Skip to main content

ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Earth Sci.
Sec. Geochemistry
Volume 12 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/feart.2024.1450872

Sedimentary characteristics and evolution of the Upper Permian Wujiaping Formation in the eastern Yangtze Block

Provisionally accepted
Yuanchong Wang Yuanchong Wang 1Hao Li Hao Li 2*Chuanlong Mou Chuanlong Mou 3Weiwei Chen Weiwei Chen 3Chang Gao Chang Gao 3Wei Liang Wei Liang 3Binsong Zheng Binsong Zheng 4Qian Hou Qian Hou 3Yu Xia Yu Xia 3
  • 1 Yangtze Normal University, Fuling District, Chongqing Municipality, China
  • 2 Wuxi research institute of petroleum geology, Wuxi, China
  • 3 Chengdu Geological Survey Center, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
  • 4 Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    The Upper Permian Wujiaping (WJP) Formation in the Yangtze Block (Southern China) has been proven of great potential for shale gas exploration. However, the sedimentary characteristics and environment evolution of WJP Formation is poorly understood. Based on 260 hand specimen samples obtained from 18 sections and 1 borehole in eastern Yangtze Block, petrographic observation reveals that the WJP Formation is composed of eleven kinds of rock types. Combining with analyses of geochemistry compositions, the sedimentary facies belts of the WJP Formation are divided into shoreland, shallow-water shelf, deep-water shelf shoal, restricted platform and open platform. Bauxite was developed in the shoreland at the bottom of the WJP Formation, which is attributed to the Dongwu Movement. The formation of paleo-uplift exerted significant effect on palaeogeomorphology and led to major change of the sedimentary model from underlying stratum to the WJP Formation. During the lower WJP Formation sedimentary period, gradual transgression occurred in the eastern Yangtze Block, and the lithology was mainly composed of clastic rocks. Shoreland, shallow-water shelf, and deep-water shelf were developed northeastward in turn. In the period of the upper WJP, due to durative transgression, the area of the shoreland reduced southwestward. The lithology converted from clastic rocks into carbonates, and restricted platform and open platform were developed northeastward. A few patched shoals formed in the restricted platform.

    Keywords: sedimentary evolution, Geochemical Analysis, the Dongwu Movement, the Wujiaping Formation, Eastern Yangtze Block

    Received: 18 Jun 2024; Accepted: 11 Oct 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Wang, Li, Mou, Chen, Gao, Liang, Zheng, Hou and Xia. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Hao Li, Wuxi research institute of petroleum geology, Wuxi, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.