Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2022, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (5): 74-88.doi: 10.11978/2021165CSTR: 32234.14.2021165

• Marine Geology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Preliminary studies on the development characteristics of reef dolostones and the formation mechanism of iron dolomite in the Well Nanke 1, Nansha Islands*

HAN Xue1,2,3(), XU Weihai1,2(), LUO Yun1,2, LI Gang1,2, LIU Jianguo1,2, ZHU Xiaowei1,2, CHENG Jun1,2,3, MIAO Li1,2, XIANG Rong1,2, YAN Wen1,2,3()   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Ocean and Marginal Sea Geology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
    2. Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou 510301, China
    3. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • Received:2021-11-24 Revised:2022-01-14 Online:2022-09-10 Published:2022-01-20
  • Contact: XU Weihai, YAN Wen E-mail:hanxue191@scsio.ac.cn;whxu@scsio.ac.cn;wyan@scsio.ac.cn
  • Supported by:
    National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFC3100600);Key Special Project for Introduced Talents Team of Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou)(GML2019ZD0206);K. C. Wong Education Foundation(GJTD-2018-13);National Natural Science Foundation of China(41976063);Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDA13010102)

Abstract:

Carbonate platforms and biological reefs are widely developed in the South China Sea (SCS) since Cenozoic, and the dolomitization is a common phenomenon, which has led to a broad prospect for oil and gas exploration. In this study, the development characteristics and diagenetic environments of reef dolostones in the Well Nanke 1 from Meiji Island were investigated, mainly based on the petrographic observations, mineralogical analysis, major and minor elements analysis, carbon and oxygen isotopes analysis, and the geochemical analyses of Fe speciation and Fe isotope, etc. The results showed that the reef dolostones of the upper Miocene to Lower Pleistocene in the Well Nanke 1 were mainly formed in the near-surface environments, and the dissolved pores were ubiquitous, which were accompanied with obvious residual structures. Several exposed surfaces were found in the dolomite layers, but there was no existence of the gypsum layer. Meanwhile, the reef dolostones were characterized by relatively low concentrations of Sr, Fe and Mn, with the similar REE distribution pattern to that of modern seawater. The δ13C and δ18O values were mostly positive, but there was no correlation between them. It indicated that the dolomitization could largely attributed to the seepage-reflux of slightly evaporated seawater and the sea level fall related to the paleoclimate cooling. In addition, iron dolomite was found in several layers, mainly near the exposed surfaces in the Well Nanke 1. The results of Fe speciation and Fe isotopic composition showed that the iron of reef dolostones was mainly derived from the chemical precipitation from the seawater, and no significant additional sources (e.g., terrigenous or hydrothermal) were present in the diagenetic environments. In general, the iron dolomite was mainly formed in the shallow burial conditions with low temperature. The vital material sources of iron dolomite were mainly from the leaching and dissolution of bioskeletons, bioclasts and authigenic carbonate minerals by meteoric freshwater. As a product of reefs exposure, the positions where the iron dolomite prevalently developed in the core could be an indicator of low sea-level stages.

Key words: Well Nanke 1, reef dolostones, Fe isotope, iron dolomite, sea level changes

CLC Number: 

  • P735.13