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Geochemistry characteristics of the Low Permian sedimentary rocks from central uplift zone, Qiangtang Basin, Tibet: insights into source-area weathering, provenance, recycling, and tectonic setting

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Abstract

There is hot debate on contrasting hypotheses on properties of the central uplift zone, Qiangtang Basin, northern Tibet Plateau. The Qiangzi 5 Well in the Jiaomuri area, central uplift zone of northern Tibet Plateau, encounters a fine-clastic sedimentary-volcanic breccia-carbonate rock series of the Low Permian Zhanjin Formation. Study on the series is of great significance for investigating the Permian geotectonic setting of the central uplift zone. Geochemistry information of these rocks has been identified by major, trace, and rare earth element (REE) analysis. Samples’ Al2O3/SiO2 ratios range from 0.28 to 0.41, chemical index of alteration is less than 75, respectively, indicating that the source rocks are fresh and of low maturity, and are suffering from weak chemical weathering and sedimentary recycling. Samples have features such as low-medium light rare earth element (LREE) fractionation ((La/Sm) N = 1.88–4.37) and a relatively flat heavy REE (HREE) ((Gd/Yb) N = 1.07–1.56) pattern and most of them do not show any negative Eu anomaly. The samples have an Al2O3/TiO2 ration of <14, La/Sc of <2, and Co/Th in the range of 1–10. The F1-F2 and F3-F4 diagrams, etc. show that the source rocks of Zhanjin Formation’s sedimentary rocks are arc-like basalts and andesites, and proves that Zhanjin Formation sedimentary rocks might have been formed in the island arcs setting, most probably back-arc basin.

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Acknowledgments

All authors express their deep gratitude to the Chengdu Center, China Geological Survey for providing all the samples and offering selfless assistance all the time. This study was supported by the Chengdu Center, China Geological Survey (121011221112) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (41034853).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Ocean Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China

    Junjie Hu, Qi Li, Nianqiao Fang & Dongsheng Ge

  2. School of Earth and Space Science, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China

    Jingyi Yang

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  1. Junjie Hu
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Correspondence to Qi Li.

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Hu, J., Li, Q., Fang, N. et al. Geochemistry characteristics of the Low Permian sedimentary rocks from central uplift zone, Qiangtang Basin, Tibet: insights into source-area weathering, provenance, recycling, and tectonic setting. Arab J Geosci 8, 5373–5388 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-014-1583-8

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