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Petrography and geochemistry characteristics of the lower Cretaceous Muling Formation from the Laoheishan Basin, Northeast China: implications for provenance and tectonic setting

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Abstract

The petrography, mineralogy and geochemistry of sedimentary rocks from the lower Cretaceous Muling Formation (K1ml) in the Laoheishan basin, northeast (NE) China are studied to determine the weathering intensity, provenance and tectonic setting of the source region. Petrographic data indicate the average quartz-feldspar-lithic fragments (QFL) of the sandstone is Q = 63 %, F = 22 %, and L = 15 %. Lithic fragments mainly contain volcanic clasts that derived from surrounding basement. X-ray diffraction (XRD) data reveal abundant clay and detrital minerals (e.g. quartz), as well as minor calcite in the fine-grained sediments. The Hf contents and element concentration ratios such as Al2O3/TiO2, Co/Th, La/Sc, and La/Th are comparable to sediments derived from felsic and intermediate igneous rocks. The strong genetic relationship with the igneous rocks from the northwest and northeast areas provides evidence that the sediments of the Muling Formation (K1ml) in the Laoheishan basin have been derived from this area. The chemical index of alteration (CIA) and index of chemical variability (ICV) reveal an intensive weathering in the source region of the sediments. The multidimensional tectonic discrimination diagrams indicate that the source rocks of K1ml are mainly derived from the collision system. However, they may also comprise sediments derived from the continental rift system. The results are consistent with the geology of the study area.

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Acknowledgments

Authors are grateful to the Editor-in-Chief Lutz Nasdala and Associate Editor M.A.T.M. Broekmans for editorial handling, and to J.S. Armstrong-Altrin and an anonymous reviewer for their constructive and thoughtful comments. The authors thank the support of Opening Foundation of Key Laboratory for Oil Shale and Paragenetic Energy Minerals, Jilin Province. This study was financially supported by the China Geological Survey (1211302108025-5-1) and Graduate Innovation Fund of Jilin University (2016102). Yu Song also thanks the National Construction of High-quality University Projects of Graduates from China Scholarship Council (CSC) (No.201506170120) for an 8-months’ scholarship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Earth Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130061, China

    Yu Song, Zhaojun Liu, Qingtao Meng, Yimeng Wang & Guodong Zheng

  2. Key Laboratory for Oil Shale and Paragenetic Energy Minerals, Jilin University, Changchun, 130061, China

    Yu Song, Zhaojun Liu, Qingtao Meng, Yimeng Wang & Guodong Zheng

  3. Oil and Gas Resources Strategic Research Center, Ministry of Land and Resources, Beijing, 100034, China

    Yinbo Xu

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  1. Yu Song
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Correspondence to Zhaojun Liu.

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Editorial handling: M. A.T.M. Broekmans

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Song, Y., Liu, Z., Meng, Q. et al. Petrography and geochemistry characteristics of the lower Cretaceous Muling Formation from the Laoheishan Basin, Northeast China: implications for provenance and tectonic setting. Miner Petrol 111, 383–397 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00710-016-0476-9

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