Detrital zircon U–Pb geochronology and geochemistry of the Riachuelos and Palma Sola beach sediments, Veracruz State, Gulf of Mexico: a new insight on palaeoenvironment

Abstract

Zircons are abundant in the beach sediments. In this study, surface microtexture, mineralogy, bulk sediment geochemistry, trace element composition and U–Pb isotopic geochronology of detrital zircons collected from the Riachuelos and Palma Sola beach areas, southwestern Gulf of Mexico were performed to infer the sediment provenance and palaeoenvironment. The zircon microtexture was categorized as mechanically- and/or chemically-induced features. The weathering index values for the Riachuelos (~ 72–77) and Palma Sola (~ 71–74) beach sediments indicated moderate weathering of both of the two source areas. The major and trace element data of bulk sediments suggested passive margin settings for the two areas. The trace elemental ratios and chondrite-normalized rare earth element (REE) patterns of bulk sediments revealed that the sediments were likely sourced by felsic and intermediate igneous rocks. And the zircon Th/U ratios (mostly more than 0.2) and zircon REE patterns (with negative Eu and positive Ce anomalies) suggested a magmatic origin for both of the beach sediments from these two areas. Two distinct zircon age peaks respectively belonging to the Paleozoic and the Cenozoic were identified both in the Riachuelos and Palma Sola beach sediments. Zircon geochronology comparison research between the Riachuelos–Palma Sola beach sediments and potential source areas in SW Gulf of Mexico revealed that the source terrane supplied the Paleozoic zircons of this study was identified as the Mesa Central Province (MCP), and the Cenozoic zircons were transported from the nearby Eastern Alkaline Province (EAP). Moreover, although the Precambrian zircons were very few in the studied sediments, their geochronology and geochemistry results still could infer that they were contributed by the source terranes of Grenvillian igneous suites in the Oaxaca and the Chiapas Massif Complexes.

Depositional age, provenance, and palaeoenvironment of the Lower Permian mudstones in the Qiangtang Basin, Tibet: Evidence from geochronology and geochemistry

“…On the TiO 2 –Zr diagram, all samples also plot in the felsic and intermediate source fields (Figure 8e), reflecting that their provenance mainly consists of intermediate and felsic igneous rocks. In addition, the trace element ratios of Co/Th and La/Sc are useful in provenance identification (Armstrong‐Altrin, 2020; Ayala‐Pérez et al, 2021; Cullers, 2002; Ma et al, 2015; Wronkiewicz & Condie, 1987). The Co/Th ratios of the source area decrease from mafic to felsic igneous rocks (Amorosi, Centineo, Dinelli, Lucchini, & Tateo, 2002).…”

First U-Pb Detrital Zircon Ages from Kamlial Formation (Kashmir, Pakistan): Tectonic Implications for Himalayan Exhumation

“…In addition, the zircon Th/U ratio is also an important elemental ratio, which is used to discriminate between the metamorphic and igneous origin zircon [56,57]. The detrital zircon grains derived from the igneous origin possessed a Th/U ratio value >0.3, whereas [53] where LH, GH, TH, KLA, LB, KB, THB, and GHP stand for Lesser Himalaya, Greater Himalaya, Tethyan Himalaya, Kohistan-Ladakh Arc, Lahasa Block, Karakoram Block, Trans-Himalayan batholiths, and Greater Himalayan Pluton, respectively.…”

“…In addition, the zircon Th/U ratio is also an important elemental ratio, which is used to discriminate between the metamorphic and igneous origin zircon [56,57]. The detrital zircon grains derived from the igneous origin possessed a Th/U ratio value > 0.3, whereas the detrital zircons with a Th/U ratio <0.3 indicate the metamorphic origin [57].…”

Tourmaline and rutile geochemistry in the Early–Middle Devonian sandstones of the Padeha Formation, Alborz Range, Northern Iran

“…Heavy‐mineral assemblage plays a crucial role in identification of source areas (e.g., Azizi et al, 2018; Bónová, Mikuš, & Bóna, 2018; Chaudhuri, Banerjee, Prabhakar, & Das, 2020; Garzanti & Andò, 2019; Garzanti, Andò, & Vezzoli, 2006; Lewin et al, 2020; Mange & Wright, 2007). It can provide valuable information on reconstruction of the transport history (Armstrong‐Altrin, 2020; Armstrong‐Altrin, Ramos‐Vázquez, Hermenegildo‐Ruiz, & Madhavaraju, 2020; Makuluni, Kirkland, & Barham, 2019), and it is also a very useful tool for palaeoclimate reconstructions (Derkachev & Nikolaeva, 2013; Garzanti et al, 2020). Heavy‐mineral suites are a suitable method for correlation of hydrocarbon reservoir sandstone horizons (Morton & McGill, 2018; Smyth, Morton, Richardson, & Scott, 2014) and are even applicable in archaeological research (Mange & Bezeczky, 2007).…”