Abstract
Geochemical signatures of siliciclastic rocks constituting the sedimentary fill of a basin can provide useful clues for constraining sedimentary processes. The inorganic geochemical composition of interbedded sandstone and shale in hydrocarbon-producing zones of the Agbada Formation (Niger Delta Basin) were used as proxies to determine the provenance signatures, evaluate weathering intensity in the source area, and reconstruct paleo-redox conditions in the depositional environment. The Al2O3-(CaO + Na2O)–K2O relationship, Th/U ratio, CIA versus SiO2 correlation, and other weathering proxies (CIA, CIX, aAlE indices) indicate moderate to intense weathering conditions in the source area. Various elemental ratios such as La/Co, Cr/Th, Eu/Eu*, (La/Lu)N, Th/Co, LHREE/HREE (light to heavy rare earth elements), and the Eu anomaly suggest predominantly felsic sources. Other ratios (e.g., V/Cr, Ni/Co, Cu/Zn, Mo-EF/U-EF) sensitive to redox conditions reflect an oxic-suboxic depositional environment. The interbedded sandstones and shales reflect insignificant disparity in terms of their source area weathering and provenance.
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