Quartz types, origins and organic matter-hosted pore systems in the lower cambrian Niutitang Formation, middle yangtze platform, China

Quartz cementation is critical to shale reservoir properties, including porosity and geomechanical properties. Due to the small size of constituting components, our understanding on quartz origins in shales is still unclear. Recently, the application of high resolution scanning electron microscope (SEM) combined with cathodoluminescene (CL) technique has enabled major advances in our understanding of quartz cementation in shales. A suite of the Lower Cambrian Niutitiang shale samples were selected to study quartz types, origins and the effect of quartz cementation on porosity development by integrating geochemical analysis, nitrogen adsorption, SEM and SEM-CL imaging analysis. The results show that quartz primarily exists as five forms: silt-size/sand-size detrital quartz, siliceous skeletons, overgrowth nucleated around detrital quartz, matrix-dispersed microcrystalline quartz, and aggregates of euhedral quartz. Detrital quartz is characterized by angular shape, and bright luminescene. Quartz overgrowth can be easily identified by the characteristic non to low luminescene, indicative of authigenic origin. Matrix dispersed microcrystalline quartz is typically less than 5 mu m, and co-existed with clay minerals. Quartz aggregates are primarily composed of equate-sized euhedral quartz. Dissolution and re-precipitation of siliceous skeletons provides the major silica source for authigenic quartz (defined as quartz formed during diagenetic processes) in the Niutitang Formation. The distribution of secondary organic matter, primarily including residual bitumen and pyrobitumen, is always associated with aggregates of euhedral quartz, because the micrometer scale and well-connected interparticle pore spaces between euhedral quartz crystals provide important storage sites for secondary organic matter, and abundant organic matter-hosted pores (organic pores) are generated during the thermal cracking of residual oil and bitumen to gas.

Automated summary

Quartz exists in five main forms in shales, including detrital quartz, siliceous skeletons, overgrowth quartz, microcrystalline quartz, and euhedral quartz aggregates. Dissolution and re-precipitation of siliceous skeletons provide the major silica source for authigenic quartz in the Niutitang Formation.