Types, composition and diagenetic evolution of authigenic clay minerals in argillaceous limestone of sepiolite-bearing strata: A case study of Mao-1 Member of Middle Permian Maokou Formation, eastern Sichuan Basin, SW China

The types, occurrence and composition of authigenic clay minerals in argillaceous limestone of sepiolite-bearing strata of the first member of the Middle Permian Maokou Formation (Mao-1 Member) in eastern Sichuan Basin were investigated through outcrop section measurement, core observation, thin section identification, argon ion polishing, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, energy spectrum analysis and laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The diagenetic evolution sequence of clay minerals was clarified, and the sedimentary-diagenetic evolution model of clay minerals was established. The results show that authigenic sepiolite minerals were precipitated in the Si⁴⁺ and Mg²⁺-rich cool aragonite sea and sepiolite-bearing strata were formed in the Mao-1 Member. During burial diagenesis, authigenic clay minerals undergo two possible evolution sequences. First, from the early diagenetic stage A to the middle diagenetic stage A₁, the sepiolite kept stable in the shallow-buried environment lack of Al³⁺. It began to transform into stevensite in the middle diagenetic stage A₂, and then evolved into disordered talc in the middle diagenetic stage B₁ and finally into talc in the period from the middle diagenetic stage B₂ to the late diagenetic stage. Thus, the primary diagenetic evolution sequence of authigenic clay minerals, i.e. sepiolite–stevensite–disordered talc–talc, was formed in the Mao-1 Member. Second, in the early diagenetic stage A, as Al³⁺ carried by the storm and upwelling currents was involved in the diagenetic process, trace of sepiolite started to evolve into smectite, and a part of smectite turned into chlorite. From the early diagenetic stage B to the middle diagenesis stage A₁, a part of smectite evolved to illite/smectite mixed layer (I/S). The I/S evolved initially into illite from the middle diagenesis stage A₂ to the middle diagenesis stage B₂, and then totally into illite in the late diagenesis stage. Thus, the secondary diagenetic evolution sequence of authigenic clay minerals, i.e. sepiolite–smectite–chlorite/illite, was formed in the Mao-1 Member. The types and evolution of authigenic clay minerals in argillaceous limestone of sepiolite-bearing strata are significant for petroleum geology in two aspects. First, sepiolite can adsorb and accumulate a large amount of organic matters, thereby effectively improving the quality and hydrocarbon generation potential of the source rocks of the Mao-1 Member. Second, the evolution from sepiolite to talc is accompanied by the formation of numerous organic matter pores and clay shrinkage pores/fractures, as well as the releasing of the Mg²⁺-rich diagenetic fluid, which allows for the dolomitization of limestone within or around the sag. As a result, the new assemblages of self-generation and self-accumulation, and lower/side source and upper/lateral reservoir, are created in the Middle Permian, enhancing the hydrocarbon accumulation efficiency.