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Textural and geochemical micro-analysis in the interpretation of clay mineral characteristics: lessons from sandstone hydrocarbon reservoirs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2018

A. Hurst
A. Hurst*
Affiliation:
University of Aberdeen, Dept. of Geology & Petroleum Geology, King's College, Aberdeen AB24 3UE, UK
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Abstract

Back-scattered electron images of clay minerals from sandstones are used, together with complementary micro-analytical methods, to identify and quantify mineral microporosity and geochemistry. Clay minerals typically have a range of microporosity from 10 to >90% dependent on texture and paragenesis. Fibrous clays are highly microporous; detrital clays have low microporosity but specific clay minerals have broad ranges of microporosity. The often quoted mineral-chemical association between thorium (Th) and kaolinite cannot be substantiated by micro-analysis. The Th content of clay minerals is associated with micro-inclusions within the kaolinite which form diagenetically or are derived from precursor minerals.

Type
Research Article
Information
Clay Minerals , Volume 34 , Issue 1 , March 1999 , pp. 137 - 149
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 1999

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