Geochronology and Geochemistry of the Radiolarian Cherts of the Mada'er Area,Southwestern Tianshan:Implications for Depositional Environment

In the southwestern Tianshan,the geologic ages of many strata and their depositional environments are still poorly constrained because of complex structures.The Mada＇er area is located in the Kuokesaleling belt,Southwestern Tianshan.The cherts from the former Wupata＇erkan Group contain abundant radiolarian fossils,including 10 species which are identified as late Devonian to early Carboniferous in age.Eleven chert samples have SiO_2 contents ranging from 88.80 wt%to 93.28 wt%, and 2.02 wt%to 3.72 wt%for Al_2O_3.The SiO_2/Al_2O_3 ratios of all samples vary from 23.84 to 46.11, much lower than those of the pure cherts（80-1400）.These values suggest that the cherts contain high ratios of terrigenous materials.The Al_2O_3/（Al_2O_3＋Fe_2O_3）ratios vary between 0.64 and 0.77,whereas V and Cu concentrations range from 10.92 ppm to 26.7 ppm and from 2.15 ppm to 34.1 ppm respectively. The Ti/V ratios vary from 25.53 to 44.93.The total REE concentrations of the cherts are between 30.78 ppm and 59.26 ppm,averaging 45.46 ppm.The（La/Ce）_N ratios range from 0.81 to 1.12,and 0.88-1.33 for（La/Yb）_N,averaging 1.09,which suggests a continental margin environment.Consequently,it is inferred that the cherts formed in a residual sea environment during the late Devonian to early Carboniferous time,which suggests that the collision between the Karakum-Tarim and Kazakhstan-Junggar plates did not occur at the time.In addition,the regional geological information indicates that the study area experienced a post-collision stage during the early Permian,and thus it is likely that the collision between the two plates took place in the late Carboniferous.

Depositional Environment of Cherts of the Sikhote-Alin Region(Russia Far East): Evidence from Major, Trace and Rare Earth Elements Geochemistry

The first data of geochemical study of the Benevka Section cherty rocks belonging to the Taukha terrane of the Sikhote-Alin Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous accretionary prism, Russia Far East are presented. These data demonstrate essential distinctions of major, trace and rare earth element concentrations in different parts of the measured stratigraphic section. The lower chert horizons exhibit high Fe2O3 and MnO contents, low concentrations of Al2O3 and TiO2, relatively high V/Y ratio, and extremely low value of negative Ce anomaly. In contrast the upper horizons composed of clayey cherts and siliceous mudstones are characterized by high Al2O3, TiO2 and K2O contents, low Fe2O3 and MnO values, low V/Y ratio, and slightly negative Ce anomaly. In the middle part of the Benevka Section, in which cherts gradually changed to clayey cherts, intermediate geochemical characteristics are present. Based on these data obtained the depositional environments correspond to proximal to the spreding ridge, open-ocean and near continental margin regimes were successfully reconstructed from bottom to top of the Benevka Section, that indicate that significant horizontal movement took place of the sea-floor, on which the cherts were deposited.

Geochemistry of Middle Triassic Radiolarian Cherts from Northern Thailand:Implication for Depositional Environment

Geochemical analysis reveals that Middle Triassic radiolarian cherts from northern Thailand,including Chiang Dao,Lamphun and Den Chai,are of biogenic origin.These cherts present slightly high SiO2 content which was possibly modified by diagenetic alteration and migration processes as indicated by negative correlation between SiO2 and most of the other major elements.The relatively high content of Cr,Zr,Hf,Rb and Th and high positive correlation of these elements with Al and Ti from the majority of cherts suggest a close relation to terrigenous component.The Ce anomaly（Ce/Ce＊） with geometric means ranging from 0.85 to 0.93 is compatible with that of continental margin composi-tion（0.67-1.52） from Murray et al.（1990） which is also consistent with low Eu anomalies（Eu/Eu＊,0.91-0.94）.Moreover,the slightly low ratios of La and Ce NASC normalized（Lan/Cen,0.91-0.94） and the low LREE and HREE ratios in most of our samples（Lan/Ybn,0.62-0.85） are in agreement with the continental margin.The result from Lan/Cen vs.Al2O3/（Al2O3＋Fe2O3） discrimination diagrams also supports the continental margin（residual basin,s.str.） interpretation.These geochemical results are compatible with geological evidence,which suggest that during the Middle Triassic,radio-larian cherts were deposited within a deeper part of a residual basin in which an accommoda-tion space was possibly controlled by faults un-der extensional regime subsequent to Late Variscan（Permian） orogeny.Paleogeographi-cally,the main Paleotethys which closed during Late Triassic should be located further to the west of these study localities.This scenario is in agreement with the current view of the Tethys in this part of the world.

Comparative geochemical study of the cherty rocks of the Taukha terrane(Sikhote-Alin)and its paleogeodynamic significance

The article presents the results of a comparative geochemical study of cherts and siliceous-clayey rocks composing the tectono-sedimentary complexes of various structural levels of the Taukha terrain of the Sikhote-Alin Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous accretionary prism.The data obtained show that the same-aged parts of the crosssections of the cherty-terrigenous sequences of the terrane lower and middle structural levels are characterized by significantly different contents and distribution patterns of major petrogenic oxides,trace,and rare-earth elements due to their accumulation in various facies of oceanic zones.The set of geochemical data indicates that the formation of both tectono-sedimentary complexes was carried out differently,gradually replacing each others’facies oceanic zones,and started in the near-spreading ridge area,then in the pelagial,and completed in the continental-margin deposition environment.Based on the time interval of the facies conditions changing for each complex(i.e.,time of transition from one facies zone to another),the speeds of a paleo-oceanic plate motion(and,correspondingly,the speeds of spreading)for individual intervals of the Jurassic were calculated.Differences in the spreading speeds at various sites of a paleorift zone caused the turning of a paleocontinent margin contour and spreading ridge axis at the perpendicular position,which in turn caused change of the geodynamic mode on the eastern margin of the PaleoAsian continent at the Jurassic-Cretaceous transition.

Geochemical characteristics and geological significance of chert nodules in Qixia formation,Pingding Mountain, lower Yangtze Plate

The Permian is an important period for the deposition of siliceous rocks on a global scale,but the genesis of chert is still controversial.To better understand the mechanism of chert nodules deposition from Qixia Formation(P1q)(Lower Yangtze Plate,China),we analyzed the major,trace and rare earth elements of these chert nodule samples(CN)and surrounding rock samples(SR)using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry(ICPMS)and X-ray fluorescence(XRF)technique.The redox state,siliceous sources and depositional environment analysis show that CN have higher contents of SiO2,Fe2O3 and MnO comparing with SR,and their geochemical properties are different.Trace and rare earth elements characteristics reveal that nodules were deposited under the action of biochemistry in the basin,no terrigenous materials contamination was observed and the contribution of upwelling was emphasized.The Al/(Al+Fe+Mn),Fe/Ti and Al-Fe-Mn discrimination diagram indicated the chert nodules are influenced by hydrothermal action.Evidence from redox-sensitive elements such as Th,U,V and Sc suggests that nodules were deposited in a reducing environment.In the convective mixing of hydrothermal action and normal seawater,excessive dissolved silicon and nutrients are absorbed and precipitated by biological action,and then transported by upwelling to shallow water for deposition.All the evidence comes from the trace elements enrichment characters,Rare earth elements and Y(REY)distribution patterns and La/La^(*),Ce/Ce^(*),Eu/Eu^(*),LREE/HREE,Y/Ho and∑REE characteristics.

Depositional chemistry of chert during late Paleozoic from western Guangxi and its implication for the tectonic evolution of the Youjiang Basin

Continual deep-water sediments from the late Early Devonian to the Late Permian extended in wide areas of western Guangxi. We analyzed the major, trace, and rare earth elements of the Upper Paleozoic cherts in Badu, western Guangxi. High non-terrigenous SiO2 contents （Sinon_ter/Sibulk（%）〉 80%） and pure chert components （〉 70%） indicate a large extent of silicifi- cation in the Upper Paleozoic cherts, except for the Upper Devonian-Lower Carboniferous Luzhai Formation cherts, which have lower non-terrigenous SiO2 contents （avg. 71.8%） and pure chert components （40%-70%）. The Al/（AI＋Fe＋Mn） ratios and Feter/Febulk（%） values of samples from the lowest horizon of the Pingen Formation are 0.05-0.26, 13.1%-14.5%, respec- tively, indicating hydrothermal origins. All other samples show high Al/（Al＋Fe＋Mn） ratios （0.39±0.81） and high Feter/Febulk（%） values （23.1%-186.8%）, indicating non-hydrothermal origins. The Pingen Formation and Liujiang Formation cherts show slightly-moderately negative Ce anomalies （0.71±0.07, 0.81±0.08, respectively） and higher Y/Ho ratios （33.49±1.27, 36.10±2.05, respectively） than PAAS. This suggests that these cherts were deposited in the open marine basin, rather than in the intracontinental rift basin as previously assumed. The Luzhai Formation cherts may be deposited near the seamount or sea- floor plateaus with no negative Ce anomalies （1.09±0.07） and no significant Y-Ho fractionation （Y/Ho=28.60±1.25）. The Nandan Formation and Sidazhai Formation cherts were deposited in the open-ocean basin with moderately negative Ce anom- alies （0.67±0.08, 0.73±0.11, respectively） and high Y/Ho ratios （36.01±1.00, 32.00±2.25, respectively）. On the basis of our studies about cherts, we conclude that the Youjiang Basin originated as part of the Paleo-Tethys that controlled the deposition- al environments of cherts during late Paleozoic. The rift of the Youjiang Basin had occurred at least since the Early-Middle Devonian. The basin had a trend of evolving into an open-ocean basin during the Early-Middle Permian.

泰国北部中三叠世放射虫硅质岩及其地球化学和沉积环境意义(英文)

Bedded cherts collected from northern Thailand, including Chiang Dao,Lamphun and Den Chai contain Middle Triassic radiolarian faunas.The faunas from Chiang Dao can be divided into two assemblages.The first assemblage includes Eptingium and other co-occurring species such as

广西那坡裂陷盆地晚古生代硅质岩地球化学特征及其地质意义

广西那坡裂陷盆地位于右江盆地南缘,晚古生代该盆地广泛分布包括硅质岩、泥岩和海相玄武岩在内的深水相沉积.对盆地内上泥盆统榴江组和中下二叠统四大寨组硅质岩地球化学特征研究表明,硅质岩SiO2含量为88.55%～99.03%,PAAS组成含量小于20%,指示其含有较低的陆源碎屑组成.硅质岩的Al/(Al+Fe+Mn)值为0.45～0.94,Eu/Eu*值为0.51～0.95,为非热液成因硅质岩.除去SiO2稀释作用的影响后,硅质岩具有较高的稀土元素含量(∑REE+Y含量相当于PAAS组成的2～5倍),指示其形成于相对远离陆源供应的环境.岩信和鱼塘上泥盆统榴江组硅质岩具有中等的Ce负异常(Ce/Ce*值分别为0.37～0.72和0.58～0.89)以及较明显的Y正异常(Y/Ho值分别为39.05～83.74和34.33～36.70),形成于远离陆源的开阔裂谷盆地环境.鱼塘中下二叠统四大寨组硅质岩具有明显的Ce负异常(Ce/Ce*值为0.12～0.33),显示成熟洋盆的地球化学特征.结合右江其他地区硅质岩的地球化学特征认为,晚古生代硅质岩的地球化学特征记录了右江盆地从晚泥盆世裂谷盆地到早中二叠世扩张为开阔洋盆的过程.