TITLE:
Geochemistry and Organic Petrography of Jordanian Sultani Oil Shale
AUTHORS:
Hani Alnawafleh, Khalid Tarawneh, George Siavalas, Kimon Christanis, Andreas Iordanidis
KEYWORDS:
Oil Shale, Jordan, Bitumen, Organic Matter, Vitrinite Reflectance, Macerals
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Geology,
Vol.6 No.10,
September
30,
2016
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.