Lithogeochemistry of the fine-grained siliciclastic rocks of the Vendian Serebryanka Group of the Central Urals

Abstract

Sedimentation environments were reconstructed for the Early Vendian successions of the western slope of the Central Urals, which comprises one of the most complete sections of the terminal Precambrian system in northern Eurasia. It was shown that, despite the presence of several diamictite levels in the sections of the Serebryanka Group, mature and multiply recycled fine-grained siliciclastic materials (CIA = 65–77) were delivered into the sedimentation basin over the whole Early Vendian. Based on the lithochemical characteristics of shales, the climate of Serebryanka time can be estimated as semiarid-semihumid, similar to that dominating in Late Vendian paleocatchments. Based on relatively high Mo/Mn values (0.011–0.024), it was suggested that anoxic or similar conditions existed in the basin of Buton time, whereas other sedimentary complexes of the Serebryanka Group were formed in well aerated environments. The systematics of Sr, Ba, Zr, Cu, and V in fine-grained siliciclastic rocks and Sr isotopic data for carbonate rocks indicate that the sediments were accumulated in a fresh-water basin. The values of trace-element indicator ratios, e.g., Th/Sc, La/Sc, Th/Cr and others, in the shales of the Serebryanka Group and Nd model age estimates indicate that a variety of mainly Early Proterozoic complexes, ranging from granitoids to basic rocks, occurred in the Early Vendian paleocatchments. The basic rocks were eroded most extensively probably in the end of Serebryanka time. Based on the Ce/Ce* values of shales, it was concluded that submarine volcanism had no significant influence on sedimentation processes in the Early Vendian. An exception is Koiva and Kernos time, when hematite-bearing shales were accumulated in association with pillow basalts in some zones of the basin. The distribution of the compositions of shales from various formations of the Serebryanka Group in discrimination diagrams suggests that the Early Vendian sedimentary sequences were formed in passive geodynamic settings.