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Dating penecontemporaneous AUTHORS

M. T. Cioppa ⬃ Earth Sciences, University of
dolomitization in carbonate Windsor, Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4, Canada;
mcioppa@uwindsor.ca
reservoirs: Paleomagnetic, Maria Cioppa is assistant professor of Earth
Sciences at the University of Windsor
petrographic, and geochemical (Canada), investigating the paleomagnetism
and rock magnetism of hydrocarbon-
constraints associated reservoir and source rocks in the
Western Canada and Williston basins. She
obtained her Ph.D. (1997) in geological
M. T. Cioppa, I. S. Al-Aasm, D. T. A. Symons,
sciences from Lehigh University
and K. P. Gillen
(Pennsylvania), her M.Sc. degree from the
University of Victoria (Canada), and her B.Sc.
degree from Carleton University (Canada).
ABSTRACT I. S. Al-Aasm ⬃ Earth Sciences, University of
Windsor, Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4, Canada;
The predominant dolomitization in the Mississippian Debolt For-
alaasm@uwindsor.ca
mation, Western Canada sedimentary basin was hypothesized to be
early in three gas fields, based on stable oxygen and carbon isotopic Ihsan Al-Aasm is professor of Earth Sciences
values and on strontium isotope ratios that are similar to postulated at the University of Windsor (Canada),
investigating chemical, isotopic, and
Mississippian dolomite values and seawater ratios, respectively. As
mineralogical aspects of diagenesis of
the absolute age could not be determined by this method, paleo-
carbonate and clastic rocks. Al-Aasm obtained
magnetism was used to place constraints on the age of the dolo- his Ph.D. from the University of Ottawa and
mitization. The magnetic analyses on Debolt specimens from the his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees from the
same wells revealed three magnetization components that could University of Baghdad.
be tied to geologic/diagenetic events: (1) a low-temperature
(⬍180⬚C), low-coercivity (⬍20 mT) A component found in all li- D. T. A. Symons ⬃ Earth Sciences,
thologies that is a combination of modern viscous and drilling-in- University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario N9B
3P4, Canada; dsymons@uwindsor.ca
duced magnetizations; (2) a dominant B component removed be-
tween 180 and 350⬚C or 20 and 80 mT in all lithologies that is a David Symons is a university professor and
Cretaceous chemical remanent magnetization; and (3) a residual professor of Earth Sciences at the University
high temperature (⬎350⬚C) and coercivity (⬎80 mT) C compo- of Windsor (Canada). After a year as a
postdoctoral fellow at the University of
nent of primary or early diagenetic origin that is found mostly in
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom, and
the fine-grained limestone and dolomitic muds. The preservation
three years as a research scientist at the
of a primary or early diagenetic magnetization, combined with the Geological Survey of Canada, he joined the
preservation of primary isotopic values, indicates that little or no University of Windsor in 1970, where he
extrabasinal fluid flow is likely to have occurred. Thus, in this par- teaches geophysics and structural geology.
ticular area, orogenically induced fluid flow cannot explain the pres- Symons holds a B.A.Sc. degree in geological
ence of the Cretaceous B magnetization. Consideration of the po- engineering, a Ph.D. from the University of
tential methods for forming this B component suggests that it is Toronto, and an M.A. degree from Harvard
likely an in-situ chemical remanence resulting from either hydro- University.
carbon migration or dissolution and reprecipitation of Fe-rich min-
K. P. Gillen ⬃ Vox Terrae International,
erals in the original pore fluids. #40, 820–9a Street N.W., Calgary, Alberta,
Canada T2N 1V1; kpgillen@cadvision.com
Kevin Gillen is president of Vox Terrae
International, a company he formed in 1994
Copyright 䉷2003. The American Association of Petroleum Geologists. All rights reserved. that studies various aspects of fractured
Manuscript received March 20, 2000; provisional acceptance February 28, 2001; revised manuscript reservoirs using log and core information.
received August 10, 2001; final acceptance August 22, 2002.

AAPG Bulletin, v. 87, no. 1 (January 2003), pp. 71–88 71


After completing his M.Sc. degree at the
University of Alberta in 1988, he joined Shell
Canada Research. Gillen obtained his B.Sc.
degree (1985) in geological engineering from
the University of Windsor (Canada).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We thank Anderson Oil and Gas Ltd. and Tex-
aco Ltd. for permitting paleomagnetic and
geochemical sampling of their core. We also
thank Jeff Packard for providing considerable
information on the Dunvegan field. Stephanie
Van Hoekelen, Julie Clarke, and Jeff Lonnee
aided in petrologic and geochemical sampling
and analysis. Reviews of an earlier version of
this article by Bruce Fouke, David Budd, and
Jon Humphrey have greatly benefited the arti-
cle. Funding was provided by a Natural Sci-
ences and Engineering Research Council grant
to D. T. A. Symons and I. S. Al-Aasm.
72 Dating Penecontemporaneous Dolomitization in Carbonate Reservoirs
Search Index Search Results Contents
INTRODUCTION
The Western Canada sedimentary basin (WCSB) contains numer-
ous oil and gas fields in Ordovician–Tertiary carbonate and clastic
strata. Reservoir porosity in carbonate successions is commonly sec-
ondary and is controlled by the intensity and degree of dolomiti-
zation of the original limestone. The age of dolomitization event(s)
in the WCSB has been hotly debated; however, much of the evi-
dence is indirect, relying on petrologic and geochemical constraints
rather than absolute age dating, as the usual isotopic age-dating
minerals are scarce or absent in these rocks.
Paleomagnetic techniques can be used to determine absolute
ages in the following manner. The magnetic signal or remanence
recorded by a specimen consists of three factors: declination, incli-
nation, and intensity. Rock formation at a specific latitude and lon-
gitude induces a characteristic declination and inclination as the
magnetic grains are aligned with the Earth’s magnetic field. Con-
tinental drift changes the observed latitude and longitude of the
specimen but not the induced declination and inclination of the
specimen; conversely, it appears as if the position of the Earth’s
magnetic field axis or pole is changing or wandering. Paleomagne-
tists have used this property to construct time-dependent apparent
polar wander paths (APWPs) for individual continents, for exam-
ple, North America (Van der Voo, 1990; Besse and Courtillot,
1991), that can be used as references to date observed magnetic
remanences. In addition to the primary magnetization generated at
the time of rock formation, major geologic events commonly create
a secondary magnetization from the precipitation of new magnetic
minerals or from the chemical alteration or thermal resetting of
previously existing magnetic minerals (McCabe and Elmore, 1989).
Both the primary and secondary magnetic remanence directions can
be compared to a reference APWP (Van der Voo, 1990; Besse and
Courtillot, 1991) to determine the time at which the magnetization
was acquired.
Thus, paleomagnetic techniques applied to dolomitized reser-
voir specimens may determine one or more of the following: (1)
the original depositional age, (2) the timing of any secondary mag-
netic remanences that correspond to significant tectonic or chemical
events, and (3) the timing of formation of new secondary minerals
(cf. Cioppa et al., 1998; Lewchuk et al., 1998; Lonnee et al., 1998).
In practical terms, (2) and (3) allow the dating of major diagenetic
events, such as fluid flow and hydrocarbon migration, as long as the
petrographic relationships are well understood and the geochemical
signatures are quantified.
Most dolomite studies in the WCSB (see Symons et al. [1999]
for summary; Lewchuk et al., 1998; Cioppa et al., 2001) have a
dominant Cretaceous magnetization, and these results have been
used to infer that Laramide-induced fluid flow created the mag-
netization (Symons et al., 1999). The geochemical data from the
dolomites are partially to totally inconsistent with deposition from
seawater at the time of rock formation. The combination of the
 Search Index
geochemical and paleomagnetic data suggests that do-
lomitization in many reservoirs occurred as a result of
large-scale fluid flow caused by the Laramide orogeny.
This conclusion has significant implications for the pe-
troleum exploration industry.
However, previous petrologic and geochemical in-
vestigations on the dolomites of the upper Debolt For-
mation (Mississippian) of the WCSB have suggested
that dolomitization and the creation of reservoir po-
rosity in the Dunvegan and associated gas fields (Figure
1) were early penecontemporaneous, very shallow bur-
ial processes that occurred during the middle Missis-
sippian (Visean). The original petrographic and geo-
chemical attributes have apparently survived a long
burial history (Al-Aasm and Packard, 2000). Thus, the
major purpose of our study is to examine the magnetic
information from the Dunvegan, Cindy, and Belloy
reservoirs to determine whether dolomite formation
can be accurately and absolutely age dated by paleo-
magnetic methods and whether such age dating sup-
ports or negates Al-Aasm and Packard’s (2000) hy-
pothesis. If a concordance of the geochemical,
petrologic, and paleomagnetic data exists, the hypoth-
esis of pervasive fluid flow in this region must be
reevaluated.
Figure 1. Location map for the fields sampled for our study, Dunvegan, Cindy, and Belloy in west-central Alberta, Canada.
Search Results Contents
GEOLOGIC SETTING
The Debolt Formation is the uppermost unit in the
Carboniferous Rundle Group and is overlain by the
shales of the Golata Formation that form the base of
the Stoddart Group (Figure 2). The Rundle Group
consists of carbonate platform and ramp deposits,
along with minor siliciclastics and evaporites. The De-
bolt Formation contains limestone and dolostone with
minor amounts of shale, anhydrite, siltstone, and sand-
stone. The Upper Debolt Formation of northwestern
Alberta, sampled for this study, has been informally
divided into five units by Law (1981), consisting of
carbonate units and argillaceous units. Production
zones at the Dunvegan field lie within the uppermost
argillaceous unit. This unit consists of a succession of
stacked sabkha cycles of thinly interstratified carbon-
ate, evaporite, and siliciclastics, which are individually
less than 2 m thick (Al-Aasm and Packard, 2000).
The Dunvegan field is the second-largest carbon-
ate-hosted nonreefal gas reservoir in the WCSB (Al-
Aasm and Packard, 2000). The trap consists of a two-
way updip closure, formed by orthogonally positioned
normal faults. Petroleum also accumulated in strati-
graphic traps, sealed by supratidal anhydrite and
Cioppa et al. 73
 Search Index Search Results Contents

and before the Late Cretaceous, and that hydrocarbon

Peace River
Age Plains
charging of the reservoir with thermogenic gases oc-
curred in the Late Cretaceous.

Taylor Flat
Kiskatinaw METHODS
MORROWAN
Carboniferous

Golata
320
Three wells from the Dunvegan field and one well from
SERPUKHOVIAN Debolt each of the Cindy and Belloy fields were sampled for
this study (Table 1).
352
VISEAN Petrography and Geochemistry
Banff
One hundred thirteen samples were collected for
360
Exshaw petrographic and geochemical analysis from as close
Trout River to the paleomagnetic plug samples as possible to
Devonian

TOURNAISIAN Wabamun compare the paleomagnetic data to the geochemical

367
Kakisa-Redknife
FAMENNIAN
Figure 2. Stratigraphic column for the Peace River arch area
in west-central Alberta, showing the Mississippian Debolt For-
mation, sampled for this study.
organic-rich shales within the Debolt Formation and
above it in the Golata Formation. The Dunvegan,
Cindy, and Belloy fields fall on a northwest-southeast–
trending line (Figure 1). The reservoir porosity is mi-
crointercrystalline and occurs in dolomitized subtidal
muds that commonly preserve the primary fabrics. Al-
Aasm and Packard (2000) suggested that the reservoir
porosity was created in the middle Mississippian (Vi-
sean), that trap formation occurred after the Triassic
data. Fifty-four thin sections were examined using
both standard petrography and cathodoluminescence
(CL) microscopy. The CL microscopy was done on
a Technosyn cold cathodoluminescence stage with a
12–15 kV beam and a current intensity of 420–430
lA. Additionally, fluorescence characteristics were
examined with a Nikon EPI Fluorescence stage con-
nected to a petrographic microscope. Four polished
slabs were etched with acetic acid for 3 min and ex-
amined under a JEOL-JSM-5800 LV Scanning Elec-
tron Microscope. Major, minor, and trace element
analyses (Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, and Sr) were performed
on doubly polished carbon-coated thin sections using
a Cameca Camebax SX50 Electron Microprobe An-
alyzer equipped with three crystal spectrometers and
a backscattered electron detector. Operating condi-
tions were 25 kV acceleration voltage and a beam
current of 6 nA with a beam diameter of 1–10 lm.
Standards used were CaSiO3 (Ca), MgO (Mg),
Fe2O3 (Fe), MnTiO3 (Mn), and SrCO3 (Sr). Preci-

Table 1. Field and Well Information

Field Well Reference Name* Depth Sampled** (m) Magnetic Samples† Geochemical Samples††
Dunvegan 6-16-81-4W6 AD06 1422.18–1453.80 15 (44) 6 (4) [1]
Dunvegan 8-10-80-3W6 AD08 1412.58–1451.39 43 (127) 21 (18) [1]
Dunvegan 10-24-80-4W6 AD10 1450.78–1472.54 10 (29) 9 (2) [3]
Cindy 6-28-77-26W6 TA06 1508-92–1530.11 16 (48) 8 (11) [2]
Belloy 8-31-79-2W6 TA08 1471.00–1494.96 19 (59) 9 (7) [0]
*Reference name is the University of Windsor laboratory internal reference for a well, used thoughout this paper.
**Depth sampled is the range over which samples were taken.
†
Number of plugs drilled (total number of samples from that well).
††
Number of thin sections (number of stable isotope samples) [number of strontium isotope samples].

74 Dating Penecontemporaneous Dolomitization in Carbonate Reservoirs

 Search Index
sion was better than 0.5 mol % for all elements. Be-
cause of the low concentrations of Fe, Mn, and Sr,
the electron microprobe (EMP) data are considered
here to be semiquantitative. Nevertheless, efforts
were made to have a detection limit better that about
50 ppm by performing the analyses on the basis of
the strongest wavelengths for these elements.
Oxygen and carbon isotopes were extracted from
selected dolomite and calcite samples (n ⳱ 41) using
a microscope-mounted drill assembly. Only dolomite
samples that were physically separated to represent
pure phases were analyzed. The samples were reacted
in vacuo with 100% pure phosphoric acid for at least
4 hr at 25⬚C for calcite and 50⬚C for dolomite using
the method described by Al-Aasm et al. (1990). The
evolved CO2 gas was analyzed for isotopic ratios on a
SIRA-12 mass spectrometer. Values of O and C iso-
topes are reported in per mil (‰) relative to the Peedee
belemnite (PDB) standard and were corrected for
phosphoric acid fractionation. Precision was better
than 0.05‰ for both d18O and d13C. Strontium iso-
topes were analyzed for selected dolomite and anhy-
drite samples (n ⳱ 12). Sr isotopic ratios were mea-
sured on a Finnigan MAT 261 mass spectrometer
equipped with nine collectors. All analyses were per-
formed in the static multicollector mode using Re fil-
aments. Correction for isotope fractionation during the
analyses was made by normalization to 86Sr/88Sr ⳱
0.1194. The mean standard error of mass spectrometer
performance was 0.00003 for NBS-987.
Paleomagnetism
Paleomagnetic collection and orientation methods are
described in Cioppa et al. (2000a). Prior to analysis,
the specimens were stored in a magnetically shielded
room with a field intensity of much less than 1% of the
Earth’s magnetic field to allow the least stable labora-
tory magnetization components to decay. All measure-
ments and demagnetization treatments occurred
within the shielded room, minimizing the possibility
of the samples acquiring spurious magnetizations. The
natural remanent magnetization (NRM) of each spec-
imen was measured using a Canadian Thin Films cry-
ogenic magnetometer (CTF-420) that can measure a
magnetization component down to about 5 ⳯ 10ⳮ6
A/m for a standard paleomagnetic specimen. Pilot
specimens were subjected to either alternating field de-
magnetization in about 25 steps from 2 to 140 mT
using a Sapphire Instruments SI-4 AF demagnetizer or
to thermal demagnetization in about 30 steps from 80
Search Results Contents
to 580⬚C using a Magnetic Measurements MMTD-1
thermal demagnetizer.
The term “component,” as used in paleomagne-
tism, refers to a single magnetization direction, com-
monly associated with a specific magnetic mineral
phase, deposited or formed as the result of a geologic
event, for example, formation of a rock, cooling from
high temperatures, or a metamorphic event. The in-
dividual remanence vector components were obtained
from the specimens using the method of Kirschvink
(1980). Most components were defined over at least
three demagnetization steps and had maximum angu-
lar deviation angles of less than 13⬚. Component means
for groups of specimens were calculated using Fisher
(1953) statistics. Correction of the magnetization di-
rections for borehole deviation was not necessary be-
cause all of the wells were drilled vertically.
Rock magnetic experiments were done to help de-
termine the mineralogy and grain size of the dominant
magnetic minerals in the samples. Isothermal rema-
nent magnetization (IRM) acquisition paths were mea-
sured by progressively magnetizing the specimen in an
increasing direct field in 15 steps up to a maximum of
900 mT using a Sapphire Instruments SI-6 pulse mag-
netizer. The specimen was then demagnetized in 10
steps up to 100 mT to provide information on mag-
netic grain size.
RESULTS: PETROGRAPHY AND
GEOCHEMISTRY
Petrography and Microfacies
Five lithofacies were identified within the sampled
cores: (1) a mudstone facies, consisting of fine-grained
primary lime and/or secondary dolomitic (in places
fabric-destructive) mudstone; (2) a brown lime wacke-
stone facies, containing minor fossils; (3) a packstone
facies, typically containing brachiopods, gastropods,
ooids, and peloids; (4) a grainstone facies; and (5) an
evaporite/mudstone facies, consisting of massive and
chickenwire nodular anhydrite or gypsum with dolo-
mitic mud or organic stringers between nodules. A cy-
clic meter-scale shallowing-upward peritidal succes-
sion is apparent in all cores sampled. At the base of the
succession, microfacies 1 and 2, the limy or dolomitic
mudstone and wackestone, represent a shallow, open-
marine or subtidal environment. Microfacies 3 and 4,
the lime grainstone and packstone, overlie this facies
and represent a protected marine intertidal setting.
Cioppa et al. 75
 Search Index
Typically, the dolomitic mudstone is then overlain by
microfacies 5, the evaporitic mudstone at the top of
the succession, representing a restricted marine sabkha
environment. This cyclicity is thought to represent the
initial rapid flooding of supratidal flats, the reestablish-
ment of a restricted shallow subtidal-intertidal carbon-
ate-dominated lagoon, and the subsequent prograda-
tion of peritidal flats and sabkhas (Al-Aasm and
Packard, 2000).
Diagenesis
The Upper Debolt carbonates have undergone early,
penecontemporaneous diagenetic modifications rep-
resented mainly by dolomitization and later events
represented by compaction, minor secondary anhydri-
tization, dolomite recrystallization, and calcite cemen-
tation (Figure 3). The paragenetic sequence shown in
Figure 3 was based on petrographic relationships and
geochemical evidence. Many of the diagenetic events
are facies controlled or fabric selective.
Dolomitization
Four types of dolomite have been distinguished: (1)
early matrix dolomite, (2) selective replacement do-
lomite, (3) dolomitic cement, and (4) dolomite asso-
ciated with dissolution seams. Early matrix dolomite is
restricted to the oxidized muds of the mid-intertidal
to supratidal facies. It replaces fine-grained carbonate
mud of the burrowed, highly restrictive shallow sub-
tidal facies (facies 1 and 2), and it is commonly asso-
ciated with nodular anhydrite and gypsum (Figure 4).
The dolomite forms 5–10 lm crystals with planar-E
fabric (Sibley, 1982) (Figure 4). This dolomite is highly
EVENT
Dolomitization
Early matrix
Selective replacement
Dolomitic cement
Dissolution seam
Anhydrite
Fabric-destructive
Pseudomorphic
Calcite cementation
Figure 3. Paragenetic se- Bladed/prismatic
quence determined for the Isopachous rim cement
Dunvegan, Cindy, and Belloy Sparry calcite cement
fields, showing the major diage- Syntaxial overgrowth cement
netic events occurring during Chemical compaction/dissolution
the burial history. See text for
Hydrocarbons
discussion.
76 Dating Penecontemporaneous Dolomitization in Carbonate Reservoirs
Search Results Contents
nonstoichiometric (average CaCO3 mol % ⳱ 60.0)
(Table 2), typically has high intercrystalline porosity,
and is poorly ordered (Al-Aasm and Packard, 2000).
In some samples, this dolomite shows evidence of par-
tial recrystallization noted by a small increase in crystal
size and small negative shift in d18O and d13C values
(see following sections).
Selective replacement dolomite occurs primarily
in the grainstone and in minor amounts in the pack-
stone facies. It is partly fabric destructive, sometimes
pervasive, replacing both matrix and fossil compo-
nents, and is associated with moldic porosity in the
grainstone lithofacies. Individual dolomite crystals
range in size from 20 to 50 lm and have a planar-E
fabric (Figure 5A). Under ultraviolet light, this dolo-
mite shows a bright green core and a green rim (Figure
5B). Rims seem to be partly dissolved. This dolomite
is also nonstoichiometric (average CaCO3 mol % ⳱
61.1) (Table 2).
Dolomite cement crystals occlude voids in early
matrix dolomite and in lime mudstones (Figure 4C).
This dolomite ranges in size between 20 and 30 lm,
and it is also nonstoichiometric (Table 2). The disso-
lution-seam-associated dolomite (Figure 5C) is 10–25
lm in diameter and has a planar-E fabric. This minor
component is associated with dissolution seams in the
grainstone and packstone lithofacies.
Sulfates
Anhydrite is present as primary nodules in the evapo-
rite/mudstone facies (Figure 4A) and as secondary,
fabric-destructive anhydrite occurring in the mud-
stone, wackestone, and packstone facies. Pseudomor-
Shallow Deep
 Search Index
Figure 4. (A) Core photograph showing nodular anhydrite (Y)
and interbedded dolomite stringers (X). (B) Scanning electron
microscope image of late calcite cement (shown by arrows) in
fine-grained matrix dolomite. (C) Relatively coarse-grained do-
lomite cement in early diagenetic dolomite matrix.
phic anhydrite replaces gypsum and dolomite in the
evaporite/mudstone, lime mudstone, and wackestone
facies, and it may have formed during the progressive
burial stage.
Search Results Contents
100µm
100µm
200µm
Figure 5. (A) Photomicrograph in polarized light showing se-
lective replacement dolomite crystals in limestone. (B) Photo-
micrograph in ultraviolet light showing zoned selective replace-
ment dolomite crystals (arrow). (C) Photomicrograph in
polarized light of dissolution-seam-associated dolomite in lime-
stone (bright spots by the arrows).
Calcite Cement
Calcite cementation occurred during an early shallow
burial stage and during a deeper burial stage (Figure 3)
and affected reservoir porosity to variable degrees.
Bladed/prismatic cements formed early in the diage-
netic sequence and are found infilling fossil pore spaces
Cioppa et al. 77
 Search Index Search Results Contents

Table 2. Microprobe Data for Dolomites and Calcites of This Study

Element CaCO3 (normalized mol %) MgCO3 (normalized mol %) Mn (ppm) Fe (ppm) Sr (ppm)

Microdolomite
Range 60.52–61.48 38.46–39.45 0 120–249 0
Mean — — — — —
No. of Samples 2 2 2 2 2

Selective Replacement Dolomite

Range 59.73–62.88 36.87–40.18 0–216 0–3006 0–45
Mean 61.34 38.42 36.58 12.25 9.4
No. of Samples 12 12 12 12 5

Dolomite Core
Range 62.52 37.44 0 0 176
Mean — — — — —
No. of Samples 1 1 1 1 1

Dolomite Rim
Range 61.82 37.84 0 1383 305
Mean — — — — —
No. of Samples 1 1 1 1 1

Calcite Matrix
Range 98.58–98.99 0.91–1.41 0 0 282–528
Mean — — — — —
No. of Samples 2 2 2 2 2

Calcite Cement
Range 99.34–1.0 0–0.59 0–32 0–456 0–413
Mean 99.74 0.21 5.33 76 169.5
No. of Samples 7 7 7 7 7

in the grainstone facies. Isopachous rim cement sur-
rounds peloids in the grainstone facies. Inclusion-free,
ferroan, equant and blocky sparry calcite cement (30–
50 lm) occludes intraparticle porosity of fossils in
grainstone, packstone, and wackestone facies. In the
grainstone facies, a syntaxial, inclusion-free over-
growth cement forms on crinoid fragments.
Stable Isotope Geochemistry
Stable isotope values in dolomite range from Ⳮ4 to
ⳮ6‰ d18O PDB (Peedee belemnite) and from Ⳮ4 to
ⳮ1‰ d13C PDB (Figure 6). Early matrix dolomite as-
sociated with the sabkha facies has the heaviest d18O
values (average approx. 2‰) and d13C values (average
approx. 3.5‰). These values are similar to modern do-
lomite from the Arabian Gulf’s sabkha (McKenzie,
1981). Matrix dolomite that shows some evidence of
minor recrystallization, such as a slight increase in crys-
tal size, has about 2‰ depleted oxygen and carbon
isotopic values relative to the postulated Mississippian
and/or Holocene values (Figure 6). In contrast, coarser
dolomite that selectively replaces fossils and matrix has
more depleted oxygen and carbon isotopes and also
shows a covariant trend between these two isotopes.
Isotopic determinations of many of the calcitic fossil
and matrix components have values that fall within the
estimated range for Mississippian limestone (Popp et

78 Dating Penecontemporaneous Dolomitization in Carbonate Reservoirs

 Search Index Search Results Contents

al., 1986; Brand, 1989) (Figure 6). However, other Stage III Stage II Stage I
samples show some depletion in both isotopes. 4
Mississippian Limestone

Sr-Isotope Geochemistry Calcite 3

Microdolomite
Recrystallized or
The 87Sr/86Sr values of the early matrix dolomite (Fig- pervasive dolomite 2
ure 7) are comparable with the estimated middle Mis-
Mississippian
sissippian seawater values (Denison et al., 1994). The 1
Dolomite
87
Sr/86Sr value for coexisting chickenwire nodular an- δ O (PDB)
18

hydrite also coincides with Mississippian seawater

-8 -6 -4 -2 2 4

δ13C (PDB)
composition (approx. 0.7077) (Figure 7).
-1

Minor and Trace Element Analysis

Table 2 shows microprobe data for both dolomite and
calcite samples from this study. The early matrix do-
lomite has undetectable Sr and Mn concentrations and
low Fe values. The selective replacement dolomite has
higher Fe and Mn values (Table 2). Microprobe anal-
ysis of these dolomite crystals shows higher Fe and Sr
concentrations in the rim than in the core. Geochem-
ical analysis of calcite matrix and calcite cement shows
that both components are low Mg, and there are higher
Fe, Mn, and Sr concentrations in the cement than in
the matrix.
RESULTS: PALEOMAGNETISM AND
MINERAL MAGNETISM
Magnetic Mineralogy and Grain Size
The minerals that carry a magnetization may include
magnetite, pyrrhotite, hematite, or a combination of
these. The magnetization intensity varies from mineral
to mineral, and the stability of the magnetization is
dependent on the magnetic grain size. Thus, one of the
major goals in our study was to determine the magnetic
mineralogy and grain size in the samples.
Three lithologies were sampled: dolostone, lime-
stone, and anhydrite. The limestone and dolostone
specimens had initial NRM intensities of between 1 ⳯
10ⳮ4 and 5 ⳯ 10ⳮ3 A/m, whereas the initial NRM
intensities in the anhydrite specimens were commonly
less than 5 ⳯ 10ⳮ5 A/m. These values indicate low
magnetic mineral concentrations, with the anhydrite
specimens having intensities only an order of magni-
tude above the noise level of the magnetometer.
The behavior of the magnetizations during thermal
demagnetization is a function of the magnetic miner-
alogy. A mineral cannot carry a stable remanence
-2
13 18
Figure 6. d C and d O isotope results for calcitic and do-
lomitic components. Postulated Mississippian seawater dolomite
and calcite values are also plotted; these values are postulated
to be the isotopic values for calcite and dolomite deposited at
this time. The three diagenetic stages of dolomitization are also
shown (see text for details).
above its Curie temperature. For example, a magneti-
zation carried by pyrrhotite can be removed by tem-
peratures of about 320⬚C, magnetite at 580⬚C, and he-
matite at 680⬚C. The term “unblocking temperature or
temperatures” is used to indicate the temperatures
over which the magnetization is removed. In our study,
thermal demagnetization indicates that magnetite and/
or pyrrhotite are the main magnetic minerals present
in the dolostone and limestone specimens. On thermal
demagnetization of the specimens, there is commonly
only a minor discrete drop in magnetic intensity be-
tween 280 and 320⬚C, indicating minor pyrrhotite
within a gradual decrease from 280 to 400⬚C. The
magnetization directions commonly remain defined to
about 450⬚C, indicating that magnetite is present.
There is little or no evidence of hematite or goethite
during either alternating field (AF) or thermal demag-
netization, suggesting that these minerals are not pres-
ent. The intensity of the anhydrite specimens was so
weak that demagnetization analysis was not possible.
Remanence Directions
As discussed previously, the term “component” refers
to a magnetization direction commonly associated
with a magnetic mineral. The magnetic mineral could
have been deposited or formed as the result of various
geologic events (e.g., formation of a rock, cooling
from high temperatures, or a metamorphic event). The

Cioppa et al. 79

Figure 7. Strontium isotope
results from anhydrite, matrix
0.70870
dolomite, and recrystallized ma-
0.70850
trix dolomite and selective dolo-
mite samples. DSW is defined 0.70830
as the difference between the
87 0.70810
Sr/86Sr ratios of the sample
and of modern seawater multi-
87
Sr
86 0.70790
plied by 105. The solid lines Sr
represent the Denison et al. 0.70770
(1994) errors enclosing 76% of 0.70750
data. The dotted lines indicate
the variation reported in 0.70730
Denison et al. (1994) as modi-
0.70710
fied from the original data of
Burke et al. (1982). 0.70690
Tr
normal working hypothesis is that the youngest com-
ponents, created the most recently, are removed first
at low temperatures or coercivities, whereas the oldest
component, that of the age of rock formation, is re-
moved last. To resolve different components, the in-
clination and declination for each demagnetization
step are resolved into north, east, and horizontal con-
stituents. These data are plotted on an orthogonal de-
magnetization or Zijderveld plot (Zijderveld, 1967)
(Figure 8). On this plot, if the inclination and decli-
nation do not change during demagnetization, the
steps form a straight line to the center of the graph. If
there are two components, the plot either shows two
straight line segments, which indicates that the first
component has been completely unblocked, or shows
a curve, which indicates that the two components are
being unblocked simultaneously.
The results for our study suggest that a maximum
of three magnetization components are present in the
specimens (Table 3). The first-removed and presum-
ably youngest component, hereafter termed A, is re-
moved at temperatures of less than 175⬚C and alter-
nating fields of less than 20 mT. As the specimens were
from depths of greater than 1.5 km, where formation
temperatures were about 50–75⬚C, the estimated
time-temperature relationship suggests that this com-
ponent is either a drilling-induced magnetization or a
viscous magnetization induced by the presence of the
present Earth’s magnetic field. This A component is
invariably of normal polarity (north at the present
80 Dating Penecontemporaneous Dolomitization in Carbonate Reservoirs
Search Index Search Results Contents
-20
Matrix Dolomite
Anhydrite -40
Recrystallized Dolomite
-60
-80
-100
∆sw
-120
-140
-160
-180
-200
-220
Permian Carboniferous Dev.
north pole) with the exception of one segment, which
had probably been returned upside-down to the core
box by previous workers.
The second component, B, is typically removed
between 175 and 325⬚C or 20 and 80 mT (Figure 8).
Again, this component is primarily of normal polarity;
however, two plugs in the collection show that this
component can be reversed, that is, north at the pres-
ent south pole (AD0841 and AD0842). The unblock-
ing temperatures suggest that the B component must
be carried by pyrrhotite or a combination of magnetite
and pyrrhotite.
The presence of a third component, C, was in-
ferred from the fact that the B component commonly
does not form a straight line toward the center of the
graph but instead a curve (Figure 8B), suggesting that
two components are being unblocked simultaneously.
In this case, the changes suggest that the magnetization
inclination is decreasing from about 75⬚ to about 30⬚.
The simultaneous unblocking makes the determination
of the C component direction more difficult. However,
the probable direction of the C component can be ap-
proximated by plotting remagnetization circles, that is,
plotting the changing directions on a stereonet and see-
ing where the directions converge. This shallowing
trend is apparent at temperatures of greater than
350⬚C and alternating fields of greater than 80 mT
(Figure 8), indicating that the C component must be
carried by magnetite, because of its unblocking tem-
peratures. Although inclination shallowing is apparent
 Search Index Search Results Contents

(A) N, Up (B) in the Dunvegan field are almost vertical, an indication

N, Up that the A component was probably formed during
175⬚ 0.2 80⬚
NRM 300⬚ 390⬚
275⬚
drilling. However, in the Cindy field, there is little evi-
500⬚
Component 475⬚ W E dence of a separate A component, suggesting no drill-
0.2 C
E 0.4 0.2 ing-induced remanence or present Earth’s field over-
W 400⬚
410⬚ Component
print. The Belloy field specimens show evidence of
B both a drilling-induced remanence (steep) and the

Normalized Intensity
0.2 0.2
Component
225⬚ present Earth’s magnetic field. Examination of Figures
Normalized Intensity
B 350⬚
1 and 10 shows that the behavior of the A component
300⬚
0.4 is correlated with the spatial distribution of the fields.
Previous work (Shi and Tarling, 1997) has indi-
Component cated that metastable magnetic minerals such as pyr-
A 0.6
Component
0.6 rhotite are more susceptible to vibration, or shock-in-
A
125⬚ duced, remanences, such as those induced by drilling.
The relative amounts of pyrrhotite were determined
0.8 80⬚
by calculating the intensity lost between 275 and
NRM 325⬚C for each field. The Dunvegan, Belloy, and Cindy
NRM 1.0 fields lost, respectively, 5–12, 3–9, and 2–6% of their
1.0
S, Down S, Down intensity between these temperatures. The result sug-
Figure 8. Normalized orthogonal demagnetization plots for gests that the pyrrhotite content of the specimens is
representative specimens from the Dunvegan field on step ther- highest in the Dunvegan field and lowest in the Cindy
mal demagnetization. The mudstone specimen (A) shows evi- field. The change in pyrrhotite content best explains
dence for three components (A, B, C), whereas the grainstone why the Dunvegan field shows the strongest evidence
specimen (B) shows evidence for only two (A, B). Each point for a drilling-induced remanence and suggests that the
represents a single demagnetization step. The plots overlie two A component is probably due to the presence of
separate graphs: on one, the east and north constituents of the shocked pyrrhotite. This variation in the pyrrhotite
magnetization show the projection of the direction on a hori- content could reflect original depositional influences or
zontal plane (circles), and on the other the east and horizontal later diagenetic influences.
constituents show the projection of the magnetization in the The oriented B component plots on the APWP
vertical plane (squares). Units on the x and y axes are normal-
near the Late Cretaceous segment (Figure 11). This
ized magnetization intensity (intensity at step/natural remanent
component is similar in age to magnetizations in other
magnetization intensity).
carbonate studies of the WCSB (see Symons et al.
[1999] for summary). The B–C remagnetization cir-
cles plot from the Cretaceous segment of the APWP
in many of the samples, regardless of lithology, evi- to just east of the Mississippian segment of the path
dence for the C component was most apparent in very (Figure 11); the latter is the depositional age of the rock
fine grained samples, that is, the limy and dolomitic (Figure 2). We note that the average inclination of the
mudstones (Figure 9). B component is 3–4⬚ steeper than expected, and the
B–C remagnetization circles on Figure 11 converge
slightly east of the APWP. This suggests that the cores
DISCUSSION may have deviated by a very few degrees from true
vertical, despite the fact that the records indicate a ver-
Origin and Spatial Variation in Magnetization Components tical hole.

The spatial distribution of the different components, Origin of Dolomite

when combined with paleomagnetic and rock mag-
netic data, can be used to determine information about Lithofacies association, mineralogy, and sediment
the origin of the magnetizations. In the stereonets of composition can be used to interpret the origins of the
Figure 10, changes in the directions of the components three major dolomites. The presence of normative
during step demagnetization have been plotted for cycles, commonly capped by chickenwire nodular an-
each well. We note that the lowest temperature steps hydrite, suggests a typical sabkha system. The early

Cioppa et al. 81
 Search Index Search Results Contents

Table 3. Oriented Core Segment Data*

A component B component
Segment Dec (⬚) Inc (⬚) ␣95 k Dec (⬚) Inc (⬚) ␣95 k

AD06-1 339.9 86.3 4.9 190.73 311.9 79.2 4.2 251.5

AD06-3 43.0 85.6 3 211.2 311.9 80.8 2.5 303.1
AD06-4 333.6 78.2 16.2 14.8 318.2 76.5 10.4 55.4

AD08-1 316.8 68.5 9.7 39.5 318.3 78.5 5.7 113.3

Ad08-2 258.2 80.4 6.1 122.7 310.2 77.7 3.4 181.6
AD08-3 439.4 77.5 6.3 27.6 311.2 81.2 8.0 22.2
AD08-4 297.0 84.7 9.5 30.3 308.3 79.3 6.9 56.3
AD08-5 356.2 77.1 6.6 71.2 309.1 76.9 10.7 33.1
AD08-6 340.9 79.3 9.2 32.5 310.4 86.6 11.8 19.9
AD08-7 433.7 86.4 8.4 20.4 308.2 82.1 12.0 9.8
AD08-8 280.1 79.7 7.6 16.6 309.7 73.7 11.0 7.9

TA06-1 294.0 73.1 12.3 18.6 307.7 77.2 4.2 174.8

TA06-2 287.9 82.0 6.4 20.1 323.6 88.2 6.5 29.3
TA06-3 287.3 67.9 11.2 36.4 313.3 72.3 11.8 33.1

TA08-1 316.3 85.4 9.6 30.0 310.0 80.4 6.5 63.7

TA08-2 271.6 86.3 11.5 21.1 313.4 80.2 6.0 86.2
TA08-3 355.7 83.0 8.1 23.2 311.3 80.5 3.6 133.3
TA08-4 336.4 82.0 7.9 43.4 319.8 77.6 1.7 923.0
TA08-5 396.6 78.7 10.5 18.1 310.6 79.5 5.1 74.2
*Orientation correction was made using a combination of (a) the paleolatitudinal arc/apparent polar wander path technique and (b) remagnetization circle technique
as outlined in Cioppa et al. (2000b). Dec ⳱ declination; Inc ⳱ inclination; ␣95 ⳱ cone of 95% confidence about the mean direction; k ⳱ Fisher precision
parameter.

matrix dolomite is highly nonstoichiometric and ex-
tremely finely crystalline, similar to Holocene sabkha
dolomites (McKenzie, 1981). The Mg-rich brines,
probably derived from Mississippian seawater in this
environment, led to the replacement of carbonate mud
by the early matrix dolomite, as well as to the precipi-
tation of primary evaporites (e.g., McKenzie, 1981;
Perkins et al., 1994). The d18O (approx. Ⳮ2‰) and
d13C (approx. Ⳮ3.5‰) values and 87Sr/86Sr ratios
(average 0.7078) of this early matrix dolomite are also
consistent with precipitation from hypersaline marine-
derived fluids, as was observed previously by Al-Aasm
and Packard (2000). Al-Aasm and Packard (2000) sug-
gested that this dolomite had escaped diagenetic alter-
ations during a long burial history to a depth of about
4 km and to temperatures in excess of 100⬚C. There is
no other way to explain the stable isotope and stron-
tium isotope values observed in the early matrix do-
lomite. The retention of the textural, crystallographic,
and geochemical attributes of this dolomite argues for
a rock-buffered diagenetic system in a closed or semi-
closed hydrologic environment. However, some of the
matrix dolomite shows petrographic and geochemical
evidence for partial recrystallization (e.g., Al-Aasm,
2000).
The timing of the formation of the selective re-
placement dolomite in the grainstone facies is con-
strained by the fact that this dolomite is coarser than
early matrix dolomite, is zoned, has more depleted
negative oxygen and carbon isotopes than early matrix
dolomite, has high Fe concentrations, predates chem-
ical compaction, and has an association with moldic
porosity. We envisage that this dolomite formed at
shallow burial depths from mixed meteoric-marine flu-
ids. A similar interpretation was given by Durocher
and Al-Aasm (1997) to explain the formation of per-
vasive dolomite in the Upper Debolt Formation in
northeastern British Columbia. The covariant trend

82 Dating Penecontemporaneous Dolomitization in Carbonate Reservoirs

 Search Index Search Results Contents

Figure 9. Stereonets of ther-

A
N

30⬚
B N

30⬚
mally demagnetized specimens
from (A) mudstone facies,
S S
(B) mudstone and wackestone
60⬚ 60⬚ facies, and (C) wackestone and
packstone or grainstone facies.
NRM NRM Note that the finer grained
W E W E specimens of A and B show
more of a change from the
original direction (NRM) than
do the coarser grained speci-
mens in C, suggesting that the
finer grained rocks retain more
of the original remanence (see
S S text for discussion). The solid
N
circles indicate specimens from
C 30⬚
S
the mudstone facies, white cir-
cles the wackestone facies, and
gray circles the packstone or
60⬚
grainstone facies.

W NRM E

between oxygen and carbon isotopes supports this in-
terpretation (cf. Muchez and Viaene, 1994; Frank and
Lohmann, 1995). The zoning in this dolomite may re-
flect a change in pore-fluid chemistry. Some of the
zoned dolomite shows evidence of partial dissolution
(Figure 6) along crystal edges. This could be related to
the effect of meteoric water exposure during the shal-
low burial stage or to later chemical compaction at in-
termediate burial depths. The formation of dolomite
that is associated with dissolution seams, although very
minor in volume, is related to chemical compaction
and probably occurred at intermediate burial depths
(cf. Durocher and Al-Aasm, 1997; White and Al-
Aasm, 1997).
Geochemically, and to some extent petrographi-
cally, a three-stage dolomitization/alteration sequence
of events is apparent in the studied rocks (Figure 6).
During stage I, penecontemporaneous dolomitization
commenced in the mud-dominated sabkha facies and
is characterized by the exceptional preservation of iso-
topic and crystallographic characteristics. Shortly after,
during the very shallow burial stage and in an almost
rock-buffered system, a slight modification of the do-
lomite crystal size was accompanied by very small neg-
ative shifts of 1–2‰ in oxygen and carbon isotopes
(stage II in Figure 6). Petrographically, this stage is
sometimes difficult to discern (cf. Gregg et al., 1992).
However, this dolomite is still highly nonstoichiome-
tric. In stage III, modification of early dolomite and
formation of selective dolomite in grainstone facies
may have been influenced by meteoric water–seawater
interaction during shallow burial.
Paleomagnetism and Geochemistry: Contradictory or Not?
Previous geochemical studies suggest that the Debolt
Formation has some unusual characteristics near the
Peace River arch (e.g., Al-Aasm and Packard, 2000).
Most Mississippian and Devonian formations in the
WCSB have undergone significant postdepositional
geochemical alteration, commonly ascribed to either
burial recrystallization or hydrothermal alteration

Cioppa et al. 83
 Search Index Search Results Contents

Figure 10. The mean direc- N N

tions for individual demagneti-
zation steps (NRM, 10, 20 mT
⳱ alternating field [AF] demag-
A S
AF
B S
AF
Thermal
netization; NRM, 80, 125, 175⬚C Thermal NRM
⳱ thermal demagnetization)
from (A) Dunvegan, (B) Belloy, NRM
and (C) Cindy fields, plotted on W E
70⬚ 80⬚ 90⬚ 70⬚ 80⬚ 90⬚
stereonets. These are the steps
that would reveal the presence
of a drilling-induced magnetiza- Dunvegan Belloy
tion or a magnetization induced
by the present Earth’s magnetic
field. Note that each field N
shows a different result during S S
these steps (see text for de-
tails). All means were plotted in
the lower hemisphere.
C NRM AF
Thermal

W 70⬚ 80⬚ 90⬚ E

Cindy

(e.g., Mountjoy and Amthor, 1994; White and Al-
Aasm, 1997). However, much of the limestone and
dolostone from the Debolt Formation sampled in the
Dunvegan, Cindy, and Belloy fields has stable isotope
and strontium isotope signatures that are very close to
postulated Mississippian values for limestone and do-
lostone (Figures 6, 7). Although there is petrographic
evidence for a somewhat complex diagenetic history,
the diagenetic events do not appear to have signifi-
cantly altered the geochemistry of the carbonates in the
three fields, suggesting that there has been little post-
Mississippian extrabasinal fluid influx in this area. The
paleomagnetic results show a strong Cretaceous com-
ponent, along with a weaker primary or early diage-
netic component, which is most apparent in the very
fine grained lime mudstones and dolomitic mudstones.
The fact that the magnetization retains even a trace of
a primary original direction reinforces the idea that lit-
tle extrabasinal fluid influx has occurred, noting that in
every other reservoir study in the WCSB where the
stable isotope values in the dolomite are not primary,
the original magnetization has been totally removed
(Cioppa et al., 1998; Lewchuk et al., 1998; Lonnee et
al., 1998). Thus, the geochemical data and the indi-
cations of a late Paleozoic magnetization component
are consistent with the suggestion that a dolomitization
event occurred early in the diagenetic history of these
fields, and we are reasonably confident that the C com-
ponent constrains the time of early matrix dolomite
formation to the late Paleozoic.
Tying the formation of the Cretaceous-age B-com-
ponent chemical remanent magnetization to a specific
event in the diagenetic sequence is more difficult. The
selective replacement dolomite is an obvious candi-
date; however, the B component is found throughout
all core lithologies, implying that it is not necessarily
associated with dolomitization. By eliminating the con-
straint of association with dolomitization, we can pre-
dict four possible ways for the B component to form,
generally independent of lithology and depositional en-
vironment. First, thermal resetting of the magnetite
and/or pyrrhotite could have occurred during the Cre-
taceous, with the timing defined by correlation with
the APWP. Second, a chemical remanence could have

84 Dating Penecontemporaneous Dolomitization in Carbonate Reservoirs

 Search Index
formed from in-situ dissolution and reprecipitation of
the magnetic minerals during the Cretaceous. Third, a
chemical remanence could have formed from the pre-
cipitation of magnetic minerals due to influx of fluids
from outside the basin, again during the Cretaceous.
Fourth, Laramide orogenesis could have induced a pie-
zoremanent (stress) magnetization in magnetite.
Of the four possibilities, the first is unlikely be-
cause of the high temperatures needed to reset the
magnetization. Pullaiah et al. (1975) and Cioppa et al.
(2000a) produced time-temperature curves for mag-
netite and pyrrhotite, respectively, showing that min-
imum temperatures necessary for resetting magnetite
are about 500⬚C and for pyrrhotite are about 225⬚C.
Therefore, an explanation using thermal resetting
would imply a minimum burial depth of 7.5 km, using
a normal geothermal gradient. This is highly unlikely.
Additionally, the low conodont alteration index values
seen in the Cambrian and Ordovician strata of the ba-
sin (1–1.5) (G. Nowlan, 2001, personal communica-
tion) suggest that such high temperatures have not
been reached.
For the fourth possibility, previous work has
shown that magnetite can undergo internal restructur-
ing and remagnetization during orogenesis due to im-
posed stress (Hudson et al., 1989; Housen et al., 1993).
In this case, deformation would have occurred inter-
nally and might not be evidenced by petrographic or
Search Results Contents
Figure 11. Apparent polar
wander path for stable North
America (Besse and Courtillot,
1991; Van der Voo, 1993).
PEMF ⳱ present Earth’s mag-
netic field. Squares indicate
A component segment means;
circles indicate B component
segment means. Dotted lines
are representative B–C compo-
nent remagnetization circle
paths (see Figure 9).
paleomagnetic examinations. We note that, although
minor twinning in calcite and dolomite was present,
there was no indication of wavy birefringence, such as
could be produced by strain. Although this possibility
is considered unlikely, it cannot be totally eliminated.
The third possibility, that of chemical remanence
formed by extrabasinal fluid flow, is inconsistent
with the geochemical evidence and, indeed, as dis-
cussed previously, inconsistent with the presence of a
C component. Therefore, the second possibility, that
of an in-situ chemical remanence, is the preferred ex-
planation by elimination, although the possibility of
a piezoremanent remagnetization cannot be entirely
excluded.
By definition, a chemical remanent magnetization
results from the formation of new magnetic minerals.
Although the B component is most probably an in-situ
chemical remanence, at least two potential diagenetic
events still could have resulted in its formation. Hy-
drocarbon migration into either a previously formed
reservoir or a reservoir being formed during thrust
faulting could result in changes in redox conditions to
partially dissolve and reprecipitate magnetic minerals
(Machel, 1995). Alternatively, precipitation of new
magnetic mineral crystals may have occurred during
burial. Evidence of chemical dissolution is observed
around the rims of the selective replacement dolomite
crystals, and the microprobe data suggest that the rims
Cioppa et al. 85
 Search Index
have a high Fe content. A simple calculation suggests
that an iron concentration of only about 10 ppb is suf-
ficient to generate the magnetization intensities ob-
served; therefore, the Fe-rich rims with an Fe concen-
tration of greater than 1000 ppm could act as a source
of Fe for a chemical remanent magnetization.
The impetus for this research project was the pet-
rologic and geochemical evidence for early penecon-
temporaneous dolomite in the Dunvegan, Cindy, and
Belloy gas fields. Paleomagnetic analysis suggests that
a depositional or early postdepositional remanence is
indeed partially preserved. The preservation of this
early C component magnetization implies that large-
scale extrabasinal fluid flow probably did not occur in
this area. However, a Cretaceous (B component) rem-
anence is also present, similar to those seen in other
studies of the WCSB, that has been postulated to result
from orogenically induced fluid flow (Symons et al.,
1999). The results presented in this article suggest that,
at least locally, the omnipresent Cretaceous remagne-
tization seen in the WCSB cannot be attributed solely
to orogenically induced fluid flow and that some other
mechanism must contribute to its presence in the
Peace River arch area.
Although this result is certainly of interest to pe-
troleum exploration geologists in this region, we must
emphasize that we have not resolved the problem re-
garding the origin and age of the abundant white saddle
dolomite (Presqu’ile or Manatoe type) that is com-
monly associated with secondary reservoir porosity in
the WCSB. Saddle dolomite was not observed in the
sampled formation and was not dated in our study.
Thus, the controversy about its age and origin remains.
CONCLUSIONS
1. Four major dolomitization events have been
identified in the paragenetic sequence: penecon-
temporaneous early matrix dolomite, selective re-
placement dolomite, dolomite cement, and disso-
lution-seam-associated dolomite. The early matrix
and selective replacement dolomite are facies
controlled.
2. Stable isotope values from the early matrix dolo-
mite are similar to, or only slightly depleted relative
to, postulated Mississippian seawater dolomite val-
ues. The depletion is suggested to have occurred as
the result of recrystallization. The selective replace-
ment dolomite has stable isotope values that are de-
pleted and that have a covariant trend away from
86 Dating Penecontemporaneous Dolomitization in Carbonate Reservoirs
Search Results Contents
the Mississippian values, suggesting formation from
a mixed meteoric/marine fluid.
3. Strontium isotope ratios in the early matrix dolo-
mite and primary anhydrite are similar to, or only
slightly enriched relative to, Mississippian seawater
ratios.
4. Three magnetizations were observed in the Debolt
Formation. The oldest C component is Mississip-
pian–Permian in age, the B component is Creta-
ceous in age, and the A component is probably due
to a combination of viscous remanence from the
present Earth’s magnetic field and a drilling-in-
duced remanence.
5. The presence of the C component in both limy and
fine-grained dolomitic mudstones corroborates ear-
lier work that suggested that the dolomite formed
early in the diagenetic sequence. It also corroborates
the suggestion that there has been little extrabasinal
fluid influx in this area. Our study is the first time
any indication of a depositional or early diagenetic
magnetization has been found solely in dolomite of
the WCSB in Alberta (Symons et al., 1999), al-
though a depositional magnetization was found in
anhydrite and dolomite in the Shell Waterton field
(Lewchuk et al., 1998). All other work on Paleozoic
dolomites has isolated Cretaceous components,
similar to the B magnetization
6. The geochemical and petrologic data have not iso-
lated an obvious magnetic mineralogical phase that
correlates to the dominant B component that is
present in the limestone and the dolomite. The B
component is most probably a secondary in-situ
chemical remanence that is postulated to have
formed in one of two ways. Hydrocarbon migration
through the Debolt Formation into the reservoir
may have changed chemical conditions to the ex-
tent that the original magnetic mineralogy was
chemically altered, or dissolution of the zoned iron-
rich selective replacement dolomite crystal rims
during burial may have resulted in the precipitation
of magnetic minerals. A less likely alternative is that
an internal restructuring of magnetite or pyrrhotite
caused by strain could have resulted in the B com-
ponent formation.
REFERENCES CITED
Al-Aasm, I. S., 2000, Chemical and isotopic constraints for recrys-
tallization of sedimentary dolomites from the Western Canada
sedimentary basin: Aquatic Geochemistry, v. 6, p. 227–248.
 Search Index
Al-Aasm, I. S., and J. J. Packard, 2000, Stabilization of early-formed
dolomite: a tale of divergence from two Mississippian dolo-
mites: Sedimentary Geology, v. 131, p. 97–108.
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88 Dating Penecontemporaneous Dolomitization in Carbonate Reservoirs