The sedimentological characteristics of microbialites of the Cambrian in the vicinity of Beijing, China
Yin-Ye Wua, Tian-Shu Zhanga, Jia-Lei Lüa, Yan Liub
a Department of Petroleum Geology, Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development, PetroChina, Beijing 100083, China;
b School of Earth Sciences, Zhejiang University,Hangzhou 310027, Zhejiang Province, China
Withoil and gas exploration transferring to deeper and more ancient marine strata, more researches have been conducted about the Meso-Neoproterozoic and Cambrian microbial carbonate rocksby petroleum geologists. The Cambrian deposits experienced the first transgression of the Paleozoic, with shallow marine faciesdepositing in most areas, which are favorable for different kinds of biological reproduction. The Lower Cambrian in Beijing area is lithologically dominated bypurple red shales interbedded with limestones,the Middle Cambrian is mainly composed of thick oolitic limestones, and the Upper Cambrian consists ofthin limestones and flat-pebbleconglomerates. Two beds of microbial carbonate rocks were discovered in the Cambrian outcrops in the vicinity of Beijing. One is from the Zhangxia Formation of Middle Cambrian, and the other is from the Gushan Formation of Upper Cambrian. The microbialites are characterized by combination of multiple stromatolites forming different bioherms. The bioherms are mostly in oval shape and withdifferent sizes, which are 3-4m long, and 1-3m high. The surrounding strata beneath the bioherms are oolitic limestones. A central core of flat-pebble conglomerates occurred within eachbioherm. Wavy or columnar stromatolites grow on the basis of flat-pebble conglomerates, with dentate erosional surfaces. The bioherm carbonate rocks are interpreted as products froma deep ramp sedimentary environment where potential oil and gas reservoirs can be found. The analysis of sedimentological characteristics of bioherm carbonate rocks and its lithofaciespalaeogeography has significant implication for petroleum exploration. Research on geological record of microbialites is beneficial to investigating the Earth evolution, biodiversity, palaeoenvironment and palaeoclimate change, as well as biological extinction event during geological transitions. It also gives warning to human beings of modern biological crisis.
. The sedimentological characteristics of microbialites of the Cambrian in the vicinity of Beijing, China[J]. Journal of Palaeogeography, 2017, 6(2): 117-131.
. The sedimentological characteristics of microbialites of the Cambrian in the vicinity of Beijing, China[J]. Journal of Palaeogeography, 2017, 6(2): 117-131.
Bhat, G.M., Craig, J., Thurow, J.W., Thusu, B., Cozzi, A. (Eds.), 2012. Geology and Hydrocarbon Potential of Neoproterozoic-Cambrian Basins in Asia . Geological Society, London, Special Publications , 366 pp.
[2]
Chang, Y.G., Zheng, W., 2012. Stromatolites: Progress and problems. Sedimentary Geology and Tethyan Geology , 32(2), 89-93 (in Chinese with English abstract).
[3]
Chen, J.Q., Shi, X.Y., Zhang, G.R., Mei, S.L., Hu, M.H., 1998. High-frequency sequence stratigraphy of the Upper Changhia Formation in the North China Platform. Journal of Stratigraphy , 22(2), 30-36 (in Chinese with English abstract).
[4]
Chen, J.P., Liang, D.G., Zhang, S.C., Bian, L.C., Zhong, N.N., Zhao, Z., Gong, F.H., Deng, C.P., Zhang, D.J., 2013. Shale and mudstone: Essential source rocks in the Proterozoic to Paleozoic marine basins in China. Acta Geologica Sinica , 87(7), 905-921 (in Chinese with English abstract).
[5]
Scotese, C.R., 2009. Late Proterozoic plate tectonics and palaeogeography: A tale of two supercontinents, Rodinia and Pannotia. Geological Society, London, Special Publications , 326, 67-83.
[6]
Du, J.H., Wang, Z.C., Zou, C.N., 2015. The Geologic Theory and Exploration Practice of Ancient Large Carbonates Gas Field . Petroleum Industry Press, Beijing, 227 pp. (in Chinese).
[7]
Dupraz, C., Reid, R.P., Braissant, O., Decho, A.W., Norman, R.S., Visscher, P.T., 2009. Processes of carbonate precipitation in modern microbial mats. Earth-Science Reviews , 96(3), 141-162.
[8]
Feng, Z.Z., Peng, Y.M., Jin, Z.K., Jiang, P.L., Bao, Z.D., 2004. Lithofacies Palaeogeography of the Cambrian and Ordovician in China . Petroleum Industry Press, Beijing, 233 pp. (in Chinese).
[9]
Gao, W.Y., Li, J.H., Bai, X., Mao, X., 2009. Structural characteristics of a huge Paleoproterozoic stromatolite in Mt. Wutai, and its genetic implication. Acta Petrologica Sinica , 25(3), 667-674 (in Chinese with English abstract).
[10]
Gu, Z.D., Yin, J.F., Jiang, H., Zhang, B.M., Li, Q.F., Yuan, M., Zhai, X.F., Zhang, L., Yang, F., 2016. Tectonic evolution from Late Sinian to Early Paleozoic and natural gas exploration in northwestern Sichuan Basin, SW China. Petroleum Exploration and Development , 43(1), 1-12.
[11]
He, M.X., Du, J.B., Wang, R.X., Guo, S.T., Yan, Y.X., Wu, M.H., Xie, Q.F., Li, F.X., 2009. The study of exploration prospect of marine natural gas in the Neoproterozoic-Lower Paleozoic on the south margin of the North China Platform. Petroleum Geology and Experiment , 31(2), 154-159 (in Chinese with English abstract).
[12]
He, Q.X., 2010. A discussion on sediment dynamics. Marine Geology and Quaternary Geology , 30(4), 1-10 (in Chinese with English abstract).
[13]
Hu, J.Y., Wu, Y.Y., Zhang, J., 2009. Discussion on petroleum geology theory for high-elevation and ultra-deep formations. Acta Petrolei Sinica , 30(2), 159-167 (in Chinese with English abstract).
[14]
Ji, L.M., Chen, J.F., Zheng, J.J., Wang, J., 2001. Sedimentary records and characteristics of palaeoclimate and palaeoenvironment in the Yanshan area, North China in the Mesoproterozoic and the Neoproterozoic. Advances in Earth Sciences , 16(6), 777-784 (in Chinese with English abstract).
[15]
Ghori, K.A.R., Craig, J., Thusu, B., Lüning, S., Geiger, M., 2009. Global Infracambrian petroleum systems: A review. Geological Society, London, Special Publications , 326, 109-136.
[16]
Li, J.H., Wang, H.H., Li, W.B., Zhou, X.B., 2014. Discussion on global tectonics evolution from plate reconstruction in Phanerozoic. Acta Petrolei Sinica , 35(2), 207-218 (in Chinese with English abstract).
[17]
Liu, Y., Zhong, N.N., Tian, Y.J., Qi, W., Mu, G.Y., 2011. The oldest oil accumulation in China: Mesoproterozoic Xiamaling Formation bituminous sandstone reservoirs. Petroleum Exploration and Development , 38(4), 503-512 (in Chinese with English abstract).
[18]
Luo, P., Wang, S., Li, P.W., Song, J.M., Jin, T.F., Wang, G.Q., Yang, S.S., 2013. Review and prospectives of microbial carbonate reservoirs. Acta Sedimentologica Sinica , 31(5), 807-823 (in Chinese with English abstract).
[19]
Majid, A., Ahmad, A.H.M., Bhat, G.M., 2012. Facies controlled porosity evolution of the Neoproterozoic Upper Bhander Sandstone of western India. In: Bhat, G.M., Craig, J., Thurow, J.W., Thusu, B., Cozzi, A. (Eds.), Geology and Hydrocarbon Potential of Neoproterozoic-Cambrian Basins in Asia . Geological Society, London, Special Publications , 366, 91-110.
[20]
Murphy, M.A., Sumner, D.Y., 2008. Variations in Neoarchean microbialite morphologies: Clues to controls on microbialite morphologies through time. Sedimentology , 55(5), 1189-1202.
[21]
Mei, M.X., 2014. Feature and nature of microbial-mat: Theoretical basis of microbial-mat sedimentology. Journal of Palaeography (Chinese Edition) , 16(3), 285-304 (in Chinese with English abstract).
[22]
Mei, M.X., Guo, R.T., Hu, Y., 2011. Sedimentary fabrics for the stromatolitic bioherm of the Cambrian Gushan Formation at the Xiaweidian section in the western suburb of Beijing. Acta Petrologica Sinica , 27(8), 2473-2486 (in Chinese with English abstract).
[23]
Mei, M.X., Liu, L., Hu, Y., 2015. Stromatolitic biostrome of the Cambrian Fengshan Formation at the Xiaweidian section in the western suburb of Beijing, North China. Acta Geologica Sinica , 89(2), 440-460 (in Chinese with English abstract).
[24]
Mei, M.X., Meng, Q.F., 2016. Composition diversity of modern stromatolites: A key and window for further understanding of the formation of ancient stromatolites. Journal of Palaeogeography (Chinese Edition), 18(2), 127-146 (in Chinese with English abstract).
[25]
Pan, J.G., Qu, Y.Q., Ma, R., Pan, Z.K., Wang, H.L., 2013. Sedimentary and tectonic evolution of the Meso-Neoproterozoic strata in the northern margin of the North China Block. Geological Journal of China Universities , 19(1), 109-122 (in Chinese with English abstract).
[26]
Qi, Y.A., Wang, M., Li, D., Dai, M.Y., 2012. Cambrian substrate revolution: From matgrounds to bioturbated mixgrounds. Journal of Henan Polytechnic University (Natural Science) , 31(2), 159-164 (in Chinese with English abstract).
[27]
Su, D.C., Sun, A.P., Zheng, G.S., Lu, J.B., Guo, R.T., 2013. A preliminary research on the slump structures in Cambrian System in the Western Hills of Beijing. Acta Geologica Sinica , 87(8), 1067-1075 (in Chinese with English abstract).
[28]
Wu,Y.Y., Gu, J.Y., Guo, B.C., et al. , 2015. Petroleum Sequence Stratigraphy — Prediction Method of High-quality Reservoirs (Edition II) .Petroleum Industry Press, Beijing.
[29]
Wu, Y.Y., Liu, W., Liu, Y., Fang, X., Ma, K., 2016. The underlying deposition of Cambrian of Gondwana in China and its petroleum geological significance. Acta Petrolei Sinica , 37(9), 1069-1079 (in Chinese with English abstract).
[30]
Xie, Z.Y., Wei, G.Q., Li, J., Yang, W., Zhang, G.W., Guo, J.Y., Zhang, L., 2013. Reservoir characteristics and accumulation modes of large carbonate gas fields in China. Acta Petrolei Sinica , 34(z1), 29-40 (in Chinese with English abstract).
[31]
Zhao, W.Z., Wang, Z.C., Hu, S.Y., Pan, W.Q., Yang, Y., Bao, H.P., Wang, H.J., 2012. Large-scale hydrocarbon accumulation factors and characteristics of marine carbonate reservoirs in three large onshore cratonic basins in China. Acta Petrolei Sinica , 33(z2), 1-10 (in Chinese with English abstract).
[32]
Zhao, Z.J., Luo, J.H., Zhang, Y.B., Wu, X.N., Pan, W.Q., 2011. Lithofacies paleogeography of Cambrian sequences in the Tarim Basin. Acta Petrolei Sinica , 32(6), 937-948 (in Chinese with English abstract).
[33]
Zhu, C.Q., Luo, Y., Yang, S., Li, J.W., Chen, J.Q., 2009. Sequence stratigraphy of Cambrian in Western Hills, Beijing. Geology in China , 36(1), 120-130 (in Chinese with English abstract).
2017, Vol. 6 
