The Mesopotamian Sedimentology researches..

Petrography and major element geochemistry of Late Triassic Carpathian Keuper sandstones: Implications for provenance

Ali AL-JUBOURY

Mosul University, Research Center for Dams and Water Resources, Al-Majmoaa 58001, Mosul, Iraq.

 e-mail: alialjubory@yahoo.com

Abstract

Modal analysis, bulk-rock geochemistry and Fe-Ti mineral chemistry of the Late Triassic Carpathian Keuper sandstones indicate that their mineralogy being mainly quartz-dominated, with variable amounts of feldspars and rock fragments and are classified as quartz arenites, sub litharenites and sub-arkoses, suggesting derivation mainly from acid igneous rocks, gneisses and older sandstones. These are common constituents of the basement rocks in the area studied and the surroundings. Their bulk-rock geochemistry supports the petrographic results and indicates that they are virtually Fe-rich, lithic sandstones/quartz arkosic sandstones. Fe-Ti oxide minerals chemistry suggests a metamorphic rather than igneous sources. Based on the mineralogical and geochemical indicators, the probable provenance of the Keuper sandstones was mainly the metamorphic and igneous rocks of the crystalline cores of the Western Carpathians and the foreland of the Bohemian Massif which were weathered and deposited in the continental mainly fluvial and littoral environments of deposition of the Keuper Formation.