Origem e evolução de bandas de deformação do tipo filossilicáticas e influência sobre as propriedades petrofísicas em arenitos grossos da bacia Rio do Peixe, NE, Brasil.

Abstract

In this work we describe the genetic processes and the microstructural evolution of phyllosilicate deformation bands developed in poorly lithified, high porosity lithic arkosean rocks with no clay matrix. Additionally, we estimate the influence on the petrophysical properties exerted by the different evolutionary stages of the deformation and compare them with non-deformed rock and deformation bands with clay smearing. We studied deformation bands present in damage zones of well developed clusters in strongly deformed outcrop, affected by transtensive faults of the main NE-SW and NW-SE directions. The deformation bands filling material were identified by punctual chemical analysis. The deformation processes were identified through microstructural analysis, using as identification criterion the type of deformation band and the clay minerals content in deformation band nucleous. The evolutionary stages of the structures were identified through analysis of microstructural patterns such as S-C foliation and sigmoidal features in clay-rich areas. The petrophysical analyzes were performed through laboratory measurements on rock plugs. Chemical analyzes were carried out in the core of the deformation bands and the minerals of the framework indicated the addition of iron oxides as the only component distinct from those found in the original rock structure, indicating clay authigenesis, with percolation of aqueous fluids in an oxidizing environment. The microstructural characteristics indicated the presence of more than one evolutionary stage, beginning with cataclasis. The continuation of shear and the clay minerals authigenesis in the deformation band nucleus resulted in stretching of areas with high clay concentration, reaching a final stage, where S-C type foliation marked by the orientation of autigenic clays occurs. The petrophysical analysis indicated reduction of up to 2 orders of magnitude in the permeability in samples with autigenic phyllosilicate deformation bands in comparison to the non-deformed rock, showing no significant changes in different evolutionary stages after the formation of clay minerals. Deformation bands with clay smearing presented a reduction of about 3 orders of magnitude, presenting a sealant potential superior to that of the phyllosilicate deformation bands by authigenesis.