Provenance and Tectonic Setting of Late Lower Cretaceous (Albian) Kazhdumi Formation Sandstones (SW Iran)

Abstract

Provenance and tectonic setting of the Late Lower Cretaceous (Albian) sandstones in SW Iran have been interpreted on the basis of geochemistry (major and trace elements) of 35 samples from Iranian offshore oil fields (Soroosh, Nowrooz, Foroozan and Hendijan). Geochemically, trace-element concentrations, such as La, Th, Sc and Zr, and ratios, such as La/Sc, Th/Sc, La/Co, and Th/Co, of sandstones from Kazhdumi Formation at four localities indicate that they were derived from felsic source rocks and deposited in a passive continental margin. Most major and trace element contents of Kazhdumi sandstones are generally similar to upper continental crust (UCC) values. However, some samples are depleted in major and trace elements (such as K 2 O, Na 2 O, Sr and Ba) relative to UCC, which is mainly due to absence or smaller amount of Na-rich plagioclase and K-feldspar and also paucity of clay minerals, which is possibly due to intense weathering and recycling. Enrichments in Zr, negative Sr anomalies and Th/U ratios higher than 4 for Kazhdumi sandstones are further evidence for recycled sources. The study of paleoweathering conditions based on chemical index of weathering (CIW) indicates a moderate to intense weathering of first cycle sediments, or it may alternatively reflect recycling under semi-arid to semi-humid climate conditions in Kazhdumi sandstones. The results of this study suggest that the main source for the Kazhdumi sandstones is likely located in uplifted shoulders of a rifted basin (Neo-Tethys) in its post-rift stage (Arabian basement).