Evidence for a relationship between hydrocarbons and authigenic magnetite (original) (raw)

Nature volume 325, pages 428–430 (1987)Cite this article

Abstract

Establishing a relationship between hydrocarbon migration and the precipitation of authigenic magnetite in sedimentary rocks is of significant interest with respect to (1) elucidating mechanisms for remagnetization and establishing the origin of secondary magnetizations residing in magnetite, (2) developing a method to date hydrocarbon migration events by determining the time of remanence acquisition by palaeomagnetic methods, and (3) evaluating whether searching for anomalous concentrations of diagenetic magnetic minerals and/or aeromagnetic anomalies is justified as a relatively inexpensive exploration tool. The direct association of hydrocarbon migration and the precipitation of authigenic magnetite has, however, not been established. In this paper we report palaeomagnetic, rock magnetic, petrographic and geochemical results of a study of samples from Permian spelebthems and gilsonite found in the Ordovician Arbuckle Group in southern Oklahoma. The results indicate that there is a genetic relationship between hydrocarbon migration and the precipitation of authigenic magnetite.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Subscribe to this journal

Receive 51 print issues and online access

$199.00 per year

only $3.90 per issue

Buy this article

USD 39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Additional access options:

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bagin, V. I. & Malumgan, L. M. Izv. Akad. Nauk. SSSR, Fiz zeml 4, 73–79 (1976).
    Google Scholar
  2. Donovan, T. J., Forgey, R. L. & Roberts, A. A. Bull. Am. Ass. Petrol. Geol. 63, 245–248 (1979).
    Google Scholar
  3. Reynolds, R. L., Fishman, N. S., Hudson, N. R., Karachewski, J. A. & Goldhaber, M. B. Eos 64, 867 (1985).
    Google Scholar
  4. Reynolds, R. L., Fishman, N. S., Grauch, R. I. & Karachewski, J. A. Eos 65, 866 (1984).
    Google Scholar
  5. McCabe, C., Van der Voo, R., Peacor, D. R., Scotese, R. & Freeman, R. Geology 11, 221–223 (1983).
    Article ADS Google Scholar
  6. Wisniowieke, M. J., Van der Voo, R., McCabe, C. & Kelly, W. C. J. geophys. Res. 88, 6540–6548 (1983).
    Article ADS Google Scholar
  7. Kent, D. V. Geophys. Res. Lett. 12, 805–808 (1985).
    Article ADS Google Scholar
  8. Middleton, M. F. & Schmidt, P. W. J. geophys. Res. 87, 5351–5359 (1982).
    Article ADS Google Scholar
  9. Oliver, J. Geology 14, 99–102 (1986).
    Article ADS Google Scholar
  10. Elmore, R. D., Dunn, W. & Peck, C. Geology 13, 558–561 (1985).
    Article ADS Google Scholar
  11. Cochran, K. A. & Elmore, R. D. J. sedim. Petrol. (in the press).
  12. Elmore, R. D., Cochran, K. A. & Nick, K. E. Eos 67, 265 (1986).
    Google Scholar
  13. Zijderveld, J. D. A. in Methods in Paleomagnetism (eds Collinson, D. W., Creer, K. M. & Runcorn, S. K.) 254–286 (Elsevier, New York, 1967).
    Google Scholar
  14. McCabe, C. Eos 67, 265 (1986).
    Google Scholar
  15. Allan, J. R. & Mathews, R. K. Geology 5, 16–20 (1977).
    Article ADS CAS Google Scholar

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Geology and Geophysics, The University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, 73019, USA
    R. D. Elmore, M. H. Engel, L. Crawford, K. Nick & S. Imbus
  2. Cities Service Research, Box 3908, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 74102, USA
    Z. Sofer

Authors

  1. R. D. Elmore
  2. M. H. Engel
  3. L. Crawford
  4. K. Nick
  5. S. Imbus
  6. Z. Sofer

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Elmore, R., Engel, M., Crawford, L. et al. Evidence for a relationship between hydrocarbons and authigenic magnetite.Nature 325, 428–430 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1038/325428a0

Download citation

This article is cited by