Oil & Gas Geology ›› 2023, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (5): 1084-1101.doi: 10.11743/ogg20230502

• Petroleum Geology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Classification, origins, and evolution of macerals in the Precambrian-Eopaleozoic sedimentary rocks

Qingyong LUO1,2(), Ningning ZHONG1,2(), Meijun LI1,2, Jin WU1,2, Imran Khan1,2, Ye ZHANG3, Qing CHEN4, Xiangzhong YE5, Wenhao LI6, Wenming JI6, Anji LIU1,2, Jingyue HAO1,2, Lipeng YAO1,2,7, Jia WU1,2   

  1. 1.National Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Engineering,China University of Petroleum (Beijing),Beijing 102249,China
    2.College of Geosciences,China University of Petroleum (Beijing),Beijing 102249,China
    3.Chongqing Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources,Chongqing 400042,China
    4.State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy,Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology and Center for Excellence in Life and Paleoenvironment,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Jiangsu,Nanjing 210008,China
    5.Geology Team No. 107,Chongqing Bureau of Geology and Minerals Exploration,Chongqing 401120,China
    6.School of Geosciences,China University of Petroleum (East China),Qingdao,Shandong 266580,China
    7.Key Laboratory of Environment Change and ResourcesUse in Beibu Gulf (Nanning Normal University),Ministry of Education,Nanning,Guangxi 530001,China
  • Received:2023-05-09 Revised:2023-08-03 Online:2023-10-19 Published:2023-10-19
  • Contact: Ningning ZHONG E-mail:qingyong.luo@cup.edu.cn;nnzhongxp@cup.edu.cn

Abstract:

This study delves into the intricate organic macerals found in ancient Precambrian-Eopaleozoic sedimentary rocks, despite their simple biotic sources. Based on the observation and analysis of a vast array of naturally- and artificially-matured rock samples from domestic and international locations, we classify the macerals according to four dominant factors, namely biogenesis, origin, sedimentary transformation, and thermal maturation. The key classe determined include vitrinite-like macerals, sapropelinites, solid bitumen, zooclasts, and inertinites. The macerals in low-maturity marine source rocks are chiefly composed of lamalginite, bituminite, and mineral-bituminous matrix. In contrast, high- to over-mature marine source rocks predominantly contain in-source solid bitumens. Notably, graptolite periderms, as significant components of organic matter, are prevalent in the shales of the Wufeng-Longmaxi formations. We provide deeper insights into the origins of the most typical macerals prone to be overlooked previously, including vitrinite-like maceral particles and in-source solid bitumens. The vitrinite-like maceral particles in the Precambrian rock samples may arise from the microbial degradation of lower aquatic organisms during early diagenesis. In-source solid bitumens form either as solid residues arising from the cracking of soluble organic matter that remained within source rocks after primary migration or as solid-phase products during the thermal evolution of the residual kerogen of sapropelinites after absorbing and assimilating soluble organic matter. Lastly, as indicated by integrated research on the naturally- and artificially-matured rock samples, the preexisting organic matter in high to over mature Precambrian, Cambrian, and Ordovician-Silurian graptolite-bearing shales in China resemble the present-day organic matter in the Mesoproterozoic Xiamaling Formation, Cambrian Alum Shale Formation, and Ordovician graptolite-bearing Alum Shale Formation, respectively. The reflectance of graptolite periderms, vitrinite-like maceral particles, and in-source solid bitumens can be utilized to characterize the thermal maturity of organic matter in the Precambrian-Eopaleozoic marine source rocks.

Key words: in-source solid bitumens, graptolite epidermis, maceral, pre-Devonian, organic petrology, marine source rock, shale

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