The stratigraphic and lateral distributions of authigenic minerals in feldspar-rich Paleogene sandstones of the Santa Ynez Mountains, California, are important in determining their reservoir quality. The sandstones were deposited in an east-west elongate basin during two regressive episodes. Deep-water turbidites were overlain by shallow-water traction deposits and eventually by continental fluvial deposits as the basin was progressively filled from the east. Modal analyses document a common provenance for all the Paleogene sandstones consisting primarily of acidic to intermediate plutonic rocks, with minor volcanic, metamorphic, and sedimentary components. The average detrital mode of 27 sandstones is Q₃₇F₅₄L₉, and the average partial mod including only the monocrystalline mineral grains is Qm₃₉P₄₀K₂₁.

Textural relationships and the stratigraphic distribution of diagenetic minerals delineate the paragenetic sequence: (1) syndepositional to very early pyrite; (2) early concretionary calcite cement; (3) incipient dissolution of detrital heavy minerals and feldspars; (4) clay pore linings and pore fillings; (5) formation of sphene and anatase; (6) incipient albitization of detrital plagioclase; (7) quartz, plagioclase, and K-feldspar overgrowths; (8) dissolution of feldspar creating secondary porosity; (9) local precipitation of pore-filling kaolinite; (10) laumontite cementation and replacement of plagioclase; (11) barite cementation and replacement of detrital grains; and (12) late-stage calcite replacement of detrital grains and earlier cements.

Organic metamorphism, as expressed by vitrinite reflectance (R₀), provides a means to correlate mineral diagenesis in the sandstones with the thermal history of the Santa Ynez basin. In the eastern end of the basin (Wheeler Gorge) incipient albitization is first recognized at 0.5% R₀ corresponding to a paleotemperature of 110°C (4572 m burial depth), with complete albitization first occurring at a reflectance of 0.90% R₀ corresponding to a paleotemperature of 165°C (5425 m burial depth). The first occurrence of laumontite is in the turbidite beds of the basal Matilija Formation (5669 m burial depth) at approximately 1.0% R₀ reflectance (173°C). Further to the west, at Point Conception (Gerber No. 1 well), the first occurrence of aumontite is at an estimated burial depth of only 2515 m, corresponding to approximately 0.5% R₀ and a paleotemperature of 110°C. In this well, incipient albitization begins at 0.35% R₀ (77°C), with complete albitization occurring at roughly the same burial depth (2515 m) and reflectance (0.5% R₀) as the first occurrence of laumontite.

The top of the laumontite zone occurs at greater burial depths and paleotemperatures in the eastern portion of the Santa Ynez basin than in the west. Laumontite distribution appears to be controlled by pore-fluid chemistry and post-compaction permeability variations, which are responsible for creating differences in fluid pressure between petrologically similar sandstones. "Dynamic" overpressuring may have occurred in the turbidite facies of the Juncal and lower Matilija Formations, whereby pore fluids enriched in Na⁺ from the dewatering of smectite-rich shales permeated into the turbidite sandstones at a faster rate than they were expelled. Under these conditions, a continuous supply of Na⁺ would have been delivered to the sandstones to allow albitization of cal ium-bearing plagioclase, which in turn supplied Ca⁺² necessary for the formation of laumontite.

The authigenic minerals in the lower Paleogene sandstones of the Santa Ynez Mountains render them ineffective as reservoirs. Better reservoir prospects occur in the upper Paleogene and Neogene sandstones, particularly in the western part of the basin where they have not been subjected to deep burial, and secondary porosity is well developed.