Hydrothermal dolomites in the early Albian (cretaceous) platform carbonates (NW Spain): nature and origin of dolomites and dolomitising fluids

Shah, M.M., Nader, F.H., Garcia, D., Swennen, R. and Ellam, R. (2012) Hydrothermal dolomites in the early Albian (cretaceous) platform carbonates (NW Spain): nature and origin of dolomites and dolomitising fluids. Oil and Gas Science and Technology: Revue de l' Institut Francais du Petrole, 67(1), pp. 97-122. (doi: 10.2516/ogst/2011174)

Abstract

This study documents the temporal and lateral variation in petrographic and geochemical signatures of fault-related dolomite bodies in the Ranero and El-Moro areas (Karrantza valley, Cantabrian mountains; NW Spain). These dolomite bodies are hosted in Albian carbonates, which were deposited in the Basque-Cantabrian Basin as a result of an intense rift-related subsidence with associated faulting along various orientations. Fluid circulations generated replacive and cement dolomites, paragenetically followed by various calcite cements. Petrography, mineralogical and geochemical investigations (XRD, ICP, XRF, stable and Sr isotopes) helped in distinguishing hydrothermal stages. Two major dolomite facies were observed according to their Fe-content. Early dolomites are ferroan and replace limestone more significantly than the later, non ferroan dolomites. Dolomites are generally stoichiometric (49.76 to 51.59 M% CaCO3) and exhibit a broad range of depleted δ18O values (–18.7 to –10.5‰ V-PDB), which may indicate multiphase dolomitisation and/or different degrees of recrystallisation. Decreasing δ18O values correlate with decreasing Fe content in dolomites. In the Ranero area, dolomites show less slightly depleted δ13C values (–0.15 to +2.13‰ V-PDB) relative to the host limestone δ13C signature, while these values are substantially more depleted in El-Moro area (down to –2.18‰ V-PDB). Hydrothermal calcites predating dolomitisation show less depleted δ18O values (–14.15 to –12.1‰ V-PDB) than postdolomitisation calcite (–18.1‰ V-PDB). Sr isotope data suggest that the fluids interacted with siliciclastic lithologies (sandstone, shale). The dolomite fabric is variably altered through dedolomitisation and cataclastic deformation. Dolomitisation occurred in at least two main episodes. A first episode of pervasive ferroan dolomitisation probably resulted from compactional dewatering of basinal fluids from the nearby Basque trough and hydrodynamic fluid flow along the faults/fractures in the Albian carbonate platform. Subsequently, a second episode of very hot and localised dolomitisation may be related to igneous activity and convective flow.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Ellam, Professor Rob
• Authors: Shah, M.M., Nader, F.H., Garcia, D., Swennen, R., and Ellam, R.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
• Journal Name: Oil and Gas Science and Technology: Revue de l' Institut Francais du Petrole
• Journal Abbr.: OGST
• ISSN: 1294-4475