Comparative mineralogical-geochemical characteristics of the oil-bearing rocks of East Azerbaijan with Athabasca (Canada)

This research evaluates the oil-bearing rocks of East Azerbaijan exemplified by the Akhtarma-Puta, Cheyildere, and Araliq areas by comparing them with Athabasca, one of the world's best-studied oil sand systems, to determine their mineralogical, major oxide, and organic-geochemical characteristics, as well as their similarities and differences.The study is based on the XRD and WDXRF results of 12 rock samples from the aforementioned areas, along with the determination of moisture content, extractable bitumen, and bitumen fractions in group samples.Compared to Athabasca, the average composition of the East Azerbaijan samples is characterized by lower quartz (28.92% vs. 51.30%),clay minerals (23.42% vs. 40.30%),and SiO2 (46.29% vs. 78.82%),but higher feldspar (15.83% vs. 3.10%), carbonate (16.08% vs. 4.40%), and CaO (12.19% vs. 3.07%).The average bitumen content is 4.61% in the local samples and 7.15% in Athabasca, while the moisture content is 1.45% and 3.40%, respectively.Within the local areas, Cheyildere is distinguished by being quartz-rich and carbonate-free, whereas Araliq is characterized by bitumen with a high asphaltene content.These results indicate that the investigated oil-bearing rocks of East Azerbaijan possess distinct mineral-matrix and bitumen characteristics compared to Athabasca, alongside significant compositional variability within the local areas.