Assessing provenance of Upper Cretaceous siliciclastics using spectral γ-ray record

The relationship between contents of clay minerals/grain size and spectral γ-ray record (concentrations of K, U and Th) in sediments is used for interpretation of sedimentary facies in wire-line logs. However, this approach is often complicated by the multi-component nature of mineralogically immatu...

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Main Authors: Šimíček Daniel, Bábek Ondřej
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Earth Science Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Slovakia 2015-08-01
Series:Geologica Carpathica
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/geoca.2015.66.issue-4/geoca-2015-0028/geoca-2015-0028.xml?format=INT
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author Šimíček Daniel
Bábek Ondřej
author_facet Šimíček Daniel
Bábek Ondřej
author_sort Šimíček Daniel
collection DOAJ
description The relationship between contents of clay minerals/grain size and spectral γ-ray record (concentrations of K, U and Th) in sediments is used for interpretation of sedimentary facies in wire-line logs. However, this approach is often complicated by the multi-component nature of mineralogically immature siliciclastics. As mineralogy of the source material and grain-size sorting during transport both contribute to the detrital composition of the final sediment, a joint study of facies and outcrop γ-ray spectra can potentially make the latter an effective tool in provenance studies. This paper provides comparison of outcrop γ-ray data and detailed facies mapping with mineral and chemical composition of the rocks (modal composition; transparent heavy mineral assemblages; WDX SEM chemistry of minerals) and interprets them in terms of provenance changes. We studied the Upper Cretaceous, synorogenic siliciclastic sediments of the Mazák and Godula Formations (Silesian Unit of the Western Carpathians flysch belt). Decreasing mineral maturity of the studied sandstones is consistent with provenance change from craton interior – (Mazák Formation) to transitional continental and recycled orogen sources (Godula Formation). Two major phases of K, U and Th concentration shifts, which occurred close to the Mazák/Godula Formation and Middle/Upper Godula Members boundaries, are consistent with changes in main detrital modes. These trends indicate gradually accelerated influx of material derived from high-grade metamorphic and plutonic rocks during deposition of the Mazák and Godula Formations. These changes are interpreted as reflecting a gradual exhumation and erosion of deeper crustal levels of the source area, the Silesian ridge.
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spelling doaj.art-deda84030f0b4afaaa119a2daa3e26752022-12-21T19:46:05ZengEarth Science Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, SlovakiaGeologica Carpathica1336-80522015-08-0166431132910.1515/geoca-2015-0028geoca-2015-0028Assessing provenance of Upper Cretaceous siliciclastics using spectral γ-ray recordŠimíček Daniel0Bábek Ondřej1Department of Geology, Palacký University, 17. listopadu 1192/12, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech RepublicDepartment of Geology, Palacký University, 17. listopadu 1192/12, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech RepublicThe relationship between contents of clay minerals/grain size and spectral γ-ray record (concentrations of K, U and Th) in sediments is used for interpretation of sedimentary facies in wire-line logs. However, this approach is often complicated by the multi-component nature of mineralogically immature siliciclastics. As mineralogy of the source material and grain-size sorting during transport both contribute to the detrital composition of the final sediment, a joint study of facies and outcrop γ-ray spectra can potentially make the latter an effective tool in provenance studies. This paper provides comparison of outcrop γ-ray data and detailed facies mapping with mineral and chemical composition of the rocks (modal composition; transparent heavy mineral assemblages; WDX SEM chemistry of minerals) and interprets them in terms of provenance changes. We studied the Upper Cretaceous, synorogenic siliciclastic sediments of the Mazák and Godula Formations (Silesian Unit of the Western Carpathians flysch belt). Decreasing mineral maturity of the studied sandstones is consistent with provenance change from craton interior – (Mazák Formation) to transitional continental and recycled orogen sources (Godula Formation). Two major phases of K, U and Th concentration shifts, which occurred close to the Mazák/Godula Formation and Middle/Upper Godula Members boundaries, are consistent with changes in main detrital modes. These trends indicate gradually accelerated influx of material derived from high-grade metamorphic and plutonic rocks during deposition of the Mazák and Godula Formations. These changes are interpreted as reflecting a gradual exhumation and erosion of deeper crustal levels of the source area, the Silesian ridge.http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/geoca.2015.66.issue-4/geoca-2015-0028/geoca-2015-0028.xml?format=INTWestern Carpathiansgravity-flow sedimentsgeochemistryheavy mineralsγ-ray spectrometryprovenance
spellingShingle Šimíček Daniel
Bábek Ondřej
Assessing provenance of Upper Cretaceous siliciclastics using spectral γ-ray record
Geologica Carpathica
Western Carpathians
gravity-flow sediments
geochemistry
heavy minerals
γ-ray spectrometry
provenance
title Assessing provenance of Upper Cretaceous siliciclastics using spectral γ-ray record
title_full Assessing provenance of Upper Cretaceous siliciclastics using spectral γ-ray record
title_fullStr Assessing provenance of Upper Cretaceous siliciclastics using spectral γ-ray record
title_full_unstemmed Assessing provenance of Upper Cretaceous siliciclastics using spectral γ-ray record
title_short Assessing provenance of Upper Cretaceous siliciclastics using spectral γ-ray record
title_sort assessing provenance of upper cretaceous siliciclastics using spectral γ ray record
topic Western Carpathians
gravity-flow sediments
geochemistry
heavy minerals
γ-ray spectrometry
provenance
url http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/geoca.2015.66.issue-4/geoca-2015-0028/geoca-2015-0028.xml?format=INT
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