Lithostratigraphy and geochemistry of Upper Vendian‒Lower Cambrian deposits in the northeastern Baltic monocline

The results of investigations of Upper Vendian?Lower Cambrian deposits in the northeastern part of the Baltic monocline specify views on the evolution of depositional environments of sedimentary successions constituting the basal part of the sedimentary cover in inner areas of the northwestern East European Platform. It is shown that the Late Vendian and initial Cambrian were characterized by the consecutive influx of relatively mature terrigenous detrital material that originated from both the weathering crust of the Baltic Shield and new sources. Its deposition was interrupted by notable, although likely asynchronous, hiatuses, which are registered at the base of the Upper Vendian Vasileostrovskaya and Voronkovo formations and Lower Cambrian Lomonosov Formation. In the Late Vendian, sedimentary material was transported from the Baltic Shield, while beginning from the initial Early Cambrian the additional contribution to the formation of the sedimentary cover of the Baltic monocline was provided by coarse-grained sedimentary material from the Timan margin of the Baltica as follows from U?Pb isotopic ages obtained for detrital zircons. At the same time, lithogeochemical parameters of fine-grained rocks experienced no substantial changes.     

Sedimentation Conditions at the Central East European Platform in Riphean and Early Vendian

Recent lithological and geophysical studies of Riphean and Lower Vendian sedimentary rocks in the Kresttsy and Mid-Russian (Soligalich) aulacogens resulted in the recognition of four stages in the evolution of the East European Platform in the Late Proterozoic: (1) late Early Proterozoic–Early Riphean stage (formation of the protoplatform cover); (2) Middle Riphean stage (rifting only at platform margins); (3) late Middle Riphean–initial late Riphean stage (formation of the paleoplatform cover related to the existence of the epi-Grenville Rodinia supercontinent, which united all continents of the Earth at that time); (4) latest Riphean–early Vendian stage (rifting and origination of the Central Russian aulacogen system during the breakup of Rodinia and Cadomian orogeny.     

Rb-Sr and K-Ar indicators of the transformation of precambrian clayey rocks in the East European Platform

Rb-Sr and K-Ar characteristics of Vendian and Upper Riphean sections in various structural units of the East European Platform are studied. It is shown that Neoproterozoic clayey rocks of the platform underwent postsedimentary transformations, primarily owing to processes of K accumulation (illitization). Their intensity decreases with depth and isotopic signatures of provenance rocks are partly retained in Riphean rocks. Stages of the most active transformations approximately 400 and 600 Ma ago are manifested in the Vendian clayey rocks. Events of approximately 1000 Ma ago are recorded in Riphean rocks of the East European Platform. The least altered rocks of the Pachelma aulacogen can retain ancient hydrocarbon pools.     

Volcanic Tuffs,Red- and Usual-Colored Clayey Rocks in Upper Riphean–Vendian Deposits in the Middle and Southern Urals: Comparison of Lithochemical Characteristics

Lithology and Mineral Resources - In the lower part of Upper Vendian deposits on the East European Platform, packs of chocolate-brown clayey rocks/tuff-argillites containing intercalations of...     

First results of U–Pb dating of detrital zircons from the Upper Ordovician sandstones of the Bashkir uplift (Southern Urals)

The first results of U–Pb dating of detrital zircons from Upper Ordovician sandstones of the Bashkir uplift in the Southern Urals and U–Pb isotopic ages available for detrital zircons from six stratigraphic levels of the Riphean–Paleozoic section of this region are discussed. It is established that the long (approximately 1.5 Ga) depositional history of sedimentary sequences of the Bashkir uplift includes a peculiar period lasting from the Late Vendian to the Emsian Age of the Early Devonian (0.55–0.41 Ga). This period is characterized by the following features: (1) prevalence of material from eroded Mesoproterozoic and Early Neoproterozoic crystalline complexes among clastics with ages atypical of the Volga–Urals segment of the East European Platform basement; (2) similarity of age spectra obtained for detrital zircons from different rocks of the period: Upper Vendian–Lower Cambrian lithic sandstones and Middle Ordovician substantially quartzose sandstones.     

Structural and kinematic assemblies in sedimentary rocks of the Phanerozoic cover of the Mid-Russian Dislocation Zone

The Mid-Russian Dislocation Zone is a large within-plate structural element of the East European Platform, which extends for more than 1100 km from the Timan Foredeep to the Orsha Basin. This deep, long-lived zone was formed against a background of changeable geodynamic settings, including (1) Late Paleoproterozoic collision events, (2) Late Riphean-Early Vendian epicontinental rifting, (3) Late Vendian-Early Triassic intraplatform tectogenesis with formation of horst-like uplifts within the zone against the background of general subsidence, and (4) Mesozoic-Cenozoic within-plate reactivation. At the final Kimmerian-Alpine stage of its evolution, the Mid-Russian Zone developed as a left-lateral transpressional structure with penetrative dissipative shear deformation resulting in the general horizontal transfer of Phanerozoic sedimentary rocks. The dislocations were manifested as two dynamically conjugate structural forms: a zone of scattered shearing and a bedding-plane tectonic flow. The dynamic manifestation of the Mid-Russian and the conjugate Belomorian-Dvina zones, which make up a common arcuate structure (in plan view), allowed us to outline the Dvina-Sukhona plate-flow with horizontal mass transfer in the southeastern direction. The tectonics of the Mid-Russian Dislocation Zone is considered in this paper with particular emphasis on the structural and kinematic assemblies in sedimentary rocks of the Phanerozoic cover.     

Redistribution of Au in volcanic ashes in the course of their postsedimentary alterations

The redistribution of Au in Late Precambrian volcanic ashes from the Vendian section of the East European Platform and the Sinian section of the South China Platform is characterized by high Au concentration (up to >20 ng/g) in Fe³⁺-rich samples. The Au content decreases to ～2 ng/g in Fe²⁺-rich volcanic ashes from the Vendian section of the East European Platform. This distribution pattern suggests the mobility of Au-bearing compounds in postsedimentary processes.     

Episodes of development of some major structural elements of Eurasia in connection with distribution of oil-gas provinces (basins) and their resources

The area of Eurasia and the shelves of the marginal and internal seas have been sufficiently investigated by geological, geophysical, and drilling means to formulate a number of regional conclusions about the association between various types of tectonic structures and distribution of the petroliferous provinces (basins). This problem has been considered against the background of platforms of different age, the ancient pre-Riphean (East European and Siberian) and the epi-Paleozoic types (West Siberian and West European, and also the South Caspian intrageosynclinal basin). There are significant differences in their geological evolution, which exerted a direct effect on the distribution of the petroliferous complexes. Within the Siberian Platform, the fundamental stages in downwarping were associated with the deposition of Vendian and lower Paleozoic sediments. The principal stages in the formation of the sedimentary cover of the East European Platform were associated with the Devonian, Carboniferous, and Permian periods.

For all types of structural zones under consideration, an association has heen established between distribution of oil and gas reserves and episodes of development of major structural elements. They define the overall stratigraphic range of the petroleum occurrences within the young and old platform and the fold regions, and also the concentration of the reserves of hydrocarbons in the complexes corresponding to the principal stages of downwarping of the basins.—Authors     

Vendian Volcanism,Weathering, and Phosphorus Cycle Variation in the East European Platform

Two geochemical types of volcanic ash are recognized in the Redkino Horizon of the East European Platform based on the systematics of trace elements. The first type developed in the northeastern area of the platform is characterized by Ni/Cr and Ce/Yb ratios typical of the silicic tephra of recent volcanic eruptions in the Kuril–Kamchatka and Aleutian island-arc systems. The respective ratios in ash of the second type are typical of volcanics from the lower Vendian Berestovets Formation. Depletion of the upper Vendian pelites of the East European Platform in Ca, Sr and P (relative to the PAAS) indicates the continental chemical weathering of provenance.     

Petrochemistry of Sandstones from the Siberian Hypostratotype of the Riphean in the Uchur–Maya Region

Based on 148 analyses, we report the petrochemical characteristics of Riphean and Vendian coarse-grained sedimentary rocks of the Uchur–Maya region in eastern Siberia, which is referred to the Proterozoic continental-margin domain. Various methods of petrochemical study applied to Precambrian sandstones are examined. Normative mineral compositions of specific groups of arenites, particularly basal potassic arkoses, are considered. Differences in sandstone compositions at certain stratigraphic levels are shown, and the evolution of chemical composition of rocks is traced through sections of sedimentary cover (Maya Plate) and margin region (Yudoma–Maya Trough). The work presents results of the application of data on mineralogical and chemical compositions of arenites for the restoration of paleodynamic environments in Late Proterozoic sedimentation basins at the southeastern margin of the Siberian Platform.     

Geodynamics and evolution of the northern East European Platform in the late Precambrian as inferred from regional seismic profiling

The available geological data on the Meso-and Neoproterozoic rocks in the north of the East European Platform are considered, involving the results of a comprehensive study along regional seismic profile I-I that extends for 460 km and crosses the main structural units of the Mezen Syneclise from SW to NE. Many previously unknown structural features of aulacogens filled with thick (up to 4–8 km) sequences of the Meso-and Neoproterozoic sedimentary rocks that make up the preplate complex are demonstrated in this profile. The Riphean rocks are subdivided into three seismostratigraphic sequences: the lower part of the Lower Riphean, the Lower-Middle Riphean, and the Upper Riphean. The geodynamic events in the north of the East European Platform are correlated with those that occurred in its central part and the adjacent foldbelts.     

Potential Mineral Resources of the Anabar Anteclise Cover

The sedimentary cover of the Anabar Anteclise, Siberian Platform incorporates ore-bearing horizons of diverse ages with originally placer-related mineralization. Beds of coarse-clastic rocks with diamond occurrences are most widespread. Horizons with Nb–REE mineralization (including those hosting the well-known Tomtor stratiform ore deposit) and conglomerates with fine-grained native gold are less common. At least twice, at the Late Riphean–Vendian boundary and in the mid-Paleozoic, the anteclise experienced tectonic destruction related to alkaline–ultramafic (including kimberlitic) magmatism. This circumstance is responsible for the predominantly diamond and rare metal mineragenic specialization and local gold mineralization.     

Late Vendian Kotlinian Crisis on the East European Platform: Lithogeochemical Indicators of Depositional Environment

Lithology and Mineral Resources - Sharp changes in the biodiversity of fossil organisms in the Upper Vendian of the East European Platform are considered as the manifestation of global crisis...     

Late Vendian unfolded Molasse in the northeastern, eastern, and southwestern peripheries of the east European platform: Distinctive lithogeochemical features

The paper reports data on the lithogeochemistry of sandstones and silty mudstones from Upper Vendian sedimentary sequences in the northeastern, eastern, and southwestern peripheries of the East European Platform belonging to the so-called unfolded molasse. The sequences are dominated by wackes, arkoses, subarkoses, litharenites, and sublitharenites, i.e., chemically immature and moderately mature psammites, and can be classed with rocks produced by clastic material brought from orogens surrounding the platform. The higher TiO₂, Al₂O₃, FeO_tot, MgO, Na₂O, and K₂O concentrations of the psammites than those in the average cratonic Phanerozoic sandstone (APhSa) testify that the chemical maturing of the rocks was not completed. The silty mudstones accompanying the sandstones have a composition closer to those of the average cratonic Phanerozoic shale (APhSh), but this is likely explained by the fact that the rocks were produced of material brought from erosion territories of much greater area. The lithogeochemical data generally indicate that these territories were dominated by acid and intermediate magmatic rocks with variable fraction of sedimentary rocks when the Late Vendian sedimentary associations in question were produced. The distribution of certain indicator trace elements in the sandstones and silty mudstones show that the average composition of the eroded complexes was close to the composition of the post-Archean upper continental crust, but the erosion areas occasionally (in the Vychegorskii trough and the Shkapovsko-Shikhanskaya depression) contained relatively primitive source rocks. The data points of the great majority of the sandstones and silty mudstones plot in the SiO₂-K₂O/Na₂O and F1–F2 diagrams in the fields of sediments typical of the environments of active continental margins, which is consistent with the arrangement of the data points of these rocks in the La-Th-Sc, Th-Sc-Zr/10, and Th-Co-Zr/10 diagrams. All of these features confirm that the sedimentary rocks in question affiliate with rock associations produced at an active tectonic regime.     

The Unique Sabantuy Chromite Paleoplacer in the Sedimentary Cover of the Eastern European Platform

Geology of Ore Deposits - Abstract—In the section of the sedimentary cover of the East European Platform, the new Sabantuy chromite ore occurrence was revealed. It is localized in Upper...     

Structure of the precambrian sedimentary cover and upper part of the basement in the Central Russian Aulacogen and Orsha Depression (East European Platform)

The Precambrian sedimentary section and upper part of the basement of the Central Russian Aulacogen and Orsha Depression, two largest structures located beneath the Moscow Syneclise are analyzed. It has been established that the Late Riphean Central Russian Aulacogen was initiated on the Proterozoic crust of the Transcratonic belt that separates different-aged geological blocks of the East European Platform basement. The Orsha Depression is superposed both on sedimentary complexes of the aulacogen and rocks constituting structures surrounding the Transcratonic belt. Boundaries of the sedimentary cover and basement are outlined and a new structure (Toropets-Ostashkov Trough) is defined. The Precambrian section recovered by Borehole North Molokovo is proposed to serve as a reference one for the Central Russian Aulacogen. The CMP records demonstrate seismocomplexes, which allow one to trace rock members and sequences defined by drilling. Eight seismocomplexes, combination of which varies in different structures, are defined in the Upper Riphean-Vendian part of the sedimentary section. The section of the Central Russian Aulacogen includes the following sedimentary complexes: dominant gray-colored arkoses (R₃¹), variegated arkoses (R₃²), red-colored arkoses (R₃³), and volcanosedimentary rocks (V₁²). The section of the Orsha Depression consists of dominant red-colored quartz sandstones (R₃⁴), glacial and interglacial (V₁¹), and variegated volcanogenic-terrigenous sediments. The upper seismocomplex (V₂) is composed of terrigenous and terrigenous-carbonate rocks. It represents the basal unit of the Moscow Syneclise, which marks the plate stage in development of the East European Platform. The upper part of the basement corresponds to a seismocomplex (Pr₁) represented by dynamometamorphosed rocks that form a tectonic mélange. Analysis of the lateral and vertical distribution of the defined seismocomplexes made it possible to specify the structure of the Riphean-Vendian part of the sedimentary cover and to revise their formation history in some cases.     

Redkinian Biota of Macroscopic Fossils from the Northwestern East European Platform (South Ladoga Region)

The stratigraphic distribution of microfossils and macroscopic fossil biota in Vendian deposits of the South Ladoga region (northwestern East European Platform) is analyzed. In the sequence of the Shotkusa- 1 well, three taxonomically heterogeneous microfossil assemblages are distinguished: two of them refer to the Redkinian age (Starorusskaya Fm.) and one to the Kotlinian age (Vasileostrovskaya Fm.). Deposits of the Starorusskaya Fm. contain Redkinian biota of macroscopic fossils, of which the most characteristic representatives are Chuaria circularis, Doushantuophyton lineare, Morania zinkovi, Orbisiana simplex, and Redkinia spinosa. These new findings expand the paleontological characteristics of Upper Vendian deposits, also providing additional criteria for distinguishing the Redkinian horizon in the northwestern East European Platform.     

Variations of Eu/Eu* ratio in Vendian shales of the Volga-Ural region and the boundary traced between the Redkino and Kotlin Horizons

Variations of Eu/Eu* ratio in shales from the upper Vendian Kairovo and Shkapovo groups of the Shkapovo-Shikhan depression, the Volga-Ural region, are considered. Shales in the lower part of the Karlin Formation are established to be similar in geochemistry to the shale member with abnormally low Eu/Eu* ratios at the base of the Upper Vendian Kotlin Horizon of the East European Platform. According to these data, the studied formation appears to be a lithostratigraphic unit of the Kotlin Horizon, while the Baikibashevo, Staropetrovo and Salikhovo formations belong to the Redkino Horizon of the upper Vendian.     

The content of gold in Lower Paleozoic phosphatized biogenic remains in Baltoscandia

According to instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) data, the average content of Au in conodont elements and phosphate brachiopod shells from Lower Paleozoic sections in Baltoscandia is 4.9 and 0.79 μg/g, respectively. Concentration of Au in phosphatized biogenic remains suggests that they served as an important intermediate concentrator of this metal in the sedimentary cover of the East European Platform.