Geochemistry and Detrital Zircon U-Pb Chronology of Late Mesozoic Strata in the Western Erlian Basin and Their Indication to Provenance and Uranium Metallization

Abstract

The Erlian Basin is one of the most important multi-energy basins in China. The Baiyanhua area of the Chuanjing depression in the western Erlian Basin has recently become a favorable area for new progress in sandstone-type uranium prospecting. However, the Cretaceous source-to-sink evolution of the Chuanjing depression in the Erlian Basin is poorly known. This paper presents the systematic geochemical and zircon U-Pb studies on the Saihantala Formation and Erlian Formation in the Baiyanhua area. The data obtained are functionally important for revealing the provenance and tectonic setting of the source rocks. The results show that the upper part of the Saihantala Formation and the lower part of the Erlian Formation are mainly composed of felsic sedimentary rocks. The source rocks originated from a continental margin arc environment in terms of tectonic setting. The detrital zircons ages have the dominant populations at ca. 250–270 Ma, with two subdominant age groups at ca. 1 400–1 800 and 1 900–2 100 Ma, respectively. Combined with the tectono-sedimentary evolution of the Chuanjing depression, we conclude that: (1) the provenance of the Cretaceous strata was mostly sourced from the Baiyanhua uplift; (2) the water depth became shallow in the Southern Sangendalai sag during the middle period of Saihantala, further preventing the formation of coal beds; (3) the formation of Baiyanhua uplift might provide the beneficial tectonic condition for uranium mineralization in the upper Saihantala Formation in southern Sangendalai sag. This is significant for us to understand the space allocation of coal and uranium in Chuanjing depression and evaluate the uranium metallogenic prospects in southern Sangendalai sag.

Keywords

Erlian Basin / Saihantala Formation / detrital zircon / U-Pb geochronology / provenance / sandstone type uranium metallization / geochemistry / mineral doposits

References

[1] Badarch G, Dickson Cunningham W, Windley B F. A New Terrane Subdivision for Mongolia: Implications for the Phanerozoic Crustal Growth of Central Asia. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 2002, 21(1): 87-110.

[2] Bhatia M R, Crook K A W. Trace Element Characteristics of Graywackes and Tectonic Setting Discrimination of Sedimentary Basins. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 1986, 92(2): 181-193.

[3] Boynton W V, Bowden PGeochemistry of the Rare Earth Elements: Meteorite Study, 1984AmsterdamElsevier

[4] Chen S Y. The Basin-Range Coupling in Southern North China Block during the Late Palaeozoic to Triassic. Sedimentary Geology and Tethyan Geology, 2000, 20(3): 37-43(in Chinese with English Abstract)

[5] Fan H R, Hu F F, Yang K F. et al.. Geochronology Framework of Late Paleozoic Dioritic-Granitic Plutons in the Bayan Obo Area, Inner Mongolia, and Tectonic Significance. Acta Petrologica Sinica, 2009, 25(11): 2933-2938(in Chinese with English Abstract)

[6] Fedo C M, Nesbitt H W, Young G M. Unraveling the Effects of Potassium Metasomatism in Sedimentary Rocks and Paleosols, with Implications for Paleoweathering Conditions and Provenance. Geology, 1995, 23(10): 921.

[7] Floyd P A, Winchester J A, Park R G. Geochemistry and Tectonic Setting of Lewisian Clastic Metasediments from the Early Proterozoic Loch Maree Group of Gairloch, NW Scotland. Precambrian Research, 1989, 45(1/2/3): 203-214.

[8] Gabo J A S, Dimalanta C B, Asio M G S. et al.. Geology and Geochemistry of the Clastic Sequences from Northwestern Panay (Philippines): Implications for Provenance and Geotectonic Setting. Tectonophysics, 2009, 479(1/2): 111-119.

[9] Guo J H, Zhai M G, Xu R H. Timing of the Granulite Facies Metamorphism in the Sanggan Area, North China Craton: Zircon U-Pb Geochronology. Science in China (Series D), 2002, 32(1): 10-18(in Chinese with English Abstract)

[10] Guo J H, Shi X, Bian A G. et al.. Pb Isotopic Composition and Zircon U-Pb Age of Early Proterozoic Granite Feldspar in Sanggan Area: Metamorphism and Crustal Melting and Tectonic-Thermal Event Evolution. Acta Petrologica Sinica, 1999, 15(2): 199-207(in Chinese with English Abstract)

[11] Hao J T. The Metallogenic Condition Analysis and Prospecting Direction of Chuanjing Depression Sandstone Type Uranium Deposit. Progress Report on China Nuclear Science Technology, 2011, 2: 91-100(in Chinese with English Abstract)

[12] Hu X, Xu C S, Niu S YEvolution of the Early Paleozoic Continental Margin in the Northern Margin of the North China Platform, 1990BeijingBeijing University Press(in Chinese with English Abstract)

[13] Jian P, Liu D Y, Kröner A. et al.. Evolution of a Permian Intraoceanic Arc-Trench System in the Solonker Suture Zone, Central Asian Orogenic Belt, China and Mongolia. Lithos, 2010, 118(1/2): 169-190.

[14] Jiao Y Q, Wu L Q, Rong H. et al.. Review of Basin Uranium Resources in China. Earth Science, 2021, 46(8): 2675-2697(in Chinese with English Abstract)

[15] Jin R S, Teng X M. Large Scale Sandstone-Type Uranium Mineralization in Northern China. North China Geology, 2022, 45(1): 42-58(in Chinese with English Abstract)

[16] Lei K Y, Liu C Y, Zhang L. et al.. Detrital Zircon U-Pb Dating of Middle – Late Mesozoic Strata in the Northern Ordos Basin: Implications for Tracing Sediment Sources. Acta Geologica Sinica, 2017, 91(7): 1522-1541(in Chinese with English Abstract)

[17] Li B X, Zheng K W, Wei G H. Study of Uranium Metallogenetic Circumstance and Metallogenetic Prospective Area Selection in Chuanjin Depression, Erlian Basin. Uranium Geology, 2002, 18(2): 77-85(in Chinese with English Abstract)

[18] Li H K, Geng, Ji Z. Determination of U-Pb Isotopic Age of Zircon by Laser Ablation Multi Receiver Plasma Mass Spectrometer (LA-MC-ICPMS). Journal of Minerals, 2009, 1: 600-601(in Chinese with English Abstract)

[19] Li J J, Tang W L, Fu C. et al.Description of a Series of Geological Maps (1: 1 000 000) in the Border Area between China and Mongolia, 2020BeijingGeological Publishing House

[20] Lian C Q, Li G Z, Yu Y. et al.. LA-ICP-MS Zircon U-Pb Age and Whole - Rock Geochemistry of the Triassic Intrusive Rocks in the Solon Obo Area, Inner Mongolia and Its Geological Significance. Earth Science, 2021, 46(1): 87-101(in Chinese with English Abstract)

[21] Liu H J, Xu Z L, Tang C. et al.. Provenance Characteristics of Uranium-Bearing Sediments of Upper Saihan Formation and Its Implications for Sandstone-Type Uranium Mineralization in Manite Depression, Erlian Basin. Earth Science, 2024, 49(10): 3589-3609(in Chinese with English Abstract)

[22] Liu J, Li Y, Ling M X. et al.. Chronology and Geological Significance of the Basement Rock of the Giant Bayan Obo REE-Nb-Fe Ore Deposit. Geochimica, 2011, 40(3): 209-222(in Chinese with English Abstract)

[23] Liu W SEvaluation of Uranium Resource Potential in Erlian Basin, 2009BeijingBeijing Institute of Geology of Nuclear Industry

[24] Liu W, Li G Z, Bai Y M. et al.. Discovery of the Mesoproterozoic Quartz Diorite in the Solonker Area, Urad Zhong Qi, Inner Mongolia, and Its Tectonic Significance. Acta Geologica Sinica, 2018, 92(10): 206-211(in Chinese with English Abstract)

[25] Liu Y S, Hu Z C, Gao S. et al.. In situ Analysis of Major and Trace Elements of Anhydrous Minerals by LA-ICP-MS without Applying an Internal Standard. Chemical Geology, 2008, 257(1/2): 34-43.

[26] Lu C, Jiao Y Q, Peng Y B. et al.. Influence of Episodic Rifting on Uranium Mineralization in the West of Manite Depression, Erlian Basin. Acta Geologica Sinica, 2016, 90(12): 3483-3491(in Chinese with English Abstract)

[27] Lu X NControlling Effect of Tectonic on Depositional Systems of Daerqi Region in Baiyinchagan Sag: [Dissertation], 2015QingdaoChina University of Petroleum (East China)(in Chinese with English Abstract)

[28] Ludwig K RIsoplot v. 3.71: A Geochronological Toolkit for Microsoft Excel, 2009BerkeleyBerkeley Geochronology Center Special Publication

[29] Ma M Z, Zhang Y X, Xie H Q. et al.. SHRIMP U-Pb Dating and LA-ICPMS Hf Isotope Analysis of Detrital Zircons from Medium-to Coarse-Grained Sandstones of the Bayan Obo Group and Sailinhudong Group and Its Geological Significances. Acta Petrologica Sinica, 2014, 30(10): 2973-2988(in Chinese with English Abstract)

[30] Nie F J, Li M G, Yan Z B. et al.. The Segmentation of Saihantala Formation and Uranium Mineralization of Sandstone Type Uranium Deposit in Erlian Basin. Inner Mongolia Geological Bulletin, 2015, 34(10): 1952-1963(in Chinese with English Abstract)

[31] Nie F J, Yan Z B, Feng Z B. et al.. Genetic Models and Exploration Implication of the Paleochannel Sandstone-Type Uranium Deposits in the Erlian Basin, North China—A Review and Comparative Study. Ore Geology Reviews, 2020, 127: 103821.

[32] Peng Y B, Liu B, Qin Y W. et al.. Constraints of Tectonic Evolution on Sandstone-Type Uranium Metallogenesis in the Chuanjing Depression, Erlian Basin. Geology and Exploration, 2018, 54(5): 917-929(in Chinese with English Abstract)

[33] Rojas-Agramonte Y, Kröner A, Demoux A. et al.. Detrital and Xenocrystic Zircon Ages from Neoproterozoic to Palaeozoic Arc Terranes of Mongolia: Significance for the Origin of Crustal Fragments in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. Gondwana Research, 2011, 19(3): 751-763.

[34] Roser B P, Korsch R J. Determination of Tectonic Setting of Sandstone-Mudstone Suites Using SiO₂ Content and K₂O/Na₂O Ratio. The Journal of Geology, 1986, 94(5): 635-650.

[35] Roser B P, Korsch R J. Provenance Signatures of Sandstone-Mudstone Suites Determined Using Discriminant Function Analysis of Major-Element Data. Chemical Geology, 1988, 67(1/2): 119-139.

[36] Rudnick R L, Gao SComposition of the Continental Crust. Treatise on Geochemistry, 2003AmsterdamElsevier

[37] Shao L, Liu Z W, Zhu W L. Application of Sedimentary Geochemistry of Terrigenous Clastic Rock to Basin Analysis. Earth Science Frontiers, 2000, 7(3): 297-304(in Chinese with English Abstract)

[38] Sun S S, McDonough W F. Chemical and Isotopic Systematics of Oceanic Basalts: Implications for Mantle Composition and Processes. Geological Society of London Special Publications, 1989, 42(1): 313-345.

[39] Tang C, Xiao P, Wei J L. et al.. Geological and Geochemical Characteristics of Uranium Mineralization in Anding Formation in Zhidan Area, Ordos Basin. North China Geology, 2021, 42(2): 4-14(in Chinese with English Abstract)

[40] Wang S Q, Hu X J, Yang Z L. Detrital Zircon Geochronology and Tectonic Significance of Metamorphic Rocks from Chaganchulu Area, North of Erlianhot, Inner Mongolia. Geological Survey and Research, 2020, 43(4): 287-293(in Chinese with English Abstract)

[41] Windley B F, Alexeiev D, Xiao W J. et al.. Tectonic Models for Accretion of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. Journal of the Geological Society, 2007, 164(1): 31-47.

[42] Wu Y B, Zheng Y F. Genetic Mineralogy of Zircon and Its Constraints on U-Pb Age Interpretation. Scientific Bulletin, 2004, 49(16): 1589-1604(in Chinese)

[43] Xia Y L. Calculation of U₀ and ΔU for Rock Samples. Uranium Geology, 2004, 20(1): 35-39(in Chinese with English Abstract)

[44] Xiao W J, Windley B F, Hao J. et al.. Accretion Leading to Collision and the Permian Solonker Suture, Inner Mongolia, China: Termination of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. Tectonics, 2003, 22(6): 2002TC001484.

[45] Xu S MSeismic Sedimentology and Sand Bodies Prediction of the Cretaceous in Baiyinchagan Sag, 2019BeijingChina University of Petroleum

[46] Xue J P, Liu M Y, Li G Z. et al.. Zircon Geochronology and Geochemistry of Haer Bogetuoer TTG Rock, Solonker Zone, Inner Mongolia and Their Tectonic Implications. Earth Science Frontiers, 2018, 25(3): 230-239(in Chinese with English Abstract)

[47] Yan Y, Lin K, Li Z A. Provenance Tracing of Sediments by Means of Synthetic Study of Shape, Composition and Chronology of Zircon. Geotectonica et Metallogenia, 2003, 27(2): 184-190(in Chinese with English Abstract)

[48] Yu R A, Wang S B, Zhu Q. et al.. Zircon U-Pb Ages and Provenance Characteristic of Sandstone from Zhiluo Formation and Debating of Formation Background of Uranium Deposit in Huangling Area, Ordos Basin, China. China Geology, 2021, 4(1): 1-16.

[49] Yu R A, Zhu Q, Wen S B. et al.. Tectonic Setting and Provenance Analysis of Zhiluo Formation Sandstone of Tarangaole Area in the Ordos Basin. Earth Science, 2020, 45(3): 829-843(in Chinese with English Abstract)

[50] Yu R A, Wu Z J, Sima X Z. et al.. Geochronology and Geological Significance of Sandstone Detrital Zircons from Saihantala Formation in Southern Manite Depression, Erlian Basin. Earth Science, 2020, 45(5): 1609-1621(in Chinese with English Abstract)

[51] Zhai M G. Cratonization and the Ancient North China Continent: A Summary and Review. Science China Earth Sciences, 2011, 54(8): 1110-1120.

[52] Zhang S H, Zhao Y, Liu J M. et al.. Geochronology, Geochemistry and Tectonic Setting of the Late Paleozoic–Early Mesozoic Magmatism in the Northern Margin of the North China Block: A Preliminary Review. Acta Petrologica et Mineralogica, 2010, 29: 824-842(in Chinese with English Abstract)

[53] Zhao G C, Cawood P A, Wilde S A. et al.. Metamorphism of Basement Rocks in the Central Zone of the North China Craton: Implications for Paleoproterozoic Tectonic Evolution. Precambrian Research, 2000, 103(1/2): 55-88.

[54] Zhong C T, Deng J F, Wan Y S. et al.. Magma Recording of Paleoproterozoic Orogeny in Central Segment of Northern Margin of North China Craton: Geochemical Characteristics and Zircon SHRIMP Dating of S-Type Granitoids. Geochimica, 2007, 36(6): 633-637(in Chinese with English Abstract)

[55] Zhou X Y, Yu J H, Wang L J. et al.. Compositions and Formation of the Basement Metamorphic Rocks in Yunkai Terrane, Western Guangdong Province, South China. Acta Petrologica Sinica, 2015, 31(3): 855-882(in Chinese with English Abstract)

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

China University of Geosciences (Wuhan) and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, Part of Springer Nature