Fluid inclusion temperatures in diagenetic quartz reset by burial: implications for oil field cementation

An FI temperature distribution from any single depth records the pauses in subsidence and maximum burial temperature, but does not simply record the temperature of quartz growth. Resetting of FIs negates temperature evidence for massive circulation of hot basinal fluids transporting quartz. We conclude that diagenetic quartz in these rift basin sandstones may be supplied by local diffusion, so that cement volumes are inherently predictable. -from Authors