Origin of dolomites in Lower-Middle Ordovician carbonate rocks in the Yingshan Formation, Gucheng Area, Tarim Basin: Evidence from petrography and geochemical data

Various degrees of dolomitization are widely present in the Yingshan Formation in the Gucheng area of the Tarim Basin. To determine the petrological characteristics and origin of the massive dolomites present, a rich combination of tools was well used, including previous research results, core and thin-section samples, cathodoluminescence, carbon (C-) and oxygen (O-) isotopes, strontium (Sr-) isotopes and content, and burial-thermal history data. The results of this analysis successfully reveal three primary matrix dolomites and three special cements, as follows: (1) microcrystalline to very fine crystalline nonplanar-a dolomite (MD1); (2) very fine to fine crystalline planar-s to planar-e dolomite (MD2); (3) medium to coarse crystalline nonplanar-a to planar-s dolomite (MD3); (4) coarse crystalline nonplanar-a saddle dolomite cement (SD) and (5) medium to coarse crystalline calcite cements (C1 and C2). Among them, MD1 precipitated from the reflux of mildly evaporated seawater, and MD2 was formed by the first significant recrystallization of MD1 in shallow burial environments. In particular, some MD3 was formed by the second significant recrystallization of MD1 in medium-burial environments. The others, even SD, were likely the products of the third significant recrystallization and cementation in deep-burial environments that precipitate under the action of a hydrothermal fluid mixture composed of mantle-derived fluid and Cambrian thermal brine. In addition, C1 and C2 would form close to the times in which the Himalayan and Late Caledonian–Early Hercynian hydrocarbon charging events occurred, respectively. •The origin of the dolomites of the Yingshan Formation in the study area was analysed systematically for the first time.•MD had undergone dolomitization and varying degrees of recrystallization by two different sources of fluids.•C1 and C2 formed during the Himalayan and Late Caledonian–Early Hercynian orogenic periods respectively.