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Relationships between sulphate reduction and oxidation of organic compounds to carbonate diagenesis, hydrocarbon accumulations, salt domes, and metal sulphide deposits

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Abstract

The association of dissolved sulphate species and organic compounds generally is thermodynamically unstable in diagenetic environments. Unless kinetically inhibited, reduction-oxidation reactions take place between dissolved sulphate and organic compounds. These reactions take place bacterially at temperatures up to about 85°C (equivalent to vitrinite reflectance of approximately 0.2–0.3% RO) and abiologically/thermochemically at temperatures in excess of about 100–135°C (equivalent to vitrinite reflectance of approximately >1.5% RO). Thereby, sulphate is reduced to sulphide (in the form of H2S, HS−, and S2−) and to elemental sulphur, and organic compounds are oxidized to solid bitumen, bicarbonate, and/or carbon dioxide. A number of minerals may precipitate if the respective cations are available in sufficient amounts: these include calcite, dolomite, siderite, ankerite, pyrite, sphalerite, galena, and other minerals. Secondary and tertiary porosity, as well as solution-collapse brecciation, may occur due to the dissolution of solid sulphates and/or carbonates.

Products of redox-reactions between sulphate and organic compounds are nearly ubiquitous in nature. In particular, hydrocarbon accumulations, salt domes, and several types of metal sulphide deposits (e.g. Mississippi-Valley-Type, base metal sulphide, and roll-type uranium deposits) are related genetically through these redox-reactions. Most commonly the reaction products occur in close association with carbonate and evaporite rocks that have been invaded by crude oil and/or natural gas. In some cases, however, long-distance migration of sulphate and/or metals is indicated.

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  1. Department of Geology, University of Alberta, T6G 2E3, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Hans G. Machel

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Machel, H.G. Relationships between sulphate reduction and oxidation of organic compounds to carbonate diagenesis, hydrocarbon accumulations, salt domes, and metal sulphide deposits. Carbonates Evaporites 4, 137–151 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03175104

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