Journal of Sedimentary Research, 2005, v.
75, 943–959
DOI: 10.1901/jsr.2005.072
DISTRIBUTION OF DIAGENETIC ALTERATIONS IN SILICICLASTIC SHOREFACE DEPOSITS WITHIN A
SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHIC FRAMEWORK: EVIDENCE FROM THE UPPER JURASSIC,
BOULONNAIS, NW FRANCE
KHALID AL-RAMADAN,1 S. MORAD,1 J.N. PROUST,2
1
Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, Villavägen 16, SE-752 36, Uppsala, Sweden
2
Géosciences Rennes, UMR CNRS 6118-Université de Rennes I, Campus de Beaulieu, 263 Avenue du General Leclerc, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France
3
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4, Canada
ABSTRACT: The distribution of diagenetic alterations in Upper Jurassic,
siliciclastic shoreface sediments from NW France has been linked to the
sequence stratigraphic framework. Calcite cement in mudrocks and
sandstones of the transgressive (TST) and lower part of the highstand
(HST) systems tracts is microcrystalline and occurs as continuously
cemented layers and stratabound concretions. The average d18OV-PDB
(22.6ø) and 87Sr/86Sr (0.7078) compositions of microcrystalline calcite
indicate precipitation from largely marine pore waters.
Calcite cement in sandstones of the forced regressive wedge (FRWST)
and lowstand (LST) systems tracts is poikilotopic and occurs mainly as
stratabound concretions. Complete dissolution of the carbonate grains and
concomitant precipitation of poikilotopic calcite cement with low average
d18O (25.3ø) and radiogenic Sr-isotope (0.70882) signatures suggest
incursion of meteoric waters into sandstones during relative sea-level
lowstand. The poorly lithified sandstones interbedded with sandstones
cemented by poikilotopic calcite concretions display evidence of diagenesis
under episodes of arid to semiarid paleoclimate, including: (i) partial
cementation by opal, chalcedony, gypsum, and minor vadose calcite cement,
(ii) mechanically infiltrated clays and Fe-oxides, and (iii) secondary porosity
owing to partial dissolution of carbonate grains. The integration of
diagenesis into sequence stratigraphy allows better elucidation and pre-
diction of the spatial and temporal distribution of diagenetic alterations and
related reservoir-quality modifications in shoreface sediments.
INTRODUCTION
Despite the presence of a vast literature demonstrating that the
diagenetic and related reservoir-quality evolution pathways of siliciclastic
sequences is controlled by a complex array of interrelated parameters,
such as depositional facies, detrital composition, tectonic setting, burial
history of the basin, and climate (Morad et al. 2000), there are still several
major issues that need to be better explored. Among these issues is the
linking of spatial and temporal distribution of diagenetic alterations in
shoreline and shallow-marine, siliciclastic sediments to sequence strati-
graphic framework. Although sequence stratigraphy and diagenesis are
traditionally treated as separate topics, their integration (Amorosi 1995;
Taylor et al. 1995; South and Talbot 2000; Taylor et al. 2000; Morad et al.
2000; Ketzer et al. 2002; Ketzer et al. 2003a; Ketzer et al. 2003b; Worden
and Morad 2003) allows better elucidation and prediction of the spatial
and temporal distribution of diagenetic alterations and related reservoir-
quality evolution in sandstones (Morad et al. 2000).
Despite these studies and rapidly accumulating data through using this
integrated approach, there are still gaps in our knowledge regarding
parameters controlling: (i) the patterns (e.g., concretionary cemented
versus continuously cemented layers), texture (microcrystalline vs.
poikilotopic, i.e., coarse crystals engulfing two or more framework
Copyright E 2005, SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology) 1527-1404/05/075-943/$03.00
AND I. AL-AASM3
grains) and geochemical evolution of carbonate cements, and (ii) the
distribution of other, associated early diagenetic alterations within the
systems tracts (i.e., sediment preserved between the sequence boundaries;
Posamentier et al. 1988; Van Wagoner et al. 1990) and along key sequence
stratigraphic surfaces. In particular, there are no data available
concerning the distribution of diagenetic alterations in siliciclastic
sediments of forced regressive wedge systems tract (FRWST; Table 1,
Hunt and Tucker 1992), or falling-stage systems tract (Plint and
Nummedal 2000). The aim of this work is, thus, to address these gaps
in our knowledge through the study of siliciclastic shoreface deposits of
the Upper Jurassic sequence exposed from NE France (Fig. 1). The
suitability of the selected Jurassic deposits for this study arises from: (i)
the presence of well-defined sequence stratigraphic surfaces and systems
tracts, including FRWST, lowstand (LST), transgressive (TST), and
highstand systems tracts (HST; Table 1), and (ii) the excellent exposures
and availability of drill-core samples.
GEOLOGICAL SETTING, DEPOSITIONAL FACIES, AND SEQUENCE
STRATIGRAPHY
The shoreface sandstones and offshore mudrocks (Kimmeridgian–
Tithonian) are located along the Boulonnais coast of the Dover Strait
(Fig. 1) and were deposited on the northwest European epicratonic
platform (Dercourt et al. 1993; Proust et al. 2001). The succession can be
subdivided into three sand-dominated formations, three mudrock-
dominated formations, and one argillaceous limestone formation (Fig. 2;
Table 2). Two main types of shoreface deposits have been recognized
(Fig. 3; Proust et al. 2001), including: (i) ravinement shoreface and (ii)
sharp-based shoreface (SBS; Table 1). The SBS sediments include a simple
(single progradational set) type and a compound type (Table 2), which
consists of two superimposed sets of progradational configurations, each
is bounded below by a regressive surface of marine erosion (RSE) and
above by transgressive surface of marine erosion (TSE; or ravinement
surface, which is a surface of marine reworking during transgression); the
two sets are separated by HST sediments (Fig. 4).
The systems tracts (FRWST, LST, TST, and HST) and key sequence
stratigraphic surfaces, including RSE, sequence boundary (SB), TSE,
parasequence boundary (PB), and MFS are outlined in Figures 2 and 3.
The systems tracts in these Jurassic succession are made of meter-scale
changes in depositional environment that are interpreted as para-
sequences bounded by marine flooding surfaces (i.e., PB). The FRWST
is composed of progradational sandstone units bounded below by RSE
and above by SB. The LST is composed of progradational–aggradational,
progradational, or aggradational parasequences sets (Fig. 2), bounded
below by SB/RSE and above by a TSE (Proust et al. 2001). The very
fine-grained sandstones and mudrocks of the TST are composed of
retrogradationally stacked parasequences (Fig. 2). The HST, which is
944 K. AL-RAMADAN ET AL. JSR

TABLE 1.— Definitions and abbreviations of sequence stratigraphic terms used in this study (Posamentier et al. 1988; Hunt and Tucker 1992; Nichols,
1999; Hunt and Gawthorpe 2000; Proust et al. 2001).

Abbreviation A/S Definition

Forced regressive wedge systems FRWST A/S , 0 Sediment deposited between the onset and the end of relative sea-level fall on
tract ramp margins, i.e., gently sloping into deeper water, and composed of
progradational facies stacking with downward shift
Lowstand systems tract LST A/S $ 1 Sediment deposited during relative sea-level lowstand and initial rise, and shows
progradational-aggradational to retrogradational facies stacking
Transgressive systems tract TST A/S . 1 Sediment deposited during rapid relative sea-level rise that shows an overall
retrogradational facies stacking
Highstand systems tract HST 0 ( A/S ( 1 Sediment deposited during relative sea-level highstand resulting initially in
aggradational and, later, in progradational facies stacking
Regressive surface of marine RSE Erosion surface located at the base of the FRWST formed by wave erosion
erosion during relative sea-level fall
Sequence boundary SB Erosional unconformity at the inner shelf located at the base of the LST created
by emersion during a major fall in relative sea level (basinward correlative
conformity)
Transgressive surface of marine TSE Surface located at the base of the TST and formed during relative sea-level rise
erosion
Maximum flooding surface MFS Surface located at the base of the HST and formed by nondeposition and
sediment starvation during maximum relative sea-level highstand
Parasequence boundary PB Local marine flooding surface at the top of a progradational, elementary
sediment package
Sharp-based shoreface SBS Shoreface sediments preserved in FRWST and LST during forced regression,
i.e., during net relative sea-level fall
Ravinement shoreface Shoreface sediments preserved in TST during relative sea-level rise. It is thin,
coarse-grained lags
A: accommodation; S: sediment supply.

bounded below by MFS and above by RSE, is composed of
progradationally stacked parasequences composed of coarsening and
shallowing upward, storm-influenced, massive mudrocks and laminated
mudstones and sandstones (Fig. 2).
The shoreface deposits are composed of SBS bodies, each of which
consists of a basal progradational parasequence set overlain by
a progradational–aggradational parasequence set. Each SBS body lies
on a RSE, which is overlain, in turn, by a thin retrogradational
ravinement lag or a coarse-grained, planar-laminated bed set. Sandstone
bodies of the lower and upper Grès De La Crèche Formation display
superimposed progradational FRWST, progradational–aggradational
LST, and retrogradational TST.
The maximum burial depth to which the succession was subjected did
not exceed 500 m, as evidenced from the stratigraphic record and the low
Tmax values of organic matter, which are between 413 and 434uC,
indicating that the organic matter is in a state of low maturation (El
Albani 1991; Herbin et al. 1995). The succession was buried under ca.
20 m of nonmarine Wealdian sediments, ca. 20 m of marine Aptian and
Albian deposits, and finally by , 300 m of Cretaceous chalks.

SAMPLES AND ANALYTICAL METHODS

FIG. 1.—Map of the studied area along the Boulonnais, the Dover Strait coastal
cliffs. The bold strips represent the studied Kimmeridgian/Tithonian sectors and
the well symbol represents the drill core.
Samples were collected from four localities exposed along coastal cliffs
and from one well drilled in the Dover Strait at distance of three hundred
meters offshore (Fig. 1). A total of 170 samples were collected within the
four systems tracts (FRWST, LST, TST, and HST) and emphasizing
sampling in the vicinity of key sequence stratigraphic surfaces (RSE, SB,
TSE, and MFS). One concretion, about 3 m in diameter, which is broken
in the middle, from the LST of the lower Grès de la Créche Formation
was subjected to multiple drillings horizontally and vertically from center
to edge in order to study variations in the distribution, amount, texture,
and isotopic compositions.
Thin sections were prepared for all samples. The friable to poorly
lithified sandstone samples were vacuum impregnated with blue epoxy
prior to thin-section preparation. Modal analyses of the sandstones were
performed by counting 300 points per thin section. A Jeol JSM-T330
scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to study cement
morphology and paragenetic relationships among diagenetic minerals in
ten representative samples.
JSR INTEGRATING DIAGENESIS INTO SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHY OF JURASSIC SHOREFACE SEDIMENT 945

FIG. 2.—Variations in the depositional environments and sequence stratigraphic framework through time in the Upper Jurassic succession of the Boulonnais (modified
from Proust et al. 2001).
946 K. AL-RAMADAN ET AL. JSR

FIG. 3.—Comparison of cross sections in the Kimmeridgian–Tithonian shoreface deposits superimposed on the large-scale progradational trend. Each of sections 1, 2,
3, and 4 belongs to different sharp-based shoreface deposits (modified from Proust et al. 2001).

Fifteen polished thin sections representing the four different systems
tracts were coated with a thin layer of carbon for electron microprobe
(EMP) analyses. A Cameca Camebax SX50 instrument equipped with
three spectrometers and a back-scattered electron detector (BSE) was
used to determine compositional differences between different type of
cements and their textural habits. Five calcite-cemented sandstones were
examined with a Technosyn cathodo-luminoscope in order to visualize
chemical zonation of calcite cements.
Stable carbon and oxygen isotope analyses were carried out on 106
calcite-cemented sandstone and mudrock samples representative of all
systems tracts, and on three bioclastic sandstones. Sampling using micro-
drilling techniques was attempted to avoid contamination of carbonate
cements with bioclasts. Calcite-cemented samples were crushed and
reacted with 100% phosphoric acid at 25uC for four hours (e.g., Al-Aasm
et al. 1990), and the CO2 gas released was collected and analyzed using
a Delta plus mass spectrometer. The phosphoric acid fractionation factor
used was 1.01025. Precision of all analyses was better than 6 0.05ø for
both d13C and d18O. Oxygen and carbon isotope data are presented in the
d notation relative to the V-PDB standard. The precipitation temperature
or d18O of pore water were calculated using the fractionation equation of
Friedman and O’Neil (1977). The ratio of 87Sr/86Sr isotopes was analyzed
in thirteen calcite-cemented samples representing different textural habits
and systems tracts. The samples were washed with distilled water and then
reacted with dilute acetic acid in order to avoid leaching and thus
contamination of Sr derived from silicates. The 87Sr/86Sr ratios were then
analyzed using an automated Finnigan 261 mass spectrometer equipped
with 9 faraday collectors. Correction for isotope fractionation during the
analyses was made by normalization to 86Sr/88Sr 5 0.1194. The mean
standard error of mass spectrometer performance was 6 0.00003 for
standard NBS-987.
FRAMEWORK GRAIN COMPOSITION OF THE SANDSTONES
Sandstones of the FRWST, the LST, and upper part of the HST are
fine- to coarse-grained, whereas sandstones of the TST and the lower part
of the HST are very fine- to fine-grained. The cemented sandstones in the
systems tracts are quartz arenites (Q98F01L01;Table 3) that contain
variable amounts of carbonate grains, including bioclasts (av. 7%), ooids
(av. 2%), and peloids (av. 7%). These carbonate grains are intrabasinal in
origin, i.e., derived by erosion and reworking of sediments formed within
JSR INTEGRATING DIAGENESIS INTO SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHY OF JURASSIC SHOREFACE SEDIMENT 947

TABLE 2.— Thicknesses (based on the Cap de la Crèche location), description, interpretation, and encountered systems tracts of the studied succession.

Formation Name Thickness (m) Facies Depositional Environment Systems Tracts

Argiles de la Crèche
Grès de la Crèche
Argiles de Chatillon
Grès de Chatillon
Calcaires du Moulin
Wibert
Grès de Connincthun
Argiles de Moulin
Wibert
8 Organic-rich, dark gray, laminated Offshore sediments deposited TST and HST
mudstones with intercalations of bioclastic, on outer-ramp environment
carbonaceous beds and sandstones on top
of the formation
16 Hummocky to swaly and trough cross- Compound sharp-based shoreface FRWST, LST, TST and
bedded, carbonaceous and bioturbated sediments deposited above HST
sandstones and sandstones with massive fair-weather wave base on
mudstone intercalations inner-ramp environment
29 Organic-rich, dark gray, microlaminated Offshore sediments deposited below TST and HST
mudstones with few intercalations of sandy wave base and on inner-, mid-,
carbonaceous beds and outer-ramp environments
5 Hummocky to swaly and trough cross- Simple sharp-based shoreface FRWST
bedded carbonaceous and bioturbated sediments deposited above
sandstones. Locally, the sandstones exhibit fair-weather wave base on
herringbone cross-stratification and mud inner-ramp environment
drapes
12 Light gray mudstones with few Offshore sediments deposited on HST
reworked bivalves mid-ramp
3–5 Glauconitic and phosphatic Offshore to ravinement shoreface LST and TST
bioclastic, hummocky and sediments deposited on inner
trough cross-bedded sandstones ramp
20 Pyritic, calcite-cemented mudstone Offshore sediments deposited on TST and HST
layers that progressively enriched mid-ramp
upward in silt and sand

the depositional basin (cf. Zuffa 1980). Sandstone beds hosting the
concretions in the FRWST and the LST contain trace amounts of
carbonate grains, whereas the poorly lithified sandstones that are
overlying and underlying the concretionary-cemented sandstones contain
considerable amounts of carbonate grains (av. , 10%). Trace amounts of
feldspars, mica, heavy minerals, and lithic fragments occur in most of the
sandstones.
DIAGENETIC ALTERATIONS
Calcite and Dolomite Cements
Calcite cement in mudrocks (average ca. 70%) and fine-grained
sandstones (av. ca 50%) of the TST and the lower part of the HST
FIG. 4.—Field photo showing the facies variation in Cap de la Crèche location
(Fig. 1). The Grès de la Crèche Formation consists of two superimposed sharp-
based shoreface bodies that are bounded below by the Argiles de Chatillon
Formation and above the Argiles de Wimereux Formation. Note the alternation of
dark-gray offshore mudrocks and light-colored shoreface sandstone bodies.
(Fig. 2; Table 3) has a dominantly microcrystalline texture with reddish-
brown luminescence (Fig. 5A). This cement occurs as concretions, which
have coalesced into continuously cemented layers (Fig. 6A, B),
particularly below the TSE and the MFS. These deposits also contain
small amounts of grain-rimming (15–25 mm; Fig. 5B), equant sparry
(, 200 mm across; Fig. 5C), and bladed to fibrous radiaxial (, 250 mm
long) calcite cements. Calcite bodies , 3 mm long (Fig. 5D) that resemble
calcified bacteria (cf. Folk 1993) occur in bioturbation sites. The TST
and HST deposits contain trace amounts of scattered dolomite
rhombs (15–20 mm). Microcrystalline calcite cement contains small
amounts Fe, Mg, Mn, and Sr contents (av. 1.9, 0.8, 0.1, and 0.1 mol.%,
respectively). The carbon, oxygen, and strontium isotope compositions of
microcrystalline calcite in the TST, the lower part of the HST, and the
LST sediments below the TSE display fairly similar ranges (Table 4;
Figs. 7, 8).
Calcite cement in the ravinement and SBS sandstones of the FRWST,
the LST, and the upper part of the HST (Fig. 2, Table 2) occurs as non-
luminescent, poikilotopic crystals (av. ca 40%; Table 3, Fig. 9A) and as
minor (, 1%) syntaxial calcite overgrowths around echinoderm
fragments (Fig. 9B, C). Microcrystalline calcite is restricted to the
bioturbation sites. Cement occurs as coalesced concretions and contin-
uously cemented sandstone beds (Figs. 10, 11), immediately at, or a few
decimeters below, the TSE and the PB (Fig. 12). Sandstones that host the
concretions, or overlying and underlying them, are friable and highly
porous (av. 40% porosity; Table 3, Figs. 10, 12), and contain small
amounts of micritic (crystal size , 4 mm ) calcite (av. 2%) exhibiting
pendant and meniscus habits, i.e., formed in the vadose (or undersatu-
rated) zone, which is located above the water table.
The average stable-isotope analyses of poikilotopic calcite in the
FRWST, the LST, and the upper part of the HST revealed similar carbon
to, but overall lower oxygen isotope values than, microcrystalline calcite
of the TST and lower part of HST deposits (Table 4; Figs. 7, 8). The
concretions show neither horizontal nor vertical systematic variations in
texture or in stable-isotope composition. Poikilotopic calcite contains
small to trace amounts of Fe, Mg, Mn, and Sr contents (2.1, 0.4, 0.1, and
0.1 mol.%, respectively). The carbonate grains contains small to trace
948 K. AL-RAMADAN ET AL. JSR

TABLE 3.— Modal composition for detrital grains, diagenetic minerals, and porosity of 140 sandstone samples from the various systems tracts.

FRWST (n 5 43) LST (n 5 66) HST (n 5 35)

Cemented Poorly lithified Cemented Poorly lithified TST (n 5 26) Lower Upper
Min Max Av. Min Max Av. Min Max Av. Min Max Av. Min Max Av. Min Max Av. Min Max Av.
Quartz 46.3 70.1 58.7 43.2 80.4 55.1 41.1 74.3 51.5 39.2 74.4 60.1 35.6 65.2 49.1 39.4 69.2 45.1 47.3 73.2 59.4
Feldspar tr. 3.1 1.1 tr. 1.1 tr. tr. 2.1 1.3 tr. 2.1 tr. tr. 1.1 tr. tr. tr. tr. tr. 1.1 tr.
Lithic fragments tr. 2.1 1.2 tr. 1.4 tr. tr. 2.3 1.1 Tr. 3.1 1.4 tr. 2.1 tr. tr. 3.1 1.3 tr. 2.1 1.2
Carbonate grains tr. 12.1 4.3 4.2 17.1 10.3 tr. 15.3 8.1 3.1 12.2 10.1 5.3 13.2 10.2 4.1 20.3 10.1 4.4 15.2 10.1
Poikilotopic calcite 38.6 46.2 40.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 39.8 44.1 41.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 35.3 42.1 38.6
Microcrystalline calcite 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 35.4 53.2 42.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 37.1 54.2 50.1 40.1 45.6 52.2 0.0 0.0 0.0
Glaucony tr. 4.1 1.2 tr. 2.1 tr. tr. 3.3 1.1 tr. 1.2 tr. tr. 6.2 2.1 tr. 6.2 1.1 tr. 4.1 tr.
Pyrite 0.0 1.1 tr. 0.0 1.3 tr. 0.0 tr. tr. tr. 2.1 tr. tr. 3.3 1.1 tr. 2.3 1.1 0.0 2.2 tr.
Chalcedony and opal 0.0 0.0 0.0 tr. 3.3 1.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.2 1.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Gypsum 0.0 0.0 0.0 tr. 7.2 3.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.1 1.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Infiltrated clay 0.0 0.0 0.0 tr. 6.1 2.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 tr. 3.2 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Microquartz 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 tr. tr. 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 tr. tr. 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Intergranular porosity 0.0 0.0 0.0 37.2 50.1 41.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 35.1 42.1 39.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 28.1 36.3 34.2
Intragranular porosity 0.0 0.0 0.0 6.1 11.4 10.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 5.2 10.6 9.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.2 9.1 7.7
tr. 5 trace.

FIG. 5.—A) Optical micrograph (crossed nicols) showing microcrystalline calcite (MC) that occurs as pervasively pore-filling cement in mudrocks of the lower part of
the highstand systems tract (HST), the transgressive systems tract (TST) and, less commonly, the lowstand systems tract (LST) mudrocks lying below the transgressive
surface of marine erosion (TSE). B) Optical micrograph (crossed nicols) showing that calcite rims (arrows) around the detrital grains are engulfed by microcrystalline
calcite cement (MC) that occurs in the TST sediments. C) Optical micrograph (crossed nicols) showing blocky calcite cement (BC) that occurs inside the chambers of
bioclasts in sediments of all systems tracts. D) Scanning electron microscope (SEM) image of calcified bacteria in the FRWST sandstone samples that are covering
a carbonate grain.
JSR INTEGRATING DIAGENESIS INTO SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHY OF JURASSIC SHOREFACE SEDIMENT
FIG. 6.— A) Mudrocks and very fine-grained sandstones of the transgressive
systems tract (TST), which is bounded below by coinciding transgressive surface of
marine erosion (TSE) and the sequence boundary (SB) and above by the maximum
flooding surface (MFS). Microcrystalline calcite-cemented mudstone layers in the
TST occur mainly as coalesced concretions (arrows; 15–20 cm thick), which are
rich in glauconite and phosphatic pebbles: the Argiles de Moulin Wibert
Formation, Cap de la Crèche location (Fig. 1). B) The uppermost part of the
TST is highly bioclastic mudstone (50 cm thick) cemented by microcrystalline
calcite. This bioclastic layer occurs below a marine flooding surface (FS). The Grès
de Connincthun Formation, Cap de la Crèche location (Fig. 1).
amounts of Fe, Mg, Mn, and Sr contents (av. 1.1, 0.1, 0.1, and
0.2 mol.%, respectively). The average d13C and d18O values of carbonate
bioclasts in three samples are +1.9ø and 22.4ø, respectively (Table 4;
Fig. 8).
949
Pyrite
Pyrite (0 to 3 vol%; Table 3) occurs as framboids (3–10 mm across) or
as patches composed of numerous tiny, discrete, euhedral crystals
embedded in calcite cement (Fig. 13A), being most abundant in the
vicinity of bioclasts and within the bioturbation sites of all systems tracts.
Visual estimation revealed that pyrite is overall more abundant in the
TST and the HST than in the FRWST and LST sediments. Pyrite in the
FRWST and LST sediments is often partly oxidized (Fig. 13B).
Glaucony
Glaucony includes a group of K- and Fe-rich aluminum phyllosilicates
that forms in marine sediments. The chemical composition of glaucony is
usually related to its state of maturity; immature, smectitic glaucony can
evolve into micaceous (Fe and K rich) composition with deep-green color.
Glaucony in these Jurassic sandstones (av. K2O 5 7.5% as revealed by
microprobe analyses) occur as pellets in sandstones of the TST and the
lower part of the HST. These display abundant internal microcracks,
have a deep-green color, and are most abundant (up to 6%; Table 3)
below the MFS and the TSE, where they have replaced the carbonate
grains. Glaucony occurs also as small flakes (ca. 5 mm) that coat and/or
partly replace volcanic rock fragments, feldspar, and carbonate grains.
Glaucony in the FRWST and the LST is often reddish brown in color,
lacks internal microcracks, and displays evidence of slight to extensive
dissolution (Fig. 13C).
Chalcedony, Opal, Gypsum, and Quartz
Closely associated chalcedony and opal (trace to 3%) and gypsum
(trace to 7%; Table 3) cements (Fig. 13D) occur in the friable to poorly
lithified sandstones of the FRWST and the LST. These cements,
particularly gypsum, display evidence of slight to considerable dissolu-
tion. In some cases, fibrous chalcedony has partly replaced the gypsum
cement. In few, rare, cases quartz grains are enveloped by microquartz or
by quartz overgrowths.
Clay Minerals and Fe-oxides
Intermixed reddish-brown clay minerals and iron oxides occur in the
intergranular pore spaces of poorly lithified FRWST sandstones (below
the SB) and in the LST sandstones (Table 3; Fig. 13E). Mud intraclasts
(Fig. 13F) have been squeezed between the rigid quartz grains, which
have resulted in the formation of pseudomatrix. Clay minerals occur
also as thin coatings around framework sand grains. The clay
coatings occur as clay flakes that are tangentially attached to the
framework grains and occur as pore bridges with meniscus and pendular
habits or as fairly continuous coatings around framework grains
(Fig. 14A).
Porosity
The friable to poorly lithified sandstones of the FRWST, the LST, and
the upper part of the HST that host, or occur interbedded with, the
concretionary-cemented sandstone body contain abundant, well-
connected, primary intergranular pores (40 to 50%) as well as a consider-
able volume of secondary intergranular and intragranular porosity (av.
10%; Table 3). The secondary pores have good connectivity with the
intergranular depositional pores (Fig. 14B). Secondary intergranular
porosity has resulted mainly from the dissolution of chalcedony, opal,
and, particularly, gypsum cements, which is evidenced by scattered
cement patches with strongly etched boundaries. Secondary intragranular
porosity was generated mainly by partial to complete dissolution of
carbonate grains (Fig. 14C), mud intraclasts, and, to smaller extent,
detrital feldspar, volcanic rock fragments, and glaucony (Fig. 13C).
950 K. AL-RAMADAN ET AL. JSR

TABLE 4.—Carbon, oxygen, and strontium isotopic compositions and microprobe data of calcite cement with various textural habits in the different systems
tracts.

13 18 87
CV-PDB (ø) OV-PDB (ø) Sr/86Sr Averages of microprobe data
Systems
Tracts Calcite n Max. Min. Av. S.D. n Max. Min. Av. S.D. n Av. n MgCO3 CaCO3 MnCO3 FeCO3 SrCO3
TST microcrystalline
calcite 14 2.9 24.1 20.7 1.9 14 20.8 23.6 22.5 0.6 2 0.7077 10 0.2 96.9 0.1 2.7 0.1
Lower HST microcrystalline
calcite 13 2.2 25.8 21.2 2.2 13 21.4 24.0 22.8 0.7 2 0.7078 7 1.3 97.7 0.1 0.8 0.1
Upper HST poikilotopic calcite 3 1.3 0.7 1.1 0.4 3 25.8 25.9 25.8 0.1 2 0.7083 4 0.4 97.5 0.1 1.9 0.1
FRWST poikilotopic calcite 26 2.1 23.1 1.1 1.0 26 23.4 26.1 25.0 0.8 2 0.7087 13 0.6 97.5 0.1 1.7 0.1
LST poikilotopic calcite 26 1.8 21.9 0.8 0.9 26 23.4 27.3 25.5 0.9 3 0.7088 9 0.2 97.1 0.1 2.5 0.1
bioclast 3 2.2 1.4 1.8 0.4 3 21.8 23.2 22.4 0.7 - - 7 0.1 98.5 0.1 1.1 0.2
microcrystalline
calcite 18 1.0 23.8 20.4 1.1 18 21.3 23.7 22.5 0.7 2 0.7076 6 0.7 97.5 0.1 1.6 0.1
microcrystalline
calcite in
bioturbated site 2 0.4 23.0 21.7 1.3 2 21.1 22.7 21.6 0.5 - - 3 0.1 98.4 0.2 1.2 0.1

Moldic, oversized pores occur in friable to poorly lithified sandstones DISCUSSION

hosting the concretions (Fig. 14B). The good interconnectivity among
primary and secondary pores and the dominantly point contacts between Diagenetic modifications in the Jurassic deposits (maximum burial
the framework grains suggest high permeability values in these depth , 500 m; El Albani 1991) are strongly linked to the four
sandstones. systems tracts (i.e., forced regressive wedge, lowstand, transgressive,

FIG. 7.— Histograms showing the ranges

and frequency of d13CV-PDB and d18OV-PDB
values (horizontal axes) of microcrystalline
and poikilotopic calcite cement in the
transgressive systems tract (TST), the
highstand systems tract (HST), the forced
regressive wedge systems tract (FRWST),
and the lowstand systems tract (LST).
Vertical axes show the frequency (i.e.,
sample number). The d13CV-PDB values for
all systems tracts suggest that calcite has
a dominantly marine signature (av. 21.2 to
+1.1ø). Microcrystalline calcite of the TST
and HST sediments has higher d18OV-PDB
values than poikilotopic calcite of the
FRWST and the LST, which are considered
to indicate dominantly marine versus
meteoric water signatures, respectively.
JSR INTEGRATING DIAGENESIS INTO SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHY OF JURASSIC SHOREFACE SEDIMENT 951

FIG. 8.— Cross-plot showing the relationship between d13CV-PDB and d18OV-PDB of calcite bioclasts and cements with different textures in different systems tracts.
Poikilotopic calcite in the forced regressive wedge systems tract (FRWST), the lowstand systems tract (LST), and the upper part of the highstand systems tract (HST)
sediments displays similar carbon but overall lower oxygen isotope values than microcrystalline calcite, which dominates in the transgressive systems tract (TST) and the
lower part of the HST deposits. Rectangle represents isotopic data obtained and compiled for belemnites by Gröcke et al. (2003).

and highstand) and sequence stratigraphic surfaces (i.e., sequence
boundary, parasequence boundary, maximum flooding surface, and
regressive and transgressive surfaces of marine erosion).
Diagenetic Alterations in the TST and the Lower Part of the HST
The overall diagenetic alteration, isotopic composition, and texture of
microcrystalline calcite in the TST and the lower part of the HST are
suggestive of formation from marine pore water, which is expected to
dominate during transgression (Morad et al. 2000). Assuming that the
precipitation of microcrystalline calcite occurred at a near-seafloor
temperature of 20uC, which is evidenced from the high minus-cement
porosity (av. ca. 50%), the average d18O values of microcrystalline texture
in the TST and the lower part of the HST (22.5 and 22.8ø, respectively;
Table 4, Fig. 7), the d18OV-SMOW values of pore waters were calculated to
be 21.2ø and 21.5ø, respectively (Fig. 15). These d18OV-SMOW values
of pore waters obtained on the bases of the oxygen isotope composition
of microcrystalline calcite fall within the range inferred for Late Jurassic
seawater (0 to 22ø) by Hudson and Andrews (1987) and Veizer et al.
(1997). Additionally, most points of the d18O versus d13C cross plot of
microcrystalline calcite fall within the field of Late Jurassic marine
carbonates (Fig. 8) obtained and compiled for belemnites by Gröcke et al.
(2003).
The average d13C values of microcrystalline calcite cement in both the
TST and the lower part of the HST sediments (Table 4) indicate that
dissolved carbon was derived mainly from marine pore water (21 to
+1ø; Gröcke et al. 2003). Carbonate grains are excluded as sources for
dissolved carbon in these sediments because they reveal no evidence of
dissolution. The presence of Fe and Mn in microcrystalline calcite and the
close association of this calcite with pyrite and in situ glaucony suggest
precipitation under Fe- and Mn-reducing, suboxic to sulfate-reduction
geochemical conditions (Morad 1998). Under such conditions, dissolved
carbon is derived partly from the oxidation of organic matter, which
accounts for the relatively low d13C values in some of the microcrystalline
calcite (as low as 25.8ø; Table 4, Fig. 7). Occurrence of pyrite in the
vicinity of bioclasts is attributed to local, low dissolved O2 concentrations
in the pore waters owing to oxidation of soft tissues, which enhance the
bacterial sulfate reduction and concomitant increase in aqueous
carbonate concentration (Curtis 1987). The latter effect has probably
made these sites suitable for the nucleation and growth of carbonate
cement in the sediments. Overall, visually more abundant pyrite in the
TST and the HST than in the LST and the FRWST is attributed to
a stronger influence of marine pore water (i.e., more dissolved SO422) and
higher organic-matter content (Tribovillard et al. 2001) in the former
sediments (cf. Raiswell and Canfield 1988). The 87Sr/86Sr ratios of
microcrystalline calcite cement (Table 4) are slightly higher than those of
late Jurassic seawater (87Sr/86Sr 5 0.7068–0.7070; Burke et al. 1982;
Weissert and Mohr 1996). This enrichment of 87Sr is attributed to
strontium input into pore waters from the slight dissolution and
replacement by calcite of mica, K-feldspar, and rock fragments.
The common presence of continuously cemented, TST mudstones and
very fine-grained sandstone layers is interpreted to indicate a prolonged
residence time of these sediments at the seafloor and concomitant
derivation of dissolved carbon and Ca2+ from the overlying seawater (cf.
Kantorowicz et al. 1987). Owing to the lack of a mechanism that could
induce marine-water flow into the sediments, the flux of dissolved carbon
and Ca2+ into the pore waters is attributed to diffusion. Ionic diffusion
from seawater may occur subsequent to the establishment of concentra-
tion gradients with the pore water (low to zero concentration at
precipitation sites) owing to local increase in carbonate alkalinity and
nucleation of microcrystalline calcite (Berner 1980). Local increase in
carbonate alkalinity, and thus supersaturation of pore waters with respect
952 K. AL-RAMADAN ET AL.
FIG. 9.— A) Optical micrograph (crossed nicols) showing poikilotopic calcite
cement (PC) that pervasively fills the pore space in sandstones of the lowstand
systems tract (LST) and the forced regressive wedge systems tract (FRWST) and
the upper part of highstand systems tract (HST). The cement partially replaces
detrital grains. B) Optical micrograph (crossed nicols) showing well-developed,
syntaxial calcite overgrowths (SO) around a bioclast (B) that is pervasively filling
adjacent pore space. This feature is common in LST and FRWST sandstones. C)
Backscattered electron (BSE) image of the feature in part B showing that the
JSR
FIG. 10.— Proximal, sharp-based sand bed from the lowstand systems tract
(LST) in the Lower Grès De La Crèche Formation cemented by poikilotopic
calcite that occurs as 2–3 m large concretions (arrows; spacing 5–10 m); the
concretionary cemented horizons are hosted as well as overlain and underlain by
friable to poorly lithified sandstones (1–3 m thick); Cap Gris-Nez location (Fig. 1).
FIG. 11.— Sandstone beds from the forced regressive wedge systems tract
(FRWST) cemented by 2-m-thick, coalesced concretionary poikilotopic calcite
bounded above by a transgressive surface of marine erosion (TSE) that is overlain
by the transgressive systems tract (TST) composed of mudstones of the Grès de
Chatillon Formation at the Audresselles location (Fig. 1).
r
syntaxial calcite overgrowths (SO) have a homogeneous, slightly ferroan (FeCO3
, 2.3 mol.%) composition.
JSR INTEGRATING DIAGENESIS INTO SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHY OF JURASSIC SHOREFACE SEDIMENT
FIG. 12.— Poikilotopic calcite-cemented and noncemented porous sandstone
layers from the forced regressive wedge systems tract (FRWST) with minor
flooding surfaces (dashed line) separated by two parasequence boundaries (PB).
Upper part of the Grès de Chatillon Formation, Cap de la Crèche location (Fig. 1).
to carbonate cement, may occur within bioturbation sites owing to
oxidation of organic matter, which includes soft tissues and fecal pellets
(Berner 1968; Wilkinson 1991). The reported presence of calcified
bacteria in bioturbation sites from around the world suggests that
bacteria may have mediated the calcite cementation (Pentecost 1991; Folk
1993; Castanier et al. 1999).
Low sedimentation rates and consequent prolonged residence time of
sediments at the seafloor during times of relative sea-level rise (i.e.,
transgression; Van Wagoner et al. 1990) may account for the formation of
continuously cemented sediments, particularly below marine flooding
surfaces and MFS (cf. Loomis and Crossey 1996; Morad et al. 2000). The
microcrystalline texture of calcite cement is usually attributed to the
presence of numerous nucleation sites and to the high concentration of
Ca2+ and HCO32 in pore water (Tucker and Wright 1990). Low
sedimentation rates have also probably resulted in the formation of in
situ, diagenetic glaucony with green to dark green color and evolved
chemical composition (K2O content of 7.5%), particularly below marine
flooding surfaces and MFS (cf. Amorosi 1995). The restriction of
dolomite to the TST and HST sediments may suggest formation from
marine or mixed marine–meteoric pore waters (Morad et al. 1992; Taylor
et al. 1995). However, dolomite may also form under bacterial sulfate
reduction and methanogenesis due to low concentrations of dissolved
sulfate ions in pore water, which have been suggested to have a poisoning
effect on crystallization of dolomite (Baker and Kastner 1981).
953
The FRWST, the LST, and the Upper Part of the HST
The presence of poikilotopic calcite cement, pervasively dissolved
carbonate grains, and silicates (including glaucony), as well as of oxidized
glaucony and oxidized pyrite, are suggestive of incursion of meteoric
waters into sandstones of the FRWST, the LST, and the upper part of the
HST. Incursion of meteoric water into these permeable, medium- to
coarse-grained sandstones has likely occurred during sea-level lowstand
and concomitant basinward migration of the strandline (Morad et al.
2000; Taylor et al. 2000).
Meteoric waters are initially undersaturated with respect to, and hence
cause the dissolution of, marine carbonate grains in sand beds hosting the
calcite concretions. This results in neomorphism of bioclasts within the
concretions into slightly ferroan calcite (Tucker and Wright 1990).
Bioclasts composed of aragonite and high-Mg calcite are thermodynam-
ically metastable phases, and thus are expected to be subjected to faster
rate of dissolution than those composed of low-Mg calcite. Nucleation
and growth of calcite at sites of local pore-water supersaturation with
respect to low-Mg calcite was followed by pervasive reprecipitation of
dissolved Ca2+ and HCO32 as poikilotopic calcite cement (Walderhaug
and Bjørkum 1998). The earliest phase of calcite cementation occurred as
syntaxial overgrowths (Fig. 9B, C), which may, in turn, have acted as
nuclei for subsequent precipitation of poikilotopic calcite. Other sites for
nucleation and growth of poikilotopic calcite may include the marine
microcrystalline calcite that is restricted to bioturbation sites.
Assuming a near-seafloor precipitation temperature of 20uC and using
the fractionation equation of Friedman and O’Neil (1977), the d18OV-PDB
values of such microcrystalline calcite within the bioturbation sites
(21.6ø; Table 4) suggests precipitation from marine pore waters
(d18OV-SMOW 5 20.2ø; Fig. 15). This is supported by the presence of
pyrite, which probably was formed by bacterial reduction of dissolved
sulfate. Precipitation of microcrystalline calcite and pyrite thus occurred
prior to a rapid fall in relative sea level and the consequent incursion of
meteoric water into the sand and formation of the poikilotopic calcite
cement. Progressive dissolution of carbonate grains is likely to have been
accompanied by concomitant precipitation of concretionary, poikilotopic
calcite. The 87Sr/86Sr ratio of this cement (av. 0.7088; Table 4) is higher
than that of Late Jurassic seawater (0.7068–0.7070; Burke et al. 1982;
Weissert and Mohr 1996); this is attributed to input of 87Sr from meteoric
water.
Reasons for the restriction of poikilotopic calcite cementation to
certain sand beds, while the overlying and underlying carbonate-grain-
rich sandstone beds remained noncemented, are enigmatic. Calcite
cementation could be attributed to low hydraulic head, which usually
results in a very thin meteoric, phreatic (i.e., below the water table) lens
that can extend for long distances offshore (Manheim and Paull 1981;
Tucker and Wright 1990). Complete dissolution of carbonate grains in
sand beds hosting the concretions suggests considerable meteoric water
flux, which was facilitated by the high permeability of the shoreface sand
beds and the warm, humid paleoclimatic conditions that have prevailed
episodically. The change in paleoclimate from arid to semiarid to
episodically humid and warm (Hallam 1984; Valdes and Sellwood 1992;
Proust et al. 1995) may have facilitated percolation of meteoric waters
into the permeable sand layers. Low saturation levels of phreatic,
meteoric pore waters with respect to calcite (James and Choquette 1990;
Tucker and Wright 1990), typically enhance the precipitation of
poikilotopic calcite crystals (Hudson and Andrews 1987; Beckner and
Mozley 1998).
The high pre-cement porosity of the calcite-cemented sandstones (av.
ca. 40%; Table 3) indicates that cementation occurred at near-surface
conditions. The overall homogeneous textural and chemical distribution
patterns, the slightly ferroan composition of the poikilotopic calcite
cement, and the absence of vadose pendular and meniscus textures
954 K. AL-RAMADAN ET AL. JSR

FIG. 13.— A) BSE image of pyrite framboids (bright spheres) in silty highstand systems tract (HST) mudstone, which is cemented by microcrystalline calcite (MC).
Pyrite also occurs in all systems tracts. B) SEM micrograph showing oxidized pyrite framboids in the forced regressive wedge system tract (FRWST) sandstones and as
well in the lowstand systems tract (LST). C) Optical micrograph (plane-polarized light) showing partial dissolution of glauconite (DG) that occurs in 70-cm-thick friable
(40% porosity) LST, shoreface sandstone. D) Optical micrograph (crossed nicols) showing gypsum (G) pore filling in the poorly lithified sandstones of the LST and the
FRWST. E) Optical micrograph (crossed nicols) showing the iron oxides (Fe) that occur in the poorly lithified FRWST sandstones lying below the sequence boundary
(SB) and in the LST sandstones. F) BSE image showing mud intraclast in the poorly lithified sandstones of the LST; the bright dots are pyrite.
JSR INTEGRATING DIAGENESIS INTO SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHY OF JURASSIC SHOREFACE SEDIMENT
FIG. 14.— A) Optical micrograph (crossed nicols) showing grain-coating,
infiltrated clay (IC) in the lowstand systems tract (LST). B) Optical micrograph
(plane-polarized light) showing the presence of secondary pores, which are well
connected with the primary pores in the LST and forced regressive wedge system
tract (FRWST) friable to poorly lithified sandstones. C) Optical micrograph
(plane-polarized light) showing a partly dissolved bioclast (DB) in the LST friable
to poorly lithified sandstone hosting the concretions and as well in FRWST.
955
FIG. 15.—Plots showing the equilibrium fractionation relationship between
temperature and d18O values of pore fluids calculated on the basis of the obtained
oxygen isotopes for microcrystalline and poikilotopic calcite samples using the
fractionation equation of Friedman and O’Neil (1977). The microcrystalline and
poikilotopic calcite has been precipitated from waters with d18OV-SMOW values of
23.84 to +1.67 and 27.27 to 21ø, respectively, assuming precipitation
temperature of 15–25uC.
suggest precipitation in the phreatic zone (cf. James and Choquette
1990). Assuming that the precipitation of poikilotopic calcite occurred
at a near-surface temperature of 20uC, the average d18O value of this
calcite (25.4ø; Table 4) indicates precipitation from pore waters with
d18OSMOW values of 24.2ø (Fig. 15). The lowest calculated d18OV-SMOW
value of pore waters is 26.1ø, which is based on the lowest d18O value of
27.3ø for a poikilotopic calcite sample (Fig. 15). This pore-water d18O
value is expected for meteoric water (Yurtsever 1976) at a subtropical–
tropical paleolatitude of the basin (30u N; Oschmann 1988; Otto-Bliesner
et al. 1994).
The average d13C value of poikilotopic calcite cements is , +1ø
(Table 4), suggesting a dominantly marine signature, which supports
derivation of dissolved carbon from the dissolution of marine carbonate
grains (e.g., Frank and Lohmann 1996). The lowermost d13C value
obtained for poikilotopic calcite is , 23.1ø, which may indicate limited
input of dissolved carbon into meteoric waters from the oxidation of
plant remains in soil horizons or other biogenic sources of CO2 in soil gas.
In contrast to the poikilotopic calcite-cemented sandstone beds, the
underlying and overlying, FRWST and LST, shoreface sandstone beds:
(i) are highly enriched in slightly dissolved carbonate grains, (ii) are nearly
devoid of calcite cement concretions, and (iii) contain chalcedony, opal,
956 K. AL-RAMADAN ET AL. JSR

FIG. 16.—Cartoon showing the distribution of main diagenetic modifications within a sequence stratigraphic context of the Upper Jurassic succession, which include
mudrocks and fine-grained sandstones belonging to the transgressive systems tract (TST) and the lower part of highstand systems tract (HST) and sandstones of the
forced regressive wedge systems tract (FRWST), the lowstand systems tract (LST), and the upper part of the HST. Minor diagenetic modifications are outlined in the
stratigraphic log (left). Pyrite occurs in all systems tracts but is overall more abundant in the TST and HST sediments than in the FRWST and LST sediments; pyrite in
the FRWST and LST sediments is often partially oxidized.

gypsum, and vadose calcite cements. These three features are interpreted
to reflect diagenetic alterations under arid to semiarid paleoclimatic
conditions (Morad et al. 2000), which were possibly established during
the episodic relative sea-level lowstand. Under arid climatic conditions,
the incursions of meteoric waters into marine shelf deposits is expected to
have been very limited, and hence: (i) limited dissolution of carbonate
grains to be reprecipitated as phreatic, poikilotopic calcite cement (cf.
Tucker and Wright 1990), (ii) evaporative concentration of dissolved
silica in ground waters (Wilding et al. 1977), and hence, precipitation of
opal and chalcedony as ground-water silcrete (Thiry and Milnes 1991).
The absence of opal, chalcedony, and gypsum cements in the TST and the
lower part of the HST sediments rule out precipitation of these minerals
in the marine realm. Additionally, there is no evidence of silica derivation
from dissolution of siliceous bioclasts, which have been considered to be
important in shallow-marine sequences elsewhere (Hendry and Trewin
1995).
Evidence further supporting the postulated role of arid to semiarid
climate during silcrete and gypsum formation includes the presence of
hematite, vadose calcite cements (James and Choquette 1990), and
mechanically infiltrated clay (Walker et al. 1978), and the total absence
of these diagenetic features within carbonate concretions. The scarcity or
total absence of kaolinite in the sandstones is attributed to the presence of
only trace amounts of unstable, precursor silicates such as feldspars and
micas. Extremely scarce kaolinite in the gypsum, opal, and chalcedony
bearing sandstones is blamed on the arid to semiarid paleoclimate that
prevailed during diagenesis (Worden and Morad 2003). The petrographic
characteristics of glaucony grains (oxidized, lack internal microcracks,
and partly dissolved) in the sandstones suggest derivation from the
reworking and resedimentation of glaucony that was formed in the TST
and HST sediments (i.e., parautochthonous glaucony of Amorosi 1995).
SUMMARY MODEL OF DIAGENETIC ALTERATIONS ASSOCIATED WITHIN
SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHIC FRAMEWORK OF THE SHOREFACE DEPOSITS
A summary model that integrates the spatial and temporal distribution
of diagenetic alterations in the Upper Jurassic siliciclastic shoreface
sediments into the sequence stratigraphic framework is proposed (Fig. 16).
Changes in relative sea level have resulted in changes in pore-water
chemistry, which in turn have had a significant impact on the diagenetic
alteration. The proposed model emphasizes: (i) the distribution of eoge-
netic alterations within the FRWST, the LST, the TST, and the HST, (ii)
the distribution of cemented vs. noncemented sandstones, and hence
reservoir-quality evolution pathways (e.g., reservoir rocks and diagenetic
trap), and (iii) the cementation pattern (e.g., concretionary-cemented
JSR INTEGRATING DIAGENESIS INTO SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHY OF JURASSIC SHOREFACE SEDIMENT 957

FIG. 17.—Cartoon showing the present-day reservoir-quality distribution of the forced regressive wedge systems tract (FRWST), the lowstand systems tract (LST), the
transgressive systems tract (TST), and the highstand systems tract (HST) deposits. The FRWST and LST sandstones vary widely in reservoir quality, being related mainly
to variations in the amounts and distribution patterns of poikilotopic calcite and, to a smaller extent, gypsum, chalcedony, and opal cements, clay pseudomatrix, grain-
coating infiltrated clay, and of secondary porosity. The concretionary calcite-cemented sandstone layers would act as baffles to fluid flow during diagenesis and
hydrocarbon production, particularly in places where the concretions have coalesced into nearly continuously cemented layers. Local, overall slight, deterioration of
reservoir quality of these sandstones has occurred owing to partial, patchy cementation by chalcedony, opal, gypsum, infiltrated clay minerals, and mud pseudomatrix.
Sandstones of the TST and HST have poor reservoir quality owing to their high mud matrix content, very fine grain size, and/or pervasive, continuous cementation by
microcrystalline calcite. The continuously cemented layers are expected to act as diagenetic barriers compartmentalizing the reservoirs, and as baffles for fluid flow during
diagenesis and hydrocarbon production.

versus continuously cemented layers), and texture (microcrystalline vs.
poikilotopic) of calcite cements.
Formation of stratabound, poikilotopic calcite concretions with
dominantly meteoric isotopic signatures occurred in the FRWST, the
LST, and the upper part of the HST (Fig. 16A, C). Poikilotopic calcite
cement was sourced by complete dissolution of carbonate bioclasts in the
host sand beds as a result of considerable meteoric-water flux under
a warm, humid paleoclimate. Mechanical infiltration of clays and
cementation by vadose micritic calcite and by opal, chalcedony, and
gypsum occurred in the interbedded, poorly lithified sandstones under an
arid to semiarid paleoclimate (Fig. 16B). Sandstones and mudrocks of the
TST and the lower part of the HST, which are cemented by micro-
crystalline calcite with dominantly marine isotopic signatures, is sug-
gested to be sourced through diffusion of Ca2+ and HCO32 from overlying
seawater (Fig. 16D, E). Glaucony, in the TST and the lower part of HST
sediments, was formed in situ, whereas glaucony in the FRWST, the LST,
and the upper part of HST sandstones was reworked and altered
(oxidized and dissolved) through interaction with meteoric waters.
PATHWAYS OF RESERVOIR-QUALITY EVOLUTION
Shoreface deposits are common hydrocarbon systems in which the
distribution of reservoirs, seals, and source rocks is strongly controlled by
changes in the relative sea level (Proust et al. 2001). Therefore, the
958 K. AL-RAMADAN ET AL.
Jurassic shoreface deposits serve as an analogue that provides further
insight into reservoir and seal-rock development owing to diagenetic
alterations (Fig. 17). Although the Jurassic succession discussed here was
not buried deeper than 500 m (El Albani 1991), we can speculate about
anticipated burial-diagenetic modifications that could be encountered to
a depth of 3 km and related reservoir-quality evolution pathways may be
envisaged. The speculative depth of 3 km is chosen because it encounters
a number of key modifications, including pressure dissolution and
concomitant quartz cementation, as well as the formation of deep-burial
illite and chlorite (Morad et al. 2000).
Sandstones of the TST and the lower part of the HST have poor
depositional reservoir quality owing to their high mud matrix
content, and/or pervasive cementation by microcrystalline calcite.
The continuously calcite-cemented layers are expected to act as diagenetic
fluid-flow baffles (Fig. 17). Diagenetic alterations, which are expected
to occur in such sandstones during burial to the arbitrary depth of
3 km, are expected to include: (i) recrystallization of the microcrys-
talline calcite, (ii) illitization and chloritization of infiltrated smectite,
and (iii) mechanical compaction of the poorly cemented, very fine-
grained sandstones, resulting in further deterioration of the reservoir
quality.
The present-day reservoir quality of the FRWST and LST sandstones
varies widely, being related mainly to variations in the amounts and
distribution patterns of poikilotopic calcite. The coalesced calcite
concretions might act as fluid-flow baffles (Kantorowicz et al. 1987;
Ketzer et al. 2003a). Conversely, the friable to poorly lithified sandstone
beds likely represent excellent reservoir quality, as evidenced by the well
interconnected primary and secondary pores (total porosity is up to 50%)
and the dominant point contacts between the framework grains.
Diagenesis during progressive burial to the arbitrary depth of 3 km of
the poorly lithified sandstone beds would probably result in dissolution of
calcite bioclasts and precipitation of calcite cement (Walderhaug and
Bjørkum 1998). Opal and, to a certain extent, chalcedony are metastable
phases, and will thus be dissolved and reprecipitated initially as grain-
coating microquartz (e.g., Lima and De Ros 2003). Microquartz is
concluded to retard mechanical and chemical compaction as well as
precipitation of quartz overgrowths, and hence preservation of reservoir
quality even when the sandstone is buried deeply (Aase et al. 1996; Bloch
et al. 2002).
CONCLUSIONS
Constraining diagenesis within the sequence stratigraphic framework
of the Jurassic succession, NW France (maximum burial depth < 500 m),
provides a better understanding of the origin, texture, and spatial and
temporal distribution patterns of diagenetic alterations in shoreface
siliciclastic sediments, including:
N Calcite cement in the FRWST and LST sandstones has a poikilotopic
texture and occurs as stratabound concretions that are up to 3 m in
diameter.
N Dissolution of carbonate grains and concomitant cementation of the
FRWST and LST sandstone beds by poikilotopic calcite are
attributed to the incursion of meteoric waters during relative sea-
level lowstand and an episodically warm, humid paleoclimate.
N The poorly lithified FRWST and LST sandstone beds that host the
concretions and occur interbedded with concretionary-cemented
layers are characterized by high primary and secondary (intergranu-
lar, intragranular, and moldic) porosity (av. 40%). Most secondary
porosity has resulted from the dissolution of carbonate grains, mud
intraclasts, and to a smaller extent, silicate grains (including
glaucony).
N Cementation of the poorly lithified FRWST and LST sandstone beds
by opal, chalcedony, gypsum, and vadose calcite coupled with the
JSR
presence of infiltrated clay and iron oxides as well as the fairly limited
dissolution of carbonate grains and lack of phreatic poikilotopic
calcite cement are attributed to limited meteoric-water flux under
episodes of warm, arid to semiarid, paleoclimate that prevailed during
relative sea-level lowstand.
N Calcite cement in TST and HST mudrocks and sandstones has
a microcrystalline texture and occurs as stratabound concretions to
continuously cemented layers. Microcrystalline calcite is interpreted to
have grown from marine pore waters, a conclusion that is supported
by the largely marine stable-isotope signatures.
N Glaucony occurs in all systems tracts. However, in TST and HST
sediments glaucony has been formed in situ, whereas, glaucony in
FRWST and LST sandstones is reworked and altered through
interaction with meteoric waters.
Thus, linking diagenesis to sequence stratigraphy of shallow marine
siliciclastic sediments has important implications for: (i) unraveling and
predicting the spatial and temporal distribution of diagenetic alterations
and their impact on reservoir quality, and (ii) using the type and texture
of diagenetic alterations to aid the sequence stratigraphic analysis of such
deposits.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
K. Al-Ramadan thanks King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
(KFUPM) in Saudi Arabia for providing funding of the Ph.D. scholarship.
The manuscript benefited greatly from the comments of L.F. De Ros, J.M.
Ketzer, JSR referees R. Marfil and N. Molenaar, and JSR Associate Editor
R.H. Worden.
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Received 10 June 2004; accepted 16 February 2005.