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Provenance and weathering as are control on the geochemical composition of

the Devonian and Carboniferous sedimentary rocks in the Sudut area,
Uvurkhangay Province, Mongolia

Conference Paper · June 2013

DOI: 10.1109/IFOST.2013.6616997

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 The 8th International Forum on Strategic Technology 2013

28 June - 01 July, 2013

Provenance and weathering as are control on the

geochemical composition of the Devonian and
Carboniferous sedimentary rocks in the Sudut
area, Uvurkhangay Province, Mongolia
Narantuya Purevjav*, Hiroki Ohira** Dhiman Kumer Roy** and Narangoo Purevjav***
* School of Geology and Petroleum Engineering, MUST, Department of Mineral
Exploration, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
**
Shimane University, Department of Geoscience, Japan
***
Okayama University, Institute for study of the earth interior, Tottori, Japan

Abstract— Major and trace element analyses were made on
twenty nine Middle–Upper Devonian and Lower
Carboniferous sedimentary rocks from the Sudut area.
Negative linear correlation trend on a SiO2-Al2O3 plot and
positive correlations of other major oxides with Al2O3
indicates that the proportions of quartz, feldspar and lithics
relative to clays is the dominant control on the chemistry of
the basement sedimentary rocks. Positive correlations
among Al2O3, Zr, Y, Nb, P2O5 and Th suggest that both
heavy minerals and clay phases control the abundances of
these elements. Major and trace element concentrations in
the basement sedimentary rocks suggest a relatively
homogeneous source, with felsic composition similar to
Upper Continental Crust (UCC). Average Chemical Index
of Alteration (CIA) values of the Middle Devonian (58.9),
Upper Devonian (53.3), and Lower Carboniferous (54.9)
sediments are very low, suggesting weak to moderate
weathering of their original source. Middle Devonian
sediments were suffered more intense post-depositional K-
metasomatism than the Upper Devonian and Lower
Carboniferous sediments.
I. INTRODUCTION
The study area is positioned in Bat-Ulziit sub-
province, Uvurkhangay, central Mongolia. Tectonically,
the Sudut area is situated in the south eastern part of
Tsetserleg terrane, Hangay sub-basin. Terrane intra-
continental basin of the Mongol Trans Baikal folds
system, which consists of Devonian and Carboniferous
terrigeneous, flysh and molasse sediments such as
sandstone and mudstone. The study area was affected by
later tectonic activity that produced many faults and shear
zones, and related vertical and horizontal displacements.
Three formations comprise the main geological units in
the study area. These are composed of siltstone and
sandstone and jasper layer (Erdenetsogt Frmn, D2er),
conglomerate and mudstone (Jargalant Frmn, C1dz) and
sandstone and mudstone (Tsetserleg Frmn, D2-3cc). The
main purpose of this research is to evaluate the
provenance, source weathering conditions, on
geochemical of the sedimentary rocks.
II. SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS
A. Sampling and sample preparation
Twenty-nine fresh samples (sandstone and mudstone)
were collected from Devonian and Carboniferous
sedimentary rocks in the Sudut area. Among them 17 and
9 samples from Middle to Upper Devonian Erdenetsogt
and Tsetserleg respectively and 3 samples from Lower
Carboniferous Jargalant formations. Samples were
collected from fresh outcrop only to eliminate the
possible modern weathering.
Each sample were chipped manually into 1 to 2cm
pieces using a geological hammer and a manual splitter,
during chipping thin weathered surface were removed
from individual samples. 100g chipped samples were
placed in Pyrex beakers and washed several times by
running tap water and then deionized by distilled water to
remove surface dust, and left to stand for about 24 hours.
Then drained, and oven dried at 110° C for 24 hours prior
milling. Samples were crushed for 25-45 seconds,
depending on lithology and sample weight. Crushing
progress is using a ROCKLABS model RC ring mill a
100g capacity tungsten carbide head. 8-10g powdered
samples were transferred to glass vials and returned to a
110°C oven for 24 hours prior to determination of loss on
ignition (LOI).
B. Analytical methods
The X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF) analysis
was carried out at Shimane University. LOI values were
determined by ignition of the dried samples in a muffle
furnace at 1020°C for more than 2 hours. LOI was then
calculated from the net weight loss. The LOI values thus
include loss of volatiles (e.g. H2O, F, Cl, CO2, SO4) and
weight gains through oxidation (conversion of FeO to
Fe2O3). These ignited samples were used for preparation
of glass fusion beads for XRF analysis. Abundance of
major elements and 18 trace elements were determined

517
from glass beads prepared with an alkali flux (80% silica. All samples are free from the dilution effects of
lithium tetraborate, 20% lithium metaborate), with a CaCO3, which make the data reliable for the
sample to flux ration of 1:2. Analytical, instrumental interpretation of provenance, weathering and tectonic
methods and calibration were followed by 1. setting. Average Al2O3 concentration ranges from 2.56 -
18.57wt% for Jargalant, Tsetserleg and Erdenetsogt
III. RESULT AND DISCUSSION formations (mean 16.58; 15.08; 15.55wt%). Two samples
of Erdenetsogt Formation shows very low concentration
A. Geochemistry of Al2O3 i.e, 5.14 wt% and 2.56 wt% respectively due to
the effect of quartz dilution that indicates the composition
Major and trace elements analysis (anhydrous of the sediments are controlled by the ratios of quartz and
normalized basis) of Erdenetsogt, Tsetserleg and clay minerals.
Jargalant Formations on sandstones and mudstones Lowest concentration of TiO2 shows in the Jargalant
averages are listed in table 1. formation and ranges from 0.03-0.82 wt% (mean, 0.57
wt%), compared to 0.24-1.54 wt% (mean, 0.68 wt%) for
TABLE. 1. Average composition for all three formations (Erdenetsogt, the Erdenetsogt Formation, whereas the Tsetserleg
Tsetserleg and Jargalant). x – not available
Formation contains the highest concentrations 0.39-2.23
wt% (mean, 0.90 wt%).
UCC,
Erdenetsogt Tsetserleg Jargalant Rudnick Fe2O3 content increases from the Jargalant to
Elements Tsetserleg Formation. The concentration range for all
& Gao
D2er D2-3cc C1dz (2005) three formations from 0.58 to 9.53wt% (mean, 4.22wt%
= Jargalant; 5.02wt% and 5.68wt% for Erdenetsogt and
Major elements (wt%)
Tsetserleg respectively).
SiO2 70.18 66.32 65.34 66.6
MnO and MgO contents of Jargalant Formation
TiO2 0.60 0.90 0.75 0.64
ranges from 0.01-0.56 wt% (mean, 0.18 wt%) and 0.16-
Al2O3 14.95 15.55 16.89 15.4
Fe2O3
2.24 wt% (mean, 1.42 wt%) respectively. MnO and MgO
4.68 5.68 5.43 5.04
MnO
concentrations of Erdenetsogt and Tsetserleg Formations
0.09 0.11 0.24 0.10
MgO 2.48
range from 0.03-0.24 wt% (mean, 0.09 wt%) and 0.03-
1.30 1.82 1.84
CaO 1.43 2.66 1.93 3.59
0.18 wt% (mean, 0.11 wt%) and 0.57-3.67 wt% (mean,
Na2O 3.26 3.63 3.71 3.27 1.46 wt%) and 0.77-2.77 wt% (mean, 1.82 wt%)
K2O 3.36 3.10 3.65 2.80 respectively.
P2O5 0.15 0.23 0.22 0.15 Concentrations of CaO ranges from 0.71-2.11 wt%
(mean, 1.63 wt%) in the Jargalant formation, 0.07-5.91
Trace elements (ppm)
Ba 1230 840 848 628
wt% (mean, 1.67 wt%) in Erdenetsogt formation and
Ce 57 64 74 63 0.54-4.46 wt% (mean, 2.66 wt%) in the Tsetserleg
Cr 17 17 21 92 formation.
Ga 19 19 22 18 K2O content is little higher in the Jargalant formation
Nb 11 11 13 12 (3.52-5.41 wt%, mean, 4.09 wt%) than in the Erdenetsogt
Ni 12 9 17 47 Formation (0.25-6.12 wt%, mean, 3.36 wt%) and the
Pb 16 17 25 17
Tsetserleg Formation contains 2.28-4.61 wt% (mean,
Rb 93 84 110 84
Sc 9 12 10 14 3.10 wt%).
Sr 438 565 490 320
Th 9 8 12 11
V 82 105 88 97 a b
Y 23 27 30 21
Zr 261 238 269 193
La 17 18 25 31
As 3 3 6 5
Zn 51 54 64 67
Cu 9 12 11 28
Total x
LOI 1.83 2.31 1.89 x c d
ICV 1.06 1.14 1.04 1.16
CIA 60.1 53.8 56.4 51.4
PIA 64.5 55.2 58.7 51.7

SiO2 contents of the Jargalant Formation range from

63.27-73.57 wt% (mean, 67.40wt%), 58.52-78.79 wt%
(mean, 66.32 wt%) for the Tsetserleg Formation, and
56.15-92.85 wt% (mean, 69.12 wt%) for the Erdenetsogt Fig. 1. Harker variation diagram by all three formations
Formation. All formations contain similar amount of

- 518 -
 Abundance of P2O5 in the Jargalant Formation ranges
from 0.0-0.23 wt% (mean, 0.16 wt%), 0.04-0.87 wt%
(mean, 0.19 wt%) for Erdenetsogt Formation and 0.12-
0.43 wt% (mean, 0.23 wt%) in the Tsetserleg formation.
The compositions of the sediments are mainly
controlled by the ratio of silica and clay minerals. Clay
minerals absorb many elements on their surfaces.
Therefore, Al2O3 contents of the Basement rock
(Tsetserleg, Erdenetsogt and Jargalant formations) have
been plotted the X-axis to observe the control of clay
(Al2O3) on the other oxides in the Y-axis.
The basement rocks show negative correlation in Al2O3-
SiO2 space (Fig. 1a). This is very common in sedimentary
rocks, and indicates control by the ratio of
aluminosilicates and quartz. Plots of with MnO, P2O5 and
CaO vs Al2O3 shows no correlation or systematic
variation in the Harker variation diagram, indicating these
elements are controlled by multiple mineral phases.
Weak positive correlation of MgO and Fe2O3 with
Al2O3 (not shown) suggests that their association with
clay minerals and probably linked with chlorite and
smectite clay minerals resulting from the partial
breakdown of mafic minerals. Weak positive correlation
between Al2O3-K2O indicates the presence of illitic clay
minerals (Fig. 1b) related to the partial breakdown of
mica and K-feldspar in the sediments.
No systematic correlation exists between Al2O3 and
Na2O (Fig. 1c), However, the depletion of Na2O relative
to the Upper Continental Crust (UCC) value suggest
severe loss of plagioclase feldspar during weathering and
lack of correlation with Al2O3 indicates that these
elements present in multiple mineral phases.
However, positive correlation between Al2O3 and
TiO2 (not shown), indicating its association with clay
minerals which is related to moderate chemical
weathering in the source area.
B. Provenance
Source rocks play a great role on the geochemical
composition of the sediments. Discrimination function
analysis (F1 vs. F2) using major elements by 2,
separated mafic (P1), intermediate (P2) felsic (P3) and
quartzose recycled (P4) categories. They used seven
major elements in order to evaluate the provenance of the
sandstone – mudstone suites.
F1 vs. F2 discrimination diagram of 2 suggest that
the sediments of the Erdenetsogt (Middle Devonian,
D2er) and Tsetserleg (Upper Devonian, D2-3cc)
formations plot mainly within P3 – felsic source (Fig. 2),
with some scatter into P2 (intermediate) field, whereas
the sediments of Jargalant (Lower Carboniferous, C1dz)
formation are plotted within P3 –felsic type source.
The overall data based on major elements indicates that
the derivation of Erdenetsogt and Tsetserleg formations
sediment from a felsic source with significant
contribution from intermediate type material. However,
- 519 -
sediments of the Jargalant Formation had only felsic
source.
The provenance relation can be obtained using more
reliable immobile trace elements composition using the
discrimination scheme of 3.They used immobile trace
elements i.e, Th, Sc, Zr to identify the average source
rock composition. Th/Sc vs Zr/Sc diagram (not shown)
the Erdenetsogt Formation sediments shows an extended
trend due to zircon concentration and extensive sorting
effects. The overall observation of major elements,
immobile elements indicates that the sediments of the
Jargalant, Erdenetsogt and Tsetserleg Formations were
derived from a felsic type of source i.e, average
composition of dacite – rhyolite.
Fig. 2. Discrimination diagram of basement rock (after
Roser and Korsch. 1988) RH – rhyolite, RD – rhyo-
dacite, DA – dacite, AN – andesite, BA – basalt.
C. Paleoweathering
Several equation and discrimination scheme have
already been developed to identify the degree of
weathering and its effects on sediment compositions 4.
The effects of variable degree of weathering in the
source and during the transportation can be measured by
the Chemical Index Alteration (CIA) this quantifies the
conversion of feldspar to clay 4-5 and can be defined by
the equation: CIA = [Al2O3/(Al2O3+CaO* + Na2O
+K2O)], where CaO* represents the CaO content in the
silicate fraction of the rock. The data are plotted as molar
propositions, and have not been corrected for carbonate
CaO due to the lack of CO2 data. Higher degrees of
source area weathering are indicated by high CIA value
4-5. The CIA value of average shale range from 70-75,
similar to the composition of muscovite, illite and mixed
layer etc. The CIA value of Jargalant Formation (Lower
Carboniferous) ranges from 54 – 57 (Mean 55), 49 – 90
(mean 59) for Erdenetsogt Formation, and 50 – 57 (mean
53) for the Tsetserleg formation.
 The weathering pattern indicates uniform weathering
condition during the deposition of those sediments. The
low weathering value of these sediments indicates low
intensity of weathering in the source linked with dry and
or cold climate condition. The overall data do not indicate
substantial weathering in the source area. The weathering
intensity also can be evaluated by plotting the data in the
Al2O3 – (CaO* + Na2O) – K2O (A – CN - K)
compositional space of Nesbitt and Young (1982, 1984).
The theoretical background of the A – CN – K ternary
plot is weathering of bed rock to be rich in Al which give
the sub parallel trend to the A – CN join from the
unweathered source composition on the feldspar one. The
basement rocks (Jargalant, Erdenetsogt and Tsetserleg
formations) were plotted on the A – CN – K plot (Fig. 3)
to identify the source rock composition, weathering
intensity and effects of K–metasomatism. The solid lines
indicate the protolith of the sediments. On the A – CN –
K diagram, the Erdenetsogt Formation sediments plot to
the right of the ideal weathering line (IWL) due to the
effect of K2O enrichment, whereas the sediments of
Jargalant Formation plot almost parallel to the A – CN
axis, indicating they suffered less K - metasomatism than
the Erdenetsogt and Tsetserleg formations. The sediments
of Erdenetsogt Formation suffered more intense post –
depositional K–metasomatism than Tsetserleg formation.
All of these sediments shows clear trend towards the illite
composition. The extent of K–metasomatism can be
obtained of the particular sample by the difference
between pre – metasomatic CIA and current CIA value of
the sample 6. The K – enrichments of Jargalant
formation range from 0.0% to 3.85 %, 0.0 to 11.66% for
Erdenetsogt and 0.0 % to 3.85% for Tsetserleg formation.
The overall data indicates that Erdenetsogt formation
have suffered more K – addition than others.
Fig. 3. A-CN-K diagram of basement rock (Nesbitt and
Young, 1984). B,Ga – Ba, Ga – basalt and gabbro, D –
diorite, Da – dacite, G, Rh – granite and rhyolite. CIA –
chemical Index Alteration (CIA = Al2O3/[Al2O3 + K2O +
Na2O + CaO*]*100)
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The overall data indicates that the basement rocks
experienced low to moderate chemical weathering related
to dry and cold climatic condition and short distance of
journey from its source.
IV. CONCLUSIONS
Positive correlations among Al2O3, Zr, Y, Nb, P2O5
and Th suggest that heavy minerals including zircon and
monazite are associated with clay phases. However,
negative linear correlation trend between SiO2 with Al2O3
plot whereas, positive correlations between other major
oxides with Al2O3 indicates that the proportion of quartz,
feldspar and lithics relative to clays is the dominant
control on the basement sedimentary rock chemistry. The
major and trace elements of Erdenetsogt, Tsetserleg and
Jargalant formations indicates that the sediments derived
from a uniform source of felsic to intermediate (dacite to
rhyolite) composition i.e. Chemical Index Alteration
(CIA) suggests that Erdenetsogt (Middle Devonian,
D2er), Tsetserleg (Upper Devonian, D2-3cc), Jargalant
(Lower Carboniferous, C1dz) formations sediments are
weak to moderate weathering of their original source.
Middle Devonian sediments suffered more intense post-
depositional K-metasomatism than the Upper Devonian
and Lower Carboniferous suites.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The late Professor S. Dandar of the School of
Geology and Petroleum Engineering, MUST, gave
invaluable help during our field sampling, and made
many helpful suggestions. We also acknowledge
Professor G. Ukhnaa of the Department of Mineral
Exploration, School of Geology and Petroleum
Engineering, for his support with sample storage and
transport. Our special thanks to Dr. R. P. Barry for
supervising the XRF analyses. Thanks to Associate
Professor S. Jargalan (PhD) for review the manuscript.
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