Multi-method comparison of modern river sediments in the Pannonian Basin System – A key step towards understanding the provenance of sedimentary basin-fill

Abstract

We compared the sedimentary provenance signature of modern river sediments collected from 14 different rivers entering the Pannonian Basin. The Pannonian Basin is one of the largest sedimentary basins of Europe filled up by multiple potential sediment sources. However, the contribution of individual source areas is unknown and complex basin-fill mixtures can only be disentangled by the knowledge of more simple mixtures such as modern river sediments. Our goal was to obtain a multi-parameter dataset about modern river sediments and potential source areas as well as to identify effects that can modify primary signatures, such as recycling. We simultaneously applied zircon and apatite fission-track detrital thermochronology (ZFT and AFT, respectively), heavy mineral analysis (HMA) via automated Raman spectroscopy and fine gravel petrography (FGP). ZFT ages cover a broader age range and show more significant dissimilarities between different rivers, than the AFT ages that mostly record the latest, Neogene cooling event of the source areas. On the other hand, heavy mineral spectra can be roughly subdivided into metamorphic, igneous and recycled signatures. Based on the amount of ultrastable minerals and the areal extent of different sedimentary reservoirs in each catchment, we can also estimate their relative contribution to recycling. Furthermore, simultaneous application of heavy mineral analysis and thermochronology with proper statistical treatment enables to distinguish specific source areas and mixed sedimentary signatures. The results provide a methodological basis for future reconstructions of tectonic and climate-based changes in the source area from mixed basin-fill sediments on a million-year scale. • Zircon fission-track and apatite fission-track dating on detrital material. • Raman-spectroscopy-based heavy mineral analysis. • Statistical dissimilarity measures applied to a multi-parameter dataset. • Relative contribution of different sediments to recycling is determined.