Potential of Gaspe PeninsulaIn the AAPG Bulletin, V.94, No.4 (April 2010), PP. 513 - 531. The AAPG is The American Association of Petroleum Geologists.
The title of the article is called:
"Massive dolomitization of a pinnacle reef in the Lower Devonian West Point Formation (Gaspe Peninsula Quebec): An extreme case of hydrothermal dolomitization through fault-focused circulation of magmatic fluids."
The article is written by:
D. Lavoie - Geological Survey of Canada
G. Chi - Department of Geology - University of Regina
M. Urbatsch - Department of Geology - University of Regina
W.J. Davis - Geological Survey of Canada
This is the conclusion of the article. It is very positive. For all the Petrolia shareholders out there getting nervous here is independant third party evidence of the hydrocarbon potential of the Gaspe region. Good luck to all those long (and patient) on Petrolia. This area is going to be huge.
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Conclusion (of titled article noted above)
"In Northern Gaspe, isolated Lower Devonian pinnacles were formed at a time of rapidly rising sea level and were preferentially developed on the elevated faulted margins of tilted tectonic blocks (Bourque, 2001). An outcrop of a massively dolomitized Lower Devonian pinnacle reef of the West Point Formation has been recognized in an area of significant magma ascent at the junction of two major faults: the Shickshock Sud and Riviere Madeleine. This pinnacle reef is the only dolomitized example of exposed Lower Devonian pinnacles in the Gaspe area.
On the basis of local and regional field observations, and from petrography and geochemistry of the carbonates, we propose that pervasive dolomitization proceeded from high-temperature magmatic fluids forced upward during displacement along the Shickshock Sud and Riviere Madeleine faults. A first dolomitization event resulted in a massive dolostone body that was later crosscut by Acadian fractures that were cemented by a second dolomite phase that originated from hot basinal brines. Some of the fracture porosity and remaining secondary pore space were eventually filled by calcite cement from hot but significantly cooler basinal brines. In nearby pinnacles, late fracture-fill calcite phases are host to abundant light hydrocarbons and oil inclusions, suggesting a possible hydrocarbon charge event some time after the massive dolomitization."
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As noted above, this is only the Conclusion of the article. It is worth your time to read the entire article to gain a greater technical understanding of the hydrocarbon potential of the area. All the best.
Tbonepickens