Lower Palar River Sediments,Southern Peninsular,India: Geochemistry,Source-Area Weathering,Provenance and Tectonic Setting

This present study describes the geochemistry of fluvial sediments of the Palar river (lower reaches), Southern Peninsular India, with an aim to evaluate their provenance, weathering and tectonic setting. The bulk sediment chemistry is influenced by grain size. The river sediments are enriched with SiO₂ and depleted in Al₂O₃, K₂O, CaO, Na₂O, MgO, P₂O₅, MnO, Fe₂O₃ as compared with UCC values. Geochemical classification indicate that the sediments are mainly arkose, wacke and shale in composition. Discriminant diagrams together with immobile element ratio plots reveal that, the Palar river sediments are mostly derived from rocks formed in an active continental margin. Additionally, the rare earth element ratios as well as chondrite-normalized REE patterns with flat HREE, LREE enrichment, and negative Eu anomalies indicate felsic rock sources. The chemical indices of alteration suggest that Palar river sediments are chemically immature and have experienced low chemical weathering effects. This is further supported by the Th/U Rb/Sr ratio and A-CN-K ternary diagram, with most of the sample data points falling close to the plagioclase-smectite line. The bivariate plot of Th/Sc versus Zr/Sc suggest a moderate recycled origin of the sediments.     

Mineralogy and Geochemistry of Major,Trace and Rare Earth Elements in Sediments of the Hypersaline Urmia Salt Lake,Iran

Urmia Salt Lake(USL) is a hypersaline lake located at the NW corner of the Iran platform. The lake area is estimated to have been over 5000 km~2 at one point, but has now decreased to 1000 km~2 in the last two decades. It contains 4.6×10~9 tons of halite and other detrital and evaporative minerals such as calcite, aragonite, dolomite, quartz, feldspars, augite and sylvite. This study examined the mineralogy and geochemistry of bed sediments along the mid-east toward NE bank sediments collected from 1.5 meters depth and nearby augite placer. Due to the diverse lithology of the surrounding geology, bed sediments vary from felsic in the mid-east to mafic in the northeast. Weathering of tephrite and adakite rocks of the Islamic Island at the immediate boundary has produced a large volume of augite placer over a 40 km length, parallel to the shoreline. Based on the study result, weathering increases from south to north and the geochemistry of the sediments shows enrichment of Mg O, Ca O, Sr and Ba associated with Sr deployment in all samples. Rare earth elements(REE) patterns normalized to the upper continental crust(UCC) indicated LREEs enrichment compared to HREEs with an elevated anomaly of Eu, possibly due to surface absorbance of Mn and Fe minerals, associated with Sr elevation originating from adakites in the lake basin vicinity.     

Grain size and geochemistry of surface sediments in northwestern continental shelf of the South China Sea

Eighty-six surface sediments collected from the northwestern continental shelf of the South China Sea (SCS) were analyzed for grain size distribution, calcium carbonate, organic carbon, and major and trace element compositions to investigate sediment provenance and factors controlling their geochemical composition. Sediments from the eastern continental shelf of Hainan Island have higher sand and lower clay content, while the samples from the nearshore Hainan Island have higher contents of gravel and clay. Calcium carbonate contents in samples show a positive correlation with water depth in northwestern shelf of SCS, suggesting that it is related to biological factors. However, the nearshore sediments have higher contents of organic carbon compared to those of the outer shelf, possibly suggesting that the terrigenous organic matter usually deposited in nearshore environments such as bays and estuaries. Compared with the upper continental crust, the samples have relatively lower contents of SiO₂ and Al₂O₃, higher than those of the Pearl and Red river sediments. The low contents of K₂O and Na₂O in sediments from the northwestern continental shelf are consistent with intense chemical weathering in the river basin due to the seasonally hot and humid climate regime. The sediments mainly consist of three components, including the gravel fraction composed of calcareous debris, the sand fraction composed of quartz, and the silt and clay fractions mainly composed of clay minerals. The content of each component depends on grain size, sediment source, biogenesis, and hydrodynamic conditions, which finally controls the chemical composition of the sediments. The distributions of Co/Al₂O₃, Cr/Al₂O₃, and Zr/Sc ratios for sediments in the northwestern continental shelf suggest that source rocks are mainly composed of felsic rocks rather than mafic rocks. There is a distinct difference in sediment source between eastern and western shelf sediments; the eastern shelf sediments are characterized by high Zr/Sc ratios mainly derived from the Pearl River, while the western shelf sediments have relatively low values of Zr/Sc indicating a main contribution possibly sourced from the Red River Basin. Terrigenous materials from Hainan Island usually influence the geochemistry of sediments deposited in the nearshore area.     

Petrography and geochemistry of Silurian Niur sandstones,Derenjal Mountains,East Central Iran: implications for tectonic setting,provenance and weathering

Petrographical and geochemical studies of Silurian Niur sandstones, Derenjal Mountains, Central Iran, were carried out to infer their provenance and tectonic setting. Modal analysis data of 37 medium sand size and well-sorted samples revealed that most quartz is composed of monocrystalline grains with straight to slightly undulos extinction and about 3 % polycrystalline quartz has inclusions, such as rutile needles. The sandstones are classified as quartzarenite, sublitharenite, and subarkose types based on framework composition and geochemistry. Petrographic studies reveal that these sandstones contain quartz, feldspars, and fragments of sedimentary rocks. The detrital modes of these sandstones indicate that they were derived from recycled orogen and stable cratonic source. Major and trace element contents of them are generally depleted (except SiO₂) relative to upper continental crust which is mainly due to the presence of quartz and absence of Al-bearing minerals. Modal composition (e.g., quartz, feldspar, and lithic fragments) and discrimination diagrams based on major elements, trace elements (Ti, La, Th, Sc, and Zr), and also such ratios as La/Sc, Th/Sc, La/Co, and Th/Co, in sandstones suggest a felsic igneous source rock and quartzose polycyclic sedimentary provenance in a passive continental margin setting. Furthermore, high Zr/Sc values in these sandstones are considered as a sign of recycling. We indicated paleo-weathering conditions by modal compositions, the CIA index and Al₂O₃?+?K₂O?+?Na₂O% vs. SiO₂% bivariate for these sandstones. Based on these results, although recycling is important to increase the maturity of the Niur sandstones, humid climate conditions in the source area have played a decisive role.     

Geochemical characteristics of modern river sediments in Myanmar and Thailand: Implications for provenance and weathering

The elemental composition of organic matter and the major and trace element compositions of stream sediments from Myanmar (Ayeyarwady and Sittaung rivers) and Thailand (Mekong and Chao Phraya rivers, and their tributaries) were determined to examine their distributions, provenance, and chemical weathering processes. Higher total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) contents in the finer grained sediments indicate hydrodynamic energy may control their distributions. TOC/TN ratios indicate inputs of both aquatic macrophyte and higher vascular plant material to the river sediments. The major element abundances of the sediments are characterized by predominance of SiO₂ in coarser fractions and a marked negative correlation with Al₂O₃, representing primary grain size primarily control on SiO₂ content. Marked depletion of most labile elements (Na₂O, CaO, K₂O, Ba and Sr) relative to UCC (upper continental crust), indicate destruction of feldspar during chemical weathering in the source area or during transport. However, enrichment of some high field strength elements (Zr, Th, Ce and Y) relative to UCC and higher Zr/Sc ratios indicate moderate concentration of resistant heavy minerals in finer-grained samples. Discriminant diagrams and immobile trace element characteristics indicate that the Mekong, and Chao Phraya river sediments were largely derived from felsic sources with compositions close to typical rhyolite, dacite/granodiorite, UCC, I- and S-type granites. Relative enrichment of ferromagnesian elements (e.g. MgO, Cr, Ni) and high Cr/V and low Y/Ni ratios in Ayeyarwady and Sittaung sediments indicate the presence of a mafic or ultramafic component in their sources. The ICV (Index of Compositional Variability), CIA (Chemical Index of Alteration), PIA (Plagioclase Index of Alteration), α^Al, Rb/Sr and K₂O/Rb ratios indicate that the Ayeyarwady and Sittaung sediments record low to moderate degrees of chemical weathering in their source, compared to moderate to intense chemical weathering in the Mekong and Chao Phraya river basins. These results are compatible with existing major ion data for river waters collected at the same locations.     

Application of bulk sand geochemistry in mineral exploration and Quaternary research: a methodological study of the Allier and Dore terrace sands,Limagne rift valley,France

The bulk geochemistry of unconsolidated sands from river terraces in two drainage basins of contrasting geology in the Limagne rift valley, France, was studied. Data processing and interpretation was done with multivariate statistics, notably factor analysis. In the Allier drainage basin, underlain by volcanic rocks and crystalline basement, the abundance of basaltic rock fragments causes significantly higher bulk concentrations of TiO₂, Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, MgO, CaO, P₂O₅, V, Cr, Ni, Zn, Sr, Zr and Nb. In the Dore basin, underlain only by crystalline basement, sands have a significantly higher SiO₂, K₂O, Rb and Pb content, originating from quartz, K-feldspars and micas. Comparison between different terrace levels shows the impact of weathering and changes in supplied sediment composition over time. Approximately 65% of the total variance in the basaltic element content in the Allier terrace sands can be explained by the combined effect of parent material and weathering. The effect of grain size on sediment composition is only significant for Al₂O₃, Na₂O and Rb content in the Allier sands, and for TiO₂, Fe₂O₃ and Nb content in the Dore sands. Approximately 60% of the total variability in these elements is grain-size related. These results show that the technique of studying the bulk geochemical composition of stream sediments has direct applications for mineral exploration and Quaternary research.     

Major, trace and REE geochemistry of the Ganga River sediments: Influence of provenance and sedimentary processes

The sediments of the Ganga River from different depositional regimes in the Plain region such as the river channel, active flood-plain and the older flood-plain sediments from the inter-fluve region were analysed for major, trace and the rare earth elements (REEs). These are compared with catchment zone sediments of the river and probable source rocks in the Himalaya. The lower CIA values between 48 and 54.7 for the catchment sediments indicates that the sediments supplied to the Ganga Plain are chemically immature and subjected mostly to physical weathering due to higher erosion rates in the Himalaya. The CIA values ranging between 55 and 74, with average value of 59, 61.4 and 67 for sediments from the Plain's bed-load, active flood-plain and older flood-plain from the inter-fluve region indicates that silicate weathering of Ganga River sediments has occurred only after entering into the plains. This is likely because of higher residence time and change in the climate from cold-frigid in the Himalaya to tropical sub-humid in the plains. Therefore, the use of geochemical data on ancient system to infer climate in their source region may not always be true. Although the CIA values indicate a moderate chemical weathering in the plains, it is far from impressive. Dominance of physical weathering in the catchment region and lower degree of chemical weathering in the Plains indicate that weathering of sediments supplied by Himalayan Rivers, particularly the Ganga River may not have affected the atmospheric CO₂ to a significant level as is generally believed. Thus the net effect of the Himalaya on the CO₂ sequestration and consequent global cooling needs a re-evaluation.The plots of sediments in ternary diagram among La, Th, Sc and ratios involving Co/Th, La/Sc and Sc/Th indicate granitic to granodioritic source rocks to the sediments. The ratio plots involving relatively immobile Al₂O₃, TiO₂ and FeO along with REE plots suggest that out of the major Himalayan lithologies, gneisses and Cambro-Ordovician granites of HHCS have acted as the dominant source to the sediments.The plots of LogNa₂O/K₂O vs. LogSiO₂/Al₂O₃ and FeO/SiO₂ vs. Al₂O₃/SiO₂ diagrams show that the combination of processes including erosion, weathering, sorting and aeolian activity has together played a major role in progressively changing the chemistry from source rock to catchments bed-load to Plains bed-load, active flood-plains and the older inter-fluve sediments in the Ganga River system. The above plots demonstrate that as a result of above processes the ratios between the elements generally thought to be immobile and used in provenance studies does not always remain invariant and the linear trend line in the scatter gram between the two immobile elements show rotation around the fine grained end member.     

Geochemistry of Mansar Lake sediments, Jammu, India: Implication for source-area weathering, provenance, and tectonic setting

The sediment geochemistry, including REE, of surface and core samples from Mansar Lake, along with mineralogical investigations, have been carried out in order to understand the provenance, source area weathering, hydrolic sorting and tectonic setting of the basin. The geochemical signatures preserved in these sediments have been exploited as proxies in order to delineate these different parameters.The major element log values (Fe₂O₃/K₂O) vs (SiO₂/Al₂O₃) and (Na₂O/K₂O) vs (SiO₂/Al₂O₃) demarcate a lithology remarkably similar to that exposed in the catchment area. The chondrite normalized REE patterns of lake samples are similar to Post Archaean Australian Shale (PAAS) with LREE enrichment, a negative Eu anomaly and almost flat HREE pattern similar to a felsic and/or cratonic sedimentary source. However, the La–Th–Sc plot of samples fall in a mixed sedimentary domain, close to Upper Continental Crust (UCC) and PAAS, suggesting sedimentary source rocks for the Mansar detritus. It also indicates that these elements remained immobile during weathering and transportation. The mineralogical characteristic, REEs, and high field strength elements (HFSE), together with the high percentage of metamorphic rock fragments in the Siwalik sandstone, support a metamorphic source for lower Siwalik sediments. A very weak positive correlation between Zr and SiO₂, poor negative correlation with Al₂O₃, negative correlation of (La/Yb)_N and (Gd/Yb)_N ratios with SiO₂ and positive correlation with Al₂O₃, suggest that Zr does not dominantly control the REE distribution in Mansar sediments. The petrographic character and textural immaturity indicate a short distance transport for the detritus. The distribution of elements in core samples reflect fractionation. The higher Zr/Th and Zr/Yb ratios in coarse sediments and PAAS compared to finer grained detritus indicate sedimentary sorting. Plots of the geochemical data on tectonic discrimination diagrams suggest that the sediments derived from the lower Siwalik were originated within a cratonic interior and later deposited along a passive margin basinal setting. It therefore reveals lower Siwalik depositional history.     

Sandstone petrology and mudstone geochemistry of the Peruc–Korycany Formation (Bohemian Cretaceous Basin,Czech Republic)

We have studied the petrography and the bulk-rock geochemistry of arenites and mudstones of the Cenomanian Peruc–Korycany Formation to characterize their provenance and sedimentary history, as well as the influence of weathering, hydraulic sorting, and recycling of the source rocks. The Peruc–Korycany Formation contains sedimentary facies reflecting both meandering- and braided-river systems and shallow-marine systems. Differences in the three depositional settings did not cause distinctly different modifications of the framework compositions of the arenites. The sand from the fluvial systems is very mature (Qm₉₈F₀Lt₂). These fluvial arenites were subsequently modified by shallow-marine processes; reworking produced very slight decreases in the abundance of lithic fragments and polycrystalline quartz grains. The Cenomanian strata of the Bohemian Cretaceous Basin were derived dominantly from metasedimentary and crystalline rocks of the Palaeozoic Teplà-Barrandian and Cadomian Moldanubian units, respectively. Periods of low tectonic activity resulted in the deposition of arenites with quartzose framework compositions, indicating that climatic and/or transport/depositional-environmental controls overwhelmed factors such as source-rock compositions. Ultrastable dense minerals are useful indicators of sedimentary recycling within the Peruc–Korycanytarenites. Mudstone samples are characterized by abundant kaolinite, illite, chlorite, and quartz but by negligible amounts of goethite and gypsum. Concentrations normalized to the post-Archaean Australian shale (PAAS) show that the sediments are strongly depleted of Na, K, Ca, Sr, and Ba, probably because of the mobility of these elements during weathering. Chemical indices of alteration (CIA, CIW, and PIA) show that the degree of weathering of the source area was high. The data fall closer to the compositional fields of highly weathered minerals such as kaolinite, gibbsite, and chlorite on an A-CN-K diagram. The indices of compositional variability of the studied samples are much less than 1, suggesting that the samples are compositionally mature and were likely dominated by recycling. The elemental ratios critical of provenance (La/Sc, Th/Sc, Th/Co, Th/Cr, and Cr/Th) are similar to fine fractions derived from the weathering of mostly granitoids rather than mafic rocks.     

Measuring and adjusting the weathering and hydraulic sorting effects for rigorous provenance analysis of sedimentary rocks: a case study from the Jurassic Ashikita Group,south‐west Japan

The present study examines the provenance of the Jurassic Ashikita Group distributed in south‐west Japan, which is composed of the Idenohana, Kyodomari and Sakamoto Formations. Two geochemical diagrams for provenance analysis were utilized, which incorporate full consideration of compositional modifications resulting from weathering (MFW diagram) and hydraulic sorting processes (SiO₂/Al₂O₃–Na₂O/K₂O diagram). The MFW diagram delineates weathering trends of sedimentary rocks and allows estimation of the original source rock composition by tracing the weathering trends backwards to an unweathered domain. Weathering trends of the Idenohana and Kyodomari Formations extend backward to the domain of intermediate and felsic igneous rocks. In contrast, sediments of the Sakamoto Formation do not fit into a linear weathering trend, indicating that the source rock cannot be approximated to igneous rocks. On the SiO₂/Al₂O₃–Na₂O/K₂O diagram, sediments are organized into compositional trends, in which the range reflects compositional variations induced by the hydraulic sorting effect. On this diagram, sediments derived from the igneous and recycled sedimentary provenances can be distinguished by reading the inclination of the trend. By utilizing this principle, source rocks of the Idenohana and Kyodomari Formations are interpreted as igneous rocks and those of the Sakamoto Formation are interpreted as recycled sedimentary rocks. Therefore, these diagrams concurrently estimate the source rock composition through quantifying and adjusting the weathering and sorting effects, and reveal a systematic transition in the provenance of the Ashikita Group. The Idenohana and Kyodomari Formations were supplied chiefly from an igneous provenance, which shifted from intermediate to felsic compositions in stratigraphic order. Whereas, sediments of the Sakamoto Formation were sourced primarily from a recycled sedimentary provenance.     

Provenance and weathering history of Mesoproterozoic clastic sedimentary rocks from the basal Gulcheru Formation,Cuddapah Basin

Geochemical analysis for the Mesoproterozoic clastic sedimentary rocks of the basal Gulcheru Formation of the Cuddapah Basin in the Gugudu-Dadithota-Parnapalle-Palkonda region (extending atleast 40 km) have been performed to highlight their provenance and weathering history. The low K₂O/Al₂O₃ ratios of the representative samples points to the recycled nature of sediments and illite clay in the sediments indicate an overall cold climate (low chemical weathering degree). All the provenance diagrams indicate a mixed source of the Gulcheru sediments with felsic dominancy and Upper continental crust (UCC) signature.     

Petrography and geochemistry of clastic sedimentary rocks as evidences for provenance of the Lower Cambrian Lalun Formation, Posht-e-badam block, Central Iran

Petrography and geochemistry (major, trace and rare earth elements) of clastic rocks from the Lower Cambrian Lalun Formation, in the Posht-e-badam block, Central Iran, have been investigated to understand their provenance. Petrographical analysis suggests that the Lalun conglomerates are dominantly with chert clasts derived from a proximal source, probably chert bearing Precambrian Formations. Similarly, purple sandstones are classified as litharenite (chertarenite) and white sandstones as quartzarenite types. The detrital modes of purple and white sandstones indicate that they were derived from recycled orogen (uplifted shoulders of rift) and stable cratonic source. Most major and trace element contents of purple sandstones are generally similar to upper continental crust (UCC) values. However, white sandstones are depleted in major and trace elements (except SiO₂, Zr and Co) relative to UCC, which is mainly due to the presence of quartz and absence of other Al-bearing minerals. Shale samples have considerably lower content in most of the major and trace elements concentration than purple sandstones, which is possibly due to intense weathering and recycling. Modal composition (e.g., quartz, feldspar, lithic fragments) and geochemical indices (Th/Sc, La/Sc, Co/Th, Cr/Th, Cr/V and V/Ni ratios) of sandstones, and shales (La/Sc and La/Cr ratios) indicate that they were derived from felsic source rocks and deposited in a passive continental margin. The chondrite-normalized rare earth element (REE) patterns of the studied samples are characterized by LREE enrichment, negative Eu anomaly and flat HREE similar to an old upper continental crust composed chiefly of felsic components in the source area. The study of paleoweathering conditions based on modal composition, chemical index of alteration (CIA), plagioclase index of alteration (PIA) and A–CN–K (Al₂O₃ − CaO + Na₂O − K₂O) relationships indicate that probably chemical weathering in the source area and recycling processes have been more important in shale and white sandstones relative to purple sandstones. The results of this study suggest that the main source for the Lalun Formation was likely located in uplifted shoulders of a rifted basin (probably a pull-apart basin) in its post-rift stage (Pan-African basement of the Posht-e-badam block).     

Geochemical Signatures of Karlad Lake Sediments,North Kerala: Source Area Weathering and Provenance

In the present study, the lake floor sediments of the Karlad lake, located at higher elevation in Wayanad region of north Kerala, were analyzed for textural characteristics, organic matter, calcium carbonate, major oxides and trace elements. This study was carried out to infer the chemical composition, provenance and intensity of chemical weathering of the source rocks in the lake catchment area. Textural studies signify that lake floor sediments are predominantly as clays (38.75%) followed by sand (36.36%) and silt (25.19%) fractions. The C/N ratio of the lake sediments signify that the sediments are both autochthonous and allochthonous in origin. The major oxides average content reveals the order of abundance as follows; SiO₂ > Al₂O₃ > Fe₂O₃ > TiO₂ > MgO > CaO > K₂O > P₂O₅ > Na₂O > MnO. Moreover, the various weathering indices such as Chemical Index of Alteration (CIAAvg. 93.5%), PlagioclaseIndex of Alteration (PIA- Avg. 95.6%) and Chemical Index of Weathering (CIW- Avg. 95.76%) suggest an intense chemical weathering of the source area. The A-CN-K diagram is also corroborating the same. Various provenance discrimination diagrams reveal that the sediments are derived from the mafic source rocks.     

Geochemistry of Renuka Lake and wetland sediments,Lesser Himalaya (India): implications for source-area weathering,provenance, and tectonic setting

The geochemical investigation of sediments deposited in the Renuka Lake basin and its adjoining wetland has shown variation in the distribution and concentration of major, trace and REEs. The major elements are depleted in the lake in relation to wetland and that of Post Archaean Australian, Shale (PAAS), except for CaO which is strikingly in excess and has a dilution effect on SiO₂ and other oxides and trace elements. The Wetland sediments, on the other hand, are enriched in Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, K₂O and TiO₂ and the latter three show a positive correlation with Al₂O₃ in both wetland and lake sediments suggesting their association with phyllosilicates and similar source rocks. The enrichment of Y, Zr, Ni, Th, U and Nb in wetland compared to lake and their similarity with PAAS in the former, suggests more clay fractions in the wetland. A high Zr/Hf ratio in wetland and lake sediments and a positive correlation of Zr with Y and HREE indicate Zr control on HREEs. However, higher Zr/Yb and Zr/Th ratios in wetland compared to lake indicate mineral sorting during the process of lighter particles (clays) being trapped in wetland soil. This is also reflected from negative correlation of Gd_N/Yb_N with Al₂O₃ and a strong positive correlation with SiO₂ in wetland sediments. The wetland in this context has a control on lake sediment chemistry. The chondrite normalized REE patterns are essentially the same for lake as well as wetland sediments but abundance decreases in the former. The similarity of pattern with that of PAAS and negative Eu anomaly indicates a cratonic source of sediments. In a plot of the individual samples, wetland samples cluster while lake samples are separated indicating fractionation of lake sediments. A strong positive correlation of La_N/Yb_N with Al₂O₃ and a positive correlation of Zr-∑LREE and Zr-La_N/Yb_N suggest that LREEs are controlled by both phyllosilicates and zircon. The chemical index of alteration (CIA) indices in lake sediments and in wetland are higher than PAAS indicating moderate chemical weathering in the source area. The petrography, lack of felsic magmatic rock fragments, and negative correlation between Zr-(Gd/Yb)_C indicate sedimentary source rocks for the detritus. This is in conformity with the Lesser Himalayan sedimentary sequence belonging to neo-Proterozoic–Proterozoic age and constituting lake catchment of Renuka. The tectonic delineation and discriminant function plots of lake and wetland sediments indicate their cratonic and/or quartzose sedimentary orogenic terrain source that has been deposited in a passive margin setting.     

Geochemistry,provenance and tectonic setting of the Late Cambrian–Early Ordovician Seydişehir Formation in the Çaltepe and Fele areas,SE Turkey

The major, trace and rare earth element (REE) contents of metapelite (MPL), metapsammite (MPS) and metamarl (MM) samples from the Cambro-Ordovician Seydi?ehir Formation were analyzed to investigate their provenance and tectonic setting. The MPS, MPL, and MM samples have variable SiO₂ concentrations, with average values of 72.36, 55.54, and 20.95 wt%, moderate SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratios (means of 6.88, 3.23, and 3.80), moderate to high Fe₂O₃ + MgO contents (means of 5.14, 9.55, 3.56 wt%), and high K₂O/Na₂O ratios (means of 3.26, 3.64, 2.90), respectively. On average, the chemical index of alteration (CIA) values of the MPS and the MPL are 65.87 and 71.96, respectively, while the chemical index of weathering (CIW) values are 74.54 and 85.09, respectively. These data record an intermediate to high degree of alteration (weathering) of plagioclase to illite/kaolinite in the samples’ provenance. The chondrite-normalized REE patterns of all the sample groups are similar and are characterized by subparallel light rare earth elements (LREE)-enriched, relatively flat heavy rare earth elements (HREE) patterns with pronounced Eu anomalies (mean of 0.69) and moderate fractionation [average (La/Yb)_N = 8.7]. Plots of sediments in ternary diagrams of La, Th, Sc and elemental ratios (La/Sc, Th/Sc, Cr/Th, Eu/Eu*, La/Lu, Co/Th, La/Sc and Sc/Th), which are critical for determining provenance, and REE patterns indicate that the metaclastic units of the Seydi?ehir Formation were derived dominantly from felsic to intermediate magmatic rocks and not from a mafic source. The La–Sc–Th and Th–Sc–Zr/10 ternary diagrams of the Seydi?ehir Formation are typical of continental island arc/active continental margin tectonic settings. The geologic location and geochemistry of the Seydi?ehir Formation suggest that it was deposited in an Andean-type retroarc foreland basin during the Late Cambrian–Early Ordovician period. The Neoproterozoic intermediate to felsic magmatic rocks and metaclastic sediments with felsic origins of the Sand?kl?–Afyon Basement Complex (SBC) and their equivalent units, which are thought to be overlain by the younger units in the study area, may be the dominant source rocks for the Seydi?ehir Formation.     

Geochemistry and provenance of stream sediments of the Ganga River and its major tributaries in the Himalayan region,India

Major, trace and REE compositions of sediments from the upper Ganga River and its tributaries in the Himalaya have been examined to study the weathering in the Himalayan catchment region and to determine the dominant source rocks to the sediments in the Plains. The Ganga River rises in the Higher Himalaya from the Higher Himalayan Crystalline Series (HHCS) bedrocks and traverses over the Lesser Himalayan Series (LHS) and the Himalayan foreland basin (Siwaliks) rocks before entering into the Gangetic Plains. The major element compositions of sediments, reflected in their low CIA values (45.0–54.7), indicate that silicate weathering has not been an important process in the Himalayan catchment region of the Ganga River. Along the entire traverse, from the HHCS through LHS and the Siwaliks, the sediments from the tributaries and the mainstream Ganga River show higher Na₂O, K₂O, CaO and silica. This, and the higher ratios of La/Sc, Th/Sc and lower ratios of Co/Th, suggest that the source rocks are felsic. The fractionated REE patterns and the significant negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu? = 0.27–0.53) indicate highly differentiated source. Moreover, the comparison of the sediments with different source rock lithologies from the HHCS and the LHS for their major elements clearly suggests that the HHCS rocks were the dominant source. Further, comparison of their UCC (upper continental crust) normalized REE patterns suggests that, among the various HHCS rocks, the metasediments (para-gneiss and schist) and Cambro-Ordovician granites have formed the major source rocks. The Bhagirathi and Alaknanda River sediments are dominantly derived from metasediments and those in the Mandakini River from Cambro-Ordovician granites. The resulting composition of the sediments of the Ganga River is due to the mixing of sediments supplied by these tributaries after their confluence at Devprayag. No further change in major, trace and rare earth element compositions of the sediments of the Ganga River after Devprayag up to its exit point to the Plains at Haridwar, suggests little contribution of the Lesser Himalayan and Siwalik rocks to the Ganga River sediments.     

Geochemistry and provenance of the Miocene sandstones of the Surma group from the Sitapahar anticline,Southeastern Bengal Basin,Bangladesh

Geochemical composition (major and trace elements) of Miocene sandstones of the Surma Group exposed in Sitapahar anticline, Southeastern Bengal Basin was determined to reveal their provenance, tectonic setting and source area weathering conditions. The sandstones are sub-arkosic, sub-lithic and greywacke in composition with abundant low-grade metamorphic, sedimentary lithics (mainly chert with some shale fragments), low feldspars and little volcanic detritus. Compared to the average sandstone value, the Surma Group sandstones are depleted in CaO and enriched in Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃ and Na₂O. The Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA) values for the Miocene Surma Group sandstones vary from 57 to 73 with an average of 65, indicating low to moderate weathering of the source areas. The geochemical characteristics suggest an active continental margin to passive margin setting for the Surma Group sandstones; preserve the signatures of a recycled provenance that is agreement with sandstone petrography and derivation of these sandstones from felsic source rocks.     

Geochemistry of Silurian–Carboniferous sedimentary rocks of the Ulaanbaatar terrane,Hangay–Hentey belt,central Mongolia: Provenance,paleoweathering, tectonic setting,and relationship with the neighbouring Tsetserleg terrane

The Hangay–Hentey belt is situated in the central Northern Mongolia, and forms part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). It is internally subdivided into seven terranes, the largest of which are the neighbouring Ulaanbaatar and Tsetserleg terranes. These coeval terranes are mainly composed of Silurian–Devonian accretionary complexes and Carboniferous turbidites. Proposals for their depositional setting range from passive margin through to island arc. A suite of 19 Ulaanbaatar terrane sandstones and mudrocks (Gorkhi and Altanovoo Formations) were collected with the aim of constraining their provenance, source weathering, and depositional setting based on whole-rock major and trace element data, and for comparison with the neighbouring Tsetserleg terrane. New REE analyses were also made of 35 samples from the Ulaanbaatar and Tsetserleg terranes. Geochemically the Ulaanbaatar sandstones are classed as wackes, and most of the mudstones as shales. Geochemical parameters suggest an immature source, similar to that of the Tsetserleg terrane. Geochemical contrasts between sandstones and mudrocks in the Ulaanbaatar sediments are small, and trends on element – Al₂O₃ variation diagrams are weak. Comparison with average upper continental crust (UCC), major element discriminant scores, and immobile element ratios (Th/Sc, Zr/Sc, Ce/Sc, Ti/Zr) indicate a uniform average source composition between dacite and rhyolite. Maximum Chemical Index of Alteration value in the Ulaanbaatar terrane is ∼65 after correction for K-metasomatism, indicating minimal weathering in a tectonically active source, similar to that of the Tsetserleg terrane. REE data in both terranes show moderate LREE enrichment and flat HREE segments, with negative Eu anomalies somewhat less than those in UCC and PAAS. Chondrite-normalized patterns are very similar to that for average Paleozoic felsic volcanic rock, supporting the relatively felsic source indicated by immobile trace element ratios. Tectonic setting discriminants (K₂O/Na₂O–SiO₂/Al₂O₃, La–Th–Sc, Th–Sc–Zr) indicate an evolved continental island arc (CIA; A2) environment for both terranes, similar to several other CAOB suites of similar age. This common arc source was situated within the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean during Silurian–Lower Carboniferous time. The present-day Aleutian arc is a possible modern analogue of the depositional setting.     

Origin, weathering, and geochemical composition of loess in southwestern Hungary

Loess geochemistry generally reflects paleo-weathering conditions and it can be used to determine the average composition of the upper continental crust (UCC). In this study, major and trace element concentrations were analyzed on loess samples from southwestern Hungary to determine the factors influencing their chemical compositions and to propose new average loess compositions. All studied loess samples had nearly uniform chemical composition, suggesting similar alteration history of these deposits. Chemical Index of Alteration values (58–69) suggested a weak to moderate degree of weathering in a felsic source area. Typical non-steady state weathering conditions were shown on the Al₂O₃–CaO + Na₂O–K₂O patterns, indicating active tectonism of the Alpine–Carpathian system during the Pleistocene. Whole-rock element budgets were controlled by heavy minerals derived from a felsic magmatic or reworked sedimentary provenance. Geochemical parameters indicated that dust particles must have been recycled and well homogenized during fluvial and eolian transport processes.