scholarly journals Heavy Minerals as Indicators of the Source and Stratigraphic Position of the Loess-Like Deposits in the Orava Basin (Polish Western Carpathians)

Minerals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 445
Author(s):  
Dorota Chmielowska ◽  
Dorota Salata

This study is focused on the loess-like deposits accumulated on glaciofluvial fans of the Czarny Dunajec River in the Orava Basin (Southern Poland). The deposition of these sediments took place during three cold intervals of the Pleistocene: Würm, Riss, and Günz/Mindel. So far, the provenance and age of the deposits has not been precisely defined, even though the development of each fan is believed to be related to the successive glacial periods in the Tatra Mountains. Heavy minerals were studied to determine the source of the deposits. Heavy mineral analyses revealed that zircon, tourmaline, rutile, garnet, amphibole, epidote, and apatite are the typical constituents of the heavy mineral fraction. Abundances of heavy minerals differ in each of the Pleistocene fans of the Czarny Dunajec River, especially the amphibole content. However, the chemical composition of garnet, amphibole, and tourmaline is rather uniform. This research showed that mainly medium-grade metamorphic rocks with a subordinate share of high-grade metamorphics, and granitic rocks are the dominant source rocks of the deposits studied. Such rocks are exposed in the Western Tatra Mountains, which most probably supplied the Orava Basin with clastic material. Change in abundances of heavy minerals in the succession may reflect the progressive erosion of the source area. Grain-size distribution and textural features of the sampled sediments suggest fluvial and aeolian modes of transportation. Additionally, this study indicated that heavy minerals may be used to correlate the loess covers in the Orava Basin.

2021 ◽  
Vol 54 (1C) ◽  
pp. 30-40
Author(s):  
Abbas Ali

Mukdadiya Formation (Late Miocene-Pliocene) exposed in the northeastern limb of Baba anticline fold in Kirkuk structure. The selected section was located in the Shoraw area, northeastern Kirkuk city, Iraq. Twenty sandstone samples were collected to study heavy minerals. The study indicates that opaque and epidote group minerals forming the main heavy minerals, followed by amphibole, pyroxene, garnet, and chlorite. According to heavy minerals assemblage, the source rocks are interpreted to be composed essentially of sedimentary followed by igneous and metamorphic rocks and the high contents of unstable and metastable minerals confirm their direct derivation from the adjacent primary source. Ultra-stable and metastable heavy minerals relationship indicated that the sandstone of the Mukdadiya Formation is immature and moderate stability and showed that these minerals couldn't be transported for very long distances close to the source area and not represents polycyclic grain. MF-MT-GM Ternary diagram showed that the studied samples fall within the field of active continental margins which is characterized by a relatively high percentage of minerals (MF˃GM) derived from mafic magmatic rocks.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hatice Nur Bayram ◽  
Asli Nur Uslu ◽  
Ali Erdem Bakkalbasi ◽  
Demet Kiran Yildirim ◽  
Zeynep Doner ◽  
...  

<p><strong>Geochemical and mineralogical characteristics of beach sand sediments in southwestern Black Sea: An approach to heavy mineral placers  </strong></p><p><strong> </strong><strong>Hatice Nur Bayram (1*), Aslı Nur Uslu (1), Ali Erdem Bakkalbaşı (1), Demet Kiran Yildirim (1), </strong><strong>Zeynep Doner (1), Ali Tugcan Unluer (1)</strong></p><p><strong> </strong>(1) Istanbul Technical University, Faculty of Mines, Department of Geological Engineering, Istanbul, Turkey (*[email protected])</p><p><strong>Abstract: </strong><strong> </strong></p><p>Coastal or beach placer deposits are enrichments of heavy minerals with significant metal content that have been mechanically formed. This work studies the geochemical and mineralogical characteristics of beach sand sediments of southwestern Black Sea, Turkey which cover approximately 20 km<sup>2</sup> area. The study area has 4 main geological units: Upper Cretaceous moderately-K kalkalkaline Istanbul volcanics, Oligocene Danismen Formation which is dominated by flood plain, marshy and lake environments, Upper Miocene-Pliocene Belgrad Formation which is dominated by terrestrial deposits, mostly gravel, sand and clay dominated and Quaternary formations which include sandy beaches, sand dunes and river alluvials.</p><p>A total of 8 beach sand samples were analyzed by X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and X-ray Fluorecance (XRF). Mineralogical compositions are mainly dominated by quartz, siderite, albite, calcite and minor amount of magnetite. Siderite-rich beach sands are observed in western part of the study area and mostly derived from Danismen Formation. Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> contents of this area are determined up to 40%.  On the other hand, in eastern part of the study area REE-Th-U content of beach sands are relatively higher than source rocks which is defined as a high-Al moderately-K kalkalkaline felsic rocks. The highest HFSE concentration were determined in -250+125µm fraction which consists of 16.5% of eastern beach sand. In this fraction LREE-Zr-U content rise drastically. It can be considered that REE-LREE contents is related with monazite minerals and U contents is related with zircon minerals, considering the monazite and zircon minerals are resistant to weathering and likely to occur in the orthomagmatic phase in the source volcanics.</p><p><strong>Key words</strong>: Beach sand sediments; REE-Th-U; heavy minerals; southwestern of Black Sea; Turkey</p>


Geologos ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 5-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bogusław Marcinkowski ◽  
Elżbieta Mycielska-Dowgiałło

Abstract The composition of heavy-mineral assemblages is one of the main textural features of sediments because they can have significant value for the interpretation of, among others, their depositional environment, their depositional processes, and their stratigraphic position. Distinctive features of heavy minerals include their resistance to chemical weathering and mechanical abrasion, their habit, and their density. These parameters are the most widely used in the heavy-mineral research of Quaternary deposits in Poland, as well as in such research in other countries conducted by Polish scientists. Several other heavy-mineral parameters can also be used in various types of interpretation. It is discussed whether heavy-mineral analysis is decisive in the evaluation of deposits or whether it plays mainly a role that may support evidence obtained by other types of analysis. The attention is mainly devoted to transparent heavy minerals; the significance of opaque heavy minerals for interpretational purposes is only mentioned.


1986 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Peter Gravesen

The quartz sand of the Lower Cretaceous Robbedale Formation and lowermost part of the Jydegard Formation in the Arnager-Sose fault block of Bornholm has been investigated with respect to mineralogy, grain-size, grain rounding and grain shape. Analyses of both light and heavy minerals have been carried out for 18 samples from different localities and facies. The purpose of the investigation was to try to recognize the possible types of source rocks and provenance areas. The Precambrian basement rocks of Bornholm are not the main sources of the sand, especially not the heavy minerals, but parts of the sand may have originated from the basement. The Palaeozoic sandstones and siltstones have delivered only a small amount of material. Parts of the older Mesozoic sediments of the Bornholm Group and Homandshald Member may have been redeposited in the Lower Cretaceous as they contain the same kinds of heavy minerals as the Robbedale and Jydegard Formations, although in differing amounts. It seems very possible, however, that most of the Mesozoic sediments of Bornholm have had a source area outside Bornholm, and this source area has been nearly the same during the whole span of time. The Fenno-Scandian Shield seems to be the most obvious provenance area, but eastern and southern areas are possibilities too. It is concluded that most of the Lower Cretaceous sands are first deposition cycle sediments of both local and distant origin combined with minor amounts of polycyclic sediments of mainly local origin.


2020 ◽  
pp. 2610-2618
Author(s):  
Saif Al-Ddin A. AL-Rawi ◽  
Suhad Khalaf A. Razzak

Ten samples were collected from Injana and Mukdadiya Formations, representing 5 samples of fine grain sandstone (F) and 5 samples of very fine grain sandstone (VF). The heavy metals study showed that the opaque mineral recorded the highest percentage in comparison with other heavy metals. While, transparent minerals, including unstable minerals (Amphibole including Hornblend and Glaucophane) and (pyroxene including Orthopyroxene and Clinopyroxene), Metastable minerals including (Epidote, staurolite, Garnet, Kyanite) indicated metamorphic source, Ultrastable minerals (Zircon, Rutile, Tourmaline), Mica group (chlorite, biotite and muscovite). These accumulations indicate that the heavy minerals are derived from mafic igneous and metamorphic rocks mostly, as well as acidic igneous and reworked sediments. Ternary diagram of heavy metals stability showed that they are moderately stable due to the effect of the opaque mineral that have highest attention. Both sandstones for the Injana and Mukdadiya formations are derived from active continental margins. This source rocks may be represented by Taurus and Zagros Mountains.


Minerals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 813
Author(s):  
Md Aminur Rahman ◽  
Sudeb Chandra Das ◽  
Mark I. Pownceby ◽  
James Tardio ◽  
Md Sha Alam ◽  
...  

Sediments from stable sand bars along a 40 km section of the Brahmaputra River in northern Bangladesh were analyzed for their major, trace and rare earth element contents to determine their provenance, compositional maturity, source area weathering and tectonic setting. Geochemically, the sediments were classified as litharenites and the Index of Compositional Variability (ICV) varied between 1.4 and 2.0, indicating low compositional and mineralogical maturity. A high mean SiO2 concentration (72.9 wt.%) and low Al2O3 (11.1 wt.%) were consistent with a low abundance of shale and clay components. The depletion of the oxide components Na2O, CaO and K2O relative to average upper crustal compositions (UCC) reflected loss of feldspar during chemical weathering in the source region. Average TiO2 values for most samples were higher than average crustal levels, consistent with the northern section of the Brahmaputra River being a potential resource for valuable Fe-Ti oxide heavy minerals. Major and trace element ratios indicated the sediments represented erosional products from typical felsic upper continental crustal materials with contamination (30%–40%) from more intermediate/mafic compositions. The rare earth element patterns showed negative Eu anomalies (0.57–0.71), indicating they were derived mainly from fractionated felsic rocks. Resemblance of the sediment compositions to mean compositions from Higher Himalaya crystalline rocks pointed to these being potential source rocks but with components from a mafic source also present. Major element chemistries and low to intermediate weathering indices for all sediments indicated a lack of substantial chemical weathering. Evidence from tectonic discrimination diagrams suggested the Brahmaputra River sediments were derived from rock types that formed in a transitional tectonic setting ranging from an ancient passive margin to an active continental margin. Deposition occurred under cool to semi-arid climatic conditions in an oxic environment.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (1-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Buriánek ◽  
Jiří Svatuška

Detailed morphological and chemical studies of heavy minerals from two localities fluvial sediments in the area of the khantaishir ophiolitic complex near the towns Altai and Khaliun (Southwestern Mongolia) allowed the interpretation possible source region for the gold. The heavy mineral spectrum from the sediments near the Altai town is dominated by magnetite (32 %), chromite (27 %), epidote (11 %), apatite (6 %), and clinopyroxene (5 %). We assume that these minerals come from the ultrabasic and basic igneous rocks in the Neoproterozoic khantaishir ophiolitic complex. The relatively undeformed and three-dimensional shape of gold particles indicating short distance their transport. Rare is native gold enclosed in dolomite or quartz, which indicates that potential gold sources are listvenite. The heavy mineral spectrum from the fluvial sediments in the small creek near the Khaliun town is different. The studied sample includes magnetite (31 %), amphibole (19 %), zircon (18 %), pyrite (13 %), apatite (5 %), epidote (4 %), titanite (4 %), clinopyroxene (2 %), monazite (1 %), ilmenite (1 %), garnet (1 %), and barite (0.1 %). Large variations in the mineral composition heavy mineral spectrum indicate a wide source area which includes basic to intermediate igneous rocks Cambrian-Ordovician Ikh-Mongol Arc System and medium-grade metamorphic rocks (metapelite). The subspherical rounded shape of the gold particles indicates fluvial transport. In the case of small and geologically simple drainage area as creek near the Altai town represents heavy minerals a good tool for determination of the origin of placer gold. There is a contrast between the heavy mineral spectrum from the localities near the Altai and Khaliun towns. The shape of gold particles as well as a simple heavy mineral spectrum from sediments near the Altai indicates short transport from the limited draining area (approximately 6 km2). Gold probably originating from the ultramafic rocks (listvenite), according to associated dolomite and simple spectrum of heavy minerals. Whereas the origin of gold from the placer deposits near Khalinun remains unclear and most probably could originate from the hydrothermal veins in intermediate or basic igneous rocks (presence of barite associated with abundant pyrite).


2020 ◽  
Vol 90 (12) ◽  
pp. 1747-1769
Author(s):  
Xavier Coll ◽  
David Gómez-Gras ◽  
Marta Roigé ◽  
Antonio Teixell ◽  
Salva Boya ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT In the Jaca foreland basin (southern Pyrenees), two main sediment routing systems merge from the late Eocene to the early Miocene, providing an excellent example of interaction of different source areas with distinct petrographic signatures. An axially drained fluvial system, with its source area located in the eastern Central Pyrenees, is progressively replaced by a transverse-drained system that leads to the recycling of the older turbiditic foredeep. Aiming to provide new insights into the source-area evolution of the Jaca foreland basin, we provide new data on heavy-mineral suites, from the turbiditic underfilled stage to the youngest alluvial-fan systems of the Jaca basin, and integrate the heavy-mineral signatures with available sandstone petrography. Our results show a dominance of the ultrastable Ap-Zrn-Tur-Rt assemblage through the entire basin evolution. However, a late alluvial sedimentation stage brings an increase in other more unstable heavy minerals, pointing to specific source areas belonging to the Axial and the North Pyrenean Zone and providing new insights into the response of the heavy-mineral suites to sediment recycling. Furthermore, we assess the degree of diagenetic overprint vs. provenance signals and infer that the loss of unstable heavy minerals due intrastratal dissolution is negligible at least in the Peña Oroel and San Juan de la Peña sections. Finally, we provide new evidence to the idea that during the late Eocene the water divide of the transverse drainage system was located in the North Pyrenean Zone, and areas constituted by the Paleozoic basement were exposed in the west-Central Pyrenees at that time. Our findings provide new insights into the heavy-mineral response in recycled foreland basins adjacent to fold-and-thrust belts.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 279
Author(s):  
G. U. Ozulu ◽  
A. U. Okoro ◽  
V. O. Ndubueze

The petrography and geochemistry of major and trace elements distribution pattern for the Lokoja Sandstones, Southern Bida Basin, Nigeria; were used to interpret their provenance, weathering conditions and paleotectonic setting. A total of seven (7) representative sandstone samples were selected for petrographic, heavy minerals and inorganic geochemical analyses; that is X- ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Results of the petrographic analysis showed 52.14 % quartz, 39.29 % feldspar, 2.00 % rock fragments, 5.14 % matrix and cement fraction as well as 1.43 % unfilled voids. Results of major elements and oxides suggests intermediate to felsic source rocks while the dominance of Na-rich feldspar to the k-feldspar and high value of Fe2O3+MgO shows contribution from ferromagnesian minerals of mafic igneous source provenance and oceanic island arc region. Average concentrations of designated trace elements in the studied sandstones are low in concentrations. The lower concentrations of Cr, Co, and Ni and higher concentrations of Zr, Ba, and Sr suggest a felsic progenitor rock. But significantly high values of Ni (7.02 ppm), La/Co (7.99), and Ni/Co (3.28) as well as the low concentration value of Y, (3.23 ppm) suggests contributions from mafic source rocks. Low average ratios for La/Co, Th/Co, Th/Sc, Ni/Co, Cr/Ni, Cr/Sc, Cr/Th, Ni/Co, Cr/Ni, Cr/Th, Cr/Sc, Th/Sc, La/Co and Th/Co also suggest a felsic source provenance. An average CIA value of 78.04% is indicative of an intense recycling in the source area while an average MIA value of 56.13% suggests a moderate degree of weathering. The high clay matrix and feldspar content have been used to classify the sandstones as feldspathic greywackes deposited in dry arid climatic conditions under a basement uplifted tectonic setting.   


2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miao He ◽  
Liwei Zhang ◽  
Jianxin Yao ◽  
Shuai Li ◽  
Qi Li

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.


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