Submit to Minerals Review for Minerals Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

The Relationship between Metal Deposits and Hydrocarbon Accumulation

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Mineral Deposits".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2023) | Viewed by 14841

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Guozhi Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Earth Sciences, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
Interests: water-rock interaction; low temperature hydrothermal mineralization; hydrocarbon accumulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is common that many hydrocarbon reservoirs coexist with low-temperature hydrothermal metal deposits in petroliferous basin. Bitumen and petroleum liquids are a common constituent of many low-temperature hydrothermal mineral deposits such as Mississippi Valley-type Pb-Zn deposit, Carlin type Au deposits, disseminated sandstone-hosted U deposit, and stone-hosted Pb and Cu (-V-Co) deposits. The crude oil and oilfield brine in many reservoirs are particularly rich in certain metallogenic elements, such as Au, Ag, As, Sb, Hg, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, and V. The close coexistence or interdependence relationship between low-temperature hydrothermal deposits and hydrocarbon reservoirs in space and the material composition suggested a close genetic relationship between metal mineralization and hydrocarbon accumulation.

In some petroliferous basins, source rocks are not only potential petroleum and gas sources, but can also be enriched in trace metals and act as sources of ore-forming components. Petroleum and oil field brines have been proposed as possible ore-forming fluids.

Petroleum liquids may act as transporting agents for ore metals, enabling them to be transported to sites where mineralization may take place. There is the potential for metals and sulfur to be transported together during hydrocarbon migration, as metalloporphyrin, organosulfur compounds, and other species. At the site of metal precipitation, organic matter may provide sulfur or act as a reductant by reduction, chemical reaction, or adsorption.

Organic geochemical data of hydrocarbon reservoirs that coexist with low-temperature hydrothermal metal deposits can also occasionally provide information about the nature (e.g., origin, composition, temperatures) and migration pathways of hydrothermal fluids and can make a contribution to holistic ore genesis models.

This Special Issue is organized into three sections:

Section 1 The spatial and temporal relationship between low-temperature hydrothermal deposits and paleo-oil/gas reservoirs: Case studies of the superimposition or interdependence relationship between low temperature hydrothermal deposits and paleo-oil/gas reservoirs in space, as well as chronology relationship between mineralization and hydrocarbon accumulation.

Section 2 Process and mechanism of metal mineralization and hydrocarbon accumulation: Case studies of the nature, source, and migration pathways of the ore-forming fluid, processes, and genesis models of metal mineralization and hydrocarbon accumulation.

Section 3 The role of organic matter in ore transport and deposition processes: the experiments and case studies of the incorporation of metals within petroleum and demetallation of metal complex, the role of petroleum liquids in ore transport, and deposition, as well as the role of organic components of the aqueous phase.

This Special Issue aims to contribute to the disclosure of the role of organic matter in ore transport and deposition processes, the spatial-temporal relationship, and genetic mechanism between low temperature hydrothermal mineralization and hydrocarbon accumulation.

Prof. Dr. Guozhi Wang
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Minerals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

organic matter
ore-forming fluid
low-temperature mineralization
hydrocarbon accumulation
relationship between mineralization and hydrocarbon accumulation

Published Papers (8 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

17 pages, 5311 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Palaeoweathering Conditions, Provenance, and Tectonic Setting of the Early Silurian Longmaxi Formation in the Upper Yangtze Region (Southern China): Evidence from Geochemistry

by Liang Zhao, Yong Li, Chengjie Zou, Shaoze Zhao and Chaorong Wu

Minerals 2023, 13(4), 576; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13040576 - 20 Apr 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1155

Abstract

The Longmaxi-1 black shales in the Upper Yangtze region are a vital source rocks in southern China. This study investigates the palaeoweathering conditions, provenance, and tectonic setting of the Longmaxi-1 black shale from an elemental geochemical perspective, ultimately revealing its tectonic setting. The results showed that the Longmaxi-1 black shales in the sedimentary period have the characteristics of primary deposition. The Longmaxi-1 black shales were deposited as a primary deposition under a mainly humid climate. However, fluctuations in climatic conditions were recorded from the bottom to the upper part of the formation. The parent rock of the Longmaxi-1 black shales in the Upper Yangtze region is a mixture provenance, mainly composed of intermediate-acid volcanic lithologies (granite and granodiorite), followed by mature quartzite and basalt. Black shale deposition is related to the tectonic setting of active continental margin and island arc-continent collision. The Cathayian orogenic belts and the North Qiangling orogenic belt may have played a role in the genesis of the Longmaxi-1 black shales within the Upper Yangtze region. This study provides significant clues regarding the reconstruction of the palaeoclimatic and palaeogeographical conditions of the Upper Yangtze region during the Early Silurian period. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Relationship between Metal Deposits and Hydrocarbon Accumulation)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 2614 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mineralization Process of MVT Zn-Pb Deposit Promoted by the Adsorbed Hydrocarbon: A Case Study from Mayuan Deposit on the North Margin of Sichuan Basin

by Guiyuan Guan, Siwen Li and Rongxi Li

Minerals 2023, 13(1), 72; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13010072 - 01 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1132

Abstract

The Mayuan Zn-Pb deposit on the northern margin of the Sichuan Basin is rich in Zn-Pb deposit resources. Additionally, a large amount of bitumen is observed in outcrops, and these deposits represent a key template for exploring the migration of hydrocarbon fluids and metal elements within an ancient oil reservoir. In this study, a chemical experimental method was used to extract the adsorbed hydrocarbon from the chosen five groups of samples, and mathematical statistical methods were also used. The varied metal concentrations before and after the extraction experiments have been noticed, due to the direct carrying action of the adsorbed hydrocarbon. In addition, a strong correlation was observed between the Mayuan Zn-Pb deposit and their source rocks, as well as the same distribution trend from the rare earth element distribution curve. A moderate correlation was observed between the two groups of black shales and Mayuan Zn-Pb ores, and the rare earth partition curve showed consistent trends. The results show that organic matter exists in two forms, among which hydrocarbon organic matter is extracted due to the carrying effect of extraction experiment, and the remaining non-hydrocarbon organic matter is combined with metal elements to form a metal complex. Hydrocarbons are involved in mineralization, asphaltenes are derived from bitumen, and one of the potential sources of Pb/Zn in the Mississippi Valley type (MVT) Zn-Pb deposit is black shale rich in organic matter. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Relationship between Metal Deposits and Hydrocarbon Accumulation)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

28 pages, 6312 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genetic Relationship between Mississippi Valley-Type Pb–Zn Mineralization and Hydrocarbon Accumulation in the Wusihe Deposits, Southwestern Margin of the Sichuan Basin, China

by Guozhi Wang, Qing Lei, Zhu Huang, Gang Liu, Yuzhen Fu, Na Li and Jinlong Liu

Minerals 2022, 12(11), 1447; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12111447 - 16 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1285

Abstract

The coexistence of numerous Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) Pb–Zn deposits and oil/gas reservoirs in the world suggests a close genetic relationship between mineralization and hydrocarbon accumulation. The Wusihe MVT Pb–Zn deposits are located along the southwestern margin of the Sichuan Basin. Based on the spatiotemporal relation between Pb–Zn deposits and paleo-oil/gas reservoirs, ore material sources, and processes of mineralization and hydrocarbon accumulation, a new genetic relationship between mineralization and hydrocarbon accumulation is suggested for these deposits. The Wusihe Pb–Zn deposits are hosted in the Ediacaran Dengying Formation dolostone, accompanied by a large amount of thermally cracked bitumen in the ore bodies. The Pb–Zn deposits and paleo-oil/gas reservoirs are distributed along the paleokarst interface; they overlap spatially, and the ore body occupies the upper part of the paleo-oil/gas reservoirs. Both the Pb–Zn ore and sphalerite are rich in thermally cracked bitumen, in which µm sized galena and sphalerite may be observed, and the contents of lead and zinc in the bitumen are higher than those required for Pb–Zn mineralization. The paleo-oil/gas reservoirs experienced paleo-oil reservoir formation, paleo-gas reservoir generation, and paleo-gas reservoir destruction. The generation time of the paleo-gas reservoirs is similar to the metallogenic time. The source rocks from the Cambrian Qiongzhusi Formation not only provided oil sources for paleo-oil reservoirs but also provided ore-forming metal elements for mineralization. Liquid oil with abundant ore-forming metals accumulated to form paleo-oil reservoirs with mature organic matter in source rocks. As paleo-oil reservoirs were buried, the oil underwent in situ thermal cracking to form overpressure paleo-gas reservoirs and a large amount of bitumen. Along with the thermal cracking of the oil, the metal elements decoupled from organic matter and H₂S formed by thermochemical sulfate reduction (TSR) and minor decomposition of the organic matter dissolved in oilfield brine to form the ore fluid. The large-scale Pb–Zn mineralization is mainly related to the destruction of the overpressured paleo-gas reservoir; the sudden pressure relief caused the ore fluid around the gas–water interface to migrate upward into the paleo-gas reservoirs and induced extensive metal sulfide precipitation in the ore fluid, resulting in special spatiotemporal associated or paragenetic relations of galena, sphalerite, and bitumen. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Relationship between Metal Deposits and Hydrocarbon Accumulation)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 7276 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characteristics and Enrichment Genesis of the Platinum Group Elements (PGEs) in Organic Rich Shale of the Wufeng and Longmaxi Formations of Upper Ordovician and Lower Silurian in the Sichuan Basin

by Qian Zhang, Yupeng Men, Qian Yu, Guozhi Wang, Yuanfu Xiao, Haiquan Zhang, Ankun Zhao, Yexin Zhou and Junfeng Cao

Minerals 2022, 12(11), 1363; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12111363 - 26 Oct 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1865

Abstract

The petrology, mineralogy, elemental geochemistry, biology and PGEs characteristics of the black shale of the Wufeng and Longmaxi Formations in the CN outcrop of the Sichuan Basin are studied in this paper. The distribution and change in PGEs at different horizons are summarized, and the reasons for PGEs enrichment are discussed. The results show that the PGEs in the organic-rich shale segment are obviously enriched, which is positively correlated with the Total Organic Carbon (TOC) content and has a Pt–Pd distribution characteristic. δEu_N, Pd/Pt, (Pt + Pd)/(Os + Ru + Ir), etc., and SiO₂–Al₂O₃ and It/Pt–Pd/Pt discrimination diagrams, indicate that they are not extraterrestrial sources, nor are they the origins of normal seawater deposition but they are related to hydrothermal deposition. The enrichment process of PGEs is relatively complicated and is controlled by the impact of the sedimentary environment in the restricted basin. The anoxic water environment and organic-rich environment are the main factors of PGEs enrichment. PGEs and TOC have a good positive correlation and can be used as index parameters for sedimentary environments and organic matter enrichment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Relationship between Metal Deposits and Hydrocarbon Accumulation)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 24274 KiB

Open AccessArticle

TSR Action and Genesis Mechanism of Antimony Deposit: Evidence from Aromatic Hydrocarbon Geochemistry of Bitumen from Paleo-Oil Reservoir in Qinglong Ore Field, Southwestern Guizhou Depression, China

by Yong Cheng, Yuzhao Hu, Saihua Xu and Di Wang

Minerals 2022, 12(10), 1306; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12101306 - 17 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2298

Abstract

In Qinglong ore field, the paleo-oil reservoir is found to be associated with antimony deposits, and they have a close genetic relationship. In this study, the aromatics geochemistry of paleo-oil reservoir bitumen was studied to further discuss the thermochemical sulfate reduction (TSR) reaction and the mechanism of antimony mineralization. A total of 124 aromatic compounds were identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis in bitumen samples, including abundant phenanthrene series, dibenzothiophene series, fluoranthene series, chrysene series, and a small number of fluorene series, naphthalene series, dibenzofuran series, biphenyl series, and triaromatic steroid series. Aromatic parameters such as trimethylnaphthalene index (TMNr), methylphenanthrene index (MPI), methylphenanthrene distribution fraction (MPDF, F₁, and F₂), methyldibenzothiophene parameter (MDR), C₂₈TAS-20S/(20R + 20S), and benzofluoranthene/benzo[e]pyrene indicate that the Qinglong paleo-oil reservoir is in over maturity level. The abundance of phenanthrene and chrysene aromatic compounds and a small amount of naphthalene series, benzofluoranthene, fluoranthene, pyrene, anthracene, retene, perylene, and biphenyl suggest that the organic matter source of the paleo-oil reservoir was mainly low aquatic organisms, mixed with a small amount of higher plant. They detected a certain number of compounds, such as retene, triaromatic steroid series, and perylene, the ternary diagram of DBF–DBT–F and binary plot of Pr/Ph–DBT/P, DBT/(F + DBT)–DBF/(F + DBF), and Pr/Ph–DBT/DBF reveal that the source rock of the paleo-oil reservoir was formed in the marine environment of weak oxidation and weak reduction. The comprehensive analysis shows that the Qinglong paleo-oil reservoir originated from Devonian source rocks, just like other paleo-oil reservoirs and natural gas reservoirs in the Nanpanjiang basin. Abundant dibenzothiophene series were detected, indicating that the paleo-oil reservoir underwent a certain degree of TSR reaction. We believe that the gas reservoir formed by the evolution of the oil reservoir in the ore field participated in antimony mineralization; that is, hydrocarbon organic matter acted as a reducing agent and transformed SO₄²⁻ in oilfield brine into H₂S through TSR, providing reduced sulfur and creating environmental conditions for mineralization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Relationship between Metal Deposits and Hydrocarbon Accumulation)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 6594 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mineralization of MVT Pb-Zn Deposits in the Process of Hydrocarbon Accumulation and Destruction in the Strong Structural Deformation Area of Eastern Sichuan, South China

by Zhiliang He, Jian Gao, Shuangjian Li and Sheng He

Minerals 2022, 12(10), 1281; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12101281 - 12 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1565

Abstract

The Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) Pb-Zn deposits and hydrocarbon reservoirs coexist around the margin of the eastern Sichuan basin. This study examined the fluid inclusions, Sr isotope and systematic Rb-Sr, Sm-Nd geochronology for the distinct ore and gangue minerals of four orebodies from two MVT Pb-Zn deposits in the margin of the eastern Sichuan basin, combined with the existing research foundation of oil and gas accumulation and evolution, which was designed to understand the internal relationship between oil and gas accumulation and the involvement of organic matter in metal mineralization. High-density methane, moderate temperature, and salinity inclusions were discovered in the studied MVT Pb-Zn deposits, combined with relatively higher ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.71088~0.714749), indicating that the ore-forming fluids were derived largely from the hydrocarbon associated basinal brines. Rb-Sr isochron of paragenetic sphalerites and pyrites and Sm-Nd isochron of paragenetic fluorites and calcite from the studied MVT Pb-Zn deposits define isochron ages of 144.5 Ma~138.5 Ma, and 147.6 Ma, respectively, indicating that the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous Yanshanian orogeny was an important metallogenic event in the margin of the eastern Sichuan basin. The close temporal and spatial relationship between the MVT mineralization and hydrocarbon accumulation and destruction in the strong structural deformation area of the margin of the eastern Sichuan basin allows us to propose a possible model in which the Yanshanian compressional tectonics drove a large-scale flow of metal- and sulfate- bearing basinal fluids passed under or through methane-bearing carbonate reservoirs, resulting in the MVT mineralization and hydrocarbon accumulation and destruction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Relationship between Metal Deposits and Hydrocarbon Accumulation)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 3019 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Metal–Metal Correlation of Biodegraded Crude Oil and Associated Economic Crops from the Eastern Dahomey Basin, Nigeria

by Saeed Mohammed, Mimonitu Opuwari, Salam Titinchi and Lilburne Cyster

Minerals 2022, 12(8), 960; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12080960 - 28 Jul 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1422

Abstract

The presence of heavy metals in plants from oil sand deposits may reflect mineralization resulting from petroleum biodegradation. Petroleum composition and heavy metal analyses were performed using thermal desorption gas chromatography and atomic absorption spectrophotometry on oil sand and plant root samples from the same localities in the Dahomey Basin. The results from the oil sand showed mainly heavy-end hydrocarbon components, humps of unresolved complex mixtures (UCM), absences of C6-C12 hydrocarbon chains, pristane, and phytane, indicating severe biodegradation. In addition, they showed varying concentrations of vanadium (2.699–7.708 ppm), nickel (4.005–11.716 ppm), chromium (1.686–5.733 ppm), cobalt (0.953–3.223 ppm), lead (0.649–0.978 ppm), and cadmium (0.188–0.461 ppm). Furthermore, these heavy metals were present in Citrus, Theobroma Cacao, Elaeis guineensis, and Cola. The chromium, nickel, vanadium, lead, cobalt, and cadmium concentrations in the Citrus were 7.475, 4.981, 0.551, 0.001, 0.806, and 0.177 ppm, respectively. For the Theobroma Cacao, the concentrations of chromium, nickel, vanadium, lead, cobalt, and cadmium were 7.095, 16.697, 2.151, 0.023, 3.942, and 0.254 ppm. Elaeis guineensis also showed the presence of chromium (32.685 ppm), nickel (32.423 ppm), vanadium (11.983 ppm), lead (0.190 ppm), cobalt (4.425 ppm), and cadmium (0.262 ppm). The amounts of chromium, nickel, vanadium, lead, cobalt, and cadmium in the Cola were 9.687, 9.157, 0.779, 0.037, 0.695, and 0.023 ppm. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) safe and permissible limits for Cd (0.003 ppm), Cr (0.1 ppm), Ni (0.05 ppm), and Pb (0.1 ppm) in agricultural soils were all exceeded in the oil sand. The presence of these metals in the oil sands and their uptake by the plants could potentially be toxic, resulting in high mortality. The metal–metal correlation of the plant’s rootsto the oil sand indicates the nonanthropogenic origin of the heavy metals, which leads to the conclusion that their source is related to the hydrocarbon accumulation in the Afowo sand. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Relationship between Metal Deposits and Hydrocarbon Accumulation)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 5071 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Origin of the Bleaching in Lower Cretaceous Continental Red Beds in the Uragen Zn–Pb Deposit, Xinjiang, NW China, and Its Implications for Zn–Pb Mineralization

by Rongzhen Gao, Chunji Xue, Junfeng Dai and Ronghao Man

Minerals 2022, 12(6), 740; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12060740 - 10 Jun 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3002

Abstract

The Uragen giant sandstone-hosted Zn–Pb deposit has a proven reserve of 5.90 Mt metals in the southern ore zone and potentially 10 Mt metals for the whole deposit, and orebodies are strictly confined to the bleached clastic rocks of the Lower Cretaceous red beds. The bleaching has been used to guide lead–zinc exploration; however, its nature and origin, as well as the relationship with Zn–Pb mineralization, remains unclear, although it is closely related to regional oil–gas infillings. Detailed field investigation and petrographic observation, TESCAN-integrated mineral analyzer (TIMA), and X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF) analysis of the red and bleached sandstone at the same sedimentary layer demonstrate that the bleaching is mainly caused by the reductive dissolution of hematite pigment, which probably resulted from the interaction with H₂S formed by in situ sulfate reduction during hydrocarbon migration. The calcite cements in the bleached sandstones show δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O values of −5.36~−5.94‰ and 20.94~27.91‰, respectively, and these samples fall close to the evolution line of decarboxylation of organic matter in δ¹³C-δ¹⁸O diagram, also suggesting a genetic relationship between the bleaching and hydrocarbon-bearing fluids. Petrol–mineral composition changes and sulfide characteristics of red, bleached, mineralized zones, as well as pyrite locally replaced by coarse-grained galena in the mineralized zone, imply that the bleaching may occurred before Zn–Pb mineralization. Mass balance calculation and μ-XRF analysis indicate that large amounts of Fe and minor Zn were extracted from red beds with little or no sulfates; however, the red beds with abundant sulfates may be a sink for leached ore metals during the bleaching process. We therefore propose that the former accumulations of iron sulfides and reduced sulfur in the bleached zones may provide an ideal chemical trap for later Zn–Pb mineralization, and the bleached zones with high ∑S contents are the favorable prospective targets of the Uragen-style sandstone-hosted Zn–Pb deposits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Relationship between Metal Deposits and Hydrocarbon Accumulation)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

The Relationship between Metal Deposits and Hydrocarbon Accumulation

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Published Papers (8 papers)

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI