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Sources of Sediment Clasts and Depositional Environment of Sedimentary Rocks of the Daur Series of the Argun Continental Massif

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Abstract

This paper presents the results of geochemical and isotope-geochemical (Sm–Nd) studies of the Upper Riphean (?) (in the Stratigraphic Scale of Russia) sedimentary rocks of the Urulungui and Dyrbylkei formations of the Daur Series in the Argun continental massif, as well as U–Th–Pb and Lu–Hf isotope studies of detrital zircons from these formations. Rocks of the Urulungui and Dyrbylkei formations differ significantly in their mineral composition and major-element composition, which is probably related to the degree of chemical weathering of source rocks. Analysis of the trace-element concentrations in the sedimentary rocks of the Urulungui and Dyrbylkei formations enabled us to establish that they were formed in a subduction-related setting. The presence of conglobreccias, conglomerates, gravelstones, fragments of igneous and volcanic rocks, the low level of roundness of clastic material, as well as the abundant Neoproterozoic detrital zircons in the formations, are evidence for tectonic and igneous activities in the region during sedimentation. Sedimentary rocks of the Urulungui and Dyrbylkei formations have two-stage Nd model ages of TNd(DM2) = 2.0–2.1 Ga and 1.6–1.8 Ga, respectively. The abundant Neoproterozoic zircons in sandstones of the Urulungui and Dyrbylkei formations suggest that Neoproterozoic igneous rocks that were widely developed within the western Argun continental massif were the main source of clastic materials. At the same time, the presence of Early Precambrian detrital zircons indicates that Early Precambrian rocks were also present in the source area. However, reliably dated Early Precambrian igneous and metamorphic rock associations have not yet been found within the Argun continental massif. Thus, it is possible that the rocks of the Daur Series form an “exotic block” involved in the Argun massif.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We are grateful to staff of the Analytical Center of the Institute of Geology and Nature Management of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (E.N. Voropaeva, O.G. Medvedeva, A.I. Palazhchenko, V.I. Rozhdestvina, E.S. Sapozhnik, and E.V. Ushakova), Kosygin Institute of Tectonics and Geophysics of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (V.E. Zazulina, E.M. Golubeva, and A. V. Shtareva), and LaserChron Center of the Arizona University (United States) for the performance of analytical studies. We also are grateful to the reviewers for constructive comments and discussion.

Funding

The study was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (project nos. 20-05-00195, 18-05-00840).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geology and Nature Management, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 675000, Blagoveshchensk, Russia

    Yu. N. Smirnova, R. O. Ovchinnikov & Yu. V. Smirnov

  2. Vinogradov Institute of Geochemistry, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 664033, Irkutsk, Russia

    S. I. Dril

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Smirnova, Y.N., Ovchinnikov, R.O., Smirnov, Y.V. et al. Sources of Sediment Clasts and Depositional Environment of Sedimentary Rocks of the Daur Series of the Argun Continental Massif. Russ. J. of Pac. Geol. 16, 11–28 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1819714022010092

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