Geochemistry of Neoproterozoic limestones of the Shahabad Formation, Bhima Basin, Karnataka, Southern India

Major, trace and rare earth element (REE) geochemistry of carbonate rocks of the Neoproterozoic Shahabad Formation, Southern India were studied in order to investigate the depositional environment and source for the REEs. The PAAS (Post Archaean Australian Shale) normalized REE + Y pattern of Shahabad limestones have consistent seawater-like pattern i.e., i) LREE depletion (average (Nd/Yb)SN = 0.64 ± 0.08), ii) negative Ce anomaly, iii) positive Gd anomaly (average GdSN/Gd* = 1.05 ± 0.16), iv) superchondritic Y/Ho ratio (average Y/Ho = 38.13 ± 21.35). The depletion of LREE and enrichment of HREE are clearly indicated by the (La/Yb)SN, (Dy/Yb)SN and (Nd/Yb)SN ratios, which suggest the retention of seawater characteristics in these limestones. The negative Ce anomaly reflects the incorporation of REE directly from seawater or from the pore water under oxic condition, and also reveals the mixing of two-component systems with terrigenous clay (detrital) in the marine sediments. The terrigenous input in these limestones is confirmed by positive correlation of ΣREE with Al2O3, negative correlation of ΣREE with CaO and differences in Y/Ho ratios. V, Cr, and Sc, are positively correlated with Ti, and strong positive correlation of ΣREE with Fe2O3, Ni, Cr, Sc, and Y also indicate the presence of terrigenous materials in the Shahabad limestones

Geochemistry of sands along the San Nicolás and San Carlos beaches, Gulf of California, Mexico: implications for provenance and tectonic setting

The weathering conditions, provenance, and tectonic setting of sands from the San Nicolás (SN) and San Carlos (SC) beaches along the Gulf of California, Mexico, have been studied using mineralogy, major element, and trace element data. The compositional similarity among 4 independent groups (each beach area consists of 2 grain-size groups, i.e. medium- and fine-grained sands) was tested statistically by the application of analysis of variance at the 99% confidence level to avoid misinterpretation. The X-ray diffraction and SEM-EDS data revealed that the fine-grained SN sands were abundant in rutile and zircon minerals. The higher SiO2/Al2O3 ratio of the SN sands than the medium- and fine-grained SC sands indicated that the compositional maturity was greatest for the SN sands (Fcalc = 366.756151 and (Fcrit)99% = 5.065158, where Fcalc > (Fcrit)99% indicates that the data populations are significantly different at 99% confidence level). The chemical index of alteration values for the SN (ca. 41–45) and SC (ca. 48–51) sands indicated low to moderate weathering intensity in the source region. The significant enrichment of the low rare earth element and the flat heavy rare earth element patterns of the SN sands indicated that the sources were largely felsic rocks. The low positive Eu anomaly in the SC sands was probably due to the contribution of sediments from intermediate rocks between felsic and mafic compositions. The comparison of rare earth element data of the sands with rocks located relatively close to the study areas revealed that the SN sands received a major contribution from felsic rocks and SC sands from intermediate rocks. The compositional difference between the SN and SC beach areas indicated that longshore currents played a less significant role. Discriminant function-based major element diagrams for the tectonic discrimination of siliciclastic sediments revealed a rift setting for the Gulf of California, which is consistent with the general geology of Mexico

Depositional and post-depositional setting of Maastrichtian limestone, Ariyalur Group, Cauvery Basin, South India:a geochemical appraisal

Major, trace, REE, and stable isotopic composition of Maastrichtian limestones of Cauvery Basin were studied to decipher their depositional and post-depositional environment. The major oxides and trace elements concentration of these limestones were normalized using Post-Archean Australian Shale (PAAS) values. The concentration of CaO is having a significant enrichment, and MgO, K2O, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, Ba, U, and Th are moderately depleted, whereas Sr and Na2O contents are relatively similar to the PAAS values. The PAAS-normalized REE + Y pattern of Maastrichtian limestones display relatively uniform pattern among the compositionally different limestones: (1) enriched LREE (average NdSN/YbSN = 5.03 ± 0.92); (2) positive Ce anomaly (average 1.79 ± 0.16); (3) negative GdSN/Gd* anomaly (average 0.52 ± 0.02); (4) low Y/Ho ratio (average Y/Ho = 0.14 ± 0.01). The average ΣREE contents in ferruginous, arenaceous, and biostromal limestones are 65, 64, and 52 ppm, respectively, which indicate that the mineralogical variation plays a major role in incorporation of ΣREE. The Kallankurichchi limestones have δ13C values range from −3.2 to −1.1‰PDB, and the δ18O values range between −7.8 and −5.5‰PDB. The negative δ13C and δ18O values and a moderate co-variation between δ13C and δ18O (r 2 = 0.35) indicate that the alteration of original isotopic composition is due to diagenesis.The positive Ce/Ce* confirms the clastic input into the system, and negative Mn* values and Th/U ratios (~0.29–1.4) in these limestones indicate their association with precipitation of carbonates in reducing (anoxic–dysoxic: Th/U ≤ 2) conditions

Petrography and geochemistry of sands from the Chachalacas and Veracruz beach areas, western Gulf of Mexico, Mexico: Constraints on provenance and tectonic setting

Compositional and geochemical analyses of sands collected from the Chachalacas (CHA) and Veracruz (VER) beach areas along the western Gulf of Mexico were studied to determine the provenance and tectonic setting of the source region. The modal composition showed that the proportion of quartz (Q) is lower in CHA than in VER sands. The average quartz-feldspar-lithic fragment (QFL) ratios for the CHA and VER sands are Q75F8L17 and Q86F4L10, respectively. The X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscope equipped with EDAX spectrometer (SEM-EDS) data revealed that the CHA sands were abundant in heavy minerals like magnetite, ilmenite, and zircon. The rare earth element concentration (REE) is higher in CHA than in VER sands, which is due to the concentration of heavy minerals in CHA sands. The weathering indices such as chemical index of alteration (CIA), plagioclase index of alteration, and A-CN-K (A = Al2O3, CN=CaO* + Na2O, K=K2O) plot suggested that the intensity of weathering in the source area was low to moderate. The index of chemical variability (ICV) for the CHA (~1.9-3.0) and VER (~0.82-1.33) sands indicated that the compositional maturity was higher for the VER sands. The concentrations of Co, Cr, Ni, and V are lower in VER sands than in CHA sands, indicating that the CHA sands were derived from the intermediate source rocks. Provenance modelling revealed that the CHA sands were associated with the mixture of basalt, andesite, dacite, and trachyandesite in the ratio of 5:20:25:50. The VER sands were best matched with a mixture having 75-90% dacite and 25-10% andesite compositions. The provenance difference between the two beach areas suggested that longshore current play a less significant role in mixing and homogenization of sands. The multidimensional tectonic discrimination diagrams revealed rift and collision settings for the VER and CHA beach areas, respectively, which is consistent with the general geology of the study areas

Geochemistry of siliciclastic rocks from the Shemshak Group (Upper Triassic-Middle Jurassic), northeastern Alborz, northern Iran : implications for palaeoweathering, provenance, and tectonic setting

Combined petrographic and geochemical data of the siliciclastic sedimentary rocks from the Shemshak Group in the northeastern Alborz Mountains, north of Iran are described, together with their implications for palaeoweathering, their provenance, and tectonic setting. Based on field observations and modal composition, the sandstones are classified as litharenites. The chemical index of alteration (CIA) indicated that the source terrains underwent a moderate intensity of chemical weathering. The index of chemical variation (ICV) values indicated that the Shemshak Group rocks were immature and related to a source area with an active tectonic regime. Major, trace and rare earth element (REE) data suggested the domination of mixed sedimentary (recycled) and igneous rocks in the source area of the Shemshak Group. Petrographic and geochemical characteristics of Shemshak Group rocks suggest an active continental margin (ACM), which corresponds to the collision of the Iran plate with the Turan plate