Geochemistry, facies characteristics and palaeoenvironmental conditions of the storm-dominated phosphate-bearing deposits of eastern Tethyan Ocean; A case study from Zagros region, SW Iran

Phosphate deposits in south-western Iran are part of the South Tethyan Phosphogenic Province, a huge carbonate-dominated strata that extends to the Middle East. The Tethyan phosphorites of Iran are dated Eocene-Oligocene (Pabdeh Formation) and categorized as low-grade ore deposits on a global scale....

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Main Authors: Armin Salsani, Abdolhossein Amini, Shahram shariati, Seyed Ali Aghanabati, Mohsen Aleali
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AIMS Press 2020-10-01
Series:AIMS Geosciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.aimspress.com/article/10.3934/geosci.2020019/fulltext.html
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author Armin Salsani
Abdolhossein Amini
Shahram shariati
Seyed Ali Aghanabati
Mohsen Aleali
author_facet Armin Salsani
Abdolhossein Amini
Shahram shariati
Seyed Ali Aghanabati
Mohsen Aleali
author_sort Armin Salsani
collection DOAJ
description Phosphate deposits in south-western Iran are part of the South Tethyan Phosphogenic Province, a huge carbonate-dominated strata that extends to the Middle East. The Tethyan phosphorites of Iran are dated Eocene-Oligocene (Pabdeh Formation) and categorized as low-grade ore deposits on a global scale. Depositional conditions of the facies indicate that the Pabdeh Formation was deposited on a carbonate ramp setting as a distally steepened ramp. Under such an environment, turbidity currents transported phosphate particles from the back-shoal setting to the deeper middle and outer ramp of the ocean where they were suspended and deposited as shell-lag and phosphate lamination. Microfacies studies demonstrate that all the phosphatic ooids and phosphatized foraminifera, fish scales, bones and phosphatic intraclasts reworked from shallow parts of the Tethyan Ocean to deeper parts with the help of turbidity currents. Analysis and interpretation of the data reveal positive correlation between. REE+Y and P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> in all studied sections which attests to their strong coherence as a geochemical group. The shale normalized REE patterns of Mondun phosphorites are characterized by negative Ce anomalies. This anomaly indicate that the depositional environment was oxic and highly reworked, bioturbated with higher energy realm during phosphate deposition, conversely Nill section with Ce enrichment reflect conditions of relatively deeper water sedimentation. These geochemical findings are in accordance with microfacies studies which indicate shallow and high energy condition for Mondun section with negative cerium anomalies and a deep ramp setting for Nill and Siah sections which denote a positive cerium anomalies in REE patterns.
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spelling doaj.art-2a1ad9a75d6441ed81e29d541b4fb9a72022-12-21T20:12:02ZengAIMS PressAIMS Geosciences2471-21322020-10-016331635410.3934/geosci.2020019Geochemistry, facies characteristics and palaeoenvironmental conditions of the storm-dominated phosphate-bearing deposits of eastern Tethyan Ocean; A case study from Zagros region, SW IranArmin Salsani0Abdolhossein Amini1Shahram shariati2Seyed Ali Aghanabati3Mohsen Aleali41 Department of Geology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran2 School of Geology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran3 Department of Geology, Sari branch, Islamic Azad University, Sari, Iran4 Earth Sciences Research Institute, Geological Survey of Iran, Tehran, Iran1 Department of Geology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, IranPhosphate deposits in south-western Iran are part of the South Tethyan Phosphogenic Province, a huge carbonate-dominated strata that extends to the Middle East. The Tethyan phosphorites of Iran are dated Eocene-Oligocene (Pabdeh Formation) and categorized as low-grade ore deposits on a global scale. Depositional conditions of the facies indicate that the Pabdeh Formation was deposited on a carbonate ramp setting as a distally steepened ramp. Under such an environment, turbidity currents transported phosphate particles from the back-shoal setting to the deeper middle and outer ramp of the ocean where they were suspended and deposited as shell-lag and phosphate lamination. Microfacies studies demonstrate that all the phosphatic ooids and phosphatized foraminifera, fish scales, bones and phosphatic intraclasts reworked from shallow parts of the Tethyan Ocean to deeper parts with the help of turbidity currents. Analysis and interpretation of the data reveal positive correlation between. REE+Y and P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub> in all studied sections which attests to their strong coherence as a geochemical group. The shale normalized REE patterns of Mondun phosphorites are characterized by negative Ce anomalies. This anomaly indicate that the depositional environment was oxic and highly reworked, bioturbated with higher energy realm during phosphate deposition, conversely Nill section with Ce enrichment reflect conditions of relatively deeper water sedimentation. These geochemical findings are in accordance with microfacies studies which indicate shallow and high energy condition for Mondun section with negative cerium anomalies and a deep ramp setting for Nill and Siah sections which denote a positive cerium anomalies in REE patterns.https://www.aimspress.com/article/10.3934/geosci.2020019/fulltext.htmltethyan phosphoritespabdeh formationshell-lagturbidity currentsrare-earth elements and yttrium
spellingShingle Armin Salsani
Abdolhossein Amini
Shahram shariati
Seyed Ali Aghanabati
Mohsen Aleali
Geochemistry, facies characteristics and palaeoenvironmental conditions of the storm-dominated phosphate-bearing deposits of eastern Tethyan Ocean; A case study from Zagros region, SW Iran
AIMS Geosciences
tethyan phosphorites
pabdeh formation
shell-lag
turbidity currents
rare-earth elements and yttrium
title Geochemistry, facies characteristics and palaeoenvironmental conditions of the storm-dominated phosphate-bearing deposits of eastern Tethyan Ocean; A case study from Zagros region, SW Iran
title_full Geochemistry, facies characteristics and palaeoenvironmental conditions of the storm-dominated phosphate-bearing deposits of eastern Tethyan Ocean; A case study from Zagros region, SW Iran
title_fullStr Geochemistry, facies characteristics and palaeoenvironmental conditions of the storm-dominated phosphate-bearing deposits of eastern Tethyan Ocean; A case study from Zagros region, SW Iran
title_full_unstemmed Geochemistry, facies characteristics and palaeoenvironmental conditions of the storm-dominated phosphate-bearing deposits of eastern Tethyan Ocean; A case study from Zagros region, SW Iran
title_short Geochemistry, facies characteristics and palaeoenvironmental conditions of the storm-dominated phosphate-bearing deposits of eastern Tethyan Ocean; A case study from Zagros region, SW Iran
title_sort geochemistry facies characteristics and palaeoenvironmental conditions of the storm dominated phosphate bearing deposits of eastern tethyan ocean a case study from zagros region sw iran
topic tethyan phosphorites
pabdeh formation
shell-lag
turbidity currents
rare-earth elements and yttrium
url https://www.aimspress.com/article/10.3934/geosci.2020019/fulltext.html
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