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Primary dolostone formation related to mantle-originated exhalative hydrothermal activities, Permian Yuejingou section, Santanghu area, Xinjiang, NW China

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Abstract

The Permian Lucaogou Formation is an important hydrocarbon source rock in the Junggar, Turpan, and Santanghu basins in Xinjiang, NW China. For the first time, dolostones associated with mantle-originated exhalative hydrothermal fluid flows are discovered in Yuejingou section in the Santanghu Basin area. They include dolomicrite, doloarenite, and a small amount of dolorudite, and are finely (0.05–0.15 cm thick) interlaminated with lime micrite and dolomicritic analcime laminites. Alkali feldspar and analcime grains are common in doloarenite and are interpreted as having been derived from analcime phonolites and peralkaline magmatic rocks. These magmatic fragments were brought up from subsurface by hydrothermal fluid flow and had experienced exhalative brecciation, transport, and deposition on the lake floor. The matrix consists dominantly of dolomite and ankerite smaller than 0.01 mm. The dolostones can be subdivided into four types on the basis of mineral composition and content. The detrital analcime and alkaline feldspar grains and tuff lithics are interpreted as intraclasts, which were deposited in an under-filled starved lake basin. The δ 18 OPDB values of dolostones are −5‰ to −21.1‰, and −11.9‰ on average; the 87Sr/86Sr ratios of dolostones are 0.70457 to 0.706194, and 0.705005 on average. These values, in combination with evidence of multi-episodes of peralkaline extrusion, suggest a mantle origin of the hydrothermal fluids, which may have promoted primary dolomite formation. The fluid from the upper mantle caused serpentinization of ultramafic rocks that intruded into the lower crust to obtain Mg2+ and Fe2+, and injected the ions into the lake water as the Mg and Fe sources for dolomite and ankerite. Hydrothermal fluids associated with peralkaline magmatic rocks also provided Ca2+, Mg2+, Fe2+, and CO3 2−. Explosive breccias formed and dolostones were convoluted near the vent of hydrothermal fluid exhalation, whereas laminated dolostones formed farther away from the vent. The dolostones are primary dolomite deposition in an intracontinental rift basin and associated with mantle-originated hydrothermal fluids. They provide an insight into the origin of dolomite formation in the geologic history and clues to understand the sedimentary environments and tectonic conditions in northern Xinjiang during the late Paleozoic.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Northwest University, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi’an, 710069, China

    YiQun Liu, Xin Jiao, Hong Li, XiaoHu Zhou, ChaoYang Zheng, Qin Sun & ShuangShuang Wang

  2. Tu-Ha Oilfield, CNPC, Hami, 830002, China

    MingSheng Yuan & Hao Liang

  3. Department of Geological Sciences and Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, Missouri, 65409, USA

    Wan Yang

  4. College of Geological Science & Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266510, China

    DingWu Zhou

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  1. YiQun Liu
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  2. Xin Jiao
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  3. Hong Li
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Liu, Y., Jiao, X., Li, H. et al. Primary dolostone formation related to mantle-originated exhalative hydrothermal activities, Permian Yuejingou section, Santanghu area, Xinjiang, NW China. Sci. China Earth Sci. 55, 183–192 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-011-4356-1

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