GEOCLASTICA Ltd

Dr ROGER HIGGS
rogerhiggs@geoclastica.com
cc to rogerhiggs@hotmail.com

Consulting in:
Sedimentology, Sequence Stratigraphy &
Climate- & Sea-Level Change


SANDSTONE DIAGENESIS & PROVENANCE

Roger Higgs of Geoclastica Ltd is highly experienced in thin-section interpretation of sandstone diagenetic history (porosity evolution & prediction) and provenance (basin analysis). See below for an example of the level of detail attainable.



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Photos 23, 24. 4686.8', PP & XN. Porous sandstone (point-counted porosity 21%). Patches of calcite (stained pink) and dolomite cement (and/or replacive dolomite) are present; both are remnants of decarbonatization (carbonate dissolution, producing secondary porosity), as indicated by ragged borders (B3, GH5). The dolomite is seen to be stained speckled-blue at higher magnification (Photo 75), indicating ferroan dolomite (or possibly ankerite; see introduction above). Dolomite and calcite are intimately interwoven at CD/3-4 with sharp interfaces, but there are no textural indicators of which mineral preceded which, or whether the dolomite replaced the calcite or was precipitated separately. Angular holes in the calcite patch at GH5 suggest dissolution of dolomite crystals. Calcite (or dolomite) precipitation may have been followed by partial dissolution, making space for dolomite (or calcite) precipitation, followed by further dissolution of both. Bitumen-lined pores, including an oversized pore at L-N/4-5, are the only pores which existed at the time of a '1st oil' charge, which separated two episodes of decementation. Feldspar grain at D2 (twinning ofuncertain microcline or plagioclase type) is interpreted to have shrunk by dissolution, based on its embayed, 'skeletal' form and lack of visible grain contacts ('floating'); the dissolved portion may first have been replaced by carbonate. Complete dissolution of this grain would have produced an oversized pore.

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