Sedimentary environment, provenance analysis and tectonic significance of the Upper-Cretaceous Abushan Formation in 114 Daoban, Anduo area, Qiangtang Basin

doi:10.13745/j.esf.sf.2023.6.1

Abstract

Abstract:

Late-Cretaceous continental strata of the Abushan Formation consist mainly of coarse clastic rocks and outcrop widely in the Qiangtang Basin, however, its sedimentary environment, source characteristics and tectonic setting remain unclear. In order to better understand the sedimentary evolution of the Qiangtang Basin and the early Tibetan Plateau uplift history after the Qiangtang-Lhasa collision we conducted detailed investigation into the depositional age, sedimentary environment, and source characteristics of the Abushan Formation in 114 Daoban, Anduo area. Angular unconformities were observed between the Abushan Formation and the underlying andesite and overlying Niubao Formation. Based on this observation, along with the eruption age of andesite and the depositional age of the Niubao Formation, we conclude that the Abushan Formation was deposited during the Late Cretaceous. Gravels of the Abushan Formation indicated a near-source deposition scenario as they mainly consisted of limestone and were transported over a short distance. Combined with geochemical data on sandstone detritus and heavy minerals, along with detrital zircon age spectra, we consider that the Abushan Formation was mainly sourced from Triassic-Jurassic strata in the southern Qiangtang and the central uplift zone. By comparing the stratigraphic characteristics between the Abushan Formation and its surrounding area, we suggest that the deposition of continental red clastic rock during the Late Cretaceous was related to large-scale thrusting in the Qiangtang Basin caused by continued plate convergence in the Qiangtang-Lhasa terranes.

Key words: Qiangtang Basin, Late Cretaceous, Abushan Formation, collision of the Qiangtang-Lhasa Terrane

CLC Number:

DU Lintao, BI Wenjun, LI Yalin, ZHANG Jiawei, ZHANG Shaowen, YIN Xuwei, WANG Chengxiu. Sedimentary environment, provenance analysis and tectonic significance of the Upper-Cretaceous Abushan Formation in 114 Daoban, Anduo area, Qiangtang Basin[J]. Earth Science Frontiers, 2023, 30(4): 245-259.

Figures/Tables 11

Fig.1 (a) Tectonic units and (b) regional geological map of the Qiangtang Basin, and (c) geologic sketch map of study area

Fig.2 (a, b) Stratum contact relationships (distant and close views), and (c) gravel of the Abushan Formation

Fig.3 Comprehensive columnar profile of section 4BA of the Abushan Formation in 114 Daoban, Qiantang Basin

Table 1 Physical properties of gravel from the Abushan Formation in 114 Daoban

砾石统计点	Mz/cm	σ	SK1	峰度	d/cm	F	ψ	H/km
点1	13.1	-1.5	-1.8	-0.38	4.6	1.8	0.73	34.9
点2	9.6	3.3	-4.4	-0.17	4.9	2.0	0.68	39.9
点3	17.0	8.2	-1.9	-0.57	4.0	1.8	0.72	39.9

Fig.4 Ternary plots for sandstone classification based on detritus analysis in the Abushan Formation in 114 Daoban. Modified after [40].

Table 2 Heavy mineral indices used in this study

指数	重矿物组合	重矿物指数
ATi	磷灰石-电气石	100×磷灰石/(磷灰石+电气石)
GZi	石榴石-锆石	100×石榴石/(石榴石+锆石)
MZi	独居石-锆石	100×独居石/(独居石+锆石)
RuZi	金红石-锆石	100×金红石/(金红石+锆石)
ZTR	锆石-电气石-金红石	锆石+电气石+金红石

Table 3 Relative percentage of heavy minerals in and heavy mineral index values for rock samples from the Abushan Formation in 114 daoban area

层位	w_B/%												ZTR	RuZi	GZi	ATi
层位	锆石	金红石	电气石	磷灰石	石榴子石	锐钛矿	白钛石	辉铜矿	黄铁矿	重晶石	辉石	绿帘石	ZTR	RuZi	GZi	ATi
4BA-04	63.3	10.7	4.1	1.9	11.1	2.4	3.2	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	3.3	75.7	14.4	15	31.1
4BA-06	25.5	6.9	8.3	0.2	30.3	0.5	27.4	0.0	0.0	0.7	0.0	0.0	62.6	21.4	54.3	2.1
4BA-08	50.0	5.0	15.4	2.3	14.0	1.3	1.7	0.0	4.6	0.0	4.2	1.4	64.0	9.2	21.9	13.1
4BA-11	41.1	3.3	8.4	0.6	32.3	0.0	0.4	0.0	0.2	13.6	0.0	0.0	39.5	7.5	44	6.9

Fig.5 Relationships between heavy mineral index values in the Abushan Formation in 114 daoban area

Table 4 Results of LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating of detrital zircons from sandstone from the Abushan Formation in 114 daoban area

Fig.6 Comparison of U-Pb zircon age spectra between the Abushan Formation and potential source areas. Data partly adapted from [18,48⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓-57].

Fig.7 Reconstruction of paleogeography of the Qiangtang Basin during the Late Cretaceous. Modified after [7].

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