Calcrete as a source of heterogeneity in Triassic fluvial sandstone aquifers (Otter Sandstone Formation, SW England)

Carbonate is not generally considered as a potential source of large-scale heterogeneity in Permo-Triassic sandstone aquifers. This study shows that carbonate, in the form of early diagenetic calcrete, forms an abundant component of the Triassic Otter Sandstone Formation in south Devon. Three types of calcrete are described from the outcrop of this fluvial sandstone dominated aquifer: rhizocretions; calcrete sheets; and calcrete conglomerates. Data obtained from core plugs show that calcrete reduces sandstone permeability to less than 10–15 m2 and porosity to less than 12%. Calcrete can be sufficiently abundant to produce a significant (up to 30%) reduction in the total effective porosity of the aquifer. Moreover, calcrete conglomerates can form laterally extensive (up to 1 km) low-permeability sheets that will represent major baffles to vertical flow.