Srdimentology (1994) 41, 133-145

Origin and migration of palaeofluids in the Upper Visean of the Campine Basin,
northern Belgium

P H I L I P P E MUCHEZ,* J I M D. M A R S H A L L , ? J A C Q U E S L. R . T O U R E T I und
W I L L Y A . VIAENE*
*Fysico-chemische geologie, K. U. Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200C, B-3001 Hevelee, Belgium
f University of Liverpool, Department of Earth Sciences, PO Box 147, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK
$Institute of Earth Sciences, Free Universit-y,De Boeleluan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdum,
the Netherlands

ABSTRACT
Upper Visean limestones in the Campine Basin of northern Belgium are intensively fractured. The largest
and most common fractures are cemented by non-ferroan, dull brown-orange luminescent blocky calcite.
First melting temperatures of fluid inclusions in these calcites are around - 57"C, suggesting that
precipitation of the cements occurred from NaCI-CaCl,-MgCl, fluids. The final melting temperatures
(T,,,"') are between - 5 and - 33C. The broad range in the Tml" data can be explained by the mixing of
high salinity fluids with meteoric waters, but other hypotheses may also be valid. Homogenization
temperatures from blocky calcite cements in the shelf limestones are interpreted to have formed between
45 and 75C. In carbonates which were deposited close to and at the shelf margin, precipitation
temperatures were possibly in the range 70-85C and 72-93"C, respectively.
On the shelf, the calcites have a 6 l 8 0 around - 9.3% PDB and they are interpreted to have grown
in a fluid with a 6 1 8 0 between - 3.5 and + 1 . 0 % ~SMOW. At the shelf margin, blocky calcites
( ~ 5 ~ ~13.5%~
~ 0 % PDB) could have precipitated from a fluid with a ~ 5 between~ ~ 0 -4.0 and - 1.1%
SMOW. The highest oxygen isotopic compositions are comparable to those of Late Carboniferous marine
fluids (C5"0= 1% SMOW). The lowest values are more positive than a previously reported composition
~

for Carboniferous meteoric waters (d1*0= - 7% SMOW). Precipitation is likely to have occurred in
marine-derived fluids, which mixed with meteoric waters sourced from near the Brabant Massif. Fluids
with a similar negative oxygen isotopic composition and high salinity are actually present in Palaeozoic
formations. The higher temperature range in the limestones near the shelf margin is explained by the
upward migration of fluids from the 'basinal' area along fractures and faults into the shelf.

INTRODUCTION
The migration of fluids through fracture systems may
be important in the cementation of sandstones (Boles
& Franks, 1979; Burley et ul., 1989) and of carbon-
ates (Moore & Druckman, 1981; Emery et al., 1988;
Sellwood et al., 1989). Recent studies have shown
that the combination of fluid inclusion and stable
isotopic data is very promising for the interpretation
of the origin of cements which formed in the deeper
subsurface (Moore, 1985; Aulstead et al., 1988;
Muchez et al., 1991b) as such investigations allow
interpretation of the composition of the ambient fluid
during cementation.
In the Upper Visean of the Campine Basin
(northern Belgium), several successive episodes of
fracturing and subsequent cementation have been
recognized (Muchez et al., 1991b). In a microbial
buildup on the shelf at Poederlee, the volumetrically
most important cement in fractures is non-ferroan,
dull luminescent calcite, which was interpreted to
have formed during the early Westphalian from
marine-derived waters at around 60C (Muchez et al.,
1991b). Similar cements occur throughout the Upper
Visean limestones of the Campine Basin. The aim of
this paper is to compare the precipitation conditions

133
134
Fig. 1. Location of the investigated boreholes in northern Belgium. The area outside the hatched lines represents Visean strata
at outcrop or in the subsurface.
of these fracture-filling cements at different localities.
The origin and migration of the fluids from which
they formed are discussed. The study has been car-
ried out on material from three boreholes in northern
Belgium. Surface outcrops are absent except at the
eastern part of the basin near VisC (Fig. 1).
GEOLOGICAL SETTING
The Upper Visean strata of the Campine Basin were
deposited in a block-faulted basin (Muchez et al.,
1987b). Microbial buildups (Muchez et al., 1987a,
1990) developed on the shelf (at Poederlee) and at the
shelf margin (at Heibaart; Fig. 2). Shallow subtidal
limestones have been recognized in the Turnhout
borehole (Fig. 1). This borehole is situated 8 km
south of a growth fault, which most likely formed
the boundary between the shelf and the basinal area
of the Campine Basin (Vandenberghe, 1984). The
Heibaart buildup occurs just south of this fault. To
the north of the growth fault, a thick sequence of
Upper Carboniferous strata is present (Fig. 2). Near
the Brabant Massif, the Upper Visean is absent due
to multiple periods of dissolution and erosion after
deposition. The present temperatures in the investi-
gated intervals of the boreholes are 65, 110 and 45C
P. Muchez et al.
at Poederlee, Turnhout and Heibaart, respectively
(Vandenberghe & Fock, 1989).
Primary pores in the Upper Visean limestones
were cemented in marine and meteoric pore waters
(Muchez et al., 1991~).Thereafter, multiple periods
of fracturing and cementation affected the lime-
stones. Non-ferroan vein cements precipitated from
meteoric and then from marine waters (Muchez et
al., 1991b,c). Under deep burial conditions blocky
ferroan calcites and dolomites formed at high tem-
peratures (150-200C) from brines enriched in, 0.
Non-ferroan vein-filling calcites (the Stage F cements
of Muchez et al., 1991b) are volumetrically the most
important. They have been related to the migration
of marine fluids. These vein cements are discussed in
detail in this paper.
METHODS
The vein-filling cements have been examined by con-
ventional and cathodoluminescence (CL) petro-
graphy. The Technosyn Cold Cathodoluminescence
Model 8200 MkII was operated at 16-20 kV, 420 pA
gun current, 5 mm beam width and 6.65 Pa.
Doubly polished sections were prepared for the
study of fluid inclusions. Rock samples were cut into
 Visean palaeojuids, Campine Basin
S N
r I III
1 1 1 1 1 1
vi sea,,
[Loom
Fig. 2. North-south cross-section through the Campine Basin in Belgium during early Westphalian time.
a thick rectangular prism with a maximum length
and width of 1 cm. One side of the embedded samples
was polished by hand on three glass plates with water
and carborundum of grain sizes 220, 320 and 600
respectively. Polishing was continued on a lap using
fused corundum powder ( 5 pm) in water and finished
on a low speed polishing machine (125 rpm) using oil
as lubricant and diamond spray of 3 pm and subse-
quently of 1 pm. Thin rock slabs (2 mm thick) were
cut with a low-speed rock saw with liberal water
cooling. The polished surface of the thin rock slabs
was mounted by cyanoacrylate or 'super glue' adhe-
sive on a glass slide. The slab was ground to 150 pm
on glass plates with carborundum in water. It was
further polished according to the above described
method. The polished section was dismounted
from the glass slide by dissolving the adhesive in
nitromethane and wiped clean of adhesive residue.
Microthermometric analyses of fluid inclusions
were carried out on a Linkham heating<ooling
stage. Fluid inclusions were selected by a petro-
graphical study of the doubly polished sections.
When the fluid inclusions contained both a liquid and
a gas phase, the homogenization temperature ( Th)
was measured first and thereafter the temperature of
first melt (Tf,)and of final melt (T,). When the fluid
inclusions contained only a liquid phase (mainly in
the Poederlee borehole), a gas bubble often appeared
after cooling and before freezing the inclusions, indi-
I35
I I I III
1I-j-I
\------------
'\ '\'I ------------
k
cating metastability of some of the all-liquid inclu-
sions (see also Roedder, 1984). After the appearance
of a gas bubble, the homogenization temperature was
measured and then the temperatures of first and final
melt. When no bubble occurred after cooling, a
bubble formed after freezing. These inclusions were
avoided in our study unless they had the same Th
values as the all-liquid inclusions in which a bubble
had already appeared after cooling. Reproducibility
was within 0.5 and 5C for T, and Th values,
respectively.
The calcite cements were analysed for their carbon
and oxygen stable isotopic composition at the Uni-
versity of Liverpool Stable Isotope Laboratory. Raw
sample and standard t745 and 646 values were cor-
rected according to Craig (1957) using a fractionation
factor of 1.01025 for CO, produced by reaction with
phosphoric acid at 25C (Friedman & O'Neil, 1977).
Results are expressed as per mil (%o) deviation from
the PDB standard. Reproducibilities (2a) determined
from replicate analyses of split samples were better
than 0.1%0for both carbon and oxygen.
PETROGRAPHY OF THE VEIN
CEMENTS
The veins are a few millimetres (Fig. 3A) to several
centimetres wide. They are predominantly subvertical
136 P. Muchez et al.

Fig. 3. (A) Core slab showing numerous fractures cemented by non-ferroan blocky calcites (arrows). (B) Subvertical fracture
(arrows) filled with non-ferroan blocky calcites. (C) Intense fracturing causing the development of a breccia. Fractures are
filled with non-ferroan blocky calcites. (D) Non-ferroan vein cements cross-cut the stylolites (arrows).

(Fig. 3B) but horizontal veins have been recognized.
The fractures are extensional in origin. Blocky calcite
vein fill fabrics are syntaxial with crystals extending
more or less from the walls of the fracture to the
centre of the cavity. At some places, metre sized
dissolution cavities are filled with this blocky calcite.
Fracturing also caused the development of a breccia
(Fig. 3C). The fragments are at least 7-10 cm wide,
the diameter range of the cores. They show a fitted
fabric, indicating minor displacement of the frag-
ments. The veins cross-cut stylolites (Fig. 3D). The
blocky calcites are non-ferroan and under CL they
show a moderate to dull brown-orange homo-
geneous luminescence.
The crystals selected for the microthermometric
study were untwinned (Fig. 4A). CL shows that
later calcite generations may invade intercrystalline
boundaries and fractured cleavage planes of the
non-ferroan blocky calcites (Muchez et al., 1991b).
These areas were avoided in the microthermometric
and isotopic study.
FLUID INCLUSION ANALYSIS
Description and measurements
Fluid inclusions in the white blocky calcites are
abundant and generally have a random distribution.
Conventional and CL petrography clearly show that
their distribution is not related to cleavage planes or
microfractures. However, a relation with former crys-
tal growth faces also cannot be demonstrated since
the lack of zoning makes such faces difficult to
recognize. Rhombic to rectangular fluid inclusions
are the dominant type (Fig. 4A). They range in size
between 1 and 40 pm but those measured on the stage
generally are between 5 and 20 pm. In the Poederlee
borehole, inclusions commonly contain only a liquid
 Visean palaeojuids, Campine Basin 137

Fig. 4. (A) Photomicrograph of fluid inclusions in the blocky calcites. Rhombic to rectangular inclusions are dominant. Scale
bar=50 pm. (B) Photomicrograph of one phase inclusions (a). Scale bar=12 pm. (C) Photomicrograph of a relatively large
two phase inclusion. Scale bar= 12 km. (D) Photomicrograph showing three phase inclusions (arrows). In these inclusions, a
liquid, a gas and a solid phase are present. Scale bar= 12 pm

phase (Fig. 4B) but two phase fluid inclusions are
also present and have been measured. In the all-liquid
inclusions, a bubble may appear after cooling. The
fact that a bubble occurs after cooling and before
freezing indicates metastability of some of these
inclusions (Roedder, 1984). The inclusions which
remained all-liquid were smaller than those in which
a bubble appeared. This indicates that the small
remaining all-liquid inclusions have no temperature
significance as they probably result from metastab-
ility. In the Turnhout and Heibaart boreholes most
of the inclusions contain a liquid and a gas phase
(Fig. 4C). In the few one phase all-liquid inclusions, a
bubble also appeared after cooling. Some inclusions
show a third phase which is solid (Fig. 4D) and which
has been identified as magnesite by Raman spec-
trometry (Muchez et al., 1991b). CH,, CO, and N,
have not been detected in the inclusions by Raman
spectrometry.
The homogenization temperature of the originally
all-liquid fluid inclusions in the Poederlee borehole in
which a bubble appeared after cooling was below
80C. A distinct mode of the T, values is present at
around 60C. The temperature range of this group of
inclusions is between 45 and 75C (Fig. 5). The
originally two phase fluid inclusions in the Poederlee
borehole have T, values above 80C. In the Turnhout
and Heibaart boreholes, the two phase fluid inclu-
sions have homogenization temperatures of 70 to
>150"C (Figs 6 and 7).
In the Turnhout borehole, the sample at a depth of
2191.5 m is characterized by a population of inclu-
sions with a distinct mode at around 80C (Fig. 6).
The investigated part of this sample did not contain
evidence of opened cleavage. At a depth of 2191 m
numerous cleavage planes are present in the studied
area and a wide spread in the Th measurements
occurs. The lowest values in this sample, however, are
138 P. Muchez et al.

I ' >;50 Th(OC)

b
40 60 80 100 120 140

[XI o Po 1541.5 rn Po 1631.5 m

Po 1651.9 m w PO 1654 m
Fig. 5. Microthermometric data from calcites from the Poederlee (Po) borehole. (A) T,,-T,, plot of the fluid inclusions in the
non-ferroan blocky calcites. (B) Histogram of the homogenization temperatures of the fluid inclusions in the blocky calcites.

similar to those recorded at a depth of 2191.5 m. In
the Heibaart borehole, numerous cleavage planes are
present in the sample at a depth of 1140 m and only
a few cleavage planes at a depth of 1170 m. In the
latter sample a distinct mode in the T, values occurs
at around 90C (Fig. 7). This distinct mode represents
at least the earliest recognizable T-X event and
probably the primary fluid inclusion population.
In the Poederlee and Turnhout boreholes, the
temperature of first melt is between - 57 and - 50C.
In the Heibaart borehole it ranges between - 55 and
- 30C. Immediately after freezing, a typical brown
coloration developed. Ice was the last phase to melt;
the temperatures in the Poederlee and Turnhout
boreholes range between - 13 and - 32C (Fig. 5 )
and - 5 and - 26C (Fig. 6), respectively. A cluster
of the T, data around - 19Chas been recognized in
the Heibaart borehole. However, the total range is
between - 13 and - 33C (Fig. 7).
Interpretation
Generally, even when petrographical evidence clearly
indicates that the measured inclusions were trapped
during crystal growth (primary inclusions), the T,
and Th values may be highly variable because of
thermal re-equilibration (Goldstein, 1986). In dia-
genetic studies two major problems occur. First,
 Visean palaeojuids, Campine Basin 139

'1
A

- 30

0 0

-20-

-10-

I
' 140 >I50 ThPc)
W
40 60 80 100 120

Tu 2191 m
B
nt
00Tu 2191.5m
lot

. . . . . . . ,
40 60 80 100 120 140

Fig. 6. Microthermometric data from calcites from the Turnhout (Tu) borehole. (A) T,,-T, plot of the fluid inclusions in the
non-ferroan blocky calcites. (B) Histogram of the homogenization temperatures of the fluid inclusions in the blocky calcites.

crystals which grew in mixed fluids are likely to show
a broad range of T, (Boni et al., 1990). Values range
according to the salinities of the mixing fluids. If such
fluids have different temperatures, a scatter in the
homogenization temperatures is also likely. Second,
deep burial may cause stretching and leakage of
inclusions. Inclusions which are trapped at low tem-
peratures may become unstable during burial heating
(Goldstein, 1986; Burruss, 1987; Prezbindowski &
Larese, 1987). Stability of these inclusions is regained
by a non-elastic deformation (stretching) of the inclu-
sion walls in response to the increase of the internal
pressure (Bodnar & Bethke, 1984). This deformation
produces a volume increase and thereby an increase
in Th. Instead of stretching, this internal pressure can
cause the crystal to deform in a brittle manner, in
which case fractures may extend from the inclusion
to the grain boundary, causing leakage (Roedder,
1984). These inclusions may become refilled by
deeper formation waters, resulting in a change in T,l
and T, (Goldstein, 1986). In this way, the resulting
fluid inclusion population could contain a nearly
complete record of burial fluids in which a rock has
been bathed since the original precipitation of the
minerals.
The occurrence of a typical brown colour of the
fluid inclusions in the calcite spars, which develops
after freezing, together with first melting tempera-
tures (Tf,,,) below - 20,8"C, indicates that CaC1,
and/or MgC1, are present, together with NaCl
(Shepherd et al., 1985). The lowest temperature of
- 57C is similar to the eutectic temperature of the
NaCl-CaCl,MgCl,-H,O system (Luzhnaya &
Vereshtchetina, 1946 in Mullis & Stalder, 1987).
140 P. Muchez et al.

A
Tm
("C)

0 0 0
0 0
- 30 R 0

8
0

-20

-10

40 60 80 100 120 ' 140 >I50 Th(%)

B
"T

60 80 100 120

B o H e 1140 m
00He 1170 m
Fig. 7. Microthermometric data from calcites from the Heibaart (He) borehole. (A) T,-T, plot of the fluid inclusions in the
non-ferroan blocky calcites. (B) Histogram of the homogenization temperatures of the fluid inclusions in the blocky calcites.

The recorded final melting temperatures in the
blocky calcites are between - 5 and - 33"C, corre-
sponding to a salinity range of 9.2-27.3 eq. wt%
CaCI, (Shepherd et al., 1985). No eq. wt% NaCl
values have been calculated as many of the T, values
are lower than or situated around -20.8"C, the
temperature of first melting of an NaCl solution. The
wide range of values and the fact that there is no
apparent relationship between T, and T, (Figs 5-7)
suggest that any or all of the processes described
above (mixing of fluids, stretching, leakage and refill-
ing) may have taken place. In addition, a secondary
origin for some of the inclusions cannot be excluded
and their incorporation in the data could have caused
a spread in the salinity measurements.
A characteristic of the fluid inclusions in the non-
ferroan blocky calcites in the Poederlee borehole is
that a broad range in T, values occurs in inclusions
with approximately the same low Th value (40-75C;
Fig. 5). Although this broad range is mainly caused
by analysing inclusions in samples from different
depths, the variation is also present in originally
all-liquid inclusions of the same size which occur
within a distance of 150 km (sample Po 1651.9 in
 Visean palaeofluids, Campine Basin
Fig. 5). This pattern cannot have been caused by
re-equilibration of a certain number of inclusions
with fluids which migrated through the limestones
after the formation of these inclusions. Leakage and
refilling with fluids which later migrated through the
Upper Visean in this area could explain an increase in
salinity of the inclusions since these fluids have a high
salinity (TmICelower than - 20C; Muchez et al.,
1991b). However, the temperatures of these fluids are
above 89C and therefore an associated increase in
the Th values should have occurred. Also in the
Turnhout and Heibaart boreholes no later calcite
generation has Th values below 90C. Therefore, the
broad range in T,,, in inclusions with a narrow mode
at low Th can best be explained by the presence of
two fluid types which mixed (see also Parry et al.,
1991; Misra & Lu, 1992). This interpretation does not
exclude the possibility that the fluid inclusions giving
higher temperatures are the result of a complex
history of mixing, stretching andlor leakage and
refilling and that even a few secondary inclusions
have been incorporated in our data.
The high salinity fluid inclusions have been related
to the migration of formation waters into the
Visean carbonates (Muchez et al., 1991b). Above the
intensely deformed Caledonian basement, Devonian,
Dinantian and Upper Carboniferous strata are
present below a Mesozoic cover. The Devonian in the
investigated area is only 175 m thick (Bless et al.,
1976) and it is unlikely that it was an important fluid
source. The Dinantian shelf carbonates were com-
pletely lithified before the development of the frac-
tures. On the other hand, a major fluid source during
burial was the Upper Carboniferous shales strati-
graphically adjacent and lateral to the Visean build-
ups and the Carboniferous shales and fine grained
limestones in the area, north of the growth fault
(Fig. 2). Lowering of the salinity could have been
caused by mixing of such brines with meteoric fluids
which percolated into the deeper subsurface, for
example along fractures and faults. Already before
the development of the studied veins, meteoric fluids
sourced from near the Brabant Massif migrated along
fractures into the Visean limestones at temperatures
of c. 30 and 45C (Muchez et al., 1991~).
The wide spread in the Thdata can be explained
by stretching, by leakage and refilling and by the
measurement of secondary inclusions. The distinct
clustering of the Thvalues around 60C of the origi-
nally all-liquid inclusions at Poederlee is interpreted
to represent a good approximation of the original
primary fluid inclusion population. The two phase
141
inclusions could have a secondary origin andlor could
be primary inclusions which became modified by later
processes. The observation that in the Turnhout and
Heibaart boreholes a distinct group of T,, values
occurs at the lowest measured temperatures in
samples with no or only a few clevage planes is an
indication that these groups represent the original
fluid populations. This is supported by the fact that
in samples with numerous cleavage planes the lowest
temperatures of a broad range of Th values are
comparable to those of the distinct group (Figs 6 and
7). The broad range of T,l values could have been
caused by re-equilibration during continuing burial,
facilitated by the presence of cleavage planes. How-
ever, re-equilibration could also be related to the
period and processes causing the formation of the
cleavage planes. Thus, although the evidence for a
primary origin of the inclusions is not conclusive, it is
the most reasonable interpretation when the nature
of the samples is taken into account.
The interpretation that the distinct groups of Th
values represent the original fluid inclusion popu-
lations is consistent with the geological evolution of
the Campine Basin. An almost continuous sub-
sidence characterized this basin during the Late
Carboniferous. A microthermometric, stable isotopic
and trace element study of the different vein genera-
tions in the basin is in agreement with their forma-
tion under continuously deeper burial conditions
(Muchez et al., 1991b). The lowest temperatures
measured in the non-ferroan blocky calcites, and
interpreted as primary, are lower than any inclusions
in later calcite generations. It can be argued that the
distinct mode at low temperatures has been shifted
towards higher values than the original temperatures
during heating. However, the degree of coalification
is similar in the three areas (Muchez et al., 1991a) and
thus also is the maximum temperature. This and the
similar characteristics of the other variables relative
to fluid inclusion re-equilibration (size, shape, com-
position, host mineral) indicates that the measured
difference in the Th values between the three bore-
holes is probably an original one.
In addition, even if a shift in the Th values
occurred, it must have been minor. The cloudy
columnar calcites which precipitated just before the
blocky calcites at Poederlee contain all-liquid pri-
mary inclusions some of the same size and shape as
the originally all-liquid inclusions in the blocky cal-
cites. In these inclusions, a bubble did not appear
after several periods of prolonged cooling, suggesting
entrapment below c. 50C (Sabouraud et al., 1980).
142 P. Muchez et al.
In combination with the isotope data, a precipitation
temperature of 46-50C has been calculated (Muchez
et al., 1991b). A precipitation temperature around
60C for the blocky calcites which post-date the
cloudy columnar calcites is therefore realistic.
Discussion
If it is accepted that the fluid inclusions with a
distinct mode in the T,, values are representative of
the original primary fluid inclusion populations, the
original trapping temperature (T,) of the inclusions
and the precipitation temperature of the blocky cal-
cites can be calculated; the homogenization tempera-
ture should be corrected for the fluid pressure. The
entrapment temperature and pressure can be defined
by the point of intersection of the appropriate iso-
chore and the fluid pressure gradient. Calculation of
the isochores of the aqueous fluid inclusions was
carried out using the equations of state of Zhang &
Frantz (1987) and of Brown & Lamb (1989). At
shallow depths and with open fractures a fluid
pressure equal to the hydrostatic pressure can be
assumed. For homogenization temperatures around
60C as in the Poederlee borehole, the pressure
correction is smaller than 5C for both equations of
state and within the error of the measurements. The
formation depth of the blocky calcites at Poederlee
was around 800 m (Muchez et al., 1991b). This value
has been calculated using a hydrostatic pressure
gradient of 105 bar km ' in combination with a
palaeothermal gradient of 50C k m - ' (Muchez et
al., 1991a). If the non-ferroan blocky calcites in the
Turnhout and Heibaart areas formed at the same
depth as at Poederlee (see below), pressure correc-
tions for Th would again be below 5C. Therefore, no
corrections have been applied.
The significantly higher lowest homogenization
temperatures in the vein cements at Heibaart and
Turnhout can be explained in two ways. Fracturing
andlor precipitation of the calcites at Heibaart and
Turnhout took place at a greater burial depth than at
Poederlee and therefore at a higher temperature.
However, no significant difference exists in the thick-
ness of the Upper Carboniferous strata between
Heibaart and Poederlee (Fig. 2). In addition, there
are no indications that this vein type developed at
different periods in the relatively small area. The
similar petrographical characteristics of the blocky
calcites and the similar interpreted oxygen isotopic
composition of the fluids from which they precipi-
tated i n the three areas (see below) suggest a common
formation period. Alternatively, the measurements
may reflect differences in precipitation temperatures
at the same burial depth. If the blocky calcites at
Poederlee precipitated from fluids which were
expelled from laterally adjacent shales the tempera-
ture of these waters would have been the same as the
temperature of the limestones. In the Heibaart and
Turnhout areas, near the margin of the shelf, fluids
may have been hotter and may have originated not
only from laterally occurring shales, but also from
deeper lying Carboniferous shales and fine grained
limestones north of the growth fault (Fig. 2). These
hot fluids could have migrated into the shelf along
fractures and faults. Fluid flow on the shelf towards
the Turnhout area may have been facilitated by the
intensely fractured, karstified and dolomitized top of
the Visean strata in the area (Vandenberghe et al.,
1986).
STABLE ISOTOPIC ANALYSIS
Results
The 6"O values of the non-ferroan blocky calcites in
the Poederlee borehole range between -8.7 and
- ll.0%0 (Fig. 8). Most values lie around - 9.3%.
The carbon isotopic values have a narrow range
between + 1.4 and +2.4%0.At Heibaart and Turnhout
the oxygen isotopic compositions are significantly
lower than at Poederlee and show a wide spread. The
average 6I80 value is - 13.5%". All the 6l'C values
are negative and between - 1.3 and - 3.1%00.
Interpretation
If it is assumed that the carbonates precipitated in
isotopic equilibrium with the ambient fluids, the
isotopic composition of the fluids can be calculated
using the interpreted trapping temperatures and the
isotopic data from the cements. Assuming a tempera-
ture of formation between 45 and 75C is correct, the
non-ferroan blocky calcites in the Poederlee borehole
would have formed from a fluid with a 6"O between
- 3.5 and +1.0%0 SMOW. In the Turnhout area,
calcite precipitation, which probably occurred at
around 80"C, would have taken place from a fluid
with a 6 l 8 0 composition between - 4.0 and - 2.0%0
SMOW and in the Heibaart area from a fluid (c.
90C) with a 6I8O value between - 3.7 and - 1.1%0
SMOW. In all cases, the lowest values lie between the
composition of Carboniferous meteoric waters
 Visean palaeoffuids, Campine Basin
Poederlee
o Heibaart
A Turnhout
Fig. 8. Carbon and oxygen isotopic composition of the non-ferroan blocky calcites in the Campine Basin
(6*0= - 7%0 SMOW; Walkden & Williams, 1991)
and Upper Carboniferous marine waters
(6lSO= - I%o SMOW; Hudson & Anderson, 1989).
The highest values are comparable to the value of the
Upper Carboniferous marine water.
The oxygen isotopic composition of the fluids
in which the calcites precipitated could also be
explained by a meteoric water which became enriched
in l 8 0 by extensive rock/water interactions. However,
because the only possible source of meteoric fluids
was near the Brabant Massif (Fig. 2), since migration
occurred in fractures and because the alteration zones
around the fractures are small (Muchez et al., 1991b)
enrichment of the fluid by rock/water interaction is
unlikely. However, this process could have affected
the marine Carboniferous pore waters and could
have caused the increase in salinity from a marine
composition towards the measured values. This inter-
action could have been very effective due to the very
slow migration rates in the fine grained rocks before
fracturing. It is therefore concluded that mixing of
marine derived fluids with meteoric waters occurred
in the Upper Visean limestones of the Campine
Basin. This concurs with our earlier interpretation of
the salinity range.
In the Devonian formations of the Michigan
Basin, Na-Ca-C1 brines are present with the same
salinity as the fluid inclusions in the investigated
blocky calcites in the Campine Basin and with an
oxygen isotopic composition as low as - 7% SMOW
143
t
I
I
[_1
(Wilson & Long, 1993). These brines are interpreted
as a mixture of an evaporated seawater brine diluted
with meteoric derived water. A similar origin has
been inferred for brines in the Palo Duro Basin in
Texas (Knauth, 1988) and in the Alberta Basin in
western Canada (Connolly et al., 1990a,b). It could
be proposed that the fluids in the Campine Basin also
resulted from a mixture of meteoric water and an
evaporated seawater brine. Such an origin of the salts
remains hypothetical since no evaporite deposits have
yet been recorded from the Campine Basin.
In the Poederlee area, the carbon isotopic compo-
sition of the calcites was buffered by interaction of
the fluids with the host limestone or other marine
carbonates (Muchez et al., 1991b). The lower 613C
values in the Turnhout and Heibaart areas indicate
that this buffering was less effective than at Poederlee.
This could be due to the fast movement of the
basinal fluids along fractures and faults into the
Visean shelf carbonates.
CONCLUSIONS
Tectonic deformation created a large and widespread
network of fractures in the Upper Visean limestones
of the Campine Basin. Fractures were cemented by
non-ferroan blocky calcites.
Fluid inclusion data are interpreted to indicate that
precipitation of the calcites occurred at lower tem-
peratures (60C) in the shelf limestones than near and
144 P. Muchez et al.
at the shelf margin (80 and 90C, respectively). The
higher temperatures near the shelf margin are due to
the migration of hot fluids from the basinal area
into the shelf along fractures and faults.
Using the homogenization temperatures of the
assumed original fluid inclusion populations, the
isotopic composition of the ambient fluids has been
calculated. The range of the oxygen isotopic compo-
sition of the ambient fluids ( - 4.0 to + 1.0%0SMOW)
and the broad range in the salinity of the fluid
inclusions suggest that calcite precipitation occurred
in marine derived fluids which mixed with meteoric
waters.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We are grateful to E. A. J. Burke, M. L. Frezzotti
and U. F. Hein for stimulating discussions.
Thorough reviews by S. D. Burley, R. H. Goldstein
and G. M. Walkden improved the manuscript and
are appreciated. We thank H. Attenborough and
J. Sharman for their help in the isotope laboratory.
E. A. J. Burke kindly provided the Raman analy-
sis. R. Zimmerman kindly made the photographs.
Financial support from the National Fund for
Scientific Research of Belgium and from NATO
(fellowship to P.M.) is gratefully acknowledged. This
study was also supported by a Research Grant
(S215-RN-E 50) of the National Fund of Scientific
Research of Belgium. The stable isotope laboratory
at Liverpool has been funded by the Natural
Environment Research Council and by the Univer-
sity of Liverpool. Facilities for laser Raman micro-
probe analyses were given by the Free University in
Amsterdam and by WACOM, subsidized by the
Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research.
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