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Burial diagenesis, hydraulic conductivity and pore water chemistry in the Marshall Sandstone regional aquifer, Michigan Basin

Conference · · Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States)
OSTI ID:5863723
; ;  [1]
  1. Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States). Dept. of Geological Sciences

The Marshall Sandstone (MS) is a regional aquifer and local natural-gas reservoir in the Michigan basin. Hydraulic conductivities measured of sandstone cores range from 10[sup [minus]4] to 10[sup [minus]9] cm/s. Low hydraulic conductivities were measured in samples with abundant kaolinite, chlorite and illite; quartz and carbonate cemented sandstones have consistently higher values. Dissolved solids concentrations of the water from the MS range from 260 to 418, 169 mg/l. Geochemical modeling of pore water elemental composition and stable isotopes indicates mixing between meteoric water and evaporated seawater. The authors analyzed cements precipitated in the MS to determine whether or not they reflect this mixture of brine and meteoric water. Chlorite is a pre- to syn-compaction cement. Dolomite-ankerite is a syn- to post-compaction cement. Kaolinite and illite are post-compaction cements. Kaolinite overlies and therefore post-dates the carbonate cements. Illite overlies and therefore post-dates the kaolinite. Cement stable isotopes and a mineral paragenesis are consistent with carbonate and phyllosilicate precipitation during burial diagenesis at approximately 50--120 C in brine similar to the brine in the saline portion of the aquifer today. Cements occur throughout the basin, regardless of present pore water composition. Also, secondary porosity due to feldspar and carbonate dissolution occurs throughout the basin. Solid phase analyses and pore water analyses indicate that mixing of meteoric water and brine may have caused some carbonate cement dissolution but otherwise has not influenced mineral paragenesis or hydraulic properties.

OSTI ID:
5863723
Report Number(s):
CONF-921058--
Journal Information:
Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States), Journal Name: Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States) Vol. 24:7; ISSN GAAPBC; ISSN 0016-7592
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English