Thermal Evolution of Sedimentary Basins: From Temperature Analysis to Applications

Dear Colleagues,

The thermal evolution of sedimentary basins has been studied in various geoscientific fields and is associated with the interplay of geodynamic, tectonic, structural and sedimentological processes. The major mechanisms of sedimentary basin formation are derived from changes in the lithospheric thermal structure, including crustal-scale thinning and thickening. Temperature variation at all stages of basin evolution has been considered a critical parameter in geoscientific research. The constraints in heat fluxes affected by basin subsidence often control eventual subsurface fluid circulation, the diagenesis of sedimentary rocks, mineral dissolution and precipitation, organic matter maturation, as well as the development of various fault types and vice versa. These processes are crucial to exploration campaigns for hydrocarbon accumulation and mineral deposits. In recent years, temperature analysis in sedimentary basins has received attention due to its implications on potential targets for the temporary or long-term storage of geothermal energy and anthropogenic products such as carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nuclear waste. Thus, understanding the past and present-day temperatures, thermal or tectonically driven staged (paleo)heat flow evolution, and their impacts on sedimentary basins is a significant requirement for researchers and engineers in related fields.

This Special Issue aims to present and integrate our knowledge on different aspects in all fields of the temperature and thermal evolution of sedimentary basins, which include geoscientific investigations as well as industrial applications. This Special Issue encourages studies that highlight a multidisciplinary approach to improving our knowledge and analytic methods. We welcome contributions to discuss the observations, modeling, case studies and challenges derived from geological and geophysical datasets.

Dr. Eun Young Lee
Dr. Darko Spahić
Guest Editors

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• thermal history
• sedimentary basin
• heat flow
• thermal gradient
• thermal subsidence
• temperature
• diagenesis
• hydrocarbon
• geothermal energy
• geological storage

Title: Effect of Depositional Environment and Climate on Organic Matter Accumulation in Sediments of the Upper Miocene – Pliocene Kampungbaru Formation, Lower Kutai Basin, Indonesia
Authors: Jamaluddin1,2*, Kateřina Schöpfer1, Michael Wagreich1, Maria3, Susanne Gier1, and Douaa Fathy4
Affiliation: Department of Geology, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Geography and Astronomy, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Abstract: The paleoclimate and depositional environment had a significant impact on the amount of organic matter incorporated in sediments of the Upper Miocene – Pliocene Kampungbaru Formation in the Lower Kutai Basin. A total of twenty-five outcrop samples was analyzed for bulk geochemistry, organic petrography, and bulk- and clay mineralogy to assess the influence of the paleoclimate and depositional environment during the deposition of the formation. The Kampungbaru Formation consists predominantly of interbedded sandstone, siltstone, claystone and coal. Eleven lithofacies and seven facies associations have been identified in the Kampungbaru Formation, namely fluvial-dominated distributary channel, sheet-like sandstones, tide-influenced distributary channel, mouth bar, crevasse splay, delta plain and delta front. The coal facies generally have a high amount of total organic carbon (TOC, 5.14-16.87; avg. 10.11 wt.%) and non-coal layers range from 0.03 to 4.22 wt.% (avg. 1.54 wt.%). The dominant maceral is vitrinite, while liptinite occurs only rarely in the samples. Organic matter is inferred to originate from terrestrial plants growing in mangrove swamps. Identified clay minerals include varying proportions of kaolinite, illite, chlorite, and mixed layer illite/smectite (I/S). Kaolinite, which commonly constitutes up to 30 % of clay volume, indicates intensive chemical weathering during a warm and humid climate. According to the Köppen climate classification, the Kampungbaru Formation is classified as type Af, tropical rainforest. Tropical climate was favourable for growth of higher plants and deposition of organic matter under anoxic conditions and led to high amounts of TOC in the Kampungbaru Formation.