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Carbonates and Evaporites

, Volume 21, Issue 2, pp 176–187 | Cite as

Diagenesis and geochemistry of the Aptian dolomite (cretaceous) in the Razzak Oil Field, western Desert, Egypt

  • Rifai I. RifaiEmail author
  • Mossbah M. Kolkas
  • Hanafy M. Holail
  • Khaled A. Khaled
Article
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Abstract

Petrographic study of selected thin sections from the Aptian dolomites in the Razzak Oil Field, Egypt reveals three dolomite textures. These textures have been classified based on crystal size, shape, uniformity, and trace element distribution. These textures are as follows: 1) finely crystalline, planar-e dolomite, 2) medium to coarsely crystalline, non-planar dolomite, and 3) very coarsely crystalline, non-planar dolomite (saddle dolomite). Stable isotope analyses indicates that the Aptian dolomites formed in a marine environment and were later subjected to several diagenetic modifications that affected the original sediments. The finely crystalline, planar-e dolomite is penecontemporaneous in origin with δ18O that ranges from −7.51 to −8.14‰ VPDB and δ13C that ranges from +0.39 to −1.27‰ VPDB. The medium to coarsely crystalline, non-planar dolomite is a replacement type with a meteoric origin. In this non-planar dolomite, the δ18O ranges from −7.99 to −8.82‰ VPDB and the δ13C ranges from −0.58 to −1.35‰ VPDB. The void-filling (saddle dolomite) is the product of chemical compaction and is associated with the thermal sulfate reduction event. This saddle dolomite has δ18O that ranges from −7.89 to −8.76‰ VPDB and δ13C that ranges from +1.41 to +2.42‰ VPDB. The diagenetic parasequence of the Aptian Dolomite is recorded by: 1) deposition of the original sediments (lime mud); 2) dolomitization; 3) silicification, 4) pyritization, and 5) precipitation of saddle dolomites (pore-filling dolomite).

Keywords

Aptian dolomites Razzak Oil Field penecontemporaneous planar-e dolomite non-planar dolomite saddle dolomite 
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Copyright information

© Springer 2006

Authors and Affiliations

  • Rifai I. Rifai
    • 1
    Email author
  • Mossbah M. Kolkas
    • 2
    • 3
  • Hanafy M. Holail
    • 4
  • Khaled A. Khaled
    • 5
  1. 1.Environmental Studies & Research InstituteMinufiya UniversitySadat CityEgypt
  2. 2.Department of Natural SciencesBard Early College of Staten Island of the City University of New York (CUNY)New YorkUSA
  3. 3.Department of Engineering Science and PhysicsCollege of Staten Island of the City University of New York (CUNY)New YorkUSA
  4. 4.Department of Geology, Faculty of ScienceAlexandria UniversityAlexandriaEgypt
  5. 5.Department of Geology, Faculty of ScienceHelwan UniversityCairoEgypt

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