Basin Evolution and Geochemical Modeling
Mesozoic source rocks
Postdoctoral research by Dr Sebastian Luning, Stephan Lubesder and Dr Jonathan Redfern
Background:
In the last few years overview articles of North African organic-rich units have been compiled for three stratigraphic intervals:
1) Silurian hot shales (Lüning et al. 2000)
2) Upper Devonian (Frasnian) hot shales (Lüning et al. 2003a)
3) Mid Cretaceous (Cenomanian-Turonian) organic-rich strata (Lüning et al. 2004)
The Campanian-Maastrichtian study covers an important source rock phase in North Africa, during which e.g. the famous source rocks in the Sirte Basin and of some Egyptian basins were deposited. Also in the offshore of NW Africa this unit may be important.
Methodology:
Review of literature and unpublished data.
Key references;
Lüning, S., Craig, J., Loydell, D. K., Storch, P. & Fitches, W. R. (2000): Lowermost Silurian 'hot shales' in North Africa and Arabia: Regional Distribution and depositional model. Earth Science Reviews 49: 121-200.
Lüning, S., Adamson, K., Craig, J. (2003a): Frasnian ‘Hot Shales' in North Africa: Regional Distribution and Depositional Model. In: Arthur, T. J., Macgregor, D. S., Cameron, N. (Eds.), Petroleum Geology of Africa: New Themes and developing technologies, Geol. Soc. (London) Sp. Publ. 207: 165-184.
Lüning, S., S. Kolonic, D. Loydell, J. Craig (2003b): Reconstruction of the original organic richness in weathered Silurian shale outcrops (Murzuq and Kufra basins, southern Libya). GeoArabia 8: 299-308.
Lüning, S., S. Kolonic, E. M. Belhadj, Z. Belhadj, L. Cota, G. Baric, T. Wagner (2004): Integrated depositional model for the Cenomanian-Turonian organic-rich strata in North Africa. Earth-Science Reviews 64: 51-117.