Journal of Petroleum Geology, Vol.13, No.2, pp. 179-192, 1990

©Copyright 2000 Scientific Press, Ltd.

EXPERIMENTALLY-SIMULATED STYLOLITIC POROSITY IN CARBONATE ROCKS

D. Von Bergen* and A. V. Carozzi**

* Present address: Chevron U.S.A., Inc., New Orleans, LA 70114, USA.

** Department of Geology, 245 Natural History Building, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1301 West Green Street, Urbana, Illinois, 61801-2999, USA.

Abstract

An experimental program of stylolitic porosity development in stylolitic Atokan (Middle Pennsylvanian) limestones under simulated conditions of deep burial has shown that experimental dissolution preferentially occurred and developed along existing stylolites. The dissolution sequence was as follows: incipient pores following the traces of stylolites, grading into stylolitic lamellar pores, which enlarged eventually into non-fabric-selective channels. These stylolite-controlled conduits were surrounded by adjacent incipient-to-complete oomolds, enlarged oomolds, incipient-to-complete algal bioclast molds, enlarged biomolds, and halos of intercrystalline porosity to microporosity.