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Stratigraphy, sedimentology and bulk organic geochemistry of black shales from the Proterozoic Vindhyan Supergroup (central India)

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Abstract

Four organic-rich shale units of the Proterozoic Vindhyan sedimentary succession have been scanned to reveal their origin and hydrocarbon potential. The wavy-crinkly nature of the carbonaceous laminae is suggestive of a microbial mat origin of the shales. These shales are thus different from Phanerozoic black shales which typically exhibit planar laminae. The hydrocarbon potential of the black shale units has been evaluated by Rock-Eval pyrolysis. Total organic carbon content of many of the shales exceeds 1%. The meanT max for the black shales translate to a vitrinite reflectance range of 2.05-2.40% Rm based on standard conversion techniques. These shales have reached the catagenetic stage near the beginning of anthracite formation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, 400 076, Mumbai, India

    S. Banerjee & S. Paikaray

  2. Forschungszentrum Jülich, Institut für Chemie und Dynamik der Geosphäre, Sedimentäre Systeme, D-52425, Jülich, Germany

    S. Dutta & U. Mann

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  1. S. Banerjee
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  2. S. Dutta
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  3. S. Paikaray
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  4. U. Mann
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Banerjee, S., Dutta, S., Paikaray, S. et al. Stratigraphy, sedimentology and bulk organic geochemistry of black shales from the Proterozoic Vindhyan Supergroup (central India). J Earth Syst Sci 115, 37–47 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02703024

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