Early-Paleozoic geodynamics of the Altai orogen: Constraints from geochemical and zircon U-Pb-Hf isotopic study of paragneissic rocks from the southern Chinese Altai

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xing Cui ◽  
Min Sun ◽  
Guochun Zhao ◽  
Yunying Zhang ◽  
Jinlong Yao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Active Continental Margin ◽  
Detrital Zircons ◽  
Igneous Rocks ◽  
Cumulative Distribution ◽  
Geochemical Data ◽  
Accretionary Wedge ◽  
Early Paleozoic ◽  
Isotopic Study ◽  
Zircon Age ◽  
Southern Chinese

<p>The high-grade metamorphic complexes in the Chinese Altai were previously regarded as the Precambrian basement and thus important for unravelling tectonic evolution of the Altai orogen. This study reports detailed filed investigation, zircon U-Pb-Hf isotopic and whole-rock geochemical data for the paragneissic rocks from Northern Fuyun Complex (NFC), southern Chinese Altai. Detrital zircons from the paragneisses have a predominant early Paleozoic age population (ca. 535-435 Ma), with minor Neoproterozoic and sparse Mesoproterozoic to Archean ages. The geochemical analyses together with the euhedral shape of the detrital zircons suggest that their sedimentary protoliths mainly came from felsic-intermediate igneous rocks with low maturity. In combination with the cumulative distribution curves of zircon age spectra, the variable zircon εHf(t) values (-25 to +13), as well as the immature geochemical compositions, we infer that the protoliths were most likely deposited on an active continental margin in the early Paleozoic and sourced mainly from proximal igneous rocks, which are comparable to the Habahe Group. Similar detrital zircon age spectra of early Paleozoic sequences from the Chinese Altai, Mongolia Altai and Khovd Zone support the existence of a giant accretionary wedge developed along the western margin of the Ikh-Mongol Arc system, resulting from continuous northeast-dipping oceanic subduction. This research was financially supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (2017YFC0601205), Hong Kong RGC GRF (17302317 and 17303415) and NSFC Projects (41730213 and 41190075).</p>

Detrital zircon U-Pb ages and whole-rock geochemistry of early Paleozoic metasedimentary rocks in the Mongolian Altai: Insights into the tectonic affinity of the whole Altai-Mongolian terrane

2019 ◽  
Vol 132 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 477-494
Author(s):  
Xiaoping Long ◽  
Jin Luo ◽  
Min Sun ◽  
Xuan-ce Wang ◽  
Yujing Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Detrital Zircon ◽  
Age Distribution ◽  
Isotopic Analysis ◽  
Detrital Zircons ◽  
Cumulative Distribution ◽  
Early Paleozoic ◽  
Zircon Age ◽  
Western Margin ◽  
Metasedimentary Rocks ◽  
Mongolian Altai

Abstract The tectonic affinity of the terranes and microcontinents within the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) remains controversial. The Altai-Mongolian terrane (AMT), as a representative tectonic unit in the Mongolian collage, plays a vital role in reconstructing evolution history of the CAOB. The well-preserved early Paleozoic sedimentary sequence covering in this terrane could be considered as a fingerprint to track its provenance and tectonic affinity. Here, we present new whole-rock geochemistry, detrital zircon U-Pb dating, and Hf isotopic analysis for the metasedimentary rocks from the Mongolian Altai in order to shed new light on the tectonic affinity of the AMT. The youngest detrital zircon ages and the regional intrusions constrain the depositional time of the Mongolian Altai sequence to between Late Silurian and Early Devonian, which is consistent with the Habahe group in the western Chinese Altai. The features of whole-rock geochemistry and the cumulative distribution curves of the detrital zircon age spectra indicate that the Mongolian Altai sequence was probably deposited in an active continental setting during early Paleozoic. The zircon age spectra of our samples are all characterized by a main age group in the early Cambrian (peak at 541 Ma, 522 Ma, 506 Ma and 496 Ma, respectively), subdominant age populations during the Tonian, as well as rare older zircons. The nearby Lake Zone of Ikh-Mongol Arc most likely provided plenty of early Paleozoic materials, the subdominant Neoproterozoic detrital zircons could be supplied by the felsic intrusions along the western margin of the Tuva-Mongol microcontinent, and the sparse older zircons may be derived from its basement material. The Precambrian age distribution of the AMT is quite similar to both the Tarim and Siberia cratons, but the Siberia Craton displays a closer resemblance in Hf isotopic composition with the AMT. Thus, we believe that the Siberia Craton contains a closer tectonic affinity with the AMT, and that the Tuva-Mongol microcontinent possibly rifted from the western margin of this craton after the Tonian. To the south of the AMT, recent studies indicated the Yili and Central Tianshan blocks in the Kazakhstan collage of the western CAOB likely have a closer affinity with Gondwana. Therefore, the microcontinents in the CAOB most likely derived bilaterally from both the Siberia Craton and the Gondwana supercontinent. Moreover, our Hf isotopic compositions indicate two significant continental growth events in the Tonian and early Paleozoic, respectively.

scholarly journals Geochemical features, sources and geodynamic settings of accumulation of the cambrian sedimentary rocks of the Mel’gin trough (Bureya continental massif)

2019 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
pp. 503-519
Author(s):  
R. O. Ovchinnikov ◽  
A. A. Sorokin ◽  
V. P. Kovach ◽  
A. B. Kotov
Keyword(s):  
Continental Margin ◽  
Active Continental Margin ◽  
Sedimentary Rocks ◽  
Detrital Zircons ◽  
Igneous Rocks ◽  
Early Cambrian ◽  
Relative Probability ◽  
Early Proterozoic ◽  
Geodynamic Settings ◽  
Probability Plots

The first data about geochemical features of the Cambrian sedimentary rocks of the Mel’gin trough of the Bureya continental Massif, as well as ages of detrital zircons of them are obtained. It is established, that among the detrital zircons from the sandstones of the Chergilen and Allin formations of the Mel’gin trough zircons with Late Riphean (peaks on relative probability plots – 0.78, 0.82, 0.94, 1.04 Ga) and Early Riphean (peaks on relative probability plots – 1.38, 1.45, 1.64 Ga) ages predominate. The single grains have a Middle Riphean, Early Proterozoic and Late Archean ages. We can suppose, that the sources of Late Riphean detrital zircons from sandstones of the Chergilen and Allin formations are igneous rocks of gabbro-granitoids (940–933 Ma) and granite- leucogranites (804–789 Ma) association, identified in the Bureya continental Massif. We can`t assume, what kind of rocks were the source for Middle Riphean and older detrital zircons from the Cambrian sedimentary rocks of the Bureya continental Massif, because in this massif still do not identified complexes older Late Riphean age. The most probable geodynamic conditions of accumulation of the Cambrian deposits of the Mel’gin trough is the conditions of active continental margin, which is corresponding to of Early Cambrian granitoids magmatism.

Early Devonian tectonic conversion from contraction to extension in the Chinese Western Tianshan: A response to slab rollback

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin-Shui Wang ◽  
Reiner Klemd ◽  
Jun Gao ◽  
Tuo Jiang ◽  
Xi Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Early Carboniferous ◽  
Igneous Rocks ◽  
Geochemical Data ◽  
Precambrian Basement ◽  
Metamorphic Complex ◽  
Zircon Age ◽  
Early Devonian ◽  
Angular Unconformity ◽  
Slab Rollback ◽  
Western Tianshan

Extensive angular unconformities that occur across the Tianshan Orogen provide insight into the Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the southwestern Central Asian Orogenic Belt. This study presents new geochronological and geochemical data to unravel the age and origin of a pronounced angular unconformity in the Baluntai domain of the Chinese Western Tianshan. The angular unconformity separates a ductilely deformed metamorphic complex from overlying unmetamorphosed sequences. Detrital zircon age spectra suggest that the sedimentary samples received detritus from both the Precambrian basement and contemporaneous igneous rocks in the Central Tianshan and Yili blocks. The youngest detrital and metamorphic zircons in metasediments from the metamorphic complex reveal that their protoliths were deposited at ca. 419 Ma, and subsequently overprinted by metamorphism and ductile deformation at ca. 409 Ma. Along with ca. 532−407 Ma metavolcanics and foliated intrusions, the metamorphic complex constitutes a diachronous stratigraphic unit deposited during early Cambrian to late Silurian times, rather than a Precambrian basement as previously thought. The youngest detrital zircon age data from siliciclastic samples immediately above the angular unconformity constrain their deposition to ca. 407−397 Ma. In conjunction with a ca. 406 Ma rhyolitic tuff in the lower terrestrial siliciclastic unit and an early Carboniferous paleontological age of carbonates in the upper shallow-marine unit, it is suggested that the overlying unmetamorphosed sequences were accumulated during the early Devonian to the early Carboniferous. Thus, the angular unconformity in the Baluntai domain was formed between ca. 409 and 407 Ma. New and already published geochemical data reveal that the early Paleozoic (ca. 530−410 Ma) and late Paleozoic (ca. 410−320 Ma) igneous rocks are mainly medium- to high-K calc-alkaline I-type granitoids, which exhibit typical subduction-related geochemical signatures despite contrasting structural features. These geochronological and geochemical results are in accordance with those of similar early Devonian angular unconformities and Paleozoic igneous rocks in the southern Yili Block. The early Paleozoic igneous rocks display highly scattered zircon ɛHf(t) values, while the late Paleozoic rocks show a progressively increasing trend toward more positive values, attributed to slab rollback of the northward subducting South Tianshan Ocean under the Yili and Central Tianshan blocks. Thus, we propose that the formation of the angular unconformity was caused by tectonic conversion from contraction to extension due to slab rollback during the early Devonian. This study highlights the significance of geological and geochronological investigations of angular unconformities in the context of associated episodic magmatism and slab behavior in order to unravel distinct tectonic processes in the long-lived accretionary evolution of the Chinese Western Tianshan.

Geochemistry of metasedimentary rocks of the Proterozoic Xingxingxia complex: implications for provenance and tectonic setting of the eastern segment of the Central Tianshan Tectonic Zone, northwestern China

2005 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 287-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiugen Li ◽  
Shuwen Liu ◽  
Baofu Han ◽  
Jian Zhang ◽  
Zhuyin Chu
Keyword(s):  
Tectonic Setting ◽  
Active Continental Margin ◽  
Northwestern China ◽  
Geochemical Data ◽  
Isotopic Study ◽  
Tectonic Zone ◽  
Elemental Ratios ◽  
Chemical Index ◽  
Eastern Segment ◽  
Chemical Index Of Alteration

The eastern segment of the Central Tianshan Tectonic Zone in northwestern China includes the Proterozoic metasedimentary Xingxingxia complex. Because these rocks have been extensively deformed and metamorphosed to greenschist or amphibolite facies, a geochemical and Nd isotopic study was undertaken to constrain their provenance and tectonic setting, as well as to evaluate the effects of weathering and sedimentary processes on the source rock signature. Major- and trace-element data indicate that these samples are characterized by negative Eu anomalies, low chemical index of alteration values, and high index of compositional variability values. Chemical index of alteration values and the plot of molecular proportions Al2O3–(CaO* + Na2O)–K2O suggest low degrees of weathering of the source. They are compositionally immature and poorly sorted. Geochemical data and immobile elemental ratios, for example Al2O3/TiO2, Cr/Th, Eu/Eu* and (La/Yb)n, indicate that the clastic materials were derived predominantly from felsic sources. Sedimentary tectonic discrimination diagrams demonstrate that most of the samples of the Xingxingxia complex were deposited on an active continental margin or continental island-arc setting. Rare-earth element distributions, εNd(t) values (calculated at 1.20 Ga, varying from –3.00 to +6.1), TDM model ages (ranging from 1.30 to 2.30), and t – εNd(t) plot, indicate that sediments of the Proterozoic Xingxingxia complex were derived from varying degrees of mixing between Paleoproterozoic crust and juvenile materials with the former predominating. There is an increased flux of juvenile materials from Weiya in the east through Dikar to Kumishi. The secondary juvenile source may be 1.2 Ga arc-magma materials.

Age and geochemistry of the Zhaheba ophiolite complex in eastern Junggar of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB): implications for the accretion process of the Junggar terrane

2016 ◽  
Vol 154 (3) ◽  
pp. 419-440 ◽  
Author(s):  
XIAN-TAO YE ◽  
CHUAN-LIN ZHANG ◽  
HAI-BO ZOU ◽  
CHUN-YAN YAO ◽  
YONG-GUAN DONG
Keyword(s):  
Orogenic Belt ◽  
Central Asian Orogenic Belt ◽  
Geochemical Data ◽  
Accretionary Wedge ◽  
Ophiolite Complex ◽  
Zircon Age ◽  
Ocean Ridges ◽  
Accretion Process ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
Depleted Mantle

AbstractWe report new field observations, zircon U–Pb ages and geochemical data for the discrete members of the Zhaheba ophiolite complex in northeastern Junggar of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) with the aim to understand the accretion process of the eastern Junggar terrane. The zircon age data reveal that the cumulates of the Zhaheba ophiolite crystallized at ~485 Ma while the volcanic sequences erupted at ~400 Ma. Thus, the volcanic sequences are not members of the Zhaheba ophiolite. Chromian spinels from the serpentinite have comparable elemental compositions to those of spinels from MORB-type ophiolites. Similarly, the rift affinity of clinopyroxene and positive zircon εHf(t) (13–20) and mantle δ18O (+5.37‰) values of the cumulates imply that the cumulates crystallized from primitive magmas derived from a depleted mantle source. Elemental and Nd isotopic compositions indicate that the basalts in the Zhaheba area were derived from partial melting of a mantle wedge metasomatized by adakitic melts and/or subduction-related fluids. The data presented in this contribution, together with previous studies, indicate that the Zhaheba–Almantai and Kelameili ophiolites were MORB-type, which implies that there were at least two mid-ocean ridges during Ordovician to early Devonian times in the Junggar Ocean. In the earlier stage, intra-oceanic subduction led to the formation of the intra-oceanic arc, and then the Kelameili ophiolite accreted to an intra-oceanic accretionary wedge. In the later stage, the Zhaheba–Almantai ophiolite accreted to the accretionary wedge along the southern margin of the Iritish suture zone during the roll-back of the subduction zone from north to south.

scholarly journals U-Pb (LA-ICP-MS) age of detrital zircons and the sources of terrigenous sediments of the Ipsit suite, Karagass series (Sayan segment of the Sayan-Baikal-Patom belt)

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 1313-1329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. L. Motova ◽  
T. V. Donskaya ◽  
D. P. Gladkochub ◽  
V. B. Khubanov
Keyword(s):  
Detrital Zircon ◽  
Source Area ◽  
Potassium Feldspar ◽  
Detrital Zircons ◽  
Igneous Rocks ◽  
Zircon Age ◽  
Genetic Types ◽  
Terrigenous Rocks ◽  
Detrital Material ◽  
Icp Ms

The petrographic, lithogeochemical and U-Pb (LA-ICP-MS) geochronological studies were carried out to investigate the terrigenous rocks sampled from the lower part of the Ipsit suite of the Karagass series (Sayan segment of the Sayan-Baikal-Patom belt). These rocks include sandstones, aleurite sandstones and aleurolites, and their mineral compositions are close to that of arkose. Most of the studied rock samples show petrographic features typical of the epigenetic changes at the stage of catagenesis: regeneration of quartz clastic grains, pelitization of potassium-feldspar clastic grains, occurrence of clay-hydromica aggregate, sericitization of plagioclase, chloritization of biotite, and silicification of dolomite pieces, and occurrence of authigenous tourmaline. The above was confirmed by the analysis of the concentrations of petrogenic elements in the studied rocks from the lower part of the Ipsit suite. The analysis results show that the concentrations of K2O are elevated, while the concentrations of Na2O are relatively very low, which may be due to the redistribution of these elements during epigenetic transformations. According to the classification by genetic types on the basis of the system of petrochemical modules, the rocks of the lower part of the Ipsa suite are of the petrogenic nature. The acidic igneous rocks are dominant in the source area, as evidenced by the presence of granitoid and quartzite fragments in the clastogenic component, as well as the set of accessory minerals typical of the igneous rocks of the acidic composition, and the distribution pattern of rare and trace elements. According to the U-Pb (LA-ICP-MS) dating of detrital zircons from the aleurite sandstone sampled from the lower part of the Ipsit suite, the zircons are exclusively of the Archean-Early Proterozoic ages. Such ages correlate with the age of the granitoids of the Sayan complex and the felsic volcanites from the Maltsev layer of the Elash series (Biryusa block). Furthermore, the detrital-zircon age spectra of the aleurite sandstone of the lower part of the Ipsit suite are identical to the detrital-zircon age spectra of the terrigenous rocks from the underlying strata of the Shangulezh and Tagul suites of the Karagass series. This study suggests that sedimentation of the Ipsit suite of the Karagass series took place due to the influx of detrital material from the southern part of the Siberian craton into the sedimentation basin, and the acidic igneous rocks of the Biryusa block were one of the main sources of detrital material.

scholarly journals The Proterozoic Guanhães banded iron formations, Southeastern border of the São Francisco Craton, Brazil: evidence of detrital contamination

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vitor Rodrigues Barrote ◽  
Carlos Alberto Rosiere ◽  
Vassily Khoury Rolim ◽  
João Orestes Schneider Santos ◽  
Neal Jesse Mcnaughton
Keyword(s):  
Detrital Zircons ◽  
Iron Formation ◽  
Geochemical Data ◽  
Banded Iron Formations ◽  
Banded Iron Formation ◽  
Zircon Age ◽  
Shallow Marine ◽  
Eu Anomaly ◽  
Depositional Age ◽  
Iron Formations

The Guanhães banded iron formation (BIF) bearing succession occurs as tectonic slices, juxtaposed to Archean TTG granite-gneissic basement rock, developed during the Neoproterozoic-Cambrian Brasiliano collage. The succession has a maximum depositional age of ~2.18 Ga, from detrital zircons in quartzite, and consists of quartzites, schists, BIFs, gneiss and amphibolite, all metamorphosed under amphibolite facies conditions. The Guanhães BIF shows HREE enrichment and consistent positive Eu anomaly (PAAS-normalized REE+Y). Two types of contamination were observed in the samples. The first is contamination by an exotic detrital component, which resulted in low Y/Ho (<30) and Pr/Yb (SN) ratios. Evidence of such contamination, combined with inferred stratigraphic stacking data, indicates that the Guanhães BIFs were deposited on a shallow marine environment. The second type of contamination resulted in higher Eu-anomalies, positive Ce-anomalies, and higher REE+Y concentrations, possibly due to the interaction between later magmatic fluids and the Guanhães BIF. A strong Cambrian event is recorded in zircon age data. The uncontaminated samples display REE+Y distribution similar to other Precambrian BIFs, particularly those from the Morro-Escuro Sequence and the Serra da Serpentina Group, without true Ce-anomalies and Y/Ho close to seawater values (45). Geochronological and geochemical data presented in this paper strongly suggest a correlation between the Guanhães supracrustal succession and the Serra da Serpentina and Serra de São José Groups.

scholarly journals Age and formation features of the Ordovician Chalovskaya sequence in the Argun Massif, eastern part of the Central Asian fold belt

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 3-23
Author(s):  
Yu. N. Smirnova ◽  
A. A. Sorokin
Keyword(s):  
Active Continental Margin ◽  
Detrital Zircons ◽  
Central Asian Fold Belt ◽  
Early Paleozoic ◽  
Fold Belt ◽  
Late Precambrian ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
Icp Ms ◽  
Geochemical Studies ◽  
Metaterrigenous Rocks

In this paper we present the results of the mineralogical and geochemical studies of metaterrigenous rocks of the Grebnev and Magdagachi formations of the Chalovskaya Sequence – one of the key stratigraphic divisions of the Argun continental Massif in the eastern part of the Central Asian fold belt, and U–Pb geochronological (LA-ICP-MS) data for the detrital zircons from these rocks. It is established that the youngest zircons in the metasandstones of the Grebnev Formation have an age of ~478 Ma, and in the metaalevrolites of the Magdagachi Formation ~448 Ma. Together with the previously obtained data on the age of metadacites from the Isagachi Formation (476 ± 8 Ma), this information indicates the Ordovician age of the Chalovskaya Sequence, previously attributed to the Late Precambrian. It was shown that the accumulation of sediments of the Chalovskaya Sequence took place in an environment of an active continental margin or island arc simultaneously with intense magmatic activity. Taking into account the fact that the Early Paleozoic suprasubduction magmatism manifested within all the continental massifs of the eastern part of the Central Asian fold belt (Argun, Mamyn, Bureya, Jiamusi, Khanka), it cannot be excluded that the mentioned continental massifs have a common geodynamic history.

The Ambatolampy Group, central Madagascar, a Neoproterozoic rift-basin sequence?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wilfried Bauer ◽  
Imboarina T. Rasaona ◽  
Robert D. Tucker ◽  
Forrest Horton
Keyword(s):  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Thin Layers ◽  
Detrital Zircons ◽  
Igneous Rocks ◽  
Heavy Minerals ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Rift Basin ◽  
Zircon Age ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Magnetite Quartzite

&lt;p&gt;The crystalline basement of central Madagascar is composed of the Neoarchaean, high-grade metamorphic Antananarivo Domain, made up of granulite to upper-amphibolite orthogneisses and paragneisses, and intruded by Tonian igneous rocks of the Imorona-Itsindro suite (Archibald et al. 2016). Along its southern, western and northern margins several terranes were accreted between the Paleoproterozoic and the Neoproterozoic (Tucker et al. 2014) before Madagascar was affected by the collision of East- and West-Gondwana at the end of the Ediacaran.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Within the Antananarivo Domain, a more than 700 km long and up to 80 km wide belt of supracrustal amphibolite-facies rocks forms te Ambatolampy Group. It is characterized by abundant monotonous biotite schists and gneisses that are locally migmatised. The schists contain biotite, sillimanite, garnet and locally thick graphite-rich layers. Associated paragneisses are also biotite-rich and commonly carry sillimanite or hornblende. White quartzites ranging from thick-bedded ridge-forming units to fine, cm-scale interbeds are coarse-grained and contain often sillimanite. Dark quartzites rich in magnetite and heavy minerals occur as cm-thin layers throughout the whole group. Small bodies of pyroxenite, pyroxene-amphibolite, amphibolite &amp;#177;garnet, and pyroxene gneiss are common, especially close to the base of the group.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The age of the Ambatolampy Group is highly controversial. A group of researchers from BGS and USGS reported a youngest detrital zircon age of 1054 Ma, whereas Archibald et al. (2016) assumed a Mesoproterozoic age, based on their youngest zircons of roughly 1.8 Ga. We present new near-concordant U-Pb detrital zircons ages as young as 800 Ma, indicating a sedimentary input from igneous rocks of the Imorona-Itsindro suite. Sedimentation must have ceased before 630 Ma which is constrained by the U-Pb zircon age of an intruding leucogabbro.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;About half of Madagascar&amp;#8217;s known 1050 gold occurrences are lying within the Ambatolampy Group. Fine-grained disseminated gold appears to be concentrated within relatively narrow stratigraphic intervals of the Ambatolampy Group, defined by the occurrence of boudinaged or fractured magnetite quartzite. In general, the gold grades in fresh rocks are below economic interest, the highest gold tenors were recorded in an up to 30 meter thick laterite zone above the basement. Another important commodity related to the Ambatolampy Group is graphite which had seen a mining boom in the 1910s and 1920s. The graphite is flaky with crystal diameters between 0.5 and 5 mm and contents of graphitic carbon between 6 and 15 %. Individual seams are up to 12 m wide and can be tracked for several kilometers.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We interpret the Ambatolampy Group as a mainly siliciclastic fill of a continental rift basin during a phase of crustal extension occurring contemporaneously with the intrusion of the Imorona-Itsindro Suite. The gold mineralization is most likely related to fluvial deposits from surrounding gold-bearing Archean basement.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;References&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Archibald, D.B. et al. 2015. Tectonophysics 662, pp. 167-182.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Archibald, D.B. et al. 2016. Precambr. Res. 281, pp. 312&amp;#8211;337.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Tucker, R.D. et al. 2014. J. African Earth Sci. 94, pp. 9-30.&lt;/p&gt;

Preliminary detrital zircon U-Pb Geochronology of the Wasatch Formation, Powder River Basin, Wyoming

2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 247-266
Author(s):  
Ian Anderson ◽  
David H. Malone ◽  
John Craddock
Keyword(s):  
River Basin ◽  
Detrital Zircon ◽  
Middle Part ◽  
Detrital Zircons ◽  
Powder River Basin ◽  
Zircon Age ◽  
Lower Eocene ◽  
The North ◽  
Mountain Front ◽  
Fluvial Sandstone

The lower Eocene Wasatch Formation is more than 1500 m thick in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming. The Wasatch is a Laramide synorgenic deposit that consists of paludal and lacustrine mudstone, fluvial sandstone, and coal. U-Pb geochronologic data on detrital zircons were gathered for a sandstone unit in the middle part of the succession. The Wasatch was collected along Interstate 90 just west of the Powder River, which is about 50 km east of the Bighorn Mountain front. The sandstone is lenticular in geometry and consists of arkosic arenite and wacke. The detrital zircon age spectrum ranged (n=99) from 1433-2957 Ma in age, and consisted of more than 95% Archean age grains, with an age peak of about 2900 Ma. Three populations of Archean ages are evident: 2886.6±10 Ma (24%), 2906.6±8.4 Ma (56%) and 2934.1±6.6 Ma (20%; all results 2 sigma). These ages are consistent with the age of Archean rocks exposed in the northern part of the range. The sparse Proterozoic grains were likely derived from the recycling of Cambrian and Carboniferous strata. These sands were transported to the Powder River Basin through the alluvial fans adjacent to the Piney Creek thrust. Drainage continued to the north through the basin and eventually into the Ancestral Missouri River and Gulf of Mexico. The provenance of the Wasatch is distinct from coeval Tatman and Willwood strata in the Bighorn and Absaroka basins, which were derived from distal source (>500 km) areas in the Sevier Highlands of Idaho and the Laramide Beartooth and Tobacco Root uplifts. Why the Bighorn Mountains shed abundant Eocene strata only to the east and not to the west remains enigmatic, and merits further study.

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