High-resolution astronomical records of shale strata in faulted lake basins and implications for the sedimentary process of laminated sediments

• Lacustrine shale from Ek 2 in Cangdong Sag show clear annual sedimentary records. • Sedimentation rate of the Ek 2 is 20.3 cm/kyr based on time series analysis. • Time-thickness model helps explaining the genesis of annually laminated sediments (Varve). Lamina structure, a typical feature of shale, has significant implications for hydrocarbon generation, shale oil and gas reservoir evaluation, and palaeoenvironmental studies. In this study, we conducted a high-resolution astronomical analysis of shale strata from the Kongdian Formation in the Cangdong Sag, Bohai Bay Basin, China, and performed macroscopic and microscopic textural characterization of core samples. The time series analysis of the G108-8 Well indicates that stratigraphic cycles of 113.2–25.3 m, 12.7–7.8 m, 4.7–2.7 m, and 2.3–1.3 m are controlled by long eccentricity, short eccentricity, obliquity, and precession, respectively. The sedimentary accumulation rate (SAR) is estimated to be approximately 20.3 cm/kyr. The core description reveals that Ek 2 primarily consists of laminated shale with individual laminae less than 1 cm in thickness. Using a polarizing microscope, the average thickness of a single lamina is approximately 250 μm, with most laminae being less than 400 μm. We constructed a time-depth model for lacustrine laminated sediments and compared it with other ancient lacustrine strata and modern lakes. The sediment accumulation rate of ancient lacustrine strata ranges from 1.3 to 20.3 cm/kyr. The sedimentation rate of shale and the thickness distribution of individual laminae provide evidence for the annual nature of the lamina couplets. Finally, we propose a simplified model to illustrate the sedimentation process, emphasizing the record of laminated sediments in semi-deep to deep facies. Our results contribute to the understanding of lacustrine sedimentary processes, laminated sedimentary records, organic matter enrichment processes, palaeoenvironments, and their potential relationships.