Oil & Gas Geology ›› 2016, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (2): 224-237.doi: 10.11743/ogg20160211

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Sedimentary environment and tectonic backgrounds of the Wangquankou Formation carbonate rock sequences in southwestern Ordos Basin

Song Lijun1,2, Liu Chiyang2,3, Li Guangxiang1, Zhao Hongge2,3, Wang Jianqiang2,3, Zhang Xiaolong2,3, Wang Yuping2,3   

  1. 1. Geosciences and Engineering Faculty, Xi'an Shiyou University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710065, China;
    2. State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China;
    3. Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China
  • Received:2015-10-23 Revised:2016-01-20 Online:2016-04-08 Published:2016-04-29

Abstract: A very thick Middle Proterozoic carbonate strata represented by the Wangquankou Formation is distributed in the southwestern Ordos basin.In order to forecast its petroleum exploration prospects, major and trace elements were measured on samples to reveal the rock characteristics, sedimentary environment, tectonic settings and origin of siliceous rocks of the Wangquankou Formation.The Wangquankou Formation mainly consists of dolomites, siliceous dolomites and silicalites, with minor quartz sandstones.Geochemical features of siliceous materials in silicalites and siliceous dolomites clearly show a biochemical origin, with almost no influences from epicontinental clastic input.Discrimination diagrams of redox environment, such as V/Cr, Ni/Co, V/(V+Ni) and Ce/La, indicate that the Wangquankou Formation was deposited in aerobic or transitional dysaerobic shallow water.Paleo-temperature data, in good agreement with Sr/Cu values, suggest that regional temperatures were highest during deposition of the Wangquankou Formation, further indicating an arid and scorching climate background.Sr/Ba and CaO/(CaO+MgO) environment discriminant graphs, Y abnormity and (La/Nd)pass ratio show that the carbonate rocks formed in marine saltwater or transitional semi-saltwater environment.A comprehensive analysis of various diagrams, such as La-Th-Sc,Th-Co-Zr/10 and 100Eu/∑REE- LREE/HREE graphs, indicates that carbonate samples from the Wangquankou Formation carry information of active continental margin, continental island arc and middle continent-shallow water sedimentary system.Samples from regions of Long Country Guguan, Tanshan, and Zhuozishan located at the basin margin are all characterized by high REEs, indicating a tectonic background of continental back-arc depression during the Wangquankou Stage.In conclusion, siliceous rocks and carbonate rocks of biochemical origin in this region were deposited in mild-oxidizing, marine-continental transition environment, with the backgrounds of desiccation and torridness with the tectonic settings of epicontinental back-arc depression.

Key words: sedimentary environment, tectonic setting, carbonate rock, Wangquankou Formation, Ordos Basin

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