Geochemical Characterization of Organic Rich Black Rocks of the Niutitang Formation to Reconstruct the Paleoenvironmental Settings during Early Cambrian Period from Xiangxi Area, Western Hunan, China

The Niutitang Formation in the South China Block might be a source of hydrocarbon as it contains an enormous quantity of organic matter. Black rock of the Early Cambrian Niutitang Formation is widely distributed in the Yangtze region, but detailed geochemical understanding of it is still emerging. This research discusses the detailed geochemical characteristics of the Niutitang Formation to reconstruct the paleoenvironmental conditions, employing total organic carbon (TOC) content, major, trace, and rare earth element data. For this purpose, black rock specimens of the Niutitang Formation from two outcrop sections were utilized for geochemical characterization, and the results compared with another eight sections from the South China Block. The average total organic carbon in these sediments is significantly higher (5.80 wt.