawater is the main origin.In addition,the high δ^(37)Cl value of some samples at the boundary of the upper and lower evaporite layers might be related to the influence of δ^(37)Cl-rich brine and the incomplete dissolution of the halite.

Ancient Microorganisms and Carotenoids Preserved in Fluid Inclusions in Halite from Chaka Salt Lake,Western China:Evidence from Micro-observation and in situ Raman Spectroscopy

Trapped ancient microorganisms in halite fluid inclusions are of special interest to the understanding of biology and ecology in salt lake systems.With the integration of petrologic,microthermometric,and Raman spectroscopic analyses,this study utilizes fluid inclusions from Chaka Salt Lake,eastern Qaidam Basin,NW China,to assess the possibility of microorganism-trapping by fluid inclusions.Here,we report that the solid phase of some primary fluid inclusions contains carotenoids,which is interpreted as evidence of Dunaliella algae,and that the coexisting liquid phase comprises SO_(4)^(2-).The homogenization temperatures of single-phase primary fluid inclusions indicate that the precipitation temperature of the Holocene halite in Chaka Salt Lake ranges from 13.5℃ to 36.4℃.This suggests that fluid inclusions in halite are a good medium for trapping and preserving ancient microorganisms and organic matter in salt lakes,and that Raman spectroscopy has good potential to identify halophilic archaea.

The Relation among Synthetic Fluid Inclusions Homogenization Temperature of Halite,Air Temperature and Water Temperature under Natural Conditions

A large number of fluid inclusions are formed in the crystal formation of halite,in which pure liquid phase ones supply a new method of paleo temperature inversion by means of cryogenic thermometry.In this study,we

Fluid Inclusions in Surface-temperature Halite： Sample Preparation and Application

Paleo-temperature and paleo-environment can be interpreted from measuring homogenization temperatures of fluid inclusions within halite. In order to conduct such measurements, vapor bubbles within low-temperature fluid inclusion often need to be created through cooling process by using cooling stage or freezer. Proper cooling is critical for interpreting measured temperature data. We tested two common cooling methods, using heating/freezing stage and freezer, for studying fluid inclusions in halite precipitated in laboratory at conrtolled temperature of 25＂C. While using the heating/freezing stage, halite samples were kept at -18＂C for 40-50 rain; whereas for freezer, samples were stored at -18＂C for 1, 10, 20 and 40 days, respectively. By comparing the homogenization temperatures of the two cooling processes, we explored the detailed experimental processes and developed an optimal cooling nucleation procedure for homogenization temperature analyses of fluid inclusions within surface-temperature halite. The results show that the maximum homogenization temperatures from both methods approximate the actual brine temperature of 25＂C. However, extended refrigeration time has noticeable influence on the results. The refrigeration time of the experiment can be shortened to meet requirements.

Boron Isotopic Composition of Halite from 46-m-long Sediment Core in the Qarhan Salt Lake,Western China

Previous studies have investigated the boron isotopic composition of salt lake brines in the Qaidam Basin,western China.However,the research on boron isotopic composition of halite is very limited due to halite’s low

Ordovician Seawater Composition:Evidence from Fluid Inclusions in Halite

Fluid inclusions in halite can directly record the major composition of seawater,however Ordovician halite is very rare.Ordovician is a key time during the evolution history.However there are no Ordovician seawater data reported except from the data from the halite from the

Genesis of Polyhalite in the Halite in Jialingjiang Formation of Triassic,Eastern Sichuan Basin,China

Polyhalite generally formed in the early diagenetic stage.It is formed by the brine which rich in K+and Mg2+and adverse reaction with the gypsum,anhydrite,glauberite(Pierre,1985;Peryt et al.,2005;Leitner et al.,

Hydrogen and Oxygen Isotopes of Fluid Inclusion in Halite,Northern Shaanxi Salt Basin China

The Ordovician was an important transitional period for global climate and organic evolution,the global was in the flood and glacial,Onganism was extinction(Zhan,2007;Trotter et al.,2008;Axel et al.,2010).Under the influence

PRELIMINARY STUDY ON CHLORINE-36 DATING OF HALITE IN SALT LAKES FROM QAIDAM BASIN

The Qaidam Basin is a large intermontane depression. It has been in existence since the Jurassic. The mean elevation of the basin floor is 2800 m. It covers an area of 120,000 km^2 with a catchment area of about 250,000 km^2. By the end of the Pliocene, great changes had taken place. Some of the lakes were evolving to the evaporite formation stage. The deposition continued through the Pliocene and the late Pleistocene to produce a sequence 2000—3000 m thick, and the total thickness of halite sequence is more than 1000 m. The Qaidam Basin contains some of the richest salt resources, the sediments deposited on

Influencing mechanism of saline sediments on pore system formation and evolution in terrestrial shales

The majority of oil and gas resources in the world are related to saline sediments, which mainly occur in sedimentary strata in the form of cap rocks or salt-associated shales. A large number of shale oil resources have been discovered in the saline shale sediments of the Cenozoic terrestrial lake basin in China. The hydrocarbon generation ability and the reservoir capacity of shale control the oil and gas generation. The reservoir capacity is mainly characterized by pore type, structure and porosity. Most of China’s shale oil and gas resources belong to salt-bearing formations. The role of gypsum-salt rocks in the formation and evolution of organic matter (OM) in such formations has received extensive attention. However, systematic understanding is lacking. Research on the pore formation and evolution in shale under the action of gypsum-salt rock sediments is especially weak. Taking the shales in the third member of the Shahejie Formation (Es_(3)) of the Bohai Bay Basin as an example, the influence of halite on the formation and evolution process of pores was studied in this paper. The results show that halite and gypsum minerals were associated with OM, which made them more likely to develop OM pores. The samples with a high halite mineral content (HC) are more developed regarding the pore volume and specific surface area than those with a low HC. The formation of thick salt rocks is influenced by factors of deep thermal brine upwelling, sea erosion and arid environments. The frequent alternation between humid and arid environments led to the outbreak and death of organisms and the precipitation of gypsum-salt rock, which formed the simultaneous deposition of OM and halite minerals. Finally, we have established a model of shale pore evolution under the participation of the gypsum-salt rock, and halite minerals contribute to pore development in both Stage II and Stage IV. This study provides strong microscopic evidence for the pore system formation and evolution in salt-bearing reservoirs.

Hydrocarbon-Degrading Bacteria and Paraffin from Polluted Seashores 9 Years after the Nakhodka Oil Spill in the Sea of Japan

Pollution of petroleum hydrocarbons, in particular oil spills, has attracted much attention in the past and recent decades. Oil spills influence natural microbial community, and physical and chemical properties of the affected sites. The biodegradation of hydrocarbons by microorganisms is one of the primary ways by which oil spill is eliminated from contaminated sites. One such spill was that of the Russian tanker the Nakhodka that spilled heavy oil into the Sea of Japan on January 2, 1997. The impact of the Nakhodka oil spill resulted in a viscous sticky fluid fouling the shores and affected natural ecosystems. This paper describes the weathering of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria （genus Pseudomonas） and crystallized organic compounds from the Nakhodka oil spill-polluted seashores after nine years. The Nakhodka oil has hardened and formed crust of crystalline paraffin wax as shown by XRD analysis （0.422, 0.377, and 0.250 nm d-spacing） in association with graphite and calcite after 9 years of bioremediation. Anaerobic reverse side of the oil crust contained numerous coccus typed bacteria associated with halite. The finding of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria and paraffin wax in the oil crust may have a significant effect on the weathering processes of the Nakhodka oil spill during the 9- year bioremediation.

Genetic link between saline and carbonatitic mantle fluids:The system NaCl-CaCO_(3)-MgCO_(3)±H_(2)O±Fe^(0) at 6 GPa

Melt inclusions in kimberlitic minerals and diamonds indicate that chlorides are important constituents of mantle carbonatite melts.Besides,alkaline chlorides are important constituents of saline high-density fluids(HDFs)found in diamonds from kimberlites and placers around the world.Continuous compositional variations suggest that saline and carbonatitic HDFs could be genetically linked.However,the essence of this link remains unclear owing to the lack of data on phase relations in the chloridecarbonate systems under pressure.Here we studied subsolidus and melting phase relations in the system NaCl–CaCO_(3)–MgCO_(3)at 6 GPa and 1000–1600℃using a Kawai-type multianvil press.We found that at 1000℃,subsolidus assemblage consists of halite,magnesite,and aragonite.At higher temperatures,the stabilization of dolomite splits the subsolidus area into two partial ternary fields:halite+magnesite+dolomite and halite+dolomite+aragonite.The minimum on the liquidus surface corresponds to the halite-dolomite-aragonite ternary eutectic,situated at 1100℃.The eutectic melt has Ca#89 and contains 30 wt.%Na Cl(26 mol%2NaCl).The system has two ternary peritectics:halite+dolomite=magnesite+liquid located near the ternary eutectic and magnesite+dolomite=Mg-dolomite+liquid situated between 1300 and 1400℃.Although under dry conditions incipient melting yields carbonatedominated melt,the addition of water facilitates the fusion of Na Cl and expands the liquid field to Na Cl-rich compositions with up to 70 wt.%Na Cl.The obtained results favor the idea that hydrous saline melts/fluids(brines)found as inclusions in diamonds could be a lower temperature derivative of mantle carbonatite melts and disagree with the hypothesis on chloride melt generation owing to the chloridecarbonate liquid immiscibility since no such immiscibility was established.We also studied the interaction of the NaCl–CaCO_(3)–MgCO_(3)system with iron metal and found that carbonate reduction produces Cbearing species(Fe^(0),Fe-C melt,Fe_(3)C,Fe_(7)C_(3),C^(0))and wüstite containing Na_(2)O,CaO,and MgO.Besides,a carbonate chloride compound,Ca_(2)Cl_(2)CO_(3),was established among the reaction products.The interaction between Na Cl-bearing carbonate melt shifts its composition toward Mg-poor and Na Cl-rich.Given the above,an alternative hypothesis can be proposed,according to which the interaction of alkaline chloride-bearing carbonate melts formed in the subduction zones with the reduced mantle should be accompanied by diamond crystallization and shift the composition of the melt from carbonatitic to alkali-rich saline.

Assessment of the properties of polycrystalline rock salt synthesized under nominally dry and wet conditions

Polycrystalline rock salt’s compression is a function of applied stresses,exposure duration to the applied stresses,ambient temperature,and water content.Rock salt’s compressional behavior under different conditions and its effects on the specimens’mechanical properties have been investigated in the literature.However,the one-dimensional(1D)compression behavior of polycrystalline rock salt at various water contents and how the specimen’s compression at different water contents further affects its physical and mechanical properties are not fully understood yet.In this study,polycrystalline rock salt specimens were prepared under nominally dry and wet conditions and some of the dry and wet specimens were annealed after the preparation.The relationship between the porosity of the specimens and the logarithm of the applied axial stresses during the 1D compression was found to follow a linear relationship after reaching unique critical porosities of 32%and 37%for the dry and wet specimens,respectively.Unloading and reloading the specimens did not result in any major changes in the porosity of the specimens.The specimens compressed under wet condition showed an average final porosity of 2.6%compared to 6.9%for the dry specimens.The dry and wet specimens that were annealed after the compression exhibited a lower porosity in comparison to the dry and wet specimens,respectively.Unconfined compression experiments on the specimens showed dry and wet specimens possess averaged unconfined compressive strengths(σ_(u))of 64.3 and 16.2 MPa,respectively.Annealing decreased σ_(u)of the dry specimens to 39.6 MPa and increased σ_(u)of the wet specimens to 41 MPa.