Geochemical investigation of low latitude black shale intervals of the Lower to Middle Jurassic succession, Indus Basin, Pakistan

Abstract

The Lower to Middle Jurassic sedimentary succession is dominated by siliciclastics with a significant amount of black shales in the Indus Basin, Pakistan. Several outcrop samples have been studied using an integrated approach to interpret the conceptual depositional setting from carbon and oxygen isotopes (δ¹³C & δ¹⁸O), organic geochemistry, and palynofacies with major and trace element analysis. For interpretation of trace element data, various single and elemental ratios have been used in this research to unlock the geological history of the studied strata. Ti/Al is 1.96 for high-potential source rock and 7.82 for non-potential source rock, and Cr (less than 1) indicates low clastic input with low oxygen for stratified and stagnant water. The ratios of V/(V+ Cr), V/(V+ Ni), V/Mo, V/Ni, (Cu+ Mo)/Zn, Mo/Al, isotopic values of δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O and besides the V/Cr elemental ratio, all proxies indicate that there are oxygen-depleted anoxic conditions at high potentials, while in non-potential source rock, these ratios show oxic to sub-oxic settings. In addition to the trace element correlation with total organic carbon, the influx of organic matter is determined by the palynoafacies analysis, which indicates mixed terrestrial and marine organic influx in high-potential source rock and vice versa. Furthermore, the studies of palynofaceis DFPF A-D and SFPF A-B suggest that the depositional setting of black shale occurred in the anoxic proximal to distal shelf. The results suggest that the regional and local occurrence of black shale during the Lower to Middle Jurassic and its geological condition were addressed, and these play an important role in its depositional and paleooceanographic setting in the Eastern Tethys.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

black shale / Jurassic / trace elements / organic matter / Indus Basin / Pakistan

References

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Acknowledgments

The current research is facilitated by the Cooperation Basement of International Science and Technology on Deep Reservoir-forming Mechanism, China University of Petroleum (East China) and NCE in Geology, University of Peshawar (PSF/Res/KPK/PU/Earth (96)). We thank Professor Jin Qiang (China University of Petroleum, East China) for his support during the research process. Furthermore, the efforts of Mr. Nowrad Ali, Rahat Ullah (Department of Geology, UOP), and amateur geologist Mr. Hamza Khan Sherani during the field are worth to be mentioned and thanked for their moral, social and technical support.

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