AAPG Bulletin, Vol.81, No.6, 954-977, 1997
Dolomitization and neomorphism of Mississippian (Visean) upper Debolt Formation, Blueberry field, northeastern British Columbia: Geologic, petrologic, and chemical evidence
Petrographic, chemical, and isotopic studies of the Mississippian (Visean) upper Debolt Formation in the Blueberry field, British Columbia, Canada, reveal that dolomitization was the result of several diagenetic events and that neomorphic alteration of these dolomites significantly modified their original chemical signatures. These studies also demonstrate how tectonics play an important role in controlling and modifying reservoir dolomites in the area. Petrographic investigations have documented two early dolomite phases, (1) early matrix dolomite and (2) pervasive dolomite, and two later generations, (3) coarse cement and (4) pseudomorphic replacement of crinoids. Early matrix dolomite occurs as small (average 25 Gun) subhedral to euhedral crystals that replace the matrix of carbonate mudstones, wackestones, and packstones. Petrographic evidence suggests that early matrix dolomite had a relatively early precompaction origin, possibly from marine fluids. However, geochemical evidence indicates that later fluids have altered their original geochemical signatures. Pervasive dolomite, which forms the reservoir intercrystalline porosity occurs with planar-s and planar-e textures, Planar-s crystals typically have a dirty appearance and exhibit homogeneous dull brown/red cathodoluminescence colors. Planar-e crystals may appear with a cloudy core and a clear rim, and under cathodoluminescence display an irregular dull brown/red core and a thin, bright red rim. Due to the spatial distribution pattern of pervasive dolomite with respect to the overlying unconformity surface, its paleogeographic distribution and close temporal relationship with meteoric diagenetic events, pervasive dolomite formed from a mixture of seawater and meteoric fluids, However, alteration of their primary chemistry by later fluids is indicated by their depleted delta(18)O values and radiogenic Sr-87/Sr-86 ratios, Microprobe data from pervasive dolomite reveal that the dull brown/red luminescent cores are stoichiometric, whereas their bright-red rims are nonstoichiometric and less Fe rich. We suggest that warm, basinal fluids neomorphically altered the cores of the pervasive dolomite to a stoichiometric phase, and that the outer nonstoichiometric rim represents the unaltered phase.
Keywords:SEDIMENTARY PYRITE FORMATION;BURIAL DOLOMITIZATION;DOLOMITEFABRICS;DEEP BURIAL;ALBERTA;WATER;LIMESTONES;SHALLOW;ORIGIN;PRECIPITATION