Genesis of evaporites in petroliferous basins and the sedimentary and climatic significances
Guo Pei1,2, Li Chang-Zhi2
1 Institute of Sedimentary Geology,Chengdu University of Technology,Chengdu 610059,China; 2 State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation,Chengdu University of Technology,Chengdu 610059,China
Abstract：China is rich in saline lakes. Many previous studies were focused on analyzing the water chemistry of saline lakes,salt origins,the development of salt mine resources,but rarely paid attention on sedimentary characteristics and diagenetic processes of evaporites,making it difficult to understand the accumulation processes of hydrocarbon in ancient saline lacustrine basins. In this paper,the classification of saline lakes and the main genetic types of saline minerals in the evaporites are reviewed based on the extensive literature review on a large number of saline lakes. The sedimentary and diagenetic processes of common minerals including sulphates,chlorides,sodium carbonates and borates in lacustrine petroliferous basins and their significance for paleo-climate and paleo-environment were concluded. Meanwhile,the controversial and noteworthy issues in the studies of evaporites in petroliferous basins were discussed based on the latest research findings in saline lakes sedimentology: (1)The hydrothermal fluids can transport large amounts of elements into lakes,but the semi-arid and arid climate and the evaporation and concentration are the pre-conditions for accumulating the massive evaporates in the lakes. (2)The soluble evaporates(e.g.,halite)more easily concentrate in the sedimentary center characterized as a thick single layer,while they are missing in the slope and margins of the lakes,which is controlled by “halite aggregation effect at the center”caused by seasonal temperature and thermocline fluctuation. (3)Temperature affects the solubility,crystal structural morphology and formation depth of salt minerals in evaporites. Some anhydrous salt minerals cannot crystalize under normal temperature and pressure conditions,which are good indicators of paleo-temperature and burial history. (4)The sodium-bearing carbonates are closely related to pCO2 and paleo-temperature of saline lakes of carbonate subtype.
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