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Characterization of organic carbon in black shales of the Kachchh basin, Gujarat, India

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Abstract

Thirty-three black shale samples from four locations on the onland Kachchh basin, western India were analyzed to characterize organic carbon (OC), thermal maturity and to determine the hydrocarbon potential of the basin. Upper Jurassic black shales from the Jhuran Formation (Dhonsa and Kodki areas) are characterized by the presence of chlorite, halloysite, high \(T_{\mathrm{max}}\), low OC, low hydrogen index and high oxygen index. These parameters indicate the OC as type IV kerogen, formed in a marine environment. The rocks attained thermal maturity possibly during Deccan volcanism. Early Eocene samples of the Naredi Formation (Naliya-Narayan Sarovar Road (NNSR) and the Matanomadh areas) are rich in TOC, smectite, chlorite and framboidal pyrite, but have low \(T_{\mathrm{max}}\). These indicate deposition of sediments in a reducing condition, probably in a lagoonal/marsh/swamp environment. Organic carbon of the Naredi Formation of NNSR may be considered as immature type III to IV kerogen, prone to generate coal. Core samples from the Naredi Formation of the Matanomadh area show two fold distribution in terms of kerogen. Organic carbon of the upper section is immature type III to IV kerogen, but the lower section has type II to III kerogen having potential to generate oil and gas after attaining appropriate thermal maturity.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to Gaurav Chauhan (Bhuj University), D U Vyas (GM Geology) and Prhalad Singh Shaktawat (GMDC) for help in collection of samples. Hema Srivastava is thankful to the Central Research Facility of IIT(ISM) for analytical support. Authors are thankful to the anonymous reviewers for their constructive reviews and suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Geology, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, 826 004, India

    Hema Srivastava, Ajoy K Bhaumik & Sarada P Mohanty

  2. Petroleum Geochemistry and Microbiology Group, National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, 500 007, India

    Devleena Tiwari & Dattatray J Patil

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  1. Hema Srivastava
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  2. Ajoy K Bhaumik
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Correspondence to Ajoy K Bhaumik.

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Corresponding editor: N V Chalapathi Rao

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Srivastava, H., Bhaumik, A.K., Tiwari, D. et al. Characterization of organic carbon in black shales of the Kachchh basin, Gujarat, India. J Earth Syst Sci 127, 93 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-018-1002-8

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