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Geoscience ›› 2017, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (03): 574-586.

• Energy Geology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Element Geochemical Characteristics of Carboniferous Shale in Wuwei Basin and Its Significance

PENG Yuanyuan1(), KANG Zhihong1,2(), LI Weiqi1, HAN Huiyu1, TAN Long1   

  1. 1. School of Energy Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
    2. Key Laboratory for Shale Gas Exploration and Assessment, Ministry of Land and Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
  • Received:2016-10-05 Revised:2016-11-20 Online:2017-06-10 Published:2017-06-27

Abstract:

By comprehensively analyzing the major element, microelement and rare earth element of carboniferous shale samples which from Chouniugou Formation and Yanghugou Formation in Wuwei Basin and its surrounded area, and discussing the significance of the result for provenance, weathering denudation degree and tectonic setting. The research founded that the element characteristics of Carboniferous shale in Wuwei Basin is as follaws: (1) The major element is rich in SiO2 and Al2O3, and loss of MgO and Fe2O3. (2) The upper crust standardization of microelements is regularly change. U, Th and Cr are rich, and Ba, Nb and Zr are loss. (3) The distribution pattern of rare earth element (REE) is about the same as upper crust, which is right deviation in overall, rich in LREE, stabilize in HREE and negative anomaly Eu. The three findings show that the source rock is mainly from upper crust. Weathering index (CIA) value of 68.81-90.17, with a mean of 83.9, reflects the research area suffered moderate weathering; the average CIA value of Chouniugou section and Hongshuipu section is 84.1 and 83.51 in order which shows that the weathering degree in the western study area is relatively stronger than that in the eastern. The index of weathering(CIA) is relatively high, which indicates the study area is suffered from medium weathering. Analysis of the diagram of major element ratio, microelement and rare earth element indicates the source rock of the study area is feldspathic-quartz, mainly intermediate to acidic granite and alkali basalt. On the basis of discrimination diagrams of SiO2-K2O/Na2O, La-Th-Sc, Th-Co-Zr/10 and abnormal value of Ce, the tectonic setting is considered to be a passive continental margin. By contrastive analysis of the east and the west of the study area, we found that Chouniugou section in the west of the Basin has a mixed source from Longxi ancient land and Alashan ancient land, whereas Hongshuipu section in the east of the Basin has a single source from Longxi ancient land.

Key words: Wuwei Basin, Carboniferous period, geochemistry of element, tectonic setting, provenance, weathering

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