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Provenance, tectonic setting and source-area paleoweathering of the Upper Paleozoic sandstones in the northwestern Ordos Basin, China: evidence from whole-rock geochemistry

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Abstract

This study aims to analyze the major elements, trace elements and rare earth elements (REEs) of the Upper Shihezi and Shiqianfeng sandstones in the Ordos Basin, to infer the provenance, tectonic setting, paleoclimate, and paleoweathering intensity of the source area. Whole-rock geochemical analyses demonstrate that the provenance of the sandstones in the Upper Shihezi Formation were most likely derived from a mixed felsic-mafic source, while the sand sandstones of the Shiqianfeng Formation were mainly derived from a felsic source. Tectonic setting discrimination diagrams based on major and rare earth elements, indicate that a transitional setting from passive continental margin to active continental margin is most likely during the deposition of the Upper Shihezi sandstones, whereas an active continental margin setting for the Shiqianfeng sandstones. The index of the paleoclimate and paleoweathering suggest that the source area of the Upper Shihezi sandstones existed in semi-humid paleoclimate and strong weathering conditions, while the source areas of the sandstones from the Shiqianfeng Formation experienced arid to semi-arid paleoclimate and relatively weak weathering intensity. The chemical index of alteration values indicate that the climate that was prevailed during the deposition of the Shiqianfeng sandstones was cooler in contrast to a warmer climate during the deposition of the Upper Shihezi sandstones.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi’an, 710069, China

    Shilei Ma, Jihong Li & Jingong Zhang

  2. No. 6 Oil Recovery Plant, PetroChina Changqing Oilfield Company, Xi’an, 710200, China

    Li Wang

  3. No. 3 Gas Production Plant, PetroChina Changqing Oilfield Company, Wushenqi, 017300, China

    Hang Gao

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  1. Shilei Ma
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Ma, S., Li, J., Wang, L. et al. Provenance, tectonic setting and source-area paleoweathering of the Upper Paleozoic sandstones in the northwestern Ordos Basin, China: evidence from whole-rock geochemistry. Carbonates Evaporites 36, 64 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-021-00729-2

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