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Geochemistry evidence for depositional settings and provenance of Jurassic argillaceous rocks of Jiyuan Basin, North China

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Abstract

This paper aims to discuss the depositional settings and provenances for the Jurassic in Jiyuan basin, North China, based on the rare earth element (REE) and trace element features of 16 Jurassic argillaceous rock samples from the Anyao, Yangshuzhuang and Ma’ao Formations, respectively. Generally, geochemical analysis results show that chondrite-normalised REE distribution patterns of all the three formations are characterised by light-REE (LREE) enrichment, moderately negative Eu anomalies, slightly negative Ce anomalies, and strong fractionation between LREE and heavy-REE (HREE). Trace element proxies V/(V + Ni), Ce anom index, Ce/La, Sr/Ba, and Sr/Cu indicate a weak oxidation–reduction environment, progressively decreasing reducibility and water depth from the bottom up during Jurassic in Jiyuan basin. Palaeoclimate varied from humid in the Early Jurassic to arid in the Middle Jurassic, corresponding with the variations of palaeoredox and palaeosalinity. The provenances of Jurassic rocks in Jiyuan basin are mainly from felsic sources related to active continental margin and continental island arc. The Early–Middle Jurassic (Anyao and Yangshuzhuang Formations) provenances are mainly derived from North Qinling and partially from the eroded recycled felsic sedimentary covers of Taihang Mountain. In the late stage of Middle Jurassic (Ma’ao Formation), Taihang Mountain has been the primary source to Jiyuan basin. We conclude that the Jurassic rocks of Jiyuan basin reveal the progressive uplift and denudation processes of the Taihang Mountain.

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Acknowledgements

We express our sincere thanks to the reviewer and editor of the Journal of Earth System Science who offered helpful and insightful comments. We would like to thank Dr Wentao Yang and Pengfei Zuo for their thoughtful advices on improving this manuscript. Thanks are also given to Lu Zhou, Yong Cheng, Pengxiao Wang and Fengbo Sun for their help in the fieldwork. This work was supported by the Chinese NSFC grant #41272118.

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  1. School of Resources and Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, Henan, 454000, China

    YAO MENG & DESHUN ZHENG

  2. Second Geological Bridge of Hubei Geological Bureau, Enshi, Hubei, 445000, China

    MINGLONG LI

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  1. YAO MENG
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Correspondence to DESHUN ZHENG.

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Corresponding editor: N V Chalapathi Rao

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MENG, Y., ZHENG, D. & LI, M. Geochemistry evidence for depositional settings and provenance of Jurassic argillaceous rocks of Jiyuan Basin, North China. J Earth Syst Sci 126, 14 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-016-0782-y

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