Sulfuric acid speleogenesis of Carlsbad Cavern and its relationship to hydrocarbons, Delaware basin, New Mexico and Texas

Journal Article · Thu Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA)

OSTI ID:5690298

Hill, C A ^[1]

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1. Cave Research Foundation, Albuquerque, NM (USA)

Sulfur-isotope data and pH-dependence of the mineral endellite support the hypothesis that Carlsbad Cavern and other caves in the Guadalupe Mountains were dissolved primarily by sulfuric acid rather than by carbonic acid. Floor gypsum deposits up to 10 m thick and native sulfur in the caves are significantly enriched in {sup 32}S; {delta}{sup 34}S values as low as {minus}25.8 {per thousand} (CDT) indicate that the cave sulfur and gypsum are the end products of microbial reactions associated with hydrocarbons. A model for a genetic connection between hydrocarbons in the basin and caves in the Guadalupe Mountains is proposed. As the Guadalupe Mountains were uplifted during the late Pliocene-Pleistocene, oil and gas moved updip in the basin. The gas reacted with sulfate anions derived from dissolution of the Castile anhydrite to form H{sub 2}S, CO{sub 2}, and castile limestone. The hydrogen sulfide rose into the Capitan reef along joints, forereef carbonate beds, or Bell Canyon siliciclastic beds and there reacted with oxygenated groundwater to form sulfuric acid and Carlsbad Cavern. A sulfuric-acid mode of dissolution may be responsible for large-scale porosity of some Delaware basin reservoirs and for oil-field karst reservoirs in other petroleum basins of the world. 8 figs.

• OSTI ID: 5690298
• Journal Information: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA), Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA) Vol. 74:11; ISSN AABUD; ISSN 0149-1423
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ALLUVIAL DEPOSITS
ANHYDRITE
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NONMETALS
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RESERVOIR ROCK
RESOURCES
ROCKS
SAND
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
STABLE ISOTOPES
SULFATE MINERALS
SULFATES
SULFIDES
SULFUR 32
SULFUR 34
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
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SULFURIC ACID
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TEXAS
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