Thermal maturity of the Upper Triassic-Middle Jurassic Shemshak Group (Alborz Range, Northern Iran) based on organic petrography, geochemistry and basin modelling: implications for source rock evaluation and petroleum exploration.

International audienceOrganic petrography and geochemical analyses have been carried out on the shales, carbonaceous shales and coals of the Shemshak Group (Upper Triassic-Middle Jurassic) from fifteen localities along the Alborz Range of Northern Iran. Organic matter (OM) has been investigated using Rock-Eval pyrolysis, elemental analysis of kerogen, vitrinite reflectance (VRr) and Thermal Alteration Index (TAI). Reflectance of autochthonous vitrinite varies from 0.6 to 2.2 % indicating thermally early mature to over mature OM in the Shemshak Group, in agreement with other maturity parameters used. The shales of the Shemshak Group are characterized by poor to moderate residual organic carbon contents (0.25 to 8.5 %) and the presence of hydrogen-depleted OM, predominantly as a consequence of petroleum generation and of oxidation of OM. According to light-reflected microscopy results vitrinite/vitrinite-like macerals are dominant in the kerogens concentrated from the shaly facies. The coals and carbonaceous shales of the Shemshak Group show a wide range in organic carbon concentration (3.5 to 88.6 %) and composition (inertinite- and vitrinite-rich types), and thereby different petroleum potentials. Among the studied sections only the coals and carbonaceous shales of the Hive locality show good residual petroleum potential and may still generate oil. Thermal modelling results suggest that low to moderate paleo-heat flow, ranging from 47 to 79 mW.m-2 (57 mW.m-2 on average), affected the Central-Eastern Alborz. The maximum temperature which induced OM maturation of the Shemshak Group seems to be related to its deep burial rather than to a very strong heat flow related to an uppermost Triassic-Liassic rifting. The interval of petroleum generation in the most deeply buried part of the Shemshak Group (i.e., Tazareh section) corresponds to Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous times. Exhumation of the Alborz Range during Late Neogene time, especially along the axis of the Central-Eastern Alborz, where maxima of VRr values are recorded, probably destroyed possible petroleum accumulations. However on the northern flank of the Central-Eastern Alborz, preservation of petroleum accumulations may be better. The northern part of the basin therefore seems the best target for petroleum exploration

Trace element perspective into the ca. 2.1-billion-year-old shallow-marine microbial mats from the Francevillian Group, Gabon

The sedimentary fabrics of Precambrian mat-related structures (MRS) represent some of the oldest convincing evidence for early life on Earth. The ca. 2.1 billion-year (Ga) old MRS in the FB2 Member of the Francevillian basin in Gabon has received considerable attention not only because they contain remnants of microbial mats that colonized large areas in oxygenated, shallow-marine settings, but they also contain evidence for ancient multicellular organisms that thrived on these microbial mats using them as a food source. Despite these insights, what remains lacking is a full characterization of the geochemical composition of the MRS to test whether the bulk composition of fossilized MRS is distinct from the host sediments (sandstones and shales). Here, we show that the trace element (TE) content of microbial textures belonging to pyritized MRS, poorly pyritized MRS, and “elephant-skin” textures (EST) is highly variable and differs from that of the host sediments. The poorly pyritized MRS contain a unique matrix with embedded Ti- and Zr-rich minerals and syngenetically enriched in TE. The EST, some of which are developed along the same stratigraphic horizon as the poorly pyritized MRS, display a distinct distribution of TE-bearing heavy minerals, suggesting a local difference in physical conditions during sedimentation. Similarly, high chalcophile-element (CE) content in pyritized MRS relative to the host sediments of the FB2 Member further points to local bacterially influenced enrichments with high rates of microbial sulfate reduction during early diagenesis. The geochemical relationship between the MRS and the Francevillian sediments (e.g., FB, FC, and FD formations) indicates that specific biological pathways for CE enrichments (i.e., microbially controlled accumulation) are not apparent. Our findings highlight bulk-rock TE distinction between the 2.1-billion-year-old MRS and their host sediments, but also indicate that environmental conditions, such as hydrodynamic regime and water-column redox chemistry, may simply overwhelm any potential biological signal. Our data suggest that the microbial impact may have only passively influenced TE enrichment in the studied sediments, implying that TE concentrations in MRS are a poor biosignature. Importantly, this work indicates that bulk TE geochemistry does not unveil specific microbiological processes in the rock record, which is consistent with the observed patterns in modern analogues

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The Standards for Libraries in Higher Education are designed to guide academic libraries in advancing and sustaining their role as partners in educating students, achieving their institutions’ missions, and positioning libraries as leaders in assessment and continuous improvement on their campuses. Libraries must demonstrate their value and document their contributions to overall institutional effectiveness and be prepared to address changes in higher education. These Standards were developed through study and consideration of new and emerging issues and trends in libraries, higher education, and accrediting practices. These Standards differ from previous versions by articulating expectations for library contributions to institutional effectiveness. These Standards differ structurally by providing a comprehensive framework using an outcomes-based approach, with evidence collected in ways most appropriate for each institution

Géochimie des black shales du Jurassique supérieur de la plate-forme russe. Processus de sédimentation et de préservation de la matière organique

During the Middle Volgian, the Russian Platform was the seat of important organic matter (OM) deposition. The resulting formation shows alternating levels of clayey marlstones and black shales. This formation was studied in Gorodische and Kashpir areas, located in the middle Volga Basin, in order to determine the processes of OM sedimentation and preservation. A global study of the sediment and OM was first performed on numerous samples from the two places. Very similar bulk geochemical data (HI, TOC, CaCO3...) are obtained, indicating similar conditions of OM deposition and preservation in the whole middle Volga Basin. Palynological observations indicate that the samples are dominated by amorphous OM (AOM) and that TOC and HI variations are not due to differences in relative contributions of terrestrial and marine OM. Gorodische samples were divided into three groups of contrasted bulk geochemical and morphological features : (i) grey AOM for poorly aliphatic, Sorg-poor samples of lowest TOC contents, (ii) heterogeneous orange AOM for relatively aliphatic and Sorg-containing samples of middle to high TOC contents, (iii) pure orange AOM for aliphatic and Sorg-rich samples of very high TOC contents. Detailed geochemical study (spectroscopy and pyrolysis) of three kerogens representative of each group showed the phytoplanctonic origin of the OM. A weak bacterial contribution is also noted. Different OM preservation processes are observed : pure orange AOM was mainly formed by natural sulphurisation of lipids and carbohydrates under anoxic conditions; grey AOM was mainly formed by the degradation-recondensation process with a minor contribution of selectively preserved algal cell-walls under mainly oxic conditions; heterogeneous orange AOM appears in between the other two groups and is constituted of melanoidins and sulphurised material under changing oxygenation conditions, mainly dysoxic. The three kerogens also show an important contribution of lipids incorporated by oxydative reticulation. Combination of bulk and detailed geochemistry, allows to put forward a recontruction of the paleoenvironment and of its evolution during the deposition of the organic-rich formation.La plate-forme russe a été le siège d'un important dépôt de matière organique (MO) au cours du Volgien moyen. La formation qui en résulte, montre des alternances décimétriques de niveaux marneux et de black shales. Nous avons étudié cette formation sur deux sites, Gorodische et Kashpir, situés dans la région moyenne de la Volga, afin de déterminer les processus de sédimentation et de préservation de la matière organique. Une première étude globale du sédiment et de la matière organique a été menée sur un grand nombre d'échantillons provenant des deux sites. Les résultats indiquent que les échantillons de Gorodische et de Kashpir présentent des caractéristiques géochimiques globales proches (IH, COT, CaCO3...), ce qui atteste de conditions de dépôt et de préservation de la MO similaires sur l'ensemble du bassin de la moyenne Volga. La palynologie montre que les échantillons sont dominés par la MO amorphe (MOA) et indique que les variations verticales d'IH et COT observées le long de la coupe de Gorodische ne sont pas liées à des variations dans la contribution relative de MO terrestre et de MO marine. Les échantillons de Gorodische ont pu être répartis selon trois groupes présentant des caractéristiques morphologiques et géochimiques différentes : (i) MOA grise pour les kérogènes peu aliphatiques, pauvres en soufre organique et présents dans les échantillons de plus faible COT (ii) MOA orange hétérogène pour les kérogènes relativement aliphatiques, moyennement enrichis en soufre, présents dans les échantillons de COT intermédiaire et (iii) MOA orange pure pour les kérogènes très aliphatiques et enrichis en soufre organique, présents dans les niveaux de plus fort COT. L'analyse géochimique détaillée (spectroscopie et pyrolyse) des trois kérogènes représentatifs de ces trois groupes indique l'origine phytoplanctonique de la MO. Une faible contribution de matériel bactérien est également notée. Les différents processus de préservation de la MO ont également été mis en évidence : la MOA orange pure s'est essentiellement formée par sulfuration naturelle de lipides et de sucres sous des conditions anoxiques ; la MOA grise s'est principalement formée par dégradation-recondensation et, dans une moindre mesure, par préservation sélective de parois d'algues sous des conditions principalement oxygénées ; la MOA orange hétérogène intermédiaire entre les deux autres types, est constituée de mélanoïdines et de matériel soufré, elle s'est formée sous des conditions variables globalement dysoxiques. Les trois kérogènes montrent également une importante contribution de lipides incoporés par réticulation oxydative. La combinaison des deux approches, géochimie globale et détaillée, permet de proposer une reconstruction du paléoenvironnement et de son évolution au cours du dépôt de la formation

Géochimie des black shales du Jurassique supérieur de la plate-forme russe. Processus de sédimentation et de préservation de la matière organique

PARIS-BIUSJ-Thèses (751052125) / SudocCentre Technique Livre Ens. Sup. (774682301) / SudocPARIS-BIUSJ-Sci.Terre recherche (751052114) / SudocFONTAINEBLEAU-MINES ParisTech (771862302) / SudocSudocFranceF

Enhanced trapping of molybdenum by sulfurized marine organic matter of marine origin in Mesozoic limestones and shales.

International audienc

Trace metals as paleoredox and paleoproductivity proxies: An update.

International audienc