Petrological record of CO₂ influx in the Dongying Sag, Bohai Bay Basin, NE China

Dawsonite occurs in sandstones of the fourth member of the Shahejie Formation, Dongying Sag, Bohai Bay Basin, northeastern China. The paragenesis sequence, formation temperatures, carbon dioxide (CO₂) and aqueous medium origin of dawsonite from the Binnan Area were studied to understand the formation of dawsonite, as a possible mechanism for mineral trapping of CO₂ in carbon capture and storage (CCS) programs. The petrological and geochemical characteristics of the dawsonite-bearing sandstones were identified using polarizing microscope examination, scanning electron microscope, X-ray fluorescence, X-Ray diffraction and stable isotopic analyses. The paragenesis sequence of the authigenic minerals are mainly quartz overgrowth – early-stage calcite (A) – ferrocalcite– dawsonite – late-stage calcite (B) – ankerite – siderite. The carbon and oxygen isotope compositions of dawsonite reveal that δ¹³C values of dawsonite range from −2.27‰ to +3.50‰, indicating inorganic CO₂. The calculated δ¹³C values of CO₂ gas in isotopic equilibrium with dawsonite range from −7.2‰ to −1.6‰, suggesting that CO₂ originated mainly from degassing of mantle-derived magmas and partly from thermal decomposition of carbonate rocks, as supported by regional magmatic activities, rifting, and observation of carbonate during drilling in well Bin76. The δ¹⁸O values of dawsonite vary from +17.2‰ to +19.8‰, and the calculated δ¹⁸O values of H₂O in isotopic equilibrium with dawsonite range from −2.1‰ to +0.4‰. The mixed aqueous medium was mainly connate water, influenced by magmatic activities and meteoric water influx during the formation of dawsonite. According to oxygen isotope data, the formation temperatures of dawsonite in the Binnan Area range from 77 °C to 95 °C, which are consistent with the estimated paleo-temperatures (79 °C to 85 °C), indicating that the dawsonite formed at the late stage of the diagenetic phase. - Highlights: • CO₂ for forming dawsonite origins from mantle-magma degassing. • Dawsonite indicates CO₂ migration and accumulation. • Aqueous medium origin derived from C-O isotopic characteristics. • Formation temperatures of dawsonite derived from O isotopic characteristics.