Provenance Interpretation Research Articles

Detrital zircon microtextures and U‐PB geochronology of Upper Jurassic to Paleocene strata in the distal North American Cordillera foreland basin

AbstractDetrital zircon surface microtextures, geochronologic U‐Pb data, and tectonic subsidence analysis from Upper Jurassic to Paleocene strata in the Black Hills of South Dakota reveal provenance variations in the distal portion of the Cordillera foreland basin in response to tectonic events along the outboard margin of western North America. During Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous time, nonmarine strata record initially low rates of tectonic subsidence that facilitated widespread recycling of older foreland basin strata in eolian and fluvial systems that dispersed sediment to the northeast, with minimal sediment derived from the thrust belt. By middle Cretaceous time, marine inundation reflects increased subsidence rates coincident with a change to eastern sediment sources. Lowstand Albian fluvial systems in the Black Hills may have been linked to fluvial systems upstream in the midcontinent and downstream in the Bighorn Basin in Wyoming. During latest Cretaceous time, tectonic uplift in the study area reflects dynamic processes related to Laramide low‐angle subduction that, relative to other basins to the west, was more influential due to the greater distance from the thrust load. Provenance data from Maastrichtian and lower Paleocene strata indicate a change back to western sources that included the Idaho‐Montana batholith and exhumed Belt Supergroup. This study provides a significant contribution to the growing database that is refining the tectonics and continental‐scale sediment dispersal patterns in North America during Late Jurassic‐early Paleocene time. In addition, it demonstrates the merit of using detrital zircon grain shape and surface microtextures to aid in provenance interpretations.

Glacial erosion of East Antarctica in the Pliocene: A comparative study of multiple marine sediment provenance tracers

The history of the East Antarctic ice sheet provides important understanding of its potential future behaviour in a warming world. The provenance of glaciomarine sediments can provide insights into this history, if the underlying continent eroded by the ice sheet is made of distinct geological terranes that can be distinguished by the mineralogy, petrology and/or geochemistry of the eroded sediment. We here present a multi-proxy provenance investigation on Pliocene sediments from Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Site U1361, located offshore of the Wilkes Subglacial Basin, East Antarctica. We compare Nd and Sr isotopic compositions of <63μm detrital fractions, clay mineralogy of <2μm fractions, 40Ar/39Ar ages of >150μm ice-rafted hornblende grains, and petrography of >2mm ice-rafted clasts and >150μm mineral grains. Pliocene fine-grained marine sediments have Nd and Sr isotopic compositions, clay mineralogy, and clast characteristics that can be explained by mixing of sediments eroded from predominantly proximal crystalline terranes with material derived from inland sources from within the currently glaciated Wilkes Subglacial Basin. Conversely, evidence for such an inland source is absent from ice-rafted hornblende ages. We render a lithological bias against hornblende grains in the doleritic and sedimentary units within the basin the most likely explanation for this observation. 40Ar/39Ar hornblende ages however record additional provenance from the distal margins of the Ross Sea, and possibly even the West Antarctic area of Marie Byrd Land. The latter lies >2000km to the east and hints at significant iceberg release from the West Antarctic ice sheet during warm intervals of the Pliocene. Together our results make a strong case for combining geochemical and mineralogical signatures of coarse- and fine-grained glaciomarine sediment fractions in order to derive robust provenance interpretations in ice covered areas.

Bronze Age wool: provenance and dye investigations of Danish textiles

Abstract

Facies architecture and provenance of a boulder-conglomerate submarine channel system, Panoche Formation, Great Valley Group: A forearc basin response to middle Cretaceous tectonism in the California convergent margin

Tectonic reorganization induced by a rapid increase in plate motion ­obliquity and rate beginning at ca. 100 Ma affected California’s Andean-style convergent margin, with concomitant changes in the accretionary prism of the Franciscan Complex, the Great Valley forearc basin, and the Sierran continental arc. Using facies analysis and a combined provenance approach, we suggest that this ca. 100 Ma tectonic signal is preserved in a Cenomanian (Upper Cretaceous) boulder-conglomerate outcrop along the San Luis Reservoir (SLR) in the southern Great Valley, which represents the thickest and coarsest deep-water deposit ever described in the Great Valley Group (GVG). We document a 1.8-km-thick by 4-km-long depositional-dip profile of an interpreted SE-directed (axial) submarine channel system that is part of a conglomeratic package that stretches 20 km along the east-central Diablo Range. Our facies analysis of the SLR area documents five facies associations within four aggradational channel complex sets, followed by regional abandonment. Sandstone petrography and mudrock geochemical data suggest a dissected continental Sierra Nevadan arc source. Conglomerate clast counts show abundant ophiolitic-type clasts that may be derived from the Coast Range Ophiolite and/or the Western Sierra Nevada Metamorphic Belt. Detrital-­zircon geochronology data also indicate western and central Sierra Nevadan sources; however, we interpret an anomalous (relative to other Cenomanian localities) 105–95 Ma zircon population to indicate the initial erosional products from the volcanic carapace associated with the Late Cretaceous magmatic flare-up within the eastern Sierran arc. This flare-up has been linked to an increase in arc-parallel plate motion that induced deformation along shear zones in the eastern Sierra Nevada, allowing for widespread plutonism. Our provenance interpretation makes the SLR area the earliest Upper Cretaceous GVG locality to receive significant detritus from the flare-up, effectively linking tectonic plate motion changes and coarse-grained, deep-water forearc sedimentation.

Elucidating tectonic events and processes from variably tectonized conglomerate clast detrital geochronology: Examples from the Permian Hongliuhe Formation in the southern Central Asian orogenic Belt, NW China

AbstractThis article expands upon detrital zircon geochronology with a sampling and analysis strategy dating variably tectonized granitoid conglomerate clasts. Its purpose is to elucidate details of the provenance's tectonomagmatic history from deformation‐relative age distributions. The method involves bulk samples of clasts, sorted based on the degree of internal ductile deformation. Isolating granitoid clasts, we divide them into three subsets: undeformed, slightly deformed, and deformed. Laser ablation, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry U‐Pb geochronology is performed on zircon separates of each subset. Our case study, involving the Permian Hongliuhe Formation in the southern Central Asian Orogenic Belt, analyzes each of the three clast subsets, as well as sandstone detrital samples, at three stratigraphic levels and yields a profile of the unroofed provenance. Clast age distributions exhibit different, wider‐age spectra than sandstone samples, an effect of proximity to the respective provenance. They indicate a minimal lag time, implying rapid exhumation rates, whereas sandstone data alone would indicate a 90 Myr lag time. Early Paleozoic arc‐building episodes appear as Ordovician peaks in sandstone data and Silurian‐Devonian peaks in clast data, indicating a younging of magmatism toward proximal provenance. A magmatic hiatus starts in the Devonian, correlating with the latest age of deformed clasts, interpreted as timing of collisional tectonics. The detailed age spectra provide regional tectonic context and interpretation of processes, as well as more robust provenance interpretation than could be determined from sandstone samples alone. The variably tectonized clast detrital geochronology method removes human sampling bias and the practical limits of studying regional granitoid distributions.

Heavy-mineral analysis and provenance of Yellow River sediments around the China Loess Plateau

In its upper-middle reaches the Yellow River has high sand contents after traversing through large areas of desert and the China Loess Plateau. Understanding riverbed sediment composition in the channel is critical for the interpretation of the potential provenance, aeolian sand transport and the linkage between the Loess Plateau and the Yellow River. To address these issues, we collected 52 samples from the modern riverbed, proximal deserts, and major tributaries and used analyses of grain size, grain morphology, and heavy-mineral compositions, to establish the spatial distribution and characteristics of source regions and riverbed sediments. The heavy-mineral assemblages demonstrate significant variations for the different sections of the Yellow River. The riverbed samples from the upper reach are dominated by opaque minerals (limonite and magnetite), amphibole and epidote, with minor zircon, tourmaline and rutile. Riverbed sediments from the middle reach are garnet-rich, reflecting the widespread distribution of Mesozoic sandstones. This variability closely reflects the source regions. Our data show that seasonal tributaries (the “Ten Great Gullies”) carrying detritus from the Ordos Plateau may account for the localized high garnet concentrations in the Inner Mongolia section of the upper reach. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging of quartz grains show that the river sediments are characterized by composite microtextures acquired in both fluvial and eolian environments of the Hedong, Ulan Buh and Kubuq Deserts. The mineralogical composition in the upper reach (Lanzhou–Yinchuan) is similar to that of sediments in the Loess Plateau and Northeast Tibet Plateau (Western Lanzhou). However, the composition differs markedly from that in the Inner Mongolia section of the upper and middle reaches. This variation indicates that in the upper reach the Northeast Tibet Plateau contributes significant volumes of sediment to the Yellow River and Loess Plateau, but compositions change across the Inner Mongolia section of the upper and middle reaches owing to local sediment supply from arid desert areas and seasonal tributaries.

U-Pb ages of detrital and volcanic zircons of the Toro Negro Formation, northwestern Argentina: Age, provenance and sedimentation rates

The Toro Negro Formation is a foreland sequence in western La Rioja province, Argentina, which records the late-stage tectonic evolution of the Vinchina Basin. Together with the underlying Vinchina Formation, these two units represent one of the thickest and longest continually exposed foreland sections in northwest Argentina. The Vinchina basin is uniquely situated between the Toro Negro and Umango blocks of the Western Sierra Pampeanas to the north and south, the Precordillera to the west, and the Sierra de Famatina to the east. New U-Pb dating of volcanic tephra provides improved age constraints on the pace of sedimentation, and U-Pb ages of detrital zircons serve to strengthen existing provenance interpretations. We show that deposition of the Toro Negro Formation spans roughly 6.9 to 2.3 Ma: Late Miocene to Early Pleistocene. A high-relief, erosional unconformity with the underlying Vinchina Formation developed sometime between 9.3 and 6.9 Ma, although stratigraphic considerations suggest it spanned only the later part of this time interval (perhaps 7.5–6.9 Ma). Above this unconformity, undecompacted sedimentation rates are remarkably high at ∼1.2 mm/yr, slowing to ∼0.3 mm/yr after ∼6 Ma. An unconformity in the upper part of the section is constrained to occur sometime between 5.0 and 3.0 Ma, probably beginning not long after 5.0 Ma. The timing of both unconformities broadly Matches the timing of inferred tectonic events in the Sierra Famatina ∼50 km to the east, the Fiambalá basin to the north, and the Bermejo basin to the south, suggesting they May record regional tectonism at these times. Provenance interpretations of detrital zircon spectra are consistent with previous interpretations based on sediment petrography. They show that provenance did not change significantly during the course of Toro Negro deposition, precluding major tectonically-induced drainage reorganization events. Sediments were derived primarily from the north (Toro Negro Block) and west (Precordillera). The data are consistent with a subtle increase in sediment supply from the Precordillera beginning around 6.5 Ma.

Till Geochemistry in West-Central Manitoba: Interpretation of Provenance and Mineralization Based on Glacial History and Multivariate Data Analysis

Till geochemical datasets from archived samples in west-central Manitoba are interpreted using multivariate data analytical techniques such as principal component analysis and pathfinder element index methods, combined with a spatial representation of the data in a geographic information system (GIS). Results show that carbonate till derived from Hudson Bay, as expressed by the (Ca + Mg)/Na ratio, is found predominantly east of Leaf Rapids and extends south into the Northeastern Kisseynew Domain. A 30- to 70-km-wide zone is documented beyond the limit of dissolvable carbonate dispersal that contains till of Labradorean provenance with low Ca-Mg-Mn-Te concentrations, noncalcareous till of Keewatin provenance, and silty calcareous till at depth. The variation in till provenance, together with the predominance of southwesterly ice-flow indicators, suggests that carbonate dispersal occurred prior to deglaciation, and that surface tills in the zone of confluence between Labradorean and Keewatin ice are likely the result of recycling of calcareous tills and/or carbonate-leached sandy tills, mainly by Keewatin ice. The newly defined limits of carbonate and Ca-rich till, typically used to assess provenance and glacial transport, provide a new framework for evaluating the significance of till geochemical patterns when drift prospecting over the Trans-Hudson orogen. Several regional- to local-scale dispersal trains from geochemically distinct bedrock sources are discussed in terms of elemental association, glacial transport characteristics, and potential bedrock sources. The multivariate statistical approach combined with GIS mapping also highlights new areas with small multi- or single-element enrichments that may be of further interest for volcanogenic massive sulfide exploration or for potentially more detailed drift sampling.

Distribuição espacial de minerais pesados nos sedimentos superficiais da Plataforma Continental Oeste do Ceará, Nordeste do Brasil

Os sedimentos da plataforma continental oeste cearense foram investigados com relação à sua textura, conteúdo de carbonato de cálcio e minerais pesados com a geração do modelo digital de fundo desta plataforma. A estatística multivariada foi aplicada aos dados mineralógicos para auxiliar na interpretação da proveniência dos minerais pesados. A plataforma continental oeste cearense, apesar da predominância da sedimentação carbonática, apresenta concentrações importantes de minerais pesados (4,54 %), originando depósitos do tipo plácer nas areias litoclásticas e litobioclásticas situadas mais a leste da área estudada (Folha Fortaleza). Foram identificadas irregularidades indicativas de paleocanais e antigas linhas de praia que favorecem a concentração de minerais pesados. A assembleia mineral (ilmenita, turmalina, epídoto, hornblenda, monazita, estaurolita, sillimanita, rutilo, magnetita, zircão, andaluzita, cianita, granada, leucoxênio, diopsídio, apatita, espinélio e cassiterita) sugere contribuições regionais do retrabalhamento dos sedimentos da Formação Barreiras e contribuição local das rochas metamórficas do Complexo Ceará. Afloramentos do embasamento cristalino na plataforma continental próximos ao Porto do Pecém (São Gonçalo do Amarante) contribuem diretamente no aporte de sedimentos terrígenos e são nesses locais que os minerais pesados se concentram. A estatística multivariada discriminou os dois tipos de proveniências anteriormente descritos, contudo devem-se levar em consideração outras contribuições como das areias pretas costeiras, aporte fluvial atual (continental) e pretérito (vales fluviais afogados) e sedimentos marinhos de deriva litorânea.

A study on provenance of marine porcelains from Huaguangjiao No. 1 after sample desalination

Huaguangjiao No. 1 is an ancient Chinese sunken ship found near the Yongle Islands in the South China Sea, which was built in the Southern Song Dynasty. In 2007, a systematic excavation of the shipwreck site was conducted and a large number of exported porcelains were salvaged. Determination of the provenance of these exported porcelains will benefit the study of Chinese marine trade and global exchange patterns during the Southern Song Dynasty. However, salts and mineral elements within the seawater may have penetrated pores of the submerged ceramic material and has the potential to interfere with elemental analysis and therefore affect interpretations of provenance. This paper reports elemental analysis of porcelain from Huaguangjiao No. 1 before and after desalination together with analysis of samples from three kiln sites, which have been suggested to represent manufacturing centres for the ware (Cizao, Nan'an and Dehua kilns). Elemental analyses were undertaken using wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF). Using hierarchical cluster analysis, the 41 samples from Cizao, Nan'an and Dehua kilns could be accurately distinguished, and the provenance of samples from Huaguangjiao No. 1 have been determined. It was found that residual marine salts and other elements did not greatly interfere with the analysis of provenance, so there is no need to undertake desalination of samples prior to elemental studies of marine salvaged materials.

An apatite for progress: Inclusions in zircon and titanite constrain petrogenesis and provenance

Apatite has recently gained considerable attention as a mineral with many uses within the Earth and planetary sciences. Apatite chemistry has recently given new insight into a wide range of geological processes and tools, for example, magmatism, metasomatism, planetary geochemistry, and geochronology. We expand the utility of apatite here by presenting a novel way to fingerprint magma chemistry and petrogenesis using apatite inclusions within robust titanite and zircon. We present trace element data from apatite mineral inclusions shielded within magmatic zircon and titanite. Importantly, apatite inclusion and host titanite chemistries detailed in this study allow estimation of the whole-rock Sr and SiO2. We show how these data can be used to assess the degree of fractionation of the host magma and to calculate key trace element abundances and ratios. We demonstrate that the inclusions can be linked to discrete periods in the crystallization history of the host phases, thus providing insight into petrogenesis. The results highlight that apatite compositions might discriminate modern granitoids (younger than 2.5 Ga) from Archean–Proterozoic transitional granitoid compositions (sanukitoid signatures). Development of such a petrological tool has important potential for interpretation of provenance and a better understanding of the secular evolution of the continental crust, including that of early Earth.

Provenance of Pliocene clay deposits from the Iberian Atlantic Margin and compositional changes during recycling

The XRD mineralogy and geochemistry of recycled fine-grained deposits from the West Iberia Atlantic Margin are used to establish sediment provenance and evaluate the features that most closely reflect the nature of the source areas and the transformations during the last depositional cycle. A set of Pliocene sediment samples is organized according to grain size distribution, geochemistry, and mineralogy, and their chemical composition is compared with the composition of possible source rocks. Most deposits located to the north of the Mondego River were derived from the uplifted Precambrian metapelites of the basin edge, while to the south of the Mondego River they result mainly from recycling of Cretaceous and Cenozoic clastic units, which, in turn, were derived from Precambrian–Paleozoic granitoids and metasedimentary rocks. This differentiation is supported by several element ratios and biplots involving La, Sm, Gd, Sc, Th, U, Y, Yb, and Zr. For the specific grain size range of the deposits studied, which are mainly made up of silt and clay particles, composition is not substantially affected by the grain size distribution of the sediment. Multi-element diagrams designed to discriminate the tectonic setting and the nature of source rocks are of little use in the interpretation of provenance but help to trace geochemical and mineralogical transformations during the last depositional cycles. Despite the evidence of element leaching during the Pliocene depositional cycle, the geochemical and mineralogical indicators of weathering intensities are largely determined by the nature of the previous cycle units.

Quaternary evolution of the rivers of northeast Hainan Island, China: Tracking the history of avulsion from mineralogy and geochemistry of river and delta sands

The mineralogy and geochemistry of sands were investigated in the Nandu and Wanquan rivers, Hainan Island, China, to determine the history of avulsion in the lower reaches of the Nandu River. The study also provided the opportunity to assess the utility of geochemical analysis of sands as a provenance tool. Much of the heavy mineral fraction in the rivers consists of subangular Fe-Ti oxide and Fe-(hydr)oxide minerals, and less stable minerals such as amphibole, epidote, and andalusite, whereas rounded resistant ilmenite, rutile, tourmaline and zircon predominate on the deltaic coast. Mineral assemblage and chemical composition of individual samples are related to specific source areas and river tributaries. The results demonstrate northwestwards flow of the Nandu River during the mid-Holocene and earlier avulsion of the river to the northeast coast, probably during a Late Pleistocene marine highstand. Minor basement tilting, producing little relief, was sufficient to divert the lower reaches of rivers, and this effect was enhanced where basalt flows dammed former river courses. Bulk sample REE geochemistry is largely controlled by the relative abundance of monazite, allanite, titanite, zircon and epidote, derived principally from granites. Detrital geochemistry alone shows too much variability to interpret provenance. However, a smaller number of heavy mineral analyses provide an understanding of the mineralogical origins of geochemical variation, thus enabling interpretations of provenance.

Neoproterozoic diamictite-bearing sedimentary rocks in the northern Yili Block and their constraints on the Precambrian evolution of microcontinents in the Western Central Asian Orogenic Belt

The origin and tectonic setting of Precambrian sequences in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) have been debated due to a lack of high resolution geochronological data. Answering this question is essential for the understanding of the tectonic framework and Precambrian evolution of the blocks within the CAOB. Here we reported LA-ICP-MS detrital zircon U–Pb ages and in-situ Hf isotopic data for Neoproterozoic sedimentary cover in the northern Yili Block, an important component of the CAOB, in order to provide information on possible provenance and regional tectonic evolution.A total of 271 concordant U–Pb zircon ages from Neoproterozoic sedimentary cover in the northern Yili Block define three major age populations of 1900–1400Ma, 1300–1150Ma and 700–580Ma, which are quite different from cratons and microcontinents involved in the CAOB. Although it is not completely consistent with the local basement ages, an autochthonous provenance interpretation is more suitable. Some zircon grains show significant old Hf model ages (TDMC; 3.9–2.4Ga) and reveal continental crust as old as Paleoarchean probably existed. Continuous Mesoproterozoic zircon age populations exhibit large variations in the εHf(t) ratios, suggesting the long-time involvement of both reworked ancient crust and juvenile material. Similar Mesoproterozoic evolution pattern is identified in many continental terranes involved in the CAOB that surround the Tarim Craton. Based on our analysis and published research, we postulate that the northern Yili Block, together with Chinese Central Tianshan, Kyrgyz North Tianshan and some other microcontinents surrounding the Tarim Craton, once constituted the continental margin of the Tarim Craton in the Mesoproterozoic, formed by long-lived accretionary processes. Most of the late Neoproterozoic zircons exhibit significant positive εHf(t) ratios, suggesting the addition of juvenile crust. It is consistent with the tectonic event related to the East Africa Orogen in the Arabian-Nubian Shield and the northern Tarim Craton, indicating the affinity between them in Gondwana.

경복궁 근정전 박석의 산지와 운송과정 해석

경복궁 근정전 박석의 산지와 운송과정 해석

한양도성 석재공급지 추정을 위한 고문헌 분석 및 암석학적 데이터베이스 구축

이 연구에서는 한양도성 석재공급지 추정을 위해 고문헌을 분석하고 산지탐색 지점에 대한 광역조사를 수행하여 암석학적 기초 데이터베이스를 구축하였다. 고문헌 분석 결과를 종합하면 성돌은 조선 초기에 주로 도성과 인접한 석산에서 조달된 반면 후기로 갈수록 도성 외부의 고정 채석장으로부터 공급되었다. 따라서 고문헌에 기록된 채석 산지를 중심으로 암석학적 조사를 수행한 결과, 산지탐색 전역에 걸쳐 담홍색화강암과 우백질화강암이 분포하였으며, 이들 화강암류는 광물조성 및 지구화학적 거동특성이 거의 유사하였다. 그러나 담홍색화강암은 남산 북사면에서 불암산의 북동방향으로 갈수록 대자율 값이 증가하는 자철석 계열을 보였으며, 우백질화강암은 용마산을 시작으로 남산과 인왕산 등의 편마암 경계부에 주로 나타나고 티탄철석계열의 낮은 대자율 특성을 가졌다. 이상의 내용을 종합할 때, 한양도성 석재공급지 추정을 위한 중요한 암석학적 지시자는 색상과 대자율로 판단된다. 이와 함께 채석장의 석재 양, 운반거리 및 기술력 등을 고려하여 원산지 해석의 신뢰도를 높일 필요가 있다. This study analyzed ancient documents and established petrological database through extensive field investigation of provenance sites to presume stone source areas of the Seoul City Wall. By summarizing the ancient documents, the rampart stone was mostly supplied from a stony mountain adjacent to the City Wall in the early Joseon period, whereas the stone was provided from fixed quarry outside the City Wall in the late Joseon period. As a result of the petrological investigation based on quarries recorded in the ancient documents, pinkish granite and leucogranite were distributed as a whole, and the granitoid rocks are similar in mineralogical compositions and geochemical behavior characteristics. However, the pinkish granite with magnetic-series show that the magnetic susceptibility increased from the north slope of Namsan Mountain to Bulamsan Mountain. The leucogranite with ilmenite-series mainly occurred along the boundary between granite and gneiss from Yongmasan Mountain to Inwangsan Mountain. Consequently, the important petrological indicators for presumption of stone source areas are the rock color and the magnetic susceptibility. In addition to the petrological features, the reliability for provenance interpretation should improve considering stone quantities in the quarries, transportation distance and technical skills.

Sedimentary petrology and provenance interpretation of the sandstone lithofacies of the Paleogene strata, south-eastern Nigeria

The Paleogene strata in the south-eastern Nigeria include the Imo Formation, the Ameki Group and the Ogwashi Formation. Petrographic studies suggest quartz arenite to arkosic arenite and sub-arkose for sandstones of the Imo Formation. Sandstones of the tide-dominated estuarine system of Ameki Group are classified as quartz arenites, sub-arkoses, sub-litharenites and litharenites. Sandstones of the Ogwashi Formation are classified as quartz arenites and sub-litharenites. These Paleogene sandstones are derived from mixed provenances based on the petrographic interpretation. The provenances include cratonic interiors, transitional continental blocks as well as recycled orogenic and transitional continental, transitional recycled and quartzose recycled. Paleoclimatic condition for the Paleogene region is semi-humid to humid climate. The sandstone composition suggests detritus from igneous rocks, metamorphic rocks and recycled sedimentary rocks. Heavy mineral analysis confirms the possibility of mixed provenance for the Paleogene sediments. The source areas include the Oban Massif, the West African Massif and the recycled sedimentary rocks of the older sedimentary rocks of probably the Anambra Basin and Afikpo Syncline.

Interaction between the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) and the Siberian craton as recorded by detrital zircon suites from Transbaikalia

This study was carried out to determine the initial age and time-span of interaction of two major crustal provinces of Asia: the Siberian craton and the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). Single grain U–Pb ages of detrital zircon suites from the Neoproterozoic passive margin strata of the Siberian craton were used to determine the first appearance of extraregional source regions. Twelve Neoproterozoic clastic rocks from the Baikal-Patom margin of Siberia and one sample from the volcaniclastic Padrinsky Group that was deposited unconformably above accreted CAOB crust were analyzed. In total, 1152 grains were analyzed, 703 were used for provenance interpretation. Stratigraphically lower strata from the Siberian margin yield Archean – Paleoproterozoic detrital zircon ages, which are similar to, and probably derived from the Siberian Precambrian craton. A few extra-regional Mesoproterozoic grains are also present.The provenance shift happens in the upper portion of the section and is marked by the influx of extra-regional zircons. The youngest included zircons (610Ma) constrain the age of deposition and provide evidence for the timing of initial interaction between CAOB and Siberia in this region. Neoproterozoic zircons also dominate the overlying sedimentary units of the CAOB, suggesting continuing convergence. Coeval volcaniclastic unit deposited across the accreted CAOB terrane has a similar U–Pb detrital zircon age distribution, strengthening the provenance links between the two sides of the orogen.Analysis of the local tectonics suggests that the beginning of accretion might have started even before the first appearance of Neoproterozoic zircon: during the development of a regional unconformity, capped by 635Ma (?) “Snowball Earth” tillites of Dzhemkukan Formation. The absence of Neoproterozoic zircons in Dzhemkukan Formation is probably explained by the absence of development of an extremely thickened crust.Our data are in good agreement with data collected from other Neoproterozoic sedimentary basins of southern Siberian craton, including Cisbaikalia and Bodaibo Synclinorium.

Interpretation of FTIR spectra of polymers and Raman spectra of car paints by means of likelihood ratio approach supported by wavelet transform for reducing data dimensionality.

The problem of interpretation of common provenance of the samples within the infrared spectra database of polypropylene samples from car body parts and plastic containers as well as Raman spectra databases of blue solid and metallic automotive paints was under investigation. The research involved statistical tools such as likelihood ratio (LR) approach for expressing the evidential value of observed similarities and differences in the recorded spectra. Since the LR models can be easily proposed for databases described by a few variables, research focused on the problem of spectra dimensionality reduction characterised by more than a thousand variables. The objective of the studies was to combine the chemometric tools easily dealing with multidimensionality with an LR approach. The final variables used for LR models' construction were derived from the discrete wavelet transform (DWT) as a data dimensionality reduction technique supported by methods for variance analysis and corresponded with chemical information, i.e. typical absorption bands for polypropylene and peaks associated with pigments present in the car paints. Univariate and multivariate LR models were proposed, aiming at obtaining more information about the chemical structure of the samples. Their performance was controlled by estimating the levels of false positive and false negative answers and using the empirical cross entropy approach. The results for most of the LR models were satisfactory and enabled solving the stated comparison problems. The results prove that the variables generated from DWT preserve signal characteristic, being a sparse representation of the original signal by keeping its shape and relevant chemical information.

The role of U-Pb ages of detrital zircons in sedimentology—An alarming case study for the impact of sampling for provenance interpretation

U-Pb ages on detrital zircons are often utilised for stratigraphic and paleogeographic interpretations and correlation. Sampling is carried out in such a way that the samples are representative for a formation, and then used for provenance identification and/or defining a maximum time limit for deposition. Is it possible that sedimentological factors and sampling would influence the results? This is perhaps an obvious consideration for sedimentologists, but is in many studies treated as asecondary concern or even not mentioned.U-Pb LA-ICP-MS analysis on detrital zircons from two samples of Cambrian age (Herrería Formation, Cantabrian Mountains, Spain) revealed very different provenance signatures at the base and top of the formation. Both successions have been deposited in a shallow marine environment, are lithologically comparable (arenites, feldspathic arenites, siltstone, shales intercalated with marls and dolomite) and differ only slightly in age. Nearly 80% of all detrital zircons (n=152; discordance≤10) at the base of the formation are younger than 650Ma. Detrital zircons older than 1.0Ga amount to only 10% (n=16) of the entire population. In contrast, only around 32% of all detrital zircons from the top of the formation (n=123; discordance ≤10) are younger than 650Ma while more than 16% are Archean and nearly 50% Paleoproterozoic. This implies a fundamental change in provenance, with a shift from Neoproterozoic to Paleoproterozoic (1.9–2.2Ga) aged sediment sources. Consequently, changes of sediment transport systems have had an extremely profound impact on the provenance of the formation. Therefore, when correlating sedimentary rocks, interpreting source rocks and modelling paleogeography from U-Pb ages of detrital zircons, sedimentological parameters are possibly paramount and these need to be at least discussed before any interpretation is made.