Sedimentary and Geochemical Characteristics of Triassic New Type
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www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN Sedimentary and geochemical characteristics of Triassic new type of polyhalite potassium resources in Northeast Sichuan and its genetic study Jiaai Zhong1,2,3,4, Mianping Zheng1,2,3, Yongsheng Zhang1,2,3*, Xueyuan Tang4 & XueFei Zhang1,2,3 Polyhalite has been discovered for years in the Triassic of the Sichuan Basin. However, it is difcult to exploit and utilize such polyhalite because of its deep burial depth and its coexistence with anhydrite or dolomite. Therefore, it has always been regarded as “dead ore”. Based on slice identifcation, X-powder difraction, chemical analysis, REEs analysis and strontium isotope test on halite samples from the fourth and ffth member of Jialingjiang Formation to Leikoupo Formation of Wells ZK601 and ZK001 in Xuanhan area, Northeast Sichuan Basin, this paper discovers thick layers of granular polyhalite associated with halite and the polyhalite content accounts for 10–30%. These deep polyhalites can be obtained by water-soluble mining and utilized, so they are called “new type polyhalite potash deposits”. The deposit is deep buried at 3,000 m underground, and the thickness of a single layer can be more than 30 m. It is stable in regional distribution. The discovery of the “new type polyhalite potash deposits” has “activated” polyhalite, which has been considered as deep “dead ore” and has great signifcance for potash prospecting in China. China’s marine potassium is mainly developed in the Lower-Middle Triassic Jialingjiang Formation and the Leikoupo Formation of the Sichuan Basin, and abundant potassium salts such as polyhalite and potassium-rich brine have been found1–7. In-depth research has been conducted for the Triassic polyhalite in the Sichuan Basin, and the research covers the formation conditions8,9, the genesis mechanism10–12 , resource and reserve evaluation, and comprehensive development and utilization. Te resource evaluation and exploitation of the shallow-layer polyhalite in the Nongle Village, Qu County, East Sichuan has achieved good results13–15. However, the research has been concentrated on the bedded, stratoid, lenticular polyhalite occurring in the anhydrite or interbedding with anhydrite in diferent thickness. Tis kind of polyhalite does not coexist with halite, shown in the section, and is mostly deep buried (2,000–5,000 m underground). Since it is difcult to be utilized, it has always been considered as “dead ore”. Sichuan BestRed Mining Company has made some progress in in-situ dissolution experiment of deep polyhalite in Guang’an, Sichuan. However, there is still a long way to go to achieve low-cost and efcient industrial mining. Wang and Zheng11 found polyhalite in Triassic rock salt in Changshou area, East Sichuan. Aferwards, with the support of the National Geological Survey, the team led by Zheng Mianping conducted in-depth research on the core and well logging data of the potash exploration wells in the Puguang area of Xuanhan County, Sichuan Province and cooperated with Hengcheng company, 405 Geological Brigade, Chengdu University of Technology and other relevant units to form the synergy efect of innovation. Teir fndings show that thick layers of granular 1Key Laboratory of Metallogeny and Mineral Assessment, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beijing 100037, China. 2Institute of Mineral Resources Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, China. 3Key Laboratory of Saline Lake Resources and Environment, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beijing 100037, China. 4Sichuan geology and mineral exploration and Development Bureau of four O fve geological team, Dujiangyan 611830, Sichuan, China. *email: [email protected] SCIENTIFIC REPORTS | (2020) 10:13528 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-69063-2 1 Vol.:(0123456789) www.nature.com/scientificreports/ Figure 1. Structural location map of study area. Map generated using Geomap4.0 (https ://www.juras sic.com. cn/zh-cn/Produ cts/Servi ce/145). polyhalite associated with halite are encountered by boreholes such as Hengcheng 2, Hengcheng 3, ZK601, and ZK001, and polyhalite particles of diferent sizes are distributed in halite matrix deeper than 3,000 m. Due to the solubility of halite, this kind of deep granular halite can be directly extracted by water-soluble min- ing and utilized. Academician Zheng Mianping called it “polyhalite grain cemented by halite crystal”—a new type of polyhalite potash deposits (PPD). At present, there are relatively few studies on the characteristics and genesis of the PPD from the fourth and ffh member of Jialingjiang Formation to Leikoupo Formation of the Triassic in the Xuanhan area, and there is a lack of research on its distribution law and prospects for potassium formation. In this paper, the halite samples from the fourth and ffh member of Jialingjiang Formation to the frst member of Leikoupo Formation of potash exploration Wells ZK601 and ZK001 in Xuanhan area are systematically col- lected, and the slice identifcation, X-powder difraction, chemical analysis, REEs analysis and strontium isotope test are carried out. Te characteristics and genesis of the PPD are studied. At the same time, the well logging data of more than 30 natural gas wells in this area are interpreted, the “new type of polyhalite potash deposits” is identifed and its distribution law is studied. Based on this, the prospect of potash in this area is analyzed in order to open up a new direction for the exploration of marine potash in China. Geological background Puguang gas feld is located in the northeast of Sichuan Basin. Tectonically, it belongs to the northwest of the upper Yangtze Block, the hinterland of Sichuan foreland basin, and lies in the transitional zone between the front fault-fold belt of the Dabashan nappe belt and the arcuate fault-fold belt of East Sichuan. Te Huangjinkou anticline is narrow and asymmetric and is slightly box shaped, with its axis trending NE 50°–60°. Te dip angle of the south east wing is 30°–60°, and that of the north west wing is 20°–35° (Fig. 1). Te strata in the study area are a set of carbonate rock and clastic rock formations of shallow marine and coastal facies, with no magmatism and metamorphism. In this area, the Lower and Middle Jurassic Ziliujing Formation and the strata below are all buried in the hinterland. Te salt bearing strata are located in the fourth and ffh members of the Jialingjiang Formation and the frst member of Leikoupo Formation of the Triassic in Xuanhan area, with burial depth of about 3000 m. Te salt bearing strata in the study area are a set of evapo- rites (carbonate–sulfate–chloride combination), which is mainly composed of dolomite, calcareous dolomite, dolomitic limestone, anhydrite and halite, mixed with polyhalite. A small amount of magnesite is seen, and the cumulative thickness is about 300 m. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS | (2020) 10:13528 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-69063-2 2 Vol:.(1234567890) www.nature.com/scientificreports/ Figure 2. Profle of polyhalite type potash beds in ZK601. Results 5 1-1 Profle of salt bearing series. Te PPD was developed in the salt forming period of T1j -T2l . Te salt bearing profle consists of carbonate rock, sulfate rock, chloride rock (containing polyhalite), sulfate rock and carbonate rock from the bottom to the top, forming a complete salt bearing profle (Fig. 2). It refects the deposi- tion process of the salt formation from desalination to salinization, and then gradually desalination. Salt bearing series was developed completely, which is conducive to the preservation of soluble salts. Cross section characteristics of PPD. According to the results of core drilling and logging, combined with the results from identifcation of salt bearing series through formation logging, this paper identifes several new type polyhalite potash beds encountered by potash exploration wells and oil and gas drilling wells in the study area and draws three well tie profles perpendicular to and three ones parallel to the Huangjinkou anticline to depict the distribution of PPD in the study area. Te NW–SE trending section 1 passes through Wells Dawan 102, ZK001, Puguang 6, Puguang 5, Puguang 8 and Laojun 2 (Fig. 3) and is perpendicular to the axis of Huangjinkou anticline. Section 1 is in the middle of Huangjinkou anticline and it passes through the core and southeast wing of the anticline. In this section, the thickness of the frst member of Leikoupo formation is basically stable, and the fourth and ffh member of Jial- ingjiang Formation shows obvious thickening anomaly in the core of anticline, which is caused by the compres- sion and defection of gypsum salt layer. Te thickness of PPD decreases frst and then increases from the core to 5 the southeast wing of the anticline. Te PPD at the top of T1j of each well is relatively stable. Multi-layer PPD is encountered by the lower part of Well Dawan-102 in the core of anticline. Te PPD in the middle of Well Laojun 2 at the SE end of the section is thicker than that of other wells. Te SW-NE trending section 2 passes through Wells ZK601, Puguang 6, Puguang 7 and Puguang 1 (Fig. 3). Section 2 is parallel to the axis of Huangjinkou 1 4 + 5 anticline and is located at its southeast wing. In this section, the thickness of T2l and T1j increases frst and then decreases from south to north, and it is slightly thick in Well Puguang-7 in the middle and is small in Well 4 ZK601 in the south because T 1j is not drilled through. In this section, the PPD is relatively developed, and its thickness decreases then increases and decreases again from south to north. Tere are two sedimentary centers in both Well ZK601 and Well Puguang 7. At the same time, the seismic and geological profle parallel to the core of the anticline is drawn through Wells 1 4+5 ZK601, Pg 6, Pg 7 and Pg 1 (Fig.