Applications of Light Stable Isotopes (C, O, H) in the Study of Sandstone Diagenesis: A Review

This article reviews the applications of light stable isotope, including carbon, oxygen and hydrogen, in the studies on origin and formation temperature of authigenic carbonate, quartz and clay minerals. Theoretical knowledge and analytical methods for major light stable isotopes are introduced in detail. Negative and positive C-13 values indicate significant differences on the origin of carbonate cements. The O-18 value is an effective palaeotemperature scale for authigenic minerals formation. Various fractionation equations between O-18 and temperature are proposed for carbonate cements, quartz cements and clay minerals, whose merit and demerit, applicable conditions are clarified clearly. Clumped isotope analysis can reconstruct the temperature of carbonate precipitation with no requirement on the O-18 of initial waters, which makes temperature calculation of carbonate cements formation more convenient and accurate. Hydrogen and oxygen isotopes mainly reflect the origin of diagenetic fluid for clay mineral formation, providing reliable evidence for diagenetic environment analysis. This work aims at helping researchers for better understanding the applications of light stable isotope in sandstone diagenesis.