Lithofacies and sedimentary characteristics of the Silurian Longmaxi Shale in the southeastern Sichuan Basin, China
Jiang Zaixing1, *, Guo Ling2, Liang Chao1
1. College of Energy, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China ;2. Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi��an 710069, China
Abstract The Silurian Longmaxi Shale (SLS) is the target for shale gas exploration and exploitation in the southeastern Sichuan Basin. Based on detailed description of cores and outcrops, analysis of Gamma Ray (GR) logs, thin sections and mineralogical data, the SLS can be subdivided into six lithofacies: (1) clayey shale, (2) siliceous calcareous shale, (3) siliceous dolomitic shale, (4) silty-clayey interlaminated shale, (5) muddy siltstone, and (6) graptolite shale. Three facies associations are recognized in the study area, i.e., inner shelf, outer shelf, and bathyal plain (including turbidite) facies. Outer shelf and bathyal plain facies dominate the lower interval of the SLS, while inner shelf facies dominates the upper part of the SLS. The thickness of the black shale in the northern part of the study area is the greatest, where siliceous calcareous shale, siliceous dolomitic shale, and graptolite shale are predominant. These three kinds of shale are rich in total organic carbon (TOC) content and brittle minerals, which is favourable for the accumulation of shale gas and its future exploitation.
Fund:
This research was supported by the National Key Science and Technology Projects of China (No. 2011ZX05009-002), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 40672078), and the Yangtze River Scholar and Innovative Team Development Plan of the Ministry of Education of China (No. IRT0864). Thanks for the help in field work from Professor Zhang Jinchuan and Ding Wenlong of China University of Geosciences (Beijing).
Jiang Zaixing,Guo Ling,Liang Chao. Lithofacies and sedimentary characteristics of the Silurian Longmaxi Shale in the southeastern Sichuan Basin, China[J]. , 2013, 2(3): 238-251.
Jiang Zaixing,Guo Ling,Liang Chao. Lithofacies and sedimentary characteristics of the Silurian Longmaxi Shale in the southeastern Sichuan Basin, China[J]. Journal of Palaeogeography, 2013, 2(3): 238-251.
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2013, Vol. 2 
