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The Lower Jurassic clastic rocks in the Qiangtang Basin, northern Tibet, are generally regarded as the early sediments of the new Mesozoic Qiangtang Basin (Late Triassic to Early Cretaceous). However, little attention has been paid to the palaeoenvironment, provenance, and tectonic setting of this unit. The QZ‐16 well, located in the east of the northern Qiangtang Basin, firstly recovered the Lower Jurassic strata (Quemo Co Formation) in the Qiangtang Basin. In this paper, the whole‐rock major‐trace elemental characteristics of 34 mudstone samples and detrital zircon geochronology of one sandstone, collected from the Quemo Co Formation of the QZ‐16 well, are reported in order to infer the palaeoenvironment, provenance, and tectonic setting. Quemo Co mudstones are dominated by SiO2 and Al2O3, while Fe2O3, CaO, K2O, and MgO are the second most abundant oxides. They are generally characterized by high REE concentrations, enrichment in light rare earth elements (LREEs), marked negative Eu and Ce anomalies. The REE contents of the mudstones are mainly controlled by terrigenous detrital minerals input. The Lower Jurassic mudstones have relatively high chemical index of alteration (79.1–83.6) values, indicating moderate to high degree of chemical weathering conditions of the source area. Sr/Ba and Rb/K ratios reflect that the marine transgression impact was limited and the mudstones were generally deposited in a brackish water environment. Major, trace, and REE contents indicate that the mudstones were mainly derived from intermediate igneous rocks with subordinate felsic igneous rocks. Prominent age peaks at ca. 200 ~ 400 Ma, 700 ~ 970 Ma, 1,700 ~ 1,900 Ma, and 2,100 ~ 2,700 Ma of the detrital zircon grains suggest that the Lower Jurassic clastic rocks were derived from the Central Qiangtang and Songpan–Ganzi complex. Moreover, tectonic discrimination diagrams based on major and trace elements show that the source of the Lower Jurassic sediments were most likely derived from a collision tectonic setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Early Cretaceous Shengli River–Changshe Mountain marine oil shale belt, located in the northern Qiangtang Basin, Tibet, is estimated to be the largest marine oil shale resource in China. However, its palaeoweathering, provenance, and tectonic setting during the depositional history have received little interest. In this paper, 19 outcrop marine oil shale samples from the ChangsheMountain (CSM) area were studied to investigate the provenance, palaeoclimate, palaeoweathering, and tectonic setting during the marine oil shale deposition. The total organic carbon and organic sulphur contents of the CSM oil shales range from 2.2% to 13.44% and 0.19% to 1.08%, respectively. The CSM oil shale samples contain abundant carbonate (e.g., calcite and dolomite), quartz, and clay minerals. The clay minerals of the CSM oil shale samples is dominated by illite and then by smectite. Other minerals, including haematite, apatite, pyrite, baryte, and celestite, were also identified by scanning electron microscope–energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectrometer. The total rare earth element (∑REE) contents of the oil shales range from 9.01 to 105.96 ppm (average 57.56 ppm), close to the average REE contents of U.S. coals. The REE contents in oil shale samples are mainly controlled by terrigenous input. The CSM oil shales show LREE‐enriched, HREE‐depleted, with the LREE/HREE ratios ranging from 5.12 to 10.18, negative Eu anomalies (0.56–0.84) and slightly negative Ce anomalies (0.87–1.05). The chemical index of alteration values of the CSM oil shales range from 67 to 76 (average 73), indicating a moderate chemical weathering condition. Sr/Cu and Rb/Sr ratios suggest the CSM oil shales were mainly deposited under a warm and humid climate regime. Sr/Ba ratios, ranging from 0.54 to 7.84, suggest a palaeoenvironment with fluctuant salinity. Major element, trace element, and REE relationships indicate that the CSM oil shales are mainly from the felsic and intermediate igneous rocks. The REE distribution patterns of the CSM oil shales are similar to the Late Triassic Nadi Kangri felsic volcanic rocks in the Qiangtang Basin, indicating that the CSM oil shale may be derived from the Late Triassic volcanic rocks and the oil shales were mainly formed in rift tectonic setting. Favourable preservation condition (e.g., warmer palaeoclimate, higher palaeosalinity, and dysoxic to anoxic water column environment) could be the main controlling factor for organic matter accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Lunpola Basin in the central Tibet is the highest petroliferous basin in the world. The basin is a Cenozoic lacustrine rift basin with widespread oil shale depositions, which provide a valuable example for understanding the mechanisms of organic accumulation. Thirty-five samples of oil shale and mudstone were collected from one of the organic-rich oil shale intervals in the Lunpola Basin to discuss the controlling factors of organic enrichment. In the investigated oil shale interval, many redox proxies, including V/(V + Ni) ratios, Mo-U covariations, and pyrite framboid size distribution suggest anoxic conditions. However, the almost consistent variation patterns of TOC, P and Mo contents indicate that organic matter accumulation was controlled mainly by primary productivity. The relatively low Sr/Ba (average 0.74) and Sr/Cu ratios (average 4.75) suggest a warm-humid climate during the oil shale deposition. These conditions are suitable for living of organisms, which would raise the initial productivity of lake and in turn could have led to the oxygen-depleted conditions. The detrital input together with fast sedimentary rate during the oil shale deposition would result in dilution of organic matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Upper Triassic successions are important targets for petroleum exploration in the Qiangtang Basin, despite remaining poorly better recognized. The organic and inorganic geochemical characteristics of the Upper Triassic mudstones from the Eer Tuolongba section have been studied in order to estimate their petroleum potential and discuss their depositional environment. The total organic carbon and extractable bitumen contents of these black mudstones are in the range of 0.59–1.81% (average = 1.20%) and 460–1663 ppm (average = 778 ppm), respectively. They are interpreted as being fair to good source rocks. Mixed organic matter sources with land plant and plankton were evidenced by kerogen index (TI), hydrogen index (HI), kerogen H/C and O/C atomic ratios, and C 29 –C 28 –C 27 steranes. They are characterized by type II 2 kerogen, but close to type III kerogen. The medium corrected chemical index of alteration values (CIA corr = 67–82) indicate that these mudstones were derived from the provenances with mild weathering conditions controlled by the warm and humid climate. Paleoredox indexes (U/Th, Ni/Co, C org /P tot) reveal that these mudstones were deposited in the oxic-dysoxic water column. The wide range of Sr/Ba (0.25–1.28), Gammacerane/C 30 hopane (0.23–0.68), and Ts/Tm ratios (0.68–1.54) of the studied mudstones reveal the stratified water columns with low to high salinity (marine-brackish). The stratified water columns and dyoxic conditions may be appropriate for the organic matter preservation. Vitrinite reflectance (R o), pyrolysis peak temperature (T max), production index (PI), and biomarker indicators indicate that the organic matter is thermally mature. The studied mudstone samples from the Eer Tuolongba section have a better petroleum potential than those from the adjacent Quemo Co section and well QZ-7, as evidenced by their high hydrocarbon abundances and appropriate thermal maturity, although the organic matter source and type are similar. • The effective source rocks here contain matured and mixed-sourced organic matter. • The stratified water column with salinity and redox would promote OM preservation. • The neritic shelf mudstone in the NQD is a potential petroleum source rock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]