Diagenesis of the Paleogene Sandstones in the DN2 Gas Field, Kuqa Foreland Basin and its Link to Tectonics

Abstract

AbstractWe investigated diagenesis of the sandstones from the DN2 Gas Field of the Kuqa Foreland Basin (KFB), in order to infer the timing of fluid migration and discuss the linkage between fluids and tectonics. The textures and chemical composition of authigenic minerals, fluid evidence from fluid inclusions and formation water measurements were all used to fulfill this aim. Eodiagenesis occurred with the participation of meteoric water and connate water. Mesodiagenesis is related to high salinity fluids, which were attributed as originating from the overlying Neogene Jidike Formation evaporite (principal minerals including halite, anhydrite, glauberite, carnallite and thenardite). The onset of high salinity fluid migration is inferred to occur during the late Miocene (12.4–9.2 Ma) through the use of homogenization temperatures measured in the present study and K‐Ar dating of authigenetic illites from previous work. This period is consistent with the crucial phase (13–10 Ma) that witnessed the rapid uplift of the southern Tianshan Mts and the stage when calcite and anhydrite veins formed in the studied strata. We thus argue that diagenesis related to high salinity fluids occurred as a response to the Tianshan Mts' rapid uplift and related tectonic processes. The flow of high salinity fluids was probably driven by a density gradient and channeled and focused by fractures formed contemporaneously.