Heavy Mineral Characteristics Research Articles

The provenance of a turbidite system within a tectonically active wrench basin: Insights from heavy mineral characteristics of Miocene sandstones in the Tabernas Basin, south‐east Spain

AbstractThis paper provides insight into the provenance of the Late Miocene turbidite succession of the Tabernas Basin. Although this area has been extensively studied, only limited attention has been paid to sediment provenance. Through heavy mineral analysis, it has been possible to identify provenance‐related signatures from the adjacent Sierra de los Filabres and Sierra Alhamilla uplifts. Stable mineral ratio data confirm that the Sierra de los Filabres provided sediment with generally higher chloritoid:tourmaline and higher Type Bii garnet abundances than those derived from the Sierra Alhamilla. By comparison, modern sediments derived from the Sierra Alhamilla have garnet compositions with larger proportions of Types A and C, suggesting that the basinal sediments were not sourced from the incipient Sierra Alhamilla Uplift. Heavy mineral analysis confirms that the Sierra de los Filabres was the primary source for the Tabernas succession, with minor variations indicating that the erosive part of the system migrated across the uplift. Input was predominantly from the Nevado–Filábride Complex, with minor amounts from the small remnant of the Alpujarride Complex attached to the southern margin of the Sierra de los Filabres. Evidence strongly suggests a single sediment routing system but identifies some subtle provenance variations. In particular, there was a shift in detrital garnet composition between the Sartenella Formation and the Verdelecho Formation, Solitary Channel and El Gordo Megabed, which is attributed here to a shift in catchment within the Sierra de los Filabres. This shift appears to have occurred during the deposition of the Sartenella Formation, since the garnet compositions of the Verdelecho Formation and Solitary Channel are similar to each other and differ from the preceding part of the Sartenella Formation. The Solitary Channel displays marked heterogeneities in provenance character, manifested by changes in chloritoid abundance, consistent with previous studies that suggest the depositional architecture in the channel was influenced by high‐frequency changes in sediment flux and sea level.

The critical role of recycling of post-Grenvillian, Neoproterozoic sediments for Phanerozoic Laurentian clastic systems: evidence from detrital-zircon and -monazite geochronology and textures

ABSTRACT Lithic and quartz arenites of the Central Appalachian Basin deposited by late Paleozoic Laurentian fluvial systems are widely interpreted to be sourced by recycling of late Precambrian and early Paleozoic clastic sequences in the Appalachian Orogen. U-Pb and (U-Th)/He age distributions for detrital-zircon and Th-Pb age distributions for detrital-monazite, detrital-zircon and monazite textures (including detrital diagenetic monazite, which prove recycling), sandstone petrology, heavy-mineral abundances, and other detrital proxies are all accounted for by the following: 1) lithic arenite is directly sourced from late Neoproterozoic metasediments in the proximal Appalachian fold and thrust belt via transverse drainages, 2) the late Neoproterozoic sediments were recycled from early Neoproterozoic, post-Grenvillian clastic sequences, 3) Cambrian quartz arenites along the Laurentian margin were recycled from Neoproterozoic sequences with local cratonic input, 4) although dominated by sediment of ultimate Grenvillian age, quartz arenites require ∼ 40% of Paleoproterozoic and Archean input, interpreted to be recycled from late Neoproterozoic to Devonian clastic sequences of the northern Appalachians and/or southern (Scottish–Irish) Caledonides in the distal reaches of a longitudinal drainage system. Ordovician to Mississippian clastic sequences and their metamorphosed equivalents in the Appalachian crystalline core were also likely sediment sources. Quartz arenite does not result from mixing of lithic arenite with other sources because of differences in textural and compositional maturity, and in heavy-mineral characteristics. Input from the Laurentian craton, commonly cited as the source for Paleoproterozoic and Archean detrital zircon in the eastern Laurentian clastic systems, is untenable here because of: 1) the presence of Paleozoic monazite derived from Appalachian Neoproterozoic and early Paleozoic metasediments, 2) abundant detrital chromite, and 3) abundant Paleozoic detrital muscovite. Multiple recycling explains all observed sedimentologic and mineralogic characteristics of the two lithic types. Incorporation of published detrital-zircon data for Paleozoic to modern clastic sequences in eastern Laurentia reveals that Grenville-age zircons experienced at least five and potentially ten recycling events since entering the clastic system in the Neoproterozoic. Recycling also explains the abundance of quartz pebbles in conglomerates of the quartz-arenite lithofacies, and the range of detrital-muscovite 40Ar/39Ar ages in quartz arenites of the Appalachian Basin.

Controlling Factors Analyses of Sediment Dispersal From Source-to-Sink Systems of Lacustrine Rift Basin: A Case Study From Paleogene Shahejie-Dongying Formations of Nanpu Sag, Eastern China

Tectonic activity not only shapes the basic stratigraphic framework of rift basins, but also profoundly affects the sediment dispersal in rift basins. In this study, analyses of heavy mineral assemblages in different periods demonstrate that there are three obvious tectono-sedimentary evolutionary stages (Es3–Es2, Es1–Ed2, and Ed1, respectively) in the Paleogene provenance area of Nanpu Sag, and the volume of sand bodies increases from the bottom of the Paleogene Shahejie (Es) Formation to the top of the Dongying (Ed) Formation in Nanpu Sag. Besides, this study comprehensively utilize the analyses of seismic interpretation, palynology, heavy mineral, and borehole core samples to investigate the controlling factors of sediment dispersal in the rift basin. The assemblages of heavy minerals in different periods reflect the rock composition and catchment area of different provenance areas, and their vertical differences reflect the evolution process of the provenance area and reflect the uplift-denudation process of the provenance area. The results reveal that the synergy of the evolution of tectonic activity and the adjustment of topographical evolution are the main controlling factors of sediment dispersal in Nanpu Sag, while climate change is not the main controlling factor. We conclude that an increased sediment supply rate in the long term reflects the control of tectonic activity on basin topography, rather than climate fluctuations. The differences in morphological modification result in differential sediment dispersal, which is principally related to the differential extrusion of the fault system. The catchment area and provenance distance adjustment is evidenced by the vertical changes of heavy mineral characteristics of single-well and interaction and linkage of boundary faults, and the adjustment of topography evolution. A consideration is that the interaction and linkage of boundary faults and complex subsidence history are multi-directional, and differential evolution of provenance area is universal in lacustrine rift basins, all of this highlights the adjustment of sediment pathways generated by this characteristic of rift basins and emphasizes the importance of controlling factors analyses in understanding differential sediment dispersal that presents in the rift basins. Besides, four sets of sediment dispersal patterns were delineated based on different developmental regions in the rift basin, which are fault segmental point and multi-stage fault terrace, single-stage fault terrace and axial fault valley, axial fault terrace, and paleo-terrace and axial fault valley, respectively. This study has a certain guiding significance for the prediction of the spatial distribution of sand bodies in the rift basin and the exploration of potential oil and gas targets in the rift basin.

Comparative analysis of heavy mineral characteristics of sediments from the Huanghe River and the Changjiang River based on the multiple-window grain size strategy

Identification of detrital heavy minerals was carried out using a multiple-window grain size strategy on 25 representative sandy-silt sediment samples from the estuaries of the Huanghe (including the abandoned Huanghe River) and Changjiang Rivers, with each sample divided into 6–9 fractions (for a total of 196 sub-samples) at 0.5Φ intervals. After characterization of the samples with respect to the abundance of each mineral species, the mean values of content were determined as 37.7% amphiboles, 23.8% Fe-metallic minerals, and 14.4% stable minerals, corresponding to 7.1% garnet, 1.8% apatite, and 1.2% zircon, in the Huanghe River samples. In comparison, the Changjiang River samples were characterized as 54.9% amphiboles, 14.1% Fe-metallic minerals, and 6.5% stable minerals, with 1.7% garnet and 3.0% sphene. The ratio of unstable to stable mineral classes (UM/SM) in the silt sediments of the Huanghe River ranged from 2.3–6.8, the value of epidote group/stable minerals was 0.7–2.3, and the ratio of garnet to sphene (Grt/Spn) ranged from 1.2–2.7. The Changjiang River's corresponding mineral ratios were 6.0–22.8, 2.3–5.2, and 0.4–1.3, respectively. The identification data reveal that the main heavy minerals and stable minerals differ substantially, suggesting that mineral profiling could be used for source identification and differentiation of sediments originating from these two rivers. The multi-particle heavy mineral method better reflects the samples' entire characteristics than single-particle analysis (3–4Φ), thus providing a more reliable end-element index for the distinction between sediments of the Huanghe and Changjiang Rivers.

Late Miocene Yellow River formation in Qingtongxia area, North China: Detrital zircon and heavy mineral analysis at Niushou Mountain, Ningxia

The development and formation times of the Yellow River, the second largest drainage system in China, remain controversial. The Ganhegou Formation, a set of Upper Miocene–Pliocene fluvial facies sediments, developed around Niushou Mountain in the outermost edge of the arcuate structural belt in the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau and has a sediment composition very similar to that of the Yellow River. In this article, the relationship between the deposition of the Ganhegou Formation and the Yellow River is confirmed through the analysis and comparison of sediment composition, detrital zircons, and heavy mineral characteristics of the Ganhegou Formation, a Yellow River terrace, and the modern Yellow River. The sediments of the Ganhegou Formation contain abundant well‐ground and sorted fluvial pebbles that are largely consistent with Yellow River sediments. The analysis of the composition of zircons and heavy minerals shows that the age peaks of all detrital zircons are primarily among 200–300 Ma, 400–500 Ma, and 1,700–2,000 Ma and that all the heavy minerals are generally characterized by the combination of ‘haematite + garnet + zircon + epidote + quartz and altered minerals’. Therefore, the Ganhegou Formation in the Niushou Mountain area of Ningxia is a likely sediment of the ancient Yellow River, which has existed at Qingtongxia since at least the Late Miocene.

Sand source and formation mechanism of riverine sand dunes: a case study in Xiangshui River, China

Riverine sand dunes develop as a result of fluvial-aeolian interactions. The primarily barchan dune chains along the Xiangshui River (a branch of the Xar Moron River in the western part of the Horqin Sandy Land of China) form a typical riverine dune field. We collected a series of samples from the riverine sand dunes parallel to the direction of the prevailing wind and investigated the sand sources and formation mechanisms of these dunes by determining the grain size, heavy mineral content and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) of the samples. The sand of the near-river dunes was coarser than the sand of the dunes distant from the river, indicating that coarse sand of the valley mainly deposited on near-river dunes. The heavy mineral analysis suggested that wind-sand activity levels were intense on the upwind dunes, but relatively weak on the downwind dunes. This indicated that the sand sources for the near-river dunes were more abundant than those of the distant dunes. Our OSL analysis of samples suggested that the deposition rates on dunes near the river were greater than the deposition rates on dunes distant from the river. The development of dunes along the river indicated that the river played an important role in dune formation and development. In addition, airflow fluctuation and the formation of the waveform dunes had a type of feedback relationship. Grain size, heavy mineral and OSL analyses are widely used methods in wind-sand research. Sand dune grain size characteristics reflect the effects of airflow on the transport and separation of sand materials, as well as the physical characteristics of the sand sources. Heavy mineral characteristics are often used to investigate the relationships between sediments and sand sources. OSL indicates dune age, revealing formation of dunes. Therefore, it is useful to explore dune sand sources, as well as the mechanisms underlying dune formation, by determining grain size, heavy mineral content and OSL. This study investigated the sand sources of riverine dunes and provided new information about riverine dune formation and development.

Studies on Geochemical and Heavy Mineral Characteristics of Sediments of Gosthani River Estuary

The present work deals with the geochemical and heavy mineral characteristics studies of sediments of Gosthani river estuary. The aim of study is to determine the provenance, establish the depositional environment and spatial variability of sediment. From the study it is found that the sediment of Gosthani river contains heavy minerals that consist of Rutile, Garnet, Sillimanite, Staurolite, Monazite, Zercon, Pyroxenes, Epidote, Amphiboles and Opaques minerals. The lesser abundant heavy minerals are amphiboles, zircon, monazite, rutile, staurolite, epidote. These heavy minerals indicate that the sediments were essentially derived from metamorphic provenance varying from medium to high grade and partly from crystalline igneous rocks. Well rounded monazites come from Eastern Ghats. This is based on the occurrence of monazite in pegmatite and charnockites of Eastern Ghats. The various characters of rutile and zircon suggest that each of these minerals has a multisource. According to geochemical studies settling of organic matter is highest in areas where deposition of fine grained sediment takes place. The organic carbon is often a good index for deciphering depositional environment.

Heavy Mineral Characteristics and Their Implication for Provenance of the Middle to Upper Triassic on the Northwest Margin of Junggar Basin, North China

Heavy minerals are extremely sensitive indicators of provenance. Applying the methods of heavy mineral combination analysis, content distribution analysis, SPSS statistical component analysis, and correlation analysis, 18 heavy minerals are identified in the northwestern margin of the Junggar Basin (NW Junggar). According to the analysis of the heavy mineral characteristics and coefficients, 4 heavy mineral combinations are developed in the study area: Zircon-tourmaline-monazite-apatite-anatase, rutile-ilmenite-leucoxene-apatite-galenite, hematite-limonite-pyrite, and magnetite-epidote-hornblende. Previous results predicted that source rocks consist of intermediate-acidic magmatite, sedimentary rocks and metamorphic rocks, and intermediate-acidic magmatite is considered to be the main source rock. Furthermore, combined with the geological background of NW Junggar, Qier-Halaalat Mountain, which belongs to the Zaire Mountain front, is shown to be the provenance of the study area. The main sources of sediments are flesh-red granite, grey and greyish-green andesite, andesitic-porphyrite, grey and grayish-black tuff, siltstone, and sandstone of the Lower Carboniferous Tailegula Formation. Additionally, because of the high content of the angular-subangular and subangular-subrounded heavy mineral grains, these heavy minerals are both from near and distal provenance, with most being near-provenance deposits. During the process of provenance propulsion on the margin of the basin, clastics are mixed together and affected by regional dynamic metamorphism, which is probably the main reason for the existence of the metamorphic component.

Heavy Mineral Characteristics of the Loess Deposits in the Eastern Songnen Plain: Implication for Sediment Provenance

Lots of loess sediments, mostly located at the Eastern Songnen Plain, have been deposited through the whole Quaternary period. In order to determine their sources, samples were collected from a number of representative areas, such as the dust loess, river sediment of the Songhua River and the Horqin sandy land. Heavy mineral assemblage analysis of these samples shows that the dust samples share a consistent character, which is similar to the Songhua Rivers sediments. In contrast, there is a big difference between the dust samples and the Horqin. Heavy minerals assemblage from Eastern Songnen Plain dust loess compatible with a dominant source in the nearby river sediments and the weathered granitoid of the Songhua River drainage basin, such as the Hinggan Mountains and Eastern mountains, with additional minor contributions from the Horqin sandy land or the distal dust source.

Heavy mineral characteristics of the Neogene–Quaternary sediments from the southern part of the Blagoevgrad Basin, SW Bulgaria

The Blagoevgrad Basin, a graben filled with Neogene–Quaternary continental sedimentary successions, is one of the most prospective placer-gold bearing regions in southwestern Bulgaria. The Quaternary sediments have been well explored and economically prospective areas have been identified. Previous studies indicated very limited occurrences of placer gold in the Neogene sediments, the genesis of which is connected with resedimentation of Paleogene sediments from the adjacent Bobov dol Basin to the north. From these previous studies, a detailed allo- and lithostratigraphic scheme, and paleogeographic models were developed. The present study aimed to evaluate the plausibility of the existing stratigraphic schemes and paleogeographic models for the area, through detailed study of the heavy mineral fraction of the Neogene and part of the Quaternary sediments from the southern part of the Blagoevgrad Basin. Additional objectives were to determine the mode of occurrence and the stratigraphic position of the placer gold in the Neogene sediments, and to investigate possible source areas. Special attention was paid to the mineral composition and the structure of the opaque detrital Fe–Ti oxide minerals, and the typologic features of the zircons. The results obtained could be used as a provenance indicator and for determination of the nature of the source area and the processes that operated therein. A very important finding is the discovery of placer gold in an additional three Neogene units. The morphologic features of the gold grains indicate short transport or proximity to the primary source. This interpretation is inconsistent with existing hypotheses on the origin and presence of the gold in the sediments of the basin. The characteristics of the magnetic heavy mineral fraction, and the morphologic features of zircon grains in auriferous samples, indicate the diorites and gabbro-diorites from the Strouma Diorite Group, which outcrop along the eastern edge of the graben, as a possible source. The stratigraphic distribution of the heavy minerals fully supports the plausibility of the existing detailed allo- and lithostratigraphic subdivision, and the paleogeographic model for the development of the southern part of the basin. Also, the results provide support for the soundness of an allostratigraphic approach for the study and exploration of placer deposits in basins similar to the Blagoevgrad.

An example of alternative correlation techniques in a low-accommodation setting, nonmarine hydrocarbon system: The (Lower Cretaceous) Mannville Basal Quartz succession of southern Alberta

Chemostratigraphy and heavy-mineral techniques have been applied to the Lower Cretaceous Basal Quartz in the Western Canada sedimentary basin. The aim of the study is to demonstrate that these two techniques can be used to help understand the complex stratigraphy of reservoirs deposited in low-accommodation fluvial settings. The Basal Quartz is an ideal unit to demonstrate their applicability in stratigraphic studies of hydrocarbon reservoirs because extensive mapping and petrographic studies have enabled the establishment of a rigorous stratigraphic framework despite its complexity resulting from deposition in a low-accommodation fluvial setting. The three component units analyzed in the Basal Quartz (Horsefly unit, Bantry–Alderson–Taber [BAT] unit, and Ellerslie unit) each have unique geochemical and heavy-mineral characteristics. Chemostratigraphic analysis shows that silty claystones from the Horsefly, BAT, and Ellerslie units have distinctly different geochemistry from one another, with the variations being caused by changes in clay mineralogy and other components, such as feldspar, apatite, and zircon. The geochemistry also suggests periodic volcanogenic input influenced the silty claystones of the Basal Quartz. Heavy-mineral analysis shows that sandstones from the three units can be distinguished on the basis of ratio parameters, such as apatite/tourmaline, rutile/zircon, and zircon/tourmaline, which are controlled by differences in provenance and intensity of weathering during transport.

Detrital heavy-mineral characteristics of rift-related sediments from the Dragon-1 Well in the Cheju Basin (NE East China Sea), Korea

The rift-related depositional system developed in the divergent plate-margin basin where sedimentary heavy-minerals preserve a record of the tectonic elements. This paper presents how heavy-mineral assemblages and concentrations serve as rifting criteria in rift-related basin. From the Dragon-1 well samples, distinctive change of heavy-mineral assemblages could be used to distinguish different rifting stages and to subdivide a changing tectonic setting. Heavy-mineral concentrations are mainly controlled by the amount of heavy-mineral supply from source area and depositional slope angle in a half-graben.

Regional Variability of Beach and Foredune Characteristics Along the Texas Gulf Coast Barrier System

ABSTRACT A regional analysis of adjacent beach and foredune variability was conducted along the Texas barrier system. Evaluated parameters include beach morphology, dune internal structures, and comparative textural and heavy mineral characteristics. The most variable element of beach morphology is backshore width, which reflects both long-term erosional trends and local anthropogenic effects. Foredune-ridge height increases southward and is climatically controlled. Dune cross-bedding is highly variable in terms of both dip angles and azimuth distributions, indicating the presence of polygenetic cross-strata. The azimuth distributions are generally polymodal and do not demonstrate a direct relationship to prevailing wind direction. The azimuth distribution modes indicate the presence of both p ramidal dune structures generated by seasonal wind variations, and storm-related structures resulting from multiple episodes of ridge erosion and rebuilding phases. Regional constraints on foredune-ridge orientation imposed by the coastline have some polarizing influence on the cross-bedding azimuth distributions. Comparative textural characteristics of adjacent beach and foredune sediments show both local variations and regional trends. Beach textures are greatly influenced by shell admixtures and show relatively high local variability. In contrast, dune textures are not significantly influenced by shell admixtures and show a low degree of local variability, thus allowing the detection of regional trends. Foredune deposits show a northward reduction in grain size and improved sorting; these trends result mainly from a regional reduction in energy level and competency range of the eolian regime, but they also may be partly attributed to provenance. Comparative beach and foredune heavy mineral assemblages are variable in terms of total concentrations, grain morphology, and grain density. The foredunes generally contain higher total heavy mineral concentrations and higher proportions of dense opaque minerals than the beach population, whereas no apparent difference occurs in the proportion of elongate minerals. Beach and foredune heavy mineral assemblages show regional trends in total concentrations and opaque mineral content that correlate with similar trends on the adjacent continental shelf, indicating a constancy of provenance and regional dispersal patterns during the Holocene transgression.