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Stable carbon and oxygen isotope data of Late Ediacaran stromatolites from a hypersaline environment in the Tarim Basin (NW China) and their reservoir potential

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Abstract

The occurrence of Precambrian stromatolites is closely related to the ancient seawater composition and the evolution of life. It is also a potential oil and gas reservoir. In what kind of environment the stromatolites of the upper Ediacaran Qigebulak Formation in the Tarim Basin developed, and whether they constitute potential hydrocarbon reservoirs, remained unclear. Stromatolites occur in 1–5 m thick layers, interbedded with thrombolites and dolostones. Distinct stromatolite morphologies were observed, including columnar, sinuous, short columnar, domal, and conical shapes. The δ13C values of the stromatolites (6.1‰ on average) are slightly lighter than those of the dolostones, and the δ18O values (− 1.4‰ on average) are significantly heavier than that of the dolostones. The stromatolites have a relatively high content of rare-earth elements and a minor Ce anomaly. The geochemical results imply that the stromatolites formed in an evaporative hypersaline lagoon environment. The presence of barrier dams near the coast led to the formation of lagoons, where hypersalinity was achieved when evaporation was greater than marine or freshwater input. High salinity conditions inhibited the growth of Ediacaran metazoans, allowing the buildup of stromatolites in the restricted lagoons. The stromatolites are rich in primary fenestral pores and sheet-like cavities along the laminae, and the secondary dissolution pores and vugs are related to meteoric karstification. The stromatolites, together with dolostones and thrombolites, constitute the majority of the hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Upper Ediacaran in the Tarim Basin. The results clarify the environment where the stromatolites could still flourish and be well preserved whereas they significantly declined globally throughout the Neoproterozoic elsewhere. The results imply that extensive stromatolites in the Proterozoic strata are potentially important reservoir rocks of Precambrian petroleum systems.

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Acknowledgements

We greatly thank the reviewers, Steve Kershaw, Filipe and Alono Thorie, and editor Axel Munnecke for their helpful comments and suggestions to improve this paper. The work was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. U19B6003, U20B6001, and 41625009), the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2019YFA0708504), and the Frontier Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDA14010201).

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  1. State Key Laboratory of Shale Oil and Gas Enrichment Mechanisms and Effective Development, SINOPEC, Beijing, 100083, China

    Dongya Zhu, Quanyou Liu, Jingbin Wang, Qian Ding & Zhiliang He

  2. Petroleum Exploration and Production Research Institute, Laboratory of Structural and Sedimentological Reservoir Geology, SINOPEC, Beijing, 100083, China

    Dongya Zhu, Quanyou Liu, Qian Ding & Zhiliang He

  3. China University of Geoscience (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, China

    Jingbin Wang

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Zhu, D., Liu, Q., Wang, J. et al. Stable carbon and oxygen isotope data of Late Ediacaran stromatolites from a hypersaline environment in the Tarim Basin (NW China) and their reservoir potential. Facies 67, 25 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10347-021-00633-0

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