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Use of Tmax as a thermal maturity indicator in orogenic successions and comparison with clay mineral evolution

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2018

F. Dellisanti ,
G. A. Pini  and
F. Baudin
F. Dellisanti*
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e Geo-Ambientali, Università di Bologna P. Porta S. Donato, 1, I-40126, Bologna, Italy
G. A. Pini
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e Geo-Ambientali, Università di Bologna P. Porta S. Donato, 1, I-40126, Bologna, Italy
F. Baudin
Affiliation:
UPMC – Université de Paris 06, CNRS-UMR 7193, ISTEP, Equipe Evolution et Modélisation des Bassins Sédimentaires, case 117, 4pl ace Jussieu, 75252 Paris CEDEX 05, France
*
*E-mail: f.dellisanti@unibo.it
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Abstract

The relationship between three parameters, the Tmax given by Rock-Eval pyrolysis, the illite content in illite-smectite mixed layers (I-S) and the Ku¨bler Index (KI) has been investigated in the Cretaceous–Neogene, sedimentary syn-orogenic successions in the Northern Apennines (Italy). A strong relationship was found between maturity stages of kerogen, illite content in I-S and KI. The oil formation zone for continental organic matter (Type III), delimited by Tmax between 434 and 465ºC, corresponded to rocks with short-range ordering R1, I-S with illite content between 60 and 85% and KI values in the range 0.85–0.65 (ºΔ2θ). Over-mature rocks were characterized by Tmax >465ºC, a long-range ordered I-S with an illite content >85% and KI in the range 0.65–0.45 (ºΔ2θ). The relationship permits use of both mineralogical parameters and Tmax to estimate palaeotemperatures in sedimentary successions and it can be exploited in hydrocarbon research to evaluate the petroleum potential.

Keywords

Rock-Eval pyrolysisTmaxKübler Indexillite-smectitethermal maturitypalaeotemperaturespetroleum potential
Type
Research Article
Information
Clay Minerals , Volume 45 , Issue 1 , March 2010 , pp. 115 - 130
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2010

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