Organic Matter and Mineralisation: Thermal Alteration, Hydrocarbon Generation and Role in Metallogenesis

463 Pages·2000·15.42 MB·English

by  D. Taylor (auth.)

Organic Matter and Mineralisation:
Thermal Alteration, Hydrocarbon Generation and
Role in Metallogenesis
Organic Matter and
Mineralisation:
Thermal Alteration,
Hydrocarbon Generation
and Role in Metallogenesis
Edited by
M. Glikson
The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
M. Mastalerz
Indiana University, Bloomington, USA
SPRINGER-SCIENCE+BUSINESS MEDIA, B.V.
A C.I.P. Catalogue record for this book is available from the Library of Congress
ISBN 978-90-481-4019-0 ISBN 978-94-015-9474-5 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-94-015-9474-5
Cover illustration:
Simplified model for a possible scenario where hydrothermal processes are
predominant in hydrocarbon generation through convective heat transfer.
Mineral-laden brines and hydrocarbons use common fluid pathways. Minerals
and bitumen (oil residue) are co-deposited.
Printed on acid-free paper
All Rights Reserved
© 2000 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
Originally published by Kluwer Academic Publishers in 2000
Softcover reprint of the hardcover I st edition 2000
No part of the material protected by this copyright notice may be reproduced or
utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and
retrieval system, without prior permission from the copyright owner.
Table of Contents
List of Contributors viii
Introduction
'Soft-rock' petroleum-type approach to exploration for 'hard-rock' minerals 1
in sedimentary basins
D. Taylor
Part I: PROCESSES AND INDICATORS IN ORGANIC-METAL INTERACTION
1 Alteration and migration processes of organic matter in hydrothermal
systems and implications for metallogenesis 13
B.R. T. Simoneit
2 Paragenesis of gold- and hydrocarbon-bearing fluids in gold deposits 38
J. Parnell, A. McCready
3 Trace elements and Sr isotopic composition of waters from the
Great Artesian Basin of Australia: Implications for the formation of ore
deposits and hydrocarbon resources 53
M. Gasparon, K.D. Collerson
Part II: PROTEROZOIC ORGANIC-METAL INTERACTIONS
4 Nature of organic matter in the early Proterozoic, earliest life forms and
metal associations 66
M. Glikson, D. Taylor
5 Organic and mineral matter in a Precambrian shungite deposit from
Karelia, Russia 102
M. Mastalerz, M. Glikson, B.A. Stankiewicz, I.B. Volkova, R.M. Bustin
6 Influence of basin fill architecture on fluid flow and ore genesis in the
Mount Isa Basin, Northern Australia 120
B.A. McConachie, J.F. Lindsay, M. Glikson
7 Metallogenesis and hydrocarbon generation in northern Mount Isa Basin,
Australia; Implications for ore grade mineralization 149
M. Glikson, M. Mastalerz, S.D. Golding, B.A. McConachie
v
Table of Contents
Part III: PALAEOZOIC: HYDROTHERMAL SYSTEMS AND
SEDIMENT-HOSTED ORE BODIES
8 Volcanic and post-volcanic hydrothermal activity in the Intrasudetic Basin,
SW Poland: Implications for mineralization 185
K. Mastalerz, M. Mastalerz
9 Organic matter and metal enrichment in black shales of the Illinois
Basin, USA 203
E.M. Ripley, N.R. Shaffer
10 Organic matter from Zechstein copper deposits (Kupferschiefer) in Poland 220
Z. Sawlowicz, AP. Gize, M. Rospondek
11 Metalloporphyrin composition and a model for the early diagenetic
mineralization of the Permian Kupferschiefer, SW Poland 243
F. Czechowski
12 The carbonate-hosted base-metal sulphide Polaris deposit in the Canadian
Arctic: Organic matter alteration and clay diagenesis 260
Y. Heroux, A Chagnon, K. Dewing, H.R. Rose
13 Nature and source of carbonate mineralization in Bowen Basin coals,
Eastern Australia 296
S.D. Golding, K.D. Collerson, l. T. Uysal, M. Glikson, K. Baublys,
J.x. Zhao
14 Minerals in coal 314
J.D. Saxby
15 Mineralization in eastern Australia coals: A function of oil generation
and primary migration 329
M. Glikson, S.D. Golding, C.J. Boreham, J.D. Saxby
Part IV: MESOZOIC TO RECENT
16 Implications of hydrocarbons in gold-bearing epithermal systems:
Selected examples from the Canadian Cordillera 359
M. Mastalerz, R.M. Bustin, AJ. Sinclair, B.A. Stankiewicz, M.L. Thomson
17 The association of gold-mercury mineralization and hydrocarbons in the
coastal ranges of northern California 378
R. Sherlock
vi
Table of Contents
18 Thermal history of selected sedimentary basins in an island arc: evidence
from organic matter and fluid inclusions 400
J. Aizawa
19 Nannobacteria, fiction or fact? 421
P.J.R. Uwins, AP. Taylor, R.l. Webb
Part V
20 Summary and Future Directions 445
M. Glikson, M. Mastalerz
Index 447
Vll
List of Contributors
Dr. J. Aizawa Dr. F. Czechowski
Department of Geology, Faculty of Wroclaw University of Technology
Science Institute of Organic Chemistry,
Fukuoka University Biochemistry and Biotechnology
Fukuoka 814-01 27 Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego
Japan 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland
Dr. K. Dewing
Dr. K. Baublys
H.A. Simons Ltd.
Department of Earth Sciences
350 10333 Southport Road S.W.
University of Queensland
Calgary, Alberta T2W 3X6
Brisbane, Queensland 4072
Canada
Australia
Dr. M. Gasparon
Dept. of Earth Sciences
Dr. C.J. Boreham
University of Queensland
AGSO (Australian Geological Survey
Brisbane, Queensland 4072
Organization)
Australia
GPO Box 378
Canberra ACT 2601 Dr. A. Gize
Australia Department of Geology
University of Manchester
Dr. R.M. Bustin Oxford Road Manchester M13 9PL
The University of British Columbia United Kingdom
Department of Geological Sciences
Dr. M. Glikson
6339 Stores Road
Department of Earth Sciences
Vancouver, BC V6T lZ4
University of Queensland
Canada
Brisbane, Queensland 4072
Australia
Dr. A. Chagnon
Institute National de la Recherche Dr. S.D. Golding
Scientifique INRS Georessources Department of Earth Sciences
Universite du Quebec University of Queensland
2700 Rue Einstein Brisbane, Queensland 4072
Case Postal 7500 Australia
Sainte-Foy, Quebec GIV 4C7
Dr. Y. Heroux
Canada
Institute National de la Recherche
Scientifique INRS Georessources
Dr. K.D. Collerson Universite du Quebec
Dept. of Earth Sciences 2700 Rue Einstein
University of Queensland Case Postal 7500
Brisbane, Queensland 4072 Sainte-Foy, Quebec GIV 4C7
Australia Canada
viii
List of Contributors
Dr. K. Mastalerz Dr. E. Ripley
Department of Geological Sciences Department of Geological Sciences
Wroclaw University 1005 10th Street
1 Plac Universytecki Indiana University
50-137 Wroclaw, Poland Bloomington, IN 47405-5101
USA
Dr. J. Lindsay
Minerals Division
Dr. H.R. Rose
Australian Geological Survey
Center for Material Technology
Organization
Department of Chemistry
GPO Box 378
University of Technology
Canberra
P.O. Box 123
2601 ACT, Australia
Broadway, Sydney
NSW2007
Dr. B. McConachie
Australia
SANTOS Asia Pacific Pty Ltd.
P.O. Box 138
Dr. J.D. Saxby
Lutwyche, QLD 4030
CSIRO Division of Energy Technology
Australia
Riverside Corporate Park
Dr. A. McCready P.O. Box 136
School of Geosciences North Ryde
The Queen's University of Belfast NSW 2113
Belfast, BT7 INN Australia
United Kingdom
Dr. Z. Sawlowicz
Dr. M. Mastalerz Institute of Geological Sciences
Indiana Geological Survey Jagiellonian University
Indiana University UI. Oleandry 2a
Bloomington, NY 47405, USA 30-063 Krakow
Poland
Dr. J. Parnell
Department of Geology and Petroleum
Dr. N.R. Shaffer
Geology
Indiana Geological Survey,
University of Aberdeen
Indiana University
Meston Building
611, North Walnut Grove
Kings College, Aberdeen AB24 3UA
Bloomington, IN 47405-2208
United Kingdom
USA
Dr. M. Rospondek
Institute of Geological Sciences Dr. R. Sherlock
Jagiellonian University SRK Consulting
Oleandry 24 Suite 800 580 Hornby Street
30-063 Krakow Vancouver, BC V6C 3B6
Poland Canada
ix
List of Contributors
Dr. B.RT. Simoneit Dr. P.J.R Uwins
College of Oceanic & Atmospheric Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis
Sciences The University of Queensland
Oregon State University Brisbane, Queensland 4072
Corvallis, OR 97331 Australia
USA
Dr. T. Uysal
Dr. AJ. Sinclair Department of Earth Sciences
Department of Geological Sciences University of Queensland
The University of British Columbia Brisbane, Queensland 4072
Vancouver, BC V6T IZ4 Australia
Canada
Dr. I.B. Volkova
Dr. B.A Stankiewicz AP. Karpinski All-Union Geological
University of Bristol, Research Institute (VSEGEI)
Biogeochemistry Research Centre Srednij Prospect 74,
Department of Geology 199026 St. Petersburg
Wills Memorial Building, Queens Road Russia
Bristol. B58 lRJ
United Kingdom Dr. RI. Webb
Department of Microbiology
Dr. A Taylor The University of Queensland
Department of Microbiology Brisbane, Queensland 4072
The University of Queensland Australia
Brisbane, Queensland 4072
Australia Dr. J.x. Zhao
Department of Earth Sciences
Dr. D. Taylor University of Queensland
ACT Exploration Pty, Ltd. Brisbane, Queensland 4072
106, Duffy Street, Ainslie Australia
Australian Capital Territory 2602
Australia
Dr. M.L. Thomson
National Research Council
Bldg M-20 IRC
Ontario, Ottawa KIA OR6
Canada
x
Introduction
A 'soft-rock' petroleum-type approach to exploration for
'hard-rock' minerals in sedimentary basins
D. Taylor
I. Introduction
Several major groups of ore deposits are found as tabular, stratiform bodies or as cross
cutting but essentially stratabound deposits within sedimentary basins. Important exam
ples are oxide and carbonate ores of iron and manganese, copper and zinc-lead
sulphides and gold-uranium deposits. Where the host basins have been strongly in
verted and deeply eroded and the mineralized horizons brought to outcrop, the laterally
extensive nature of the mineralization usually results in outcrop or subcrop of the ore
itself. Direct detection by geological or geochemical prospecting is then possible.
Major deposits also occur in basins which have not been strongly deformed and
deeply eroded as non-outcropping sub-horizontal sheets (Polish Kupferschiefer deposits
of the fore-Sudetic Monocline) or linear belts (Vibumam Trend, Missouri, Admiral
Bay, NW Australia). I believe that both the Polish Kupferschiefer and Admiral Bay de
posits were found by chance during oil and gas exploration, and deposits of this type are
similar in attitude and dimensions to small-medium size oil and gasfields.
There has been a generally sterile debate between 'syngenetic' and 'epigenetic' theor
ists as to the origin of most of the deposits of the types being considered here. What is
clear, however, is that the ores were developed during basin growth and filling stages or
very early in the inversion process. This suggests that an exploration philosophy similar
to that used to locate concealed oil and gas traps could be developed to explore little
deformed basins for non-outcropping metal deposits.
II. Exploration for Oil and Gas: The Philosophy
The successful oil explorer Wallace Pratt stated long ago that 'where oil fields are really
found is in the minds of men'. (Pratt, 1952). Oil exploration is firmly based on a well
founded genetic theory. Oil is soured in a variety of sedimentary environments from
source rocks which contain abundant hydrogen-rich organic debris. Oil is generated by
the incongruent maturation of this organic matter over a temperature range from 60°C
to 150°C during basin evolution and expelled from the source rock (primary migration)
to migrate as a bulk hydrocarbon phase, with the much more abundant aqueous phase,
through porous and permeable beds and structure (secondary migration) to be temporar
ily retained by hydrodynamic forces in a trap. The essential features of a trap are a
porous reservoir to contain the oil, an impermeable seal above the reservoir and closure
to retain the buoyant oil below the seal. Timing is very important: the trap must be
present when the oil is migrating, and traps which develop too late in the evolution of a
basin will be barren. Traps and the oil in them may be destroyed by the continued
M. Glikson and M. Mastalerz (eds.), Organic Matter and Mineralisation, 1-12.
© 2000 Kluwer Academic Publishers.