Relationship between karstification and burial dolomitization in Permian platform carbonates (Lower Khuff - Oman)

Beckert, Julia; Vandeginste, Veerle; John, Cedric M.

Abstract

Large breccia fabrics associated with karst constitute an important structure in massive limestone successions. The dimensions and shapes of breccia structures are controlled by the initial fracture pattern of the limestone and preferential pathways of the karstifying fluids, but subsequently breccia fabrics can also govern the migration of later fluids. Therefore, breccias are highly relevant features to capture for reservoir characterisation. Outcrop analogues for Lower Khuff units in the Middle East present in the Central Oman Mountains reveal brecciated fabrics up to 10’s of meters in diameter. These brecciated units are closely associated with dolomite bodies of late diagenetic origin.

Based on an integrated set of data, the breccias are interpreted as collapsed karst cavities either formed by meteoric or hypogenic fluids. The exact origin of the fluids could not be constrained due to an overprint by later dolomitizing fluids. Based on the composition of the clasts and matrix in the breccias, two dolomitization events are interpreted to have affected the succession, one prior to (early diagenetic [ED] dolomite) and one after brecciation (late diagenetic [DT2] dolomite). Dolomite of shallow burial origin (ED dolomite) was only observed as clasts within breccia and is much more frequent than late diagenetic (medium to deep burial) dolomite clasts. Thus, the timing of the brecciation and collapse is assumed to postdate shallow burial early diagenetic dolomitization. Late diagenetic replacive dolomite (DT2 dolomite) forms 90% of the matrix in the breccia fabrics with the exception of a small area that was not affected by dolomitization, but is rarely present as clasts. Stable isotope measurements [δ18O: − 2.5‰ to − 6‰ VPDB and δ13C: 2.9‰ to 4.8‰ VPDB] suggest a burial origin for the late diagenetic dolomite potentially with the participation of hydrothermal fluids. The dolomitized matrix indicates a migration of late dolomitizing fluids subsequent to or postdating the collapse of the karstic cavities. Thus, early karstification processes seem to have played a big role in controlling subsequent loci of late dolomitization in the Oman Mountains, and potentially in other similar settings elsewhere.

Citation

Beckert, J., Vandeginste, V., & John, C. M. (2016). Relationship between karstification and burial dolomitization in Permian platform carbonates (Lower Khuff - Oman). Sedimentary Geology, 342, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sedgeo.2016.07.001

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 3, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Jul 14, 2016
• Publication Date: Aug 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: Jul 25, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 25, 2016
• Journal: Sedimentary Geology
• Print ISSN: 0037-0738
• Electronic ISSN: 0037-0738
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 342
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sedgeo.2016.07.001
• Keywords: karst; breccia; dolomite body; dolomitization; stable carbon and oxygen isotopes; XRF-analysis
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/797161
• Publisher URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0037073816301804