Lithofacies and petrography of Wajid sandstone (Cambrian-Ordovician) Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Six lithofacies are recognized in the Wajid sandstone. These litofacies are identified as: silty and argillaceous sandstone; fine-grained sandstones; coarse-grained sandstones; pebbley to very coarse-grained sandstones; conglomerates and massive sandstones. Mineralogic composition suggests that the Wajid sandstone is considered clean sands for it consists 95% of quartz grains 5% heavy minerals, mica, potash feldspar, clay matrix, ferruginous cement and traces of carbonate cement. Quartz grain extinction types and inclusions plus heavy mineral types and shapes suggest nearby igneous and metamorphic sources for these deposits, i.e. the adjacent Arabian Shield rocks, in addition to repeated recycling of these sediments as indicated by the appearance of a small number of rounded to very rounded grains of heavy minerals. Furthermore, perhaps most of the secondary silica present in the Wajid was developed from solution and from silica reprecipitated later during periods of aeolian reworking of these fluvial sediments. Moreover, the ferruginous material in Wajid was very likely derived either from siderite or came in solution from igneous and metamorphic provenance or generally came from both sources. The carbonate material in the sediments might either be derived from post-Wajid carbonate formations or formed from solution of carbonate shells trapped in these sediments. X-ray diffraction analysis shows that kaolinite is the only clay mineral present in the Wajid deposits. On the other hand, spectroscopic analysis reveals the presence of Si, Mg, Al and Ca elements as major constituents in the Wajid sandstone. Moreover, according to facies characteristics, the Wajid sediments were deposited under conditions of fluvial environments.