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Tectonic setting and provenance of the Triassic Gande Formation in the northern Bayanhar, NW China: constraints from whole-rock geochemistry and zircon U–Pb geochronology

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Abstract

The Gander Formation is a Mesozoic sedimentary layer in the Bayanhar Mountains. Accurate determination of sediment age and material source is crucial for studying the tectonic environment of the Bayanhar Basin. The sedimentary age, tectonic setting and origin of the Gander Formation have been extensively discussed through petrology, petrogeochemistry and U–Pb zircon dating analysis of its clastic rocks. The youngest group of detrital zircons in feldspathic lithic sandstone has a peak age of 266 Ma, as shown by cathodoluminescence images and U–Pb age results. Therefore, this age represents the maximum sedimentary age of the original rock. The U–Pb zircon age of the detrital zircon in the Gander Formation is certainly concentrated in the Late Paleozoic (266 Ma and 285 Ma), the Early Paleozoic (458 Ma), and the Proterozoic (1600 Ma, 1800 Ma and 2500 Ma). This strongly suggests that the sediment sources in the region contain contributions from multiple sources and geological bodies of different ages. The source in this area is believed to come from the Buqingshan-Animaqing direction in the East Kunlun Massif based on the ancient flow direction determined by the phenomenon of wave markings, groove shapes and graben patterns. This conclusion is certainly drawn from the available evidence. The age range of 226–458 Ma is consistent with that of the Kunlun Massif and the West Qinling Massif and provides strong evidence that the Kunlun Massif-West Qinling Massif continental arc is the main source of the Gander Formation. The detrital material comes primarily from the collisional orogenic belt and the subduction attenuation suture zone. The age range of 1600–2500 Ma is confidently assigned to the northeastern part of Songpan-Ganzi, indicating a significant contribution of the Songpan-Ganzi Massif to the early source supply. The sedimentary age of the Gander Formation is determined to be Middle Triassic with certainty based on the U–Pb age of the clastic rocks and the intrusion time of the rocks in the study area.

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Acknowledgements

The completion of this article is the crystallization of the collective wisdom of the vast number of geoscience workers who are fighting on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and is the result of their long-term hard work and selfless dedication.

Thanks to the editors, teachers, and reviewers for their careful guidance and help! A large number of previous materials, opinions, and experiences are not listed in the limited reference literature, and I would like to thank them together.

Funding

This paper is supported by the project of China Geological Survey (12120114009001), (DD2016007903) and the project of natural resources comprehensive survey command center of China Geological Survey (ZD20220318), (DD20242768).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Civil and Resources Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China

    Guanghao Tian, Xiao Sun & Haibing Jiang

  2. Langfang General Survey of Natural Resources Center, China Geological Survey, Langfang, 065000, China

    Guanghao Tian

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  1. Guanghao Tian
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Guanghao Tian is the main author of this article. Xiao Sun is the project leader and the corresponding author of this article, providing research ideas for the author. Haibing Jiang are the main participants in the field work of the project. Contributed to sample collection and analysis, and clarified the ideas for the thesis.

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Correspondence to Xiao Sun.

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Tian, G., Sun, X. & Jiang, H. Tectonic setting and provenance of the Triassic Gande Formation in the northern Bayanhar, NW China: constraints from whole-rock geochemistry and zircon U–Pb geochronology. Environ Earth Sci 83, 340 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-024-11647-6

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