The ocean’s biological carbon pump of the Phanerozoic: Another accumulation mechanism of organic matter

doi:10.13745/j.esf.sf.2024.12.87

Abstract

Abstract:

Organic-rich fine sediments, i.e., so-called black shales, are the main target rocks for unconventional oil and gas exploration and development. Three fundamental models have been identified for the accumulation of organic matter within organic-rich fine sediments: (1) enhanced organic productivity, (2) enhanced organic matter preservation, associated with reducing conditions, and (3) low sedimentation rate. Importantly and interestingly, the ocean’s biological carbon pump of the Phanerozoic—a sophisticated process by which organic matter is exported through sinking particles (e.g., zooplankton and phytodetritus) and finally sequestered in the deep ocean—should be considered another important mechanism for organic matter accumulation in organic-rich fine sediments, in addition to the above three fundamental models. A set of organic-matter-rich tentaculitid shales, with a thickness exceeding 600 meters and relatively high total organic carbon (TOC) values (commonly >2%, up to 5%-6%), was concentrated and developed from the Emsian to Frasnian Age (Devonian) at the Tonggong section in Nandan County, Guangxi, within the central Dianqiangui Basin. These shales represent an excellent potential target for shale-gas exploration. Furthermore, the high-density preservation of tentaculitid fossils within the sapropel demonstrates that organic matter accumulation in these tentaculitid shales is genetically linked to the zooplankton biological carbon pump. Within the Luocheng Formation (Lower Carboniferous) at the Xiaochangan section in Luocheng County, Guangxi, mid- to thick-bedded organic-rich black shales constitute subtidal carbonate cycles together with mid- to thick-bedded limestones of the shallow ramp facies. The relatively high TOC (>2%) and the presence of plant fossil fragments within these organic-rich black shales might represent an example of organic matter accumulation genetically linked to the phytodetritus biological carbon pump. Thus, the accumulation of organic matter within organic-rich black shales of the inter-platform basin facies (represented by the Luzhai Formation of the Lower Carboniferous at the Tonggong section, characterized by single horizons exceeding 100 meters in thickness) was also promoted by a similar mechanism. Therefore, this work reflects that there are other mechanisms for organic carbon accumulation in addition to the classical anoxia vs. productivity models.

Key words: ocean’s biological carbon pump, accumulation of organic matter, organic-rich shale, Phanerozoic

CLC Number:

P736.213

MEI Mingxiang, WANG Hua, QIN Yinglun, HUANG Wenfang. The ocean’s biological carbon pump of the Phanerozoic: Another accumulation mechanism of organic matter[J]. Earth Science Frontiers, 2025, 32(5): 150-164.

Figures/Tables 8

References 79

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序号	层序归属	岩性	样品编号	TOC值/%
1	SQ₅海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TD-1	3.69
2	SQ₅海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TD-2	2.76
3	SQ₅海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TD-3	4.14
4	SQ₅海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TD-4	4.69
5	SQ₅海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TD-5	2.60
6	SQ₅海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TG-TD-1	3.53
7	SQ₅海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TG-TD-2	2.34
8	SQ₅海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TG-TD-3	3.94
9	SQ₅海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TG-YL-1	4.01
10	SQ₅海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TG-YL-2	2.75
11	SQ₅海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TG-YL-1	3.24
12	SQ₅海退期	陆棚相暗色页岩	TD-6	0.21

序号	层序归属	岩性	样品编号	TOC值/%
1	SQ₅海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TD-1	3.69
2	SQ₅海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TD-2	2.76
3	SQ₅海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TD-3	4.14
4	SQ₅海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TD-4	4.69
5	SQ₅海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TD-5	2.60
6	SQ₅海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TG-TD-1	3.53
7	SQ₅海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TG-TD-2	2.34
8	SQ₅海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TG-TD-3	3.94
9	SQ₅海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TG-YL-1	4.01
10	SQ₅海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TG-YL-2	2.75
11	SQ₅海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TG-YL-1	3.24
12	SQ₅海退期	陆棚相暗色页岩	TD-6	0.21

序号	层序归属	岩性	样品编号	TOC值/%
1	SQ₁海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TG-LZ-1	6.97
2	SQ₁海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TG-LZ-2	4.13
3	SQ₁海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TG-LZ-3	3.72
4	SQ₁海退期	陆棚相暗色页岩	TGLZ-1	0.28
5	SQ₁海退期	陆棚相暗色页岩	TGLZ-2	0.58
6	SQ₂海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TGLZ-3	1.45
7	SQ₂海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TGLZ-4	1.59
8	SQ₂海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TGLZ-5	3.78
9	SQ₂海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TGLZ-5(1)	5.80
10	SQ₂海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TGLZ-6	4.68
11	SQ₂海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TGLZ-7	5.19
12	SQ₂海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TGLZ-8	4.05
13	SQ₂海退期	陆棚相暗色页岩	TGLZ-9	1.86

序号	层序归属	岩性	样品编号	TOC值/%
1	SQ₁海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TG-LZ-1	6.97
2	SQ₁海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TG-LZ-2	4.13
3	SQ₁海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TG-LZ-3	3.72
4	SQ₁海退期	陆棚相暗色页岩	TGLZ-1	0.28
5	SQ₁海退期	陆棚相暗色页岩	TGLZ-2	0.58
6	SQ₂海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TGLZ-3	1.45
7	SQ₂海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TGLZ-4	1.59
8	SQ₂海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TGLZ-5	3.78
9	SQ₂海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TGLZ-5(1)	5.80
10	SQ₂海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TGLZ-6	4.68
11	SQ₂海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TGLZ-7	5.19
12	SQ₂海侵期	盆地相黑色页岩	TGLZ-8	4.05
13	SQ₂海退期	陆棚相暗色页岩	TGLZ-9	1.86

序号	岩性	样品编号	TOC值/%
1	陆棚相灰黑色页岩	QT-LC-1	3.37
2	陆棚相灰黑色页岩	QT-LC-2	4.14
3	陆棚相灰黑色页岩	QT-LC-3	3.47
4	陆棚相灰黑色页岩	QT-LC-4	3.64
5	陆棚相灰黑色页岩	QT-LC-5	0.82
6	陆棚相灰黑色页岩	QT-LC-6	2.43
7	陆棚相灰黑色页岩	QT-LC-7	0.76
8	陆棚相灰黑色页岩	QT-LC-8	1.16
9	陆棚相灰黑色页岩	QT-LC-9	1.35