Geochemistry and Organic Petrography of Jordanian Sultani Oil Shale - Open Journal of Geology

OJG > Vol.6 No.10, October 2016

Open Journal of Geology

Volume 6, Issue 10 (October 2016)

ISSN Print: 2161-7570 ISSN Online: 2161-7589

Google-based Impact Factor: 0.83 Citations h5-index & Ranking

Geochemistry and Organic Petrography of Jordanian Sultani Oil Shale ()

HTML XML

Download as PDF (Size: 1817KB) PP. 1209-1220

DOI: 10.4236/ojg.2016.610089 1,968 Downloads 2,768 Views Citations

Author(s)

Hani Alnawafleh^1*, Khalid Tarawneh², George Siavalas^3,4, Kimon Christanis³, Andreas Iordanidis⁵

Affiliation(s)

¹Department of Mining and Mineral Engineering, Al-Hussein Bin Talal University, Ma’an, Jordan.
²Department of Civil Engineering, Isra University, Amman, Jordan.
³Department of Geology, University of Patras, Patras, Greece.
⁴Shell Global Solutions International B.V, Hague, The Netherlands.
⁵Department of Geotechnology and Environmental Engineering, Technological Educational Institute (TEI) of Western Macedonia, Kila, Kozani, Greece.

ABSTRACT

The Sultani oil shale (OS) deposit is considered as a major fossil fuel source in Jordan. Applying various petrographic and geochemical techniques, this paper aims to study the Sultani OS geochemical and organic petrographic features. Results show that Sultani OS is a bituminous limestone consisting of very fine-grained matrix with rippled micro-laminated texture and muddy material of cryptocrystalline micrite. The rock is rich in Cretaceous microfossil shells filled in organic matter (OM). The fillingOMis bitumen of the migrabitumen type. TheOMcontent reaches up to 17 wt.% with high oil-yielding capacity (up to 12 wt.%). High TOC values suggest that the Sultani OS has a very good source rock potential. Organic petrography shows lowOMmaturity level and reveals two varieties of vitrinite, namely primary and oxidized vitrinite. The latter is derived from terrestrial plant tissues. Additionally, liptinite macerals including alginite and to a lesser extent cutinite, also participate. Various diagenetic features such as pyrite replacement and bitumen thermal alteration have been recorded. Results suggest that Sultani OS is a marinite formed under marine conditions with limited contribution of terrestrialOMinput.

KEYWORDS

Oil Shale, Jordan, Bitumen, Organic Matter, Vitrinite Reflectance, Macerals

Share and Cite:

Alnawafleh, H. , Tarawneh, K. , Siavalas, G. , Christanis, K. and Iordanidis, A. (2016) Geochemistry and Organic Petrography of Jordanian Sultani Oil Shale. Open Journal of Geology, 6, 1209-1220. doi: 10.4236/ojg.2016.610089.

Cited by

[1]	Rock mechanical characterization of the Upper Cretaceous carbonate mudrocks of Jordan
	2021

[2]	Geochemical Assessments and Potential Energy Sources Evaluations Based on Oil Shale and Geothermal Resource in Wadi Al-Shallala—North Jordan
	2019

[3]	Industrial rocks and minerals of Jordan: a review
	2019

[4]	Calcareous sediments of the Muwaqqar Chalk Marl Formation, Jordan: Mineralogical and geochemical evidences for Zn and Cd enrichment
	Gondwana Research, 2017

Journals Menu

Follow SCIRP

	customer@scirp.org
	+86 18163351462(WhatsApp)
	1655362766

	Paper Publishing WeChat

Journals Menu

Home

About SCIRP

Service

Policies