<p>The present study focuses on delineation of the southern edge of the middle Devonian Prairie Evaporite (PE) in south-central Saskatchewan. The purpose of this work was to improve the accuracy and resolution of subsurface mapping by including additional information from well logs and seismic data not included in the previous studies.</p><p>Approximately 330 km of 2-D seismic data were integrated with horizon picks from 1334 well logs to improve the delineation of the southern margin of the PE. Thirteen seismic lines were re-processed with an emphasis on high-frequency imaging. The resulting seismic sections show marked improvement in the accuracy and resolution of mapping of the PE salt edges, with the estimated depth resolution improved to ~15 m. Seismic data indicate that salt dissolution structures were created by multistage processes. Salt collapses were identified within the body of the Prairie Evaporite and off-salt.</p><p>Well log data were combined with seismic results and gridded to create an updated map of the Prairie Evaporite. Different gridding methods provided different interpolations of the data set, particularly where the salt layer is thin near its margin. Incorporation of seismic interpretations resulted in 2-9 km changes in the positions of the salt edges derived earlier from well log and limited seismic interpretations. Therefore, integration of the seismic and well log data should increase the accuracy of the positions of the salt edge.</p><p>In order to evaluate the effects of the basin fill on regional gravity signatures and to determine whether the effect of the salt edge could be observed in gravity data, two gravity profiles crossing the salt collapse margin and the Trans-Hudson Orogen and the Wyoming Structural Province were analysed. Regional-scale gravity modeling showed that the transition from the Trans-Hudson Orogen to Wyoming Province was marked by deep-seated structures within the basemen. Detailed gravity modeling of a shorter profile well-constrained by seismic data showed that the salt collapses contribute ~0.4 mgal to the total anomaly of about 4 mgal. Although a direct observation of salt edge by gravity appears hardly feasible, performing high-resolution gravity survey with station interval ~100 m might still be useful to constrain the overburden and thereby help detect salt collapses.

<p>The present study focuses on delineation of the southern edge of the middle Devonian Prairie Evaporite (PE) in south-central Saskatchewan. The purpose of this work was to improve the accuracy and resolution of subsurface mapping by including additional information from well logs and seismic data not included in the previous studies.</p><p>Approximately 330 km of 2-D seismic data were integrated with horizon picks from 1334 well logs to improve the delineation of the southern margin of the PE. Thirteen seismic lines were re-processed with an emphasis on high-frequency imaging. The resulting seismic sections show marked improvement in the accuracy and resolution of mapping of the PE salt edges, with the estimated depth resolution improved to ~15 m. Seismic data indicate that salt dissolution structures were created by multistage processes. Salt collapses were identified within the body of the Prairie Evaporite and off-salt.</p><p>Well log data were combined with seismic results and gridded to create an updated map of the Prairie Evaporite. Different gridding methods provided different interpolations of the data set, particularly where the salt layer is thin near its margin. Incorporation of seismic interpretations resulted in 2-9 km changes in the positions of the salt edges derived earlier from well log and limited seismic interpretations. Therefore, integration of the seismic and well log data should increase the accuracy of the positions of the salt edge.</p><p>In order to evaluate the effects of the basin fill on regional gravity signatures and to determine whether the effect of the salt edge could be observed in gravity data, two gravity profiles crossing the salt collapse margin and the Trans-Hudson Orogen and the Wyoming Structural Province were analysed. Regional-scale gravity modeling showed that the transition from the Trans-Hudson Orogen to Wyoming Province was marked by deep-seated structures within the basemen. Detailed gravity modeling of a shorter profile well-constrained by seismic data showed that the salt collapses contribute ~0.4 mgal to the total anomaly of about 4 mgal. Although a direct observation of salt edge by gravity appears hardly feasible, performing high-resolution gravity survey with station interval ~100 m might still be useful to constrain the overburden and thereby help detect salt collapses.

No description available.

The study of lake sediments can provide valuable insights into lake history and climate variation throughout time. In-depth studies have been carried out at Lake Miragoane, Haiti and in high- and mid-elevation sites in the Dominican Republic, and a few other inland and coastal locations throughout the Caribbean; however, to date little has been published on prehistoric conditions in other coastal areas of Hispaniola. Laguna Alejandro (informally named by researchers) (~18.31°N, 71.03°W), on the southwest coast of the Dominican Republic, was examined to expand our knowledge of long-term environmental history in this region. This ~25 hectare lake is separated from the Caribbean Sea by a 100 m wide limestone ridge about 3–5 m tall. We recovered two consecutive cores (0–100 cm, 100–185.5 cm) close to the limestone barrier to investigate the potential for paleotempestology and other paleoenvironmental reconstructions. Three AMS 14C dates indicate that the lake is ~1100 years in age. Sediment analyses revealed three major events that correlate with bands of uncharacteristic sediment composition and particle size at 74–77.5 cm, 150.5–153 cm, and 183.5–185.5 cm. Four distinct strata containing serpulids and several pockets of Ammonia beccarii provided insights on changes in salinity and the connections between the lagoon and the ocean. The upper deposit (74–77.5 cm, 620 ±60 YBP) contains gypsum and represents a period of increased salinity within the lake brought on by drought. The two lower bands are composed of sand consistent with nearby beach sands. The 150.5–153 cm band provides evidence of a hurricane landfall at 1022 ± 60 YBP. The combination of biological data from 165–183.5 cm and sediments within the 183.5–185.5 cm band provide evidence for salinity fluctuations that indicate the closure of the lake. Sediments contained a variety of invertebrates that helped to document changes in lake chemistry through time. This study of Laguna Alejandro sediments documented lake history and provided information on recent climatic shifts in the region. / Master of Science

Ce manuscrit présente la dynamique des dépôts évaporitiques du bassin de Sivas en Turquie et évalue l’impact diagénétique de ces évaporites sur les analogues de réservoirs gréseux. Cette étude s’effectue dans un bassin d’avant-pays ayant la spécificité d’avoir enregistré une intense tectonique salifère, marquée notamment par la présence de mini-bassins oligo-miocènes. Les résultats présentés s’appuient sur des relevés cartographiques de terrain, des descriptions sédimentaires ainsi que sur des analyses pétrographiques et géochimiques.Les premières évaporites du bassin se forment à l’Eocène supérieur lorsque l’avant-pays perd progressivement sa connexion avec le domaine marin, en conséquence de la propagation de la chaine de plis et de chevauchements. La fermeture océanique s’accompagne d’une diminution drastique des apports clastiques. Les faciès turbiditiques évoluent alors vers des dépôts argilo-carbonatés propres à un bassin affamé et anoxique. Les évaporites commencent par précipiter dans des bassins en piggy-back précocement isolés du reste de l’avant-pays. Par surrection tectonique, ces dépôts subissent un démantèlement gravitaire qui induit des accumulations de gypses détritiques au front de la chaîne. Avec l’augmentation des conditions de salinité de l’ensemble du bassin, des plateformes évaporitiques s’établissent ensuite sur les domaines peu profonds et nourrissent en fond de bassin des turbidites de gypse. Enfin, dans un plan d’eau devenu peu profond, l’essentiel de l’avant pays est comblé par de la halite aujourd’hui lessivée en surface. Tout au long de l’Oligo-Miocène, les évaporites éocènes induisent des déformations halocinétiques. Les sels diapiriques sont alors dissous et recyclés sous forme de dépôts gypsifères qui précipitent en domaine continental, au sein d’environnements sebkhaïques à lacustres peu profonds. Ces évaporites de seconde génération ont pu connecter différents émissaires diapiriques pour constituer ce que nous nommons « une canopée resédimentée ». Les sulfates recyclés se sont également accumulés sur des émissaires diapiriques en cours de déflation pour ainsi former de véritables mini-bassins évaporitiques secondaires encapsulés. Sur toute la bordure nord du bassin, et en continuité latérale d’une canopée salifère, les évaporites recyclées ont formé des accumulations majeures de gypse sélénitique lacustre.L’étude diagénétique des grès continentaux de mini-bassins montre une paragenèse ayant été contrôlée au premier ordre par la composition minéralogique des grains détritiques. Ainsi, dans les grès fortement polygéniques, des fluides salins et alcalins probablement dérivés du lessivage des émissaires diapiriques ont interagi avec les grains réactifs pour induire la précipitation précoce de ciments analcitiques. Ces derniers paraissent également avoir été favorisés dans les mini-bassins isolés hydrographiquement par des reliefs diapiriques. Plus localement, des phénomènes de gypsification se sont produits au niveau de dépôts faillés ou fracturés et positionnés à proximité immédiate de structures salifères. Les fluides salins impliqués circulaient par l’intermédiaire de la porosité créée par l’endommagement tectonique.L’ensemble des résultats présentés trouvent des analogies avec d’autres bassins salifères, actuels ou anciens, affectés par des déformations halocinétiques en contexte continental (e.g. le bassin Précaspien, le bassin du Zechstein ou le Great Kavir en Iran). / This manuscript focuses on the various evaporitic systems of the Sivas Basin (Turkey) and assesses the diagenetic impact of saline fluid flow on silicoclastic reservoir analogues. This study takes place in a foreland basin that has the peculiarity of having recorded halokinetic deformations, as evidenced by outcropping Oligo-Miocene mini-basins structures. The results are based on geological field mapping and sedimentary descriptions complemented by petrographic and geochemical analyses.The first evaporites of the basin precipitated during the Late Eocene when the foreland progressively lost its connection with the oceanic domain, as a result of the northward propagation of the fold-and-thrust-belt. Such event first resulted in sediment-starved conditions, with siliciclastic turbidites grading to muddy- and organic-rich facies. The evaporites then formed in early isolated piggy-back basins and were subsequently reworked in the foredeep by tectonically-induced gravitational collapses. With increasing saline conditions, evaporitic platforms developed in shallow-water domains of the foreland, and fed gypsum turbidites in the deep-water setting. Finally, after the general establishment of shallow-water hypersaline conditions, most of the available space was filled by halite deposits, nowadays entirely dissolved at the surface.During the Oligo-Miocene, Eocene evaporites induced halokinetic deformations. The diapiric salts were then recycled as gypsiferous deposits precipitated in sabkha to shallow-water lacustrine setting within salt-walled mini-basins. Such evaporitic deposits of second-generation were able to connect different diapiric structures, forming what we define as a “resedimented canopy”. The recycled evaporites also accumulated in depleting diapiric stems, resulting in the development of peculiar encased evaporitic mini-basins. Finally, along the northern border of the basin, the recycled evaporites formed massive accumulations of lacustrine selenitic gypsum southward connected to a spreading salt canopy.The diagenetic study of Oligocene continental sandstones emplaced within mini-basins highlights a paragenesis controlled at first order by the detrital composition. For instance, in the less sorted sandstones, saline-alkaline fluids, probably resulting from the leaching of diapiric salts, interacted with reactive grains to produce analcitic cements at shallow burial. These cements also seem to have been favored in mini-basins that were hydrographically isolated by diapiric reliefs. More locally, in fractured to faulted sandstones close from a diapiric structures, the porosity has been early to lately occluded by gypsum cements. The saline fluids inducing such cementation were fed by the diapiric evaporites, and reached the reservoirs through the fracture or fault-related porosity.All of these results may find relevant analogies with other ancient or present-day evaporitic basins affected by halokinetic deformation in continental setting (e.g. the Precaspian Basin, the Zechstein Basin or the Great Kavir in Iran).

Paleokarst systems owe their complex geometries to the interaction between the karst aquifers and the host rock being dissolved. The majority of paleokarst research to date has considered dissolution of carbonate strata (James and Choquette 1987), but rapid and extensive dissolution of interstratified evaporites can be an important if largely undocumented style of paleokarst that may play an important role in near-surface environmental settings as well as providing a unique style of reservoir heterogeneity in the subsurface (Sando 1967, 1974, 1988; Smith et al. 2004). This study is designed to answer the question, “How do we recognize evaporite paleokarst as distinct from standard meteoric carbonate paleokarst?” using spectacular, laterally continuous exposures in the upper Madison Formation within Bighorn Canyon, Wyoming. Key characteristics of the Madison intrastratal evaporite karst complex were documented and contrasted with the top-Madison surficial karst system resulting in a suite of data that includes detailed section measuring, facies mapping using high resolution photo panels and ground based LiDAR for control. Hand samples, thin sections and x-ray diffraction analysis also contributed to this study. High resolution mapping of key surfaces, karst facies and petrophysical properties were used to develop a stepwise evolutionary model of the evaporite removal paleokarst complex. The interplay between surficial karstification, solution enhanced fractures, subsurface intrastratal evaporite dissolution, collapse and infill, were considered in constructing this model. Similar to standard meteoric paleokarst systems, the Madison evaporite paleokarst has been divided into 7 distinct karst “facies” including laminated cave floor fill, roof collapse chaotic breccias, and suprastratal dissolution complexes. Features proposed to be unique to evaporite paleokarst that will aid in future studies are (1) presence of relic gypsum breccia clasts within cave-fill facies, (2) the near absence of cave pillars or roof touch down within the chaotic breccia zones, indicating removal of a laterally extensive soluble stratum, (4) a striking absence of sub-cave floor breccias or fractures, (5) a distinct breccia matrix consisting of primarily autochthonous detrital dolomite with a minor component of allochthonous detrital clays from the overlying Amsden, suggesting that the bulk of the breccia matrix is locally sourced insoluble residue from evaporite dissolution, and finally (6) close facies associations of the depositional sequence suggesting that evaporites were a likely part of the original stratigraphic record in the Madison. These criteria are considered to be a solid starting point for an evaporite paleokarst model and should assist in the recognition of similar paleokarst breccias in the ancient rock record. / text

This thesis investigates the timing and mechanisms involved in the formation of evaporite piercement structures on Ellef Ringnes Island, Canadian Arctic Archipelago. The study includes the interpretation of industry seismic reflection and borehole data to characterize the geometry of the domes, 1D backstripping of wells to investigate the role of tectonic influences on diapirism, and analogue modelling to better understand the mechanisms that drive diapirs with dense anhydrite caps. I propose that basement structures played a significant role in the formation of evaporite domes by triggering and directing salt movement. The domes developed during the Mesozoic by passive growth driven by the differential loading of salt on adjacent fault blocks, which led to their present day asymmetric geometries. Diapir growth rates in the Mesozoic were closely linked to the rate of sedimentation, which was greatly influenced by the amount of accommodation space provided by tectonic subsidence of the basin.

This thesis investigates the timing and mechanisms involved in the formation of evaporite piercement structures on Ellef Ringnes Island, Canadian Arctic Archipelago. The study includes the interpretation of industry seismic reflection and borehole data to characterize the geometry of the domes, 1D backstripping of wells to investigate the role of tectonic influences on diapirism, and analogue modelling to better understand the mechanisms that drive diapirs with dense anhydrite caps. I propose that basement structures played a significant role in the formation of evaporite domes by triggering and directing salt movement. The domes developed during the Mesozoic by passive growth driven by the differential loading of salt on adjacent fault blocks, which led to their present day asymmetric geometries. Diapir growth rates in the Mesozoic were closely linked to the rate of sedimentation, which was greatly influenced by the amount of accommodation space provided by tectonic subsidence of the basin.

In this thesis, the potential of enhanced geothermal system to provide adequate energy to a 10 MW electricity power plant from Prairie Evaporite Formation of Williston Basin was investigated. This formation partly consists of halite with low thermal resistance and high thermal conductivity, which translates into a lower drilling length to reach the desired temperature, comparing to other rock types. To this end, two numerical models with experimental data in south-west Manitoba (i.e. Tilston) and south-east Saskatchewan (i.e. Generic) were designed. The thermal reservoirs were located at 1.5 km (Tilston site) and 3 km (Generic site) with approximate thicknesses of 118 m. Considering an injection brine of 6% NaCl at 15°C, the final derived temperature at wellhead of the production wells were 43°C and 105°C respectively. Finally, the Generic site was concluded as a suitable candidate for electricity production by providing higher surfaced fluid temperature than the minimum of 80°C. / February 2017

A Formação Teresina, Neopermiano da Bacia do Paraná, é uma unidade estratigráfica principalmente terrígena, com algumas ocorrências de fácies carbonáticas, sendo depositada durante a última fase regressiva do mar epicontinental da bacia. O ambiente deposicional da Formação Teresina, especialmente no que se refere às suas fácies carbonáticas, ainda é alvo de debate. As fácies carbonáticas da Formação Teresina e fácies evaporíticas associadas ocorrem em toda a formação, mas são mais frequentes no norte do Estado do Paraná e no sul do Estado de São Paulo, na porção superior da unidade. Esta região constitui a área de estudo desta dissertação, que visou interpretar os processos sedimentares básicos, assim como fatores tectônicos e climáticos que influenciaram a formação destes depósitos carbonáticos e evaporíticos. Para isto, foram utilizadas informações de poços e realizados levantamentos detalhados de seções colunares, com coleta de amostras para análises petrográfìcas por microscopia óptica e microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV). Foram identificadas e descritas oito fácies carbonáticas e/ou evaporíticas: mudstone com conchas de ostracodes, mudstone peloidal, packstone bioclástico, wackstone bioclástico, boundstone tabular, packstone-grainstone oolítico, brecha de mudstone-chert e chert enterolítico-nodular. O sistema deposicional foi interpretado como uma rampa carbonática com zona interna alta protegida por barreiras arenosas influenciadas por ondas e correntes associadas. Nas partes mais rasas, os períodos áridos e de intensa evaporação e baixo aporte terrígeno provocariam aumento da salinidade e induziria a deposição das fácies evaporíticas de chert enterolítico-nodular e brecha de mudstone-chert. A porção intermediária corresponderia à zona protegida da ação das ondas, com águas rasas e baixa energia. Isto permitiria a deposição de sedimentos finos por decantação, que constituem as fácies mudstone com conchas de ostracodes e wackstone bioclástico. Nesta mesma porção, as condições geoquímicas da água teriam incentivado atividade microbiana, gerando as fácies mudstone peloidal e boundstone tabular. Bandas ricas em dolomita identificadas em fácies de boundstone tabular no norte do Estado do Paraná estariam relacionadas com precipitação mineral induzida por atividade microbiana. Filamentos e nanoestruturas orgânicas observadas podem corresponder a remanescentes fossilizados de extracellular polymeric substance (EPS), usados por bactérias redutoras de sulfato nos processos de precipitação da dolomita-calcita. A ação das ondas causava agitação constante da água, o que originaria a sedimentação das fácies packstone-grainstone oolítico em baixios e das fácies heterolíticas terrígenas em zona distal entre o nível de base das ondas de tempo bom e o nível de base das ondas de tempestade. Mapas de isópacas e de frequência de ocorrência de calcários elaborados a partir da integração dos dados de poços e seções colunares demonstraram aumento da concentração de calcários no flanco norte do Arco de Ponta Grossa (APG). A espessura da formação aumenta em direção ao APG. Em algumas regiões próximas ao APG, as isópacas tornam-se paralelas ao eixo desta estrutura tectônica. Os resultados obtidos sugerem que o Arco de Ponta Grossa atuou como barreira geográfica que restringiu a entrada de águas do oceano vindas do sul e influenciou a deposição das fácies carbonáticas e evaporíticas. A restrição da circulação das águas promoveu o aumento da salinidade na área imediatamente ao norte do arco. Além disso, uma provável zona de convergência de ventos paralela ao Arco de Ponta Grossa e situada ao sul da área de estudo teria dificultado a entrada de massas de ar úmido provenientes do Oceano Panthalassa vindas de sul. Isto favoreceu a instalação de condições áridas na área de estudo. O significado tectônico e climático das fácies carbonáticas e evaporíticas da Formação Teresina podem auxiliar as correlações entre a Bacia do Paraná e bacias na África, tais como as bacias do Huab e Karoo, além de contribuir para reconstruções paleogeográficas do Gondwana no final do Permiano. / The Teresina Formation, Late Permian of the Paraná Basin, is mainly composed of terrigenous sediments, with some occurrences of carbonate and evaporite facies. It corresponds to the upper portion of the last regressive phase of the Paraná Basin epicontinental sea. The depositional system responsible for the carbonate and evaporite facies of the Teresina Formation is still target of discussion. These facies occur in a huge area of the basin, but they have a greater thickness and are more frequent in the north of the Paraná State and in the southern of the São Paulo State, in the upper portion of the formation. This region constitutes the study area of this dissertation in order to interpret the depositional processes as well as the tectonic and climatic factors acting during the formation of these deposits. The study included the interpretation of data from wells, detailed description of columnar sections, with sampling for petrographical analysis under the optical and scanning electron microscopes (SEM). Eight carbonate and/or evaporite facies were identified: mudstone with ostracod shells, peloidal mudstone, bioclastic wackstone, bioclastic packestone, tabular boundstone, oolitic packstone-grainstone, nodular and enterolithic chert and mudstone-chert breccia. The depositional system was interpreted as a carbonate ramp with a protected zone by growth of oolitic sand bars and sediment transport dominated by wave action and associated currents. In the inner regions, arid periods of intense evaporation and low terrigenous input would increase the salinity, causing the deposition of enterolithic and nodular chert and mudstone-chert breccia facies. The intermediate portion corresponds to a lagoon with shallow and low energy waters, allowing the deposition of fine grained sediments recorded in the mudstone with ostracod shells and bioclastic wackstone facies. In the same portion, the hypersaline conditions of the water would have stimulated microbial activity, promoting the deposition of peloidal mudstone and tabular boundstone facies. Dolomite bands identified in the tabular boundstone facies in the north of the Paraná State are enriched in organic matter and they would be associated to mineral precipitation induced by microbial activity. Organic filaments and nanostructures may correspond to fossilized remains of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS), which are used by sulfate-reducing bacteria in the precipitation of dolomite-calcite. The wave action remobilized bottom sediments, causing constant waters agitation. This induced sedimentation of oolitic packstone-grainstone facies in shoals and the terrigenous heterolithic facies between the fair-weather and storm wave bases. Maps of isopachs and frequency of occurrences of limestones show concentration of limestones in the north flank of the Ponta Grossa Arch (PGA). The thickness of the formation increases from south to north towards the PGA. In some regions near the PGA, isopachs are parallel to the axis of this tectonic structure. The obtained results suggest that the Ponta Grossa Arch influenced the deposition of the carbonate and evaporite facies of the Teresina Formation, acting as a geographical barrier that restricted the entry of ocean waters from south. This promoted reduced terrigenous input, low water circulation and the increase of salinity in the northern flank of the PGA. Furthermore, a possible winds convergence zone, parallel to the Ponta Grossa Arch, would affected the climatic conditions in the study region during the Late Permian, difficulting the northward migration of wet air masses coming from the Panthalassa Ocean. This favored arid conditions in the study area. The tectonic and climatic significance of the carbonate and evaporite facies of the Teresina Formation have important implications for correlations between the Paraná Basin and basins from Africa, such as the Karoo and Huab basins, as well as for paleogeographic reconstructions of the Gondwana in the Permian.