Open Journal of Geology
Vol.06 No.09(2016), Article ID:70574,22 pages
10.4236/ojg.2016.69082

Mineralogy and Geochemistry of the Upper Paleocene Shales from Goouydaraq-Goouradaraq, East Azarbaijan, NW Iran

Behzad Hajalilou*, Nasser Ashrafi, Jafar Sharifi

Department of Geology, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

Copyright © 2016 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY 4.0).

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Received: August 4, 2016; Accepted: September 11, 2016; Published: September 14, 2016

ABSTRACT

In NW Iran, the bluish grey pencil shale intercalated with thin detritic limestone and siltstone was deposited on the grey limestone of Paleocene. Based on the X-ray diffraction results, the shale forming minerals are composed of calcite, quartz, feldspar, dolomite, muscovite, hematite and clay minerals including chlorite, illite, montmorionite, kaolinite and palygorskite. The comparison of major and trace element content of the shale with the typical samples indicates abundance in CaO, Sr, and Cs and scarcity in SiO2, Al2O3, and Ba. The values of weathering indices imply moderate weathering in the source area and deposition of sediments in an area with relatively high uplift. According to the major and trace elements ratios, provenance of the shale was probably felsic and/or intermediate igneous rock. The elemental ratios and geochemical parameters values such as Ti/Zr = 38, Th/Sc = 0.55, La/Sc = 1.9, La/Th = 3.4, ΣREE = 117.34, Eu/Eu* = 0.76, and (La/Yb)N = 8.3 suggest a immature continental arc setting for the studied shale. The inferred tectonic setting for the studied shale is in agreement with the tectonic evolutionary history of NW Iran during the Upper Cretaceous-Upper Paleocene. The detailed observation of facies distribution in the NW Iran during Cretaceous-Paleocene shows that the studied shale could be supplied from the volcanic-sedimentary succession of Upper-Cretaceous in a basin related to the Neo-Tethys II subduction.

Keywords:

Shale, Clay Minerals, Weathering Indices, Continental Arc

1. Introduction

The mineralogical and bulk chemical compositions of clastic sedimentary rocks are used to determine provenance, evaluate paleoclimates and tectonic activity, and study the evolution of the crust, e.g. [1] - [13] . The study of mudrocks is important for understanding a large portion of the earth’s sedimentary rocks, because they are 65 percent of all sedimentary rocks [14] . Mudrocks clay mineralogy has been the mineralogical procedure most often applied to reconstruct provenance. For example, illite is the predominant component of marine shales more so than in nonmarine shales [15] . Due to the fine-grained nature and impermeability, mudrocks retain most of the mineral constituents of the source rocks [16] - [18] . Thus, the bulk geochemistry of mudrocks preserves the near-original signatures of the provenance and more accurately reflects weathering and diagenetic history. The ratios of immobile trace elements, such as Cr/Th, Th/Sc, Th/Co, La/Sc, and La/Co, are reliable indicators of provenance [19] . For example, Th/Sc ratio and Zr/Sc ratio increase going from mafic to felsic source areas, but passive margin muds show anomalous Zr related to recycling of older sediments [5] .

The present paper describes the mineralogy and major and trace element geochemistry of Upper Paleocene pencil shales from Goouydaraq-Goouradaraq (GG), NW Iran and discusses inferred source rocks, paleoweathering pattern and paleotectonics. The study also compares the major element contents of the GG shales with their counterparts in other regions of the world. This is the first study which presents mineralogical and major and trace element data for the GG shales.

2. Geology

During the Upper Cretaceous, there were two different sedimentary basins in the NW Iran including Ahar, Kaleybar, and Heris area: the first is characterized by thick detrital sediments (Ayatakhlet basin) and the second is described by dominantly calcareous sediments associated with expanded volcanic activity (Qaradagh-Sheyvardagh basin) [20] . The best Outcrop of the Ayatakhlet basin sediments is located in the south of Goouradaraq village. The studied area is a part of the Ayatakhlet basin and composed of bluish grey shale intercalated with thin detritic limestone and siltstone.

The study area (near to Goouydaraq and Goouradaraq villages) is situated in the Alborz-Azarbaijan zone (Figure 1) [21] [22] , according to the zonation of Iranian crust and placed on the 1/100,000 geological map of Khoja (Figure 2). Contact of the GG shale is to the south Miocene red conglomerate and breccia, to the east Eocene pyroclastic and intermediate volcanic rocks, to the west Paleocene dark grey and bluish grey biomicrosparite limestones, and to the north Plio-Quaternary unconsolidated conglomerate associated with interbedded marl (Figure 3(a)). The GG shales are bluish and green grey in colour and have pencil structure (Figure 3(b)). They belong to Upper Paleocene based on the existing fossils [23] . The GG shales are associated with interbedded thin limestone and siltstone which all are cut by micro-dioritic dykes. There is bioturbation traces on the surface of some siltstone layers (Figure 3(c)).

3. Materials and Methods

More than thirty-five samples were collected from the GG shale, siltstone, and limestone.

Figure 1. Location of the studied area in the important Iranian structural-magmatic zones (simplified from the tectonic map of Middle East [21] ).

The mineralogy and petrography were investigated by polarized-light microscopy of thin sections. Ten whole rock powder sample of appropriate shales as random and oriented mounts were analyzed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) at the Geological Survey of NW Iran, Tabriz Center. XRD analyses were carried out by a Siemens D-5000 instrument with Cu-Ka radiation. The samples were saturated with K and Mg and solvated by ethylene-glycol and heated to 550˚C to distinguish the expandable mineral phases. The analytical results are presented in Table 1.

For major element analysis, whole-rock powders of ten samples were fused with Li2B4O7 and analyzed on fused discs by X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF) at the Kansaran Binaloud Company lab (Iran). The analytical results are presented in Table 2. Trace elements, including rare-earth elements (REE), were determined by inductively

Figure 2. Geological map of the studied area (simplified from [23] ).

Figure 3. The photos of field observations; (a) Lithologic units around the Upper Paleocene shale (the GG shale) in the satellite image adoption from the Google Earth; (b) Pencil structure in the GG shale; (c) bioturbation traces in the studied rocks.

coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) at the same lab. The analytical results of five samples are presented in Table 3.

4. Results

4.1. Optical Microscopy Determinations

The shale samples are characterized by very fine-grained texture and mainly composed

Table 1. XRD analytical results of the GG shale including type and percent of minerals in the samples. Abbreviation symbols are Ch, Chlorite; Il, Illite; Ka, Kaolinite; Mm, montmorilonite; Pa, Palygorskite.

Table 2. Major element concentrations of the GG shale in wt% with some important geochemical parameters.

Table 3. Trace and rare earth elements concentrations in ppm for the GG shale; detection limit of elements are presented in parenthesis.

aEu/Eu* = EuN/√[(SmN).(GdN)] as Taylor and McLennan [24] recommended; bChondrite values for normalizing from [25] .

of carbonate and clay minerals as well lesser amount of fossil allochems (e.g., Globigerina sp. and Discocyclina sp.) (Figure 4(a)). The interbedded siltstones are composed of calcite, mono-crystalline quartz (10% - 15%), clay minerals, chlorite, muscovite, biotite, opaque minerals, plagioclase, and zircon (Figure 4(b)).

4.2. XRD Investigations

Whole rock and clay fraction mineral analyses of the GG shale samples are listed in Table 1. All samples consist of calcite (42% - 66%), quartz (16% - 23%), clay minerals (6% - 20%), feldspar (2% - 7%), muscuvite, dolomite, hematite and opal. Clay minerals are composed of chlorite, illite, montnorilonite, kaolinite, and palygorskite. A representative XRD pattern of air-dried Mg- and K-saturated, glycol-treated and heated samples are shown in Figure 5. Montmorillonite is easily identified by comparing diffraction patterns of air-dried and ethylene glycol-solvated preparations. Montmorillonite is characterized by (001) peak at about 9.9 Å. this peak is weak after glycol treatment. Chlorite has a basal series of diffraction peaks based on a first-order reflection of 14.3 Å. Also helpful identification of chlorite is provided by peaks at 6.2 and 25.1˚ 2θ. Kaolinite has reflections based on a 7.1 Å structure which that is disappeared at heated 550˚C [26] . The XRD pattern shows the (001) peak at about 9.9 Å for illite and (001) peak at about 10.8 Å for palygorskite.

4.3. Geochemical Properties

4.3.1. Major and Trace Elements

Major and trace elements concentrations of the studied samples are listed in Table 2 and Table 3. Geochemical classification of the study samples by diagram of Herron [27] , log (SiO2/Al2O3) versus log (Fe2O3/K2O), indicates shale composition (Figure 6(a)) [27] . The CaO content of samples varies from 11.69 to 20.21 and in average they have higher CaO content in comparison to the Archean Shales (AS), post-Archean Astralian Shales (PAAS), and North American Shale Composite (NASC). However the GG shale samples have lower contents of Al2O3, SiO2, and Fe2O3 in comparison to the standard shales (Figure 6(b)).

Figure 4. The microscopic photos; (a) Globigerina sp. microfossil in the shale; (b) angular mono- crystalline quartz grains in the intercalated siltstone.

Figure 5. Representative XRD patterns of sample BH-217-10 (a) Qtz, Quartz; Cc, Calcite; Ab, Albite; Ch, Chlorite; Mm, montmorillonite; Hm, Hematite. (b) k, K-saturated; kt, K-saturated and heated at 550˚C; mg, Mg-saturated; mge, treated with Mg and ethylene-glycol; Mm, montmorillonite; Ka, Kaolinite; Ch, Chlorite; Il, Illite; Pa, Palygorskite.

Figure 6. (a) Classification of the GG shale based on the diagram of Herron [27] , log (SiO2/Al2O3) versus log (Fe2O3/K2O); (b) NASC normalized major oxides for the studied shales compared with PAAS and AS; the normalized and compared data are from [28] .

A linear regression and correlation analysis was performed to reveal any communality of minerals and elements by Excel and Minpet 2.02 softwares (Table 4 and Table 5). Some correlation plots for major and trace elements are shown in Figure 7. SiO2 is positively correlated with Al2O3, K2O, and TiO2 (r = 0.80 - 0.96) and negatively correlated with CaO (r = −0.93) and P2O5 (r = −0.77). This suggests that CaO is derived primarily from carbonates, but other elements are associated with silicates. LOI (loss on ignition) is positively correlated with CaO (r = 0.93) and negatively correlated with SiO2, Al2O3, K2O, and TiO2 (r > 0.90). SiO2 and Al2O3 show positive correlations with Zr, V, and Rb (r > 0.83).

The Cs and Sr content of samples vary from 6.3 to 7.9 and 298 to 393 ppm respectively which have higher contents in comparison to the NASC (Figure 8(a)); whereas other trace elements such as Ba, Hf, Zr, Co, Y, and Ta have lower contents than the NASC.

Figure 7. Harker variation diagram of major oxides for the GG shale samples.

Table 4. Values of the correlation coefficient (r) for the major oxides of samples.

Table 5. Values of correlation coefficient (r) between the major and minor elements of samples.

4.3.2. Rare Earth Elements

REE concentrations of five samples of the studied shales are shown in Table 3. A chondrite-normalized [25] , REE diagram for the studied shale was compared with Chondrite-normalized REE patterns of PAAS, AS, and NASC (Figure 8(b)). The mean total REE content of the GG shale in comparison to the PAAS, NASC, and AS is lower (ΣREE = 117.34 ppm). However, the Chondrite-normalized REE patterns show no major difference among all the shales (Figure 8(b)). All of them have high LREE/HREE and Eu anolmalies. In average the GG shale have (La/Yb)N = 8.33 and Eu/Eu* = 0.76.

Figure 8. (a) the pattern of NASC normalized trace elements for the studied shales; (b) Chondrite normalized REE for the studied shales compared with Chondrite normalized REE patterns for PAAS, AS, and NASC. The values of REE for the standard shales are from [28] and [29] , and for chondrite are from [25] .

4.4. Source Rocks and Tectonic Setting

A discriminant function diagram has been proposed by [3] to distinguish between sediments whose provenance is primarily mafic, intermediate or felsic igneous and quartzose sedimentary. The discriminant functions are based upon the ratios of TiO2, Fe2O3(t), MgO, Na2O, and K2O all to Al2O3 (Figure 9(a)). All the samples are plotted in quartzose sedimentary field however they are near intermediate igneous field.

Na, K, Ca and Mg concentrations are enriched/depleted by weathering, transportation from the source rock to the depositional site and diagenesis, whereas Ti, Al, Zr remain unaffected because of low solubility of their oxides and hydroxides in low temperature aqueous solutions [30] - [32] . The ratio of Al2O3/TiO2 in shales is similar to that of the parent rocks [32] . Therefore, the Al2O3/TiO2 ratio is used as a significant indicator of source rocks compared to other major oxides. The Al2O3/TiO2 ratios of the GG shales range from 17.78 to 21.83 (Table 2). Most of the samples exhibit higher Al2O3/TiO2 values (≈21), corresponding to felsic (and/or intermediate) source rocks [32] .

Figure 9. (a) Plot of discriminant scores along Function 1 versus Function 2 diagram [3] to discriminate provenance signatures of the GG shale; Discrimination Function 1: 30.638 TiO2/Al2O3 − 12.541 Fe2O3(t)/Al2O3 + 7.329 MgO/Al2O3 + 12.031 Na2O/Al2O3 + 35.402 K2O/Al2O3 − 6.382, Discrimination Function 2: 56.500 TiO2/Al2O3 − 10.879 Fe2O3(t)/Al2O3 + 30.875 MgO/Al2O3 − 5.404 Na2O/Al2O3 + 11.112 K2O/Al2O3 − 3.89; (b) Major element composition plots of the GG shale for tectonic setting discrimination. Plot of Fe2O3 (t) + MgO versus TiO2 [33] . Fe2O3 (t) represents total iron.

The major and trace element geochemistry of detrital sedimentary rocks can be used to infer provenance type and the tectonic setting ancient sedimentary basins [1] [33] . A plot involving Fe2O3(t) + MgO versus TiO2 is used to discriminate between shales deposited in passive margin, active continental margin, continental island arc and oceanic island arc settings [33] . It is found from this plot (Figure 9(b)) that all the GG shale samples are plotted in continental arc setting field. Meanwhile the content of trace elements (Th = 7.36 and La = 25.2 ppm) as well the elemental ratios (Ti/Zr = 38, Th/Sc = 0.55, La/Sc = 1.8, and La/Th = 3.4) suggest a continental arc setting for the GG shale (Table 6). Also the ternary diagram of Th-Sc-Zr/10 [1] show that all the GG shales are plotted within the continental island arc field (Figure 10(a)).

Figure 10. (a) The chemical composition of GG shale on Th-Sc-Zr/10 diagram [1] for discrimination of various tectonic setting, A: Oceanic island arc; B: Continental island arc; C: Active continental margins; D: Passive margins. (b) Al2O3-(CaO + Na2O)-K2O diagram and CIA (chemical index of alteration) for evaluation of the weathering trend of the GG shale. Arrows show predicted weathering trend of some references compositions including gabbro and granite. The diagram also represents the fields of idealized minerals [6] [34] [35] .

4.5. Paleoweathering Conditions in the Provenance

There are various parameters for determining source rock weathering. The Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA) values and A-CN-K compositional space are reliable indicators of paleoweathering and tectonic history of sedimentary rocks. The CIA was proposed by [34] [37] as a way of investigating the intensity of chemical weathering in a source area. CIA = [Al2O3/(Al2O3 + CaO* + K2O + Na2O)] × 100.

Values are expressed as molar proportions and CaO* represents CaO present in silicate minerals only. The CaO* concentration was calculated based on [38] . CIA values for the samples vary from 68 to 72 (Table 2) which that suggests moderate weathering in the source area.

Table 6. The comparison of trace and rare earth elements characteristics of the GG shale with gray wakes and mudrocks from various tectonic settings as well some geochemical parameters [1] [36] ; Mean ratios and contents were obtained from five samples.

As K-metasomatism may possibly reduce the CIA values, many researchers used Plagioclase Index of Alteration, PIA = [(Al2O3-K2O)/(Al2O3-K2O + CaO* + Na2O)] × 100, and Chemical Index of Weathering, CIW = [Al2O3/(Al2O3 + CaO* + Na2O)] × 100, for better estimation of weathering conditions in the source rocks e.g. [6] [39] . The PIA and CIW values for the GG shale range from 74 to 84 and 78 to 87 respectively (Table 2). The data indicate a greater degree of weathering of source rocks than the degree of weathering inferred from their CIA values. As interpreted from the CIA discussions, the PIA and CIW data for the shales also support a moderate degree of weathering of the source rocks.

The Index of Compositional Variability, ICV = (Fe2O3 + K2O + Na2O + CaO + MgO + TiO2)/Al2O3, may be used to assess the original composition of shales and siltstones [17] . The non-clay minerals in the original rocks have higher values of ICV’s than do the clay minerals. In relatively unaltered shales and siltstones, composed mostly of feldspar, pyroxene, amphibole, or biotite with less abundant clay minerals, ICV value tend to be greater than one. The ICV values for the GG shale range from 1.63 to 3.

Weathering as well as post-depositional diagenetic history of clastic sediments can be evaluated by plotting the CIA values in A−CN−K compositional space (Figure 10(b)). In A-CN-K compositional space (A = Al2O3, CN = CaO + Na2O, K = K2O) the oxides are represented in molar proportions [34] [35] [40] - [42] . In this diagram, during initial stages of weathering the trends are parallel to the A-CN line, because during that stage Na and Ca are removed with destruction of plagioclase feldspars (a solid arrow starting from the gabbro composition in (Figure 10(b)). As weathering continues, K-feldspars are destroyed releasing K and shifting the residual composition towards Al2O3. None of the samples plot near the Al2O3-K2O joins, indicating that severe weathering conditions did not exist in the source area [43] . An additional advantage of the A-CN-K compositional space is that estimation of source rock condition is possible by backward projection of the weathered samples to a point on the feldspar join. The regression line through the data points and parallel to the A-CN join is extended back to the plagioclase-K-feldspar join (dashed line in Figure 10(b)). The position of the intersection point, which provides an approximate thought of plagioclase: K-feldspar ratio of the source rock, suggested an intermediate to felsic source for the GG shale.

5. Discussion

Major, trace and rare earth element concentrations for the GG shale are analyzed and interpreted for the first time in this paper. The major oxide ratios suggest a quartzose sedimentary and/or intermediate igneous provenance for the studied shale (Figure 9(a)). The thin siltstone layers as interbedded with the GG shale are characterized by mono-crystalline quartz (10% - 15%) and parallel extinction which could be inferred a volcanic igneous provenance for the studied rocks. The Al2O3/TiO2 ratios suggest a felsic (and/or intermediate) source for the GG sediments. The rang of elemental ratios such as Ti/Zr = 37 - 39, Th/Sc = 0.50 - 0.61, La/Sc = 1.72 - 2.12, and Th/Cr = 0.06 - 0.09 for the studied samples in comparison to those of the silicic/felsic, intermediate, and basic/mafic sources [8] [32] [44] as well the chondrite normalized LREE patterns further strengthen the predominance of felsic/silicic sources for the GG shale.

The A-CN-K compositional space for the GG shales provides valuable information regarding paleoweathering, paleotectonics and source rock composition. The A-CN-K diagram suggests that severe weathering conditions did not exist in the source area and the source rock was an intermediate to felsic igneous rock. Also PIA, CIA and CIW suggest moderate climatic conditions during deposition and indicate that extreme weathering conditions were probably negligible in the source area. Shales and siltstones with ICV’s greater than one are most likely first cycle sediments, and those with ICV’s less than one may be recycled or intensely weathered first cycle sediment. The ICV values for the GG shale are greater than one. Such shales and siltstones are usually deposited as first cycle deposits in technically active areas [45] [46] . Meanwhile, shales and siltstones with scarce clay minerals tend to have ICV’s greater than one and form in areas of most uplift and are associated with not extensive chemical weathering [17] .

The elemental ratios value and the rare earth element concentrations including Th/Sc = 0.55, Ti/Zr = 38, La/Sc = 1.9, La = 25 ppm, and Ce = 49 ppm as well the geochemical parameters such as ΣREE = 117.34, Eu/Eu* = 0.76, and (La/Yb)N = 8.3 all suggest a continental arc setting for the GG shale (Table 6).

Neo-Tethys opened during Late Permian time between the present Afro-Arabian and Iranian plates with NW-SE-trending [47] . The Neo-Tethys ocean had two axises of spreading [48] ; the first between the present Zagros thrust zone and Sanandaj-Sirjan segment (Neo-Tethys I), and the second between the Sanandaj-Sirjan and Central Iran (Neo-Tethys II). Spreading in Neo-Tethys I ceased in the Middle Triasic whereas spreading in Neo-Tethys II halted in Early Cretaceous. The Neo-Tethys I subduction and closure is thought to have taken place in the Campanian and Upper Cretaceous-Lower Paleocene respectively. The subduction of Neo-Tethys II beneath Central Iran plate during the Upper Cretaceous to Paleogene and following collision of Iranian and Arabian plate (continent?continent collision) during the Neogene was responsible for developing three ribbon structural zones in Iran (Figure 1) e.g. [49] - [51] . These SE trending structural zones are including the folded-thrust Zagros belt, Sanandaj-Sirjan metamorphic zone, and Urumieh-Dokhtar magmatic arc (UDMA). The NW-trending Alborz-Azarbaijan magmatic belt (AAMB) that stretches from the Alborz Mountains to Azarbaijan Province is separated from the UDMA to the south by the Tabriz Fault. Magmatic activity in UDMA and AAMB initiated in the Late Cretaceous and continued during Eocene until Quaternary period. Identical lithologic sequences of the same age in the UDMA and the AAMB propose that the two originally formed a single continental margin magmatic arc that was subsequently rifted apart [52] . The boundary (Tabriz fault) is a sharp, distinct, deep-seated, high-angle fault zone. The juxtaposition of the AAMB and the UDMA is considered to be a result of the early Cenozoic arc-continent collisional processes due to the northeastward subduction of a narrow, elongated back-arc basin beneath the western-southwestern part of the Alborz-Azar- baijan continental block, which existed as a small segment of the Neo-Tethyan oceanic crust between the UDMA and the Alborz-Azarbaijan microcontinent [50] [51] . Azizi and Jahangiri [53] proposed that the AAMB is related to the Khoy-Zanjan oceanic subduction beneath the Alborz-Azarbaijan plate and not to the Neo-Tethyan subduction beneath the Iranian plate. The studied sedimentary basin is located in the AAMB. The present geochemical data show a continental arc setting for the studied sediments that is consistent with the above findings about the AAMB. Overall, the AAMB is thought to be an immature continent arc in Upper Cretaceous-Paleocene and has formed by the Neo-Tethys II or back-arc subduction.

6. Conclusion

Geological studies show that the Neo-Tethys II subduction under the Central and NW Iran has been active during the Upper Cretaceous to Late Miocene [54] . Therefore the volcanic-sedimentary succession, including thick layers of acidic to intermediate volcanic rocks associated with marl, limestone, sandstone, molasse and basic volcanic rock, could be formed during Upper Cretaceous to Paleocene. Based on detailed observation of facies distribution in the NW Iran including Ahar, Kaleybar, and Heris area (Figure 11) and the geochemical characteristics of the GG shale, we infer that the

Figure 11. Comparison of the stratigraphic sections of Cretaceous and Paleocene-Lower Eocene in NW Iran (adapted from [20] ). Index map shows location of the sections. The first section indicates stratigraphy of the studied area.

studied sediments were supplied from the Upper Cretaceous volcanic-sedimentary succession which occurred in the vicinity of studied area and formed in/around immature continental magmatic arc of Neo-Tethys II.

Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the Research Branch of the Payame Noor University (Iran), for which we are grateful. We also acknowledge contributions of the reviewers in improving the manuscript by providing valuable suggestions.

Cite this paper

Hajalilou, B., Ashrafi, N. and Sharifi, J. (2016) Mineralogy and Geochemistry of the Upper Paleocene Shales from Goouydaraq-Goouradaraq, East Azarbaijan, NW Iran. Open Journal of Geology, 6, 1096-1117. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ojg.2016.69082

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