Calcite Cement Generations after Sulphate Dissolution--Evidence for Uplift Diagenesis in Capitan and Zechstein Carbonates

HARWOOD, GILL, University of East Anglia, Norwich, U.K., MARTIN LEE, University of Essex, Essex, U.K., and GILL DARKE, Shell CAPSA, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Upper Permian Capitan shelf margin and U.K. Zechstein carbonates contain evidence of former replacive anhydrite, formed early during their diagenetic histories. Both sequences were uplifted during the last 90 Ma with consequent sulfate hydration and dissolution. Resultant open cavities are occluded by calcite cements.

Cement generations in the two areas are strikingly similar, although the areas were in contrasting climatic belts during uplift. Earliest uplift cements contain relics/evidence of former sulfates with minor bacteriogenic sulfide and precipitation from sulfate reduction. Two major generations of cavity-lining calcite cements formed after sulfate dissolution. Geochemical and isotopic analyses demonstrate these cements to be aquifer-related. The earlier luminescent cements, precipitated from stagnant anoxic waters, were etched and corroded, before minor iron oxide precipitation. These iron oxides enable paleomagnetic dating of uplift. The corrosion marks an anoxic-oxic transition within the pore fluids, with a later incursion of active oxic fluids, from which were precipitated iron-free onluminescent columnar cements.

Cores through the Zechstein carbonates show that cement phases develop successively as uplift proceeds. Thus cement generations were not precipitated synchronously but are representative of different levels within a downwards-penetrating aquifer. The cements relate to successive stages of aquifer evolution and allow a common history of uplift diagenesis to be determined for both areas, although on different continents and within different climatic zones. A similar cement sequence related to downwards aquifer penetration is thus predicted for other areas where sulfate dissolution has occurred on uplift. Such a sequence appears independent of climatic regime.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91004 © 1991 AAPG Annual Convention Dallas, Texas, April 7-10, 1991 (2009)