Clay mineral indices in palaeo-geothermal studies, hydrocarbon and geothermal prospection - third Frey-Kübler symposium

During syn-depositional processes, early and late diagenesis to very-low grade metamorphism (VLGM), alteration and reaction progress with increasing temperature and pressure causes changes in clay-mineral order and clay-mineral association (paragenesis) in sedimentary and volcanic rocks. The evolution of clay minerals with depth during burial and tectonic loading is the principal focus of the symposium. The large volume of fluid involved during diagenesis leads also to drastic changes in rock porosity and to scaling in important geothermal, hydrothermal and hydrocarbon reservoirs rocks or to changes in maturity of hydrocarbons. Recently, VLGM indicators are applied in hydrothermal and geothermal renewable energy resource prospection. All these aspects require a deeper understanding of clay-mineral alteration and reaction progress to predict palaeo- or recent geothermal gradient or reservoir characteristics.