Carbon and oxygen isotope characteristics of carbonate rocks in the Mesoproterozoic Jixian System of the Ordos Basin and their implications

Abstract

The paleoenvironment of Jixian carbonate rocks in the Mesoproterozoic Ordos Basin is studied by carbon and oxygen isotope analyses, diagenetic environment analysis, and the restoration of paleosalinity and paleotemperature. The results indicate that the carbonate rocks of the Jixian System have always been in a near-surface environment and have not been deeply buried. The ranges of variation in δ¹³C_PDB and δ¹⁸O_PDB are relatively narrow, ranging from − 5.75 to 1.41‰ and − 8.88 to − 4.01‰, respectively, which is consistent with the stable tidal flat sedimentary environment during the Mesoproterozoic in the study area. The paleosalinity (Z) values range from 111.7 to 127.1, and the paleotemperature (T) values range from 32.7 to 57.33 °C, indicating a relatively warm paleoclimatic environment during the Mesoproterozoic era in the study area. The analysis shows that in a warm paleoclimatic environment, although carbon and oxygen isotopes, Z, and T have certain fluctuations, their ranges are relatively small, reflecting to some extent the stable tectonic environment of the study area during the Mesoproterozoic era. Comprehensive research shows that the Ordos Basin had a warm climate and a stable tectonic environment in the Mesoproterozoic, which may be a good response to the North China Block's position near the equator and continuous thermal subsidence in the Mesoproterozoic.