Diagenetic F-rich ferroan calcite and zircon in the offshore Scotian Basin, eastern Canada: Significance for understanding thermal evolution of the basin

摘要

In the Scotian Basin, offshore eastern Canada, an unusual combination of high heat flow in the Cretaceous and the abundance of halite has resulted in unusual diagenetic minerals such as sphalerite. The Newburn H-23 well is the most distal well in the basin with good core samples and has two previously unknown diagenetic mineral occurrences: fluorine-rich ferroan calcite and diagenetic zircon. This study uses SEM backscattered electron images and EDS analyses, EMP WDS mineral analyses and Raman spectroscopy to determine mineral chemistry and textures to investigate the diagenetic and thermal significance of these minerals.