skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Geochemistry of dolomites in the St. Peter Sandstone of the Michigan Basin

Conference · · Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States)
OSTI ID:5808459
; ;  [1]
  1. Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States). Dept. of Geology and Geophysics

Quartz sandstone units in mid-continent sedimentary basins are considered to be major migration pathways for fluids throughout the history of such basins, possibly including connate and meteoric water, hydrocarbons, evaporite and basinal brines, and MVT ore-forming fluids. To gain an understanding of the fluid history of the Michigan Basin, the authors are investigating the dolomites in the St. Peter Sandstone. Based on petrography and lithofacies occurrence, they categorize the dolomites as: dolomite cement in quartz sandstone (DCS), replacive dolomite in carbonate-dominated intervals (RD), and fracture fill dolomite (FFD) associated with RD. RD and FFD display a linear covariation of mole %FeCO[sub 3] and Mn with Fe/Mn ratios increasing from 6 for bright orange luminescent RD to 11 for non-luminescent FFD. DCS display the highest %FeCO[sub 3] and no Fe-Mn correlation. DCS have higher ratios and SR concentrations than RD and FFD. Data for RD and FFD define two different, linear positive-sloping, Sr-87/Sr-86-%FeCO[sub 3] covariation trends. Samples with higher ratios and %FeCO[sub 3] have systematically lower [delta] O-18 values. Dolomites with Sr < 130ppm (mostly RD and FFD) follow the Sr-%MgCO[sub 3] trend defined by modern seawater dolomites; most of the DCS plot above this seawater dolomite trend. These data suggest that the RD and FFD precipitated from mid-Paleozoic seawater that progressively evolved in a basinal setting or mixed with an evolved basinal brine. DCS precipitated from a basinal brine that had interacted with rocks containing a significant amount of K-feldspar. The different correlation trends suggest heterogeneous water-rock interaction and isolated flow paths.

OSTI ID:
5808459
Report Number(s):
CONF-921058-; CODEN: GAAPBC
Journal Information:
Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States), Vol. 24:7; Conference: 1992 annual meeting of the Geological Society of America (GSA), Cincinnati, OH (United States), 26-29 Oct 1992; ISSN 0016-7592
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English