Geochemistry of Silurian–Carboniferous sedimentary rocks of the Ulaanbaatar terrane, Hangay–Hentey belt, central Mongolia: Provenance, paleoweathering, tectonic setting, and relationship with the neighbouring Tsetserleg terrane

Abstract

The Hangay–Hentey belt is situated in the central Northern Mongolia, and forms part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). It is internally subdivided into seven terranes, the largest of which are the neighbouring Ulaanbaatar and Tsetserleg terranes. These coeval terranes are mainly composed of Silurian–Devonian accretionary complexes and Carboniferous turbidites. Proposals for their depositional setting range from passive margin through to island arc. A suite of 19 Ulaanbaatar terrane sandstones and mudrocks (Gorkhi and Altanovoo Formations) were collected with the aim of constraining their provenance, source weathering, and depositional setting based on whole-rock major and trace element data, and for comparison with the neighbouring Tsetserleg terrane. New REE analyses were also made of 35 samples from the Ulaanbaatar and Tsetserleg terranes. Geochemically the Ulaanbaatar sandstones are classed as wackes, and most of the mudstones as shales. Geochemical parameters suggest an immature source, similar to that of the Tsetserleg terrane. Geochemical contrasts between sandstones and mudrocks in the Ulaanbaatar sediments are small, and trends on element – Al2O3 variation diagrams are weak. Comparison with average upper continental crust (UCC), major element discriminant scores, and immobile element ratios (Th/Sc, Zr/Sc, Ce/Sc, Ti/Zr) indicate a uniform average source composition between dacite and rhyolite. Maximum Chemical Index of Alteration value in the Ulaanbaatar terrane is ∼65 after correction for K-metasomatism, indicating minimal weathering in a tectonically active source, similar to that of the Tsetserleg terrane. REE data in both terranes show moderate LREE enrichment and flat HREE segments, with negative Eu anomalies somewhat less than those in UCC and PAAS. Chondrite-normalized patterns are very similar to that for average Paleozoic felsic volcanic rock, supporting the relatively felsic source indicated by immobile trace element ratios. Tectonic setting discriminants (K2O/Na2O–SiO2/Al2O3, La–Th–Sc, Th–Sc–Zr) indicate an evolved continental island arc (CIA; A2) environment for both terranes, similar to several other CAOB suites of similar age. This common arc source was situated within the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean during Silurian–Lower Carboniferous time. The present-day Aleutian arc is a possible modern analogue of the depositional setting.