Provenance of the Early–Middle Devonian Shugouzi Formation in the Quruqtagh, Northeastern Xinjiang: Constraints from sandstone geochemistry and heavy mineral analysis

Author(s):  
Yingli ZHANG ◽  
Zongqi WANG ◽  
Tao WANG
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Jasper Verhaegen ◽  
Hilmar von Eynatten ◽  
István Dunkl ◽  
Gert Jan Weltje

Abstract Heavy mineral analysis is a long-standing and valuable tool for sedimentary provenance analysis. Many studies have indicated that heavy mineral data can also be significantly affected by hydraulic sorting, weathering and reworking or recycling, leading to incomplete or erroneous provenance interpretations if they are used in isolation. By combining zircon U–Pb geochronology with heavy mineral data for the southern North Sea Basin, this study shows that the classic model of sediment mixing between a northern and a southern source throughout the Neogene is more complex. In contrast to the strongly variable heavy mineral composition, the zircon U–Pb age spectra are mostly constant for the studied samples. This provides a strong indication that most zircons had an initial similar northern source, yet the sediment has undergone intense chemical weathering on top of the Brabant Massif and Ardennes in the south. This weathered sediment was later recycled into the southern North Sea Basin through local rivers and the Meuse, leading to a weathered southern heavy mineral signature and a fresh northern heavy mineral signature, yet exhibiting a constant zircon U–Pb age signature. Thus, this study highlights the necessity of combining multiple provenance proxies to correctly account for weathering, reworking and recycling.


1965 ◽  
Vol S7-VII (2) ◽  
pp. 327-333
Author(s):  
P. Juignet

Abstract A heavy mineral analysis of sands reveals differences between Sequanian (upper Jurassic) and Albian (lower Cretaceous) formations of the Lisieux area, France. The heavy mineral suite in the horizontal well-sorted Sequanian Glos sands shows a predominance of tourmaline, zircon, rutile, and brookite. The Albian green sands differ from the Glos sands by the presence of glauconite, oblique stratification, and poor sorting at the base. A thin sandy bed intermediate between the Albian and Sequanian shows heavy mineral affinities for the Albian suite.


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