Provenance analysis of the Sixth Member of the Yanchang Formation in the Yangjiayuanze oil prospect area, Zichang oilfield, Ordos basin

Abstract：The authors analyzed the directions of paleocurrents and main sediment sources and features of parent rocks in the provenance during the deposition of the Sixth Member of the Yanchang Formation and studied the features of the parent rocks of the provenance based on the framework grains, heavy minerals, cathodoluminescence of framework grains and REE features of sandstone in the strata in the Yangjiayuanze oil prospect area, Zichang oilfield, northeastern Ordos basin, combined with measurements of the paleocurrent direction on typical outcrops located on the northeastern margin of the Ordos basin. The study shows that the paleocurrents and main sediment source were derived from the northeast during the deposition of the Sixth Member of the Yanchang Formation. The parent rocks of the provenance are mainly metamorphic rocks with a small amount of igneous rocks. The study is of great theoretical and practical significance for an analysis of the tempo-spatial distribution of sandstones of the Yanchang Formation in the northeastern Ordos basin, evaluation of favorable hydrocarbon accumulation areas and arrangement of further hydrocarbon exploration in the study area.