TY - JOUR

T1 - Accumulation mechanism of crust–mantle mixing helium-rich reservoir

T2 - a case study of the Subei basin (Eastern China)

AU - Li, Wenqi

AU - Liu, Huichuan

AU - Holland, Greg

AU - Zhou, Zheng

AU - Chen, Jianfa

AU - Li, Jian

AU - Wang, Xiaobo

PY - 2025/4/30

Y1 - 2025/4/30

N2 - Helium reservoirs, as an indispensable and scarce strategic resource, can be categorized into two primary origins: crust- and mantle-sourced. Understanding the mechanisms of its formation and accumulation is a crucial challenge in helium exploration. Previous work on helium exploration has mainly focused on crustal helium, while mantle-sourced helium-rich reservoirs have been overlooked. Helium reservoirs with both a crustal and a mantle source exhibit higher helium abundance than that of crustal helium reservoirs and are sporadically distributed in Neogene basins worldwide, but their formation and evolution is poorly understood. In Eastern China, several Neogene basins preserve high quality crust/mantle helium-rich reservoirs, and in this study, we use the Subei Basin as a case study to investigate processes controlling He accumulation and storage. The helium reservoirs can be classified into two types based on the lithological nature of the structural traps: sand reservoir with mud cap and basalt reservoirs with mud cap. The main controlling factors for the formation of crust–mantle helium-rich reservoirs include deep-seated faults, magmatic activity, and mineralization of mantle-derived CO2. Deep-seated faults, along with their associated strike-slip faults, serve as favourable pathways for mantle-derived helium migration and magma upwelling. Magmatic activities serve as the material source for mantle-derived helium as well as the carrier medium in the migration of mantle-derived volatiles. The presence of well-developed sandstone and basalt reservoirs, along with mudstone cap rocks, and the dissolution and mineralization caused by mantle-derived CO2 are important factors in helium accumulation and preservation.

AB - Helium reservoirs, as an indispensable and scarce strategic resource, can be categorized into two primary origins: crust- and mantle-sourced. Understanding the mechanisms of its formation and accumulation is a crucial challenge in helium exploration. Previous work on helium exploration has mainly focused on crustal helium, while mantle-sourced helium-rich reservoirs have been overlooked. Helium reservoirs with both a crustal and a mantle source exhibit higher helium abundance than that of crustal helium reservoirs and are sporadically distributed in Neogene basins worldwide, but their formation and evolution is poorly understood. In Eastern China, several Neogene basins preserve high quality crust/mantle helium-rich reservoirs, and in this study, we use the Subei Basin as a case study to investigate processes controlling He accumulation and storage. The helium reservoirs can be classified into two types based on the lithological nature of the structural traps: sand reservoir with mud cap and basalt reservoirs with mud cap. The main controlling factors for the formation of crust–mantle helium-rich reservoirs include deep-seated faults, magmatic activity, and mineralization of mantle-derived CO2. Deep-seated faults, along with their associated strike-slip faults, serve as favourable pathways for mantle-derived helium migration and magma upwelling. Magmatic activities serve as the material source for mantle-derived helium as well as the carrier medium in the migration of mantle-derived volatiles. The presence of well-developed sandstone and basalt reservoirs, along with mudstone cap rocks, and the dissolution and mineralization caused by mantle-derived CO2 are important factors in helium accumulation and preservation.

U2 - 10.1080/00206814.2024.2428942

DO - 10.1080/00206814.2024.2428942

M3 - Journal article

VL - 67

SP - 1132

EP - 1145

JO - International Geology Review

JF - International Geology Review

SN - 0020-6814

IS - 8

ER -