Occurrence, Classification and Formation Mechanisms of the Organic-Rich Clasts in the Upper Paleozoic Coal-Bearing Tight Sandstone, Northeastern Margin of the Ordos Basin, China

Guanqun Yang, Wenhui Huang, Jianhua Zhong and Ningliang Sun
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Guanqun Yang: School of Energy Resources, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
Wenhui Huang: School of Energy Resources, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
Jianhua Zhong: School of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China
Ningliang Sun: School of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, China

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 11, 1-19

Abstract: The detailed characteristics and formation mechanisms of organic-rich clasts (ORCs) in the Upper Paleozoic tight sandstone in the northeastern margin of the Ordos Basin were analyzed through 818-m-long drilling cores and logging data from 28 wells. In general, compared with soft-sediment clasts documented in other sedimentary environments, organic-rich clasts in coal-bearing tight sandstone have not been adequately investigated in the literature. ORCs are widely developed in various sedimentary environments of coal-bearing sandstone, including fluvial channels, crevasse splays, tidal channels, sand flats, and subaqueous debris flow deposits. In addition to being controlled by the water flow energy and transportation processes, the fragmentation degree and morphology of ORCs are also related to their content of higher plants organic matter. The change in water flow energy during transportation makes the ORCs show obvious mechanical depositional differentiation. Four main types of ORC can be recognized in the deposits: diamictic organic-rich clasts, floating organic-rich clasts, loaded lamellar organic-rich clasts, and thin interlayer organic-rich clasts. The relationship between energy variation and ORCs deposition continuity is rarely studied so far. Based on the different handling processes under the control of water flow energy changes, we propose two ORCs formation mechanisms: the long-term altering of continuous water flow and the short-term water flow acting triggered by sudden events.

Keywords: coal-bearing tight sandstone; organic-rich clasts; occurrence; classifications; formation mechanisms; Ordos Basin (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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