This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Baba, M, Parnell, J, Bowden, SA. Naturally propped fractures caused by quartz cementation preserve oil reservoirs in basement rocks. Terra Nova. 2019; 31: 343– 347., which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/ter.12385. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.