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dc.contributor.advisorMcIntosh, Jennifer
dc.contributor.authorKim, Jihyun
dc.creatorKim, Jihyun
dc.date.accessioned2022-05-18T20:53:34Z
dc.date.available2022-05-18T20:53:34Z
dc.date.issued2022
dc.identifier.citationKim, Jihyun. (2022). Hydrogeochemical Evolution of Basinal Fluids in the Paradox Basin: Implications for Sources, Paleofluid Flow, Residence Time, and Water-Rock-Gas-Microbe Interactions (Doctoral dissertation, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA).
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10150/664249
dc.description.abstractUnderstanding evolution of paleofluid flow through the Earth’s shallow crust is important for water, mineral, and energy resource management, including extraction of subsurface resources and storage of alternative energy and waste products. The migration of water, gas, and life between surface and deep subsurface systems and its consequence by water-rock-gas-microbe interactions can be evaluated by characterizing hydrogeochemical features of fluids (e.g., formation water and natural gas) in sedimentary basins. This study focuses on the Paradox Basin in the Colorado Plateau, which has iconic manifestations of multiple episodes of paleofluid flow, including widespread sandstone bleaching, ore mineralization (e.g., Cu; U; Fe; Mn), and hydrocarbons, CO2, and He accumulation. Based on molecular and isotopic signatures in formation water and natural gas samples, the origin, types, composition, distribution, and residence time of remnant fluids in the Paradox Basin have been evaluated to constrain the hydrochemical and geological histories responsible for paleofluid flow and solute transport. Highly evaporated paleo-seawater derived brines (i.e., connate brines), associated with the Pennsylvanian Paradox Formation evaporites, migrated into adjacent under- and/or over-lying formations through faults by compaction. These H2S- and hydrocarbon-bearing reduced, saline fluids were responsible for much of the sandstone bleaching in overlying Triassic-Cretaceous shallow sediments, forming reduced traps for later Cu and U deposition. Natural gas throughout the basin is primarily thermogenic in origin recording different thermal maturities of gas generation. Microbial methanogenesis may have been inhibited by the deep burial history of the Paradox Basin and abundance of sulfate. Salt dissolution above and below the evaporites, by topographically-driven meteoric recharge, provided a source of more oxic, sulfate-rich shallow brines. Deep meteoric circulation (up to 3 km depth in the last 1.1 Ma, based on 81Kr dating), in response to the recent denudation of the Colorado Plateau (<4-10 Ma), contributed to flushing of residual brines in aquifers above and below the evaporites and biodegradation of hydrocarbons in shallow reservoirs (based on molecular and isotopic signatures of hydrocarbon in natural gas, including clumped isotopes of methane). The origin, types, and distribution of existing fluids in the Paradox Basin provide important constraints to understand the evolution of paleofluid flow and subsequent water-rock-gas-microbe interactions recorded in sedimentary rocks over geological time.
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherThe University of Arizona.
dc.rightsCopyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction, presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
dc.titleHydrogeochemical Evolution of Basinal Fluids in the Paradox Basin: Implications for Sources, Paleofluid Flow, Residence Time, and Water-Rock-Gas-Microbe Interactions
dc.typetext
dc.typeElectronic Dissertation
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Arizona
thesis.degree.leveldoctoral
dc.contributor.committeememberMeixner, Thomas
dc.contributor.committeememberGuo, Bo
dc.contributor.committeememberFerguson, Grant
dc.description.releaseRelease after 11/06/2022
thesis.degree.disciplineGraduate College
thesis.degree.disciplineHydrology
thesis.degree.namePh.D.


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