Mineralogy and inorganic geochemistry of the Es4 shales of the Damintun Sag, northeast of the Bohai Bay Basin: Implication for depositional environment

The Es4 shale, namely the fourth member of the Shahejie Formation deposited during the Eocene, is one of the most important hydrocarbon source rocks widely distributed in the Bohai Bay Basin. Twenty-nine samples with TOC ranging from 1.59% to 7.50% were gathered from the Es4 shale at the Damintun Sag. Compositions of mineralogy, major oxides, trace elements and REEs were analyzed to study their provenance, paleo-environment and tectonic setting....