The Formation and Structure Evolution of Zechstein (Upper Permian) Salt in Northeast German Basin: A Review

Abstract

The Zechstein (Upper Permian) salts are extensively distributed in the Northeast German Basin (NEGB). Their formation and movements have attracted great attention to discovering the accumulation and exploration of hydrocarbon sources, as well as the salt production. But the previous studies are validated in cases and a general view on these studies is scarce. By analyzing and integrating previous studies, the history and structure evolution of Zechstein salts were reviewed in this paper. Seven cycles of Zechstein salt (Na1, Na2, Na3, Na4, Na5, Na6, Na7) with distinct composition and thickness were deposited after a series of marine transgressions and regressions during the Upper Permian. The Na1 (300 m) locally developed in a lagoon environment. The thick Na2 (over 500 m) was widely deposited in the whole basin. The Na3, Na4, Na5, Na6 and Na7 decreased progressively in thickness and distribution. These salts should have been moved as a result of regional tectonics taking place from Triassic to Early Cenozoic, which changes the original distribution of salts, resulting in the formation of different salt structures (pillows and diapirs). Salt movement was more intensive in central and southern parts of the basin forming narrow and widely-distributed salt diapirs, while it was less intensive in the northern parts where salt pillows are the major structure. The salt meadow and saline springs are also present, which are attributed to the salinization of the groundwater. By this study, we review the history and structure development of the Zechstein salt in the NEGB by associating each individual study and figure out the common and regional characters of the salt in this region.

Impact of Second Phase Content on Rock Salt Rheological Behavior Under Cyclic Mechanical Conditions

“…Boulby Mine Boulby Mine is located in the Zechstein Permian Basin that extends from eastern England to the Netherlands, North Germany, and Poland (Ziegler 1990;Van Wees 2000;Zhang et al 2013) (Fig. 1).…”

“…1). The Zechstein salt sequence was deposited under arid climate conditions and as a result of a series of marine transgression and regression episodes during the Upper Permian (Zhang et al 2013). The formation sequence presents clastic sediments of aeolian sandstones, fluvial fans, and shallow-lake deposits from Lower Permian passing through cyclic deposition of salt alternated with anhydrite and mudstone during the repeated transgression-regression episodes during the Upper Permian (Zhang et al 2013;Strohmenger and Strauss 1996).…”

Sulfur and carbon isotopic systematics of Guadalupian‐Lopingian (Permian) mid‐Panthalassa: δ34S and δ13C profiles in accreted paleo‐atoll carbonates in Japan

“…Massive evaporite deposition of gypsum and anhydrite can significantly decrease marine sulfate concentrations. In fact, the massive evaporite was developed in the late Permian Zechstein Basin in Central Europe (Zhang, Krause, & Mutti, 2013). The lowered sulfate concentration in seawater can depress the bacterial sulfate reduction that oxidizes organic matter and produces hydrogen sulfide and pyrite, leading to δ 13 C carb increase and δ 34 S CAS decrease (Wortmann & Chernyavsky, 2007).…”

“…This is contradictory to imagine the putative effect from the flood basalt volcanism from the Emeishan Trap that dominated after the G–LB. After the G–LB, instead, the negative correlation between δ 13 C carb and δ 34 S CAS sustained in environmental conditions with low oceanic sulfate concentrations, which may have resulted from ocean sulfate removal by massive evaporite deposition (Zhang et al, 2013).…”

The UK Centre for Astrobiology: A Virtual Astrobiology Centre. Accomplishments and Lessons Learned, 2011–2016

“…Boulby Mine is an active potash/polyhalite mine in the northeast of the United Kingdom that operates over 1000 km of roadways at a depth of ∼1 km underground. The mine operates in vast evaporite deposits that are ∼0.25 billion years old and were formed in the Zechstein Sea, an inland epicontinental sea that existed in the Permian Period (298.9–252.17 million years ago) ( e.g., Taylor, 1998 ; Zhang et al, 2013 ).…”