Geochemistry of fine-grained sediments of the Upper Cretaceous to Paleogene Gosau Group (Austria, Slovakia): Implications for paleoenvironmental and provenance studies

Autor(en)
Gerald Hofer, M. Wagreich, S. Neuhuber
Abstrakt

Bulk rock geochemistry of 169 fine-grained sediment samples of the upper Cretaceous to Paleogene Gosau Group (Northern Calcareous Alps, Austria and Slovakia) from borehole and outcrop localities was performed to separate non-marine and marine deposits. Geochemical characteristics of different Gosau depositional systems, basins and sediment provenance using major-, trace-, and rare earth elements were also investigated. Geochemical proxies such as boron concentrations were tested for seeking the possibilities of paleosalinity indicators. Due to the fact that several pelagic sections are represented by extremely low boron contents, B/Al* ratios are recognized as more robust and differentiate reliably between marine (mean: 160 ± 34) and non-marine (mean: 133 ± 33) samples. Using statistical factor analysis, hemipelagic to pelagic samples from the Gießhübl Syncline and Slovakian equivalents can be differentiated from marginal-marine to non-marine samples from the Grünbach and Glinzendorf Syncline related to terrigenous (SiO , AlO, KO, Th, Rb, Zr and others) and pelagic indicative elements (CaO, Sr, TOT/C and B/Al*). A clear indication for ophiolitic provenance is traced by high amounts of chromium and nickel. Only non-marine successions of the Glinzendorf Syncline show higher Cr and Ni concentrations (up to 250 and 400 ppm, respectively) and enriched Cr/V and Y/Ni ratios trending to an ultramafic source.

Organisation(en)
Institut für Geologie
Journal
Geoscience Frontiers
Band
4
Seiten
449-468
Anzahl der Seiten
20
ISSN
1674-9871
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsf.2012.11.009
Publikationsdatum
07-2013
Peer-reviewed
Ja
ÖFOS 2012
105121 Sedimentologie, 105105 Geochemie
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 14 – Leben unter Wasser
Link zum Portal
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/9bba25f3-aef4-4ba4-ae7f-ab3c1a4012ef