Advances in mud shale diagenesis driven by organic–inorganic interactions

Shale diagenesis is a complex geochemical process governed by the coupled evolution of minerals, organic matter, and fluids during burial. Although substantial progress has been made in understanding individual diagenetic minerals and organic matter evolution, most existing studies address these processes separately, and an integrated perspective that explicitly links organic inorganic interactions with diagenetic mechanisms remains incomplete. Recent advances in shale diagenesis are synthesized from the perspective of organic inorganic interactions across different diagenetic stages. Particular attention is given to three major diagenetic mineral groups, including quartz, carbonate minerals, and clay minerals, which are especially sensitive to microbial activity and the thermal evolution of organic matter. The genetic types, geochemical characteristics, and evolutionary pathways of these minerals are summarized, and the ways in which different occurrence states of organic matter regulate mineral dissolution, precipitation, and phase transformation through “encapsulation” effects, interlayer “pillar”, and fluid mediated reactions are evaluated. The roles of microbial processes in early diagenesis and the influence of organic matter thermal decomposition products, especially organic acids and CO 2 , on diagenetic environments during burial are systematically discussed. These contrasting pathways create significant heterogeneity in diagenetic evolution. Overall, variations in microbial activity and organic matter occurrence not only drive mineral transformation but also couple organic carbon cycling with hydrocarbon generation, reservoir development, and hydrocarbon mobility. Advancing research into shale diagenesis and its controlling mechanisms will improve efficiency in shale oil and gas exploration and development, and provide considerable potential for future study.