Sand(stone)s Quantitative Provenance Analysis

A special issue of Geosciences (ISSN 2076-3263).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2021) | Viewed by 17129

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Associate Professor, Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences (DiBEST), University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
Interests: siliciclastic sediments and sedimentary rocks; sand(stone) composition and provenance; petrography and origin of sand(stone) types
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Guest Editor
Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
Interests: siliciclastic sediments and sedimentary rocks; sand(stone) composition and provenance; petrography and origin of sand(stone) types

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

A basic quantitative element of sand-sized sediments and sedimentary rocks is composition, and the parent lithologies of eroded orogenic systems rest on the petrographic analysis of terrigenous sediments’ detrital modes. In fact, on the scale of global dispersal systems, the development of sand(stone) petrology has provided evidence for interpreting tectonic setting models, insights into (paleo)climatic conditions of the source areas, (paleo)current patterns, facies relationships of stratigraphic units, and the overall clastic unit volumes of the basins’ fill.

This Special Issue invites contributions that are concerned with the petrography of modern sand-sized sediments and ancient sandstones of the Earth record, aimed at constraining potential source rocks and the pre- or post-burial control factors (i.e., weathering efficiency, transport dynamics, recycling, and diagenetic processes) that may further obscure the original detrital composition. Since sand and sandstones comprise a wide mixture of source grains, their quantitative provenance analysis is often best tackled using petrographic microscopy encompassing the full spectrum of sand(stone) types (framework or QFL compositions, non-opaque heavy mineral associations, exploration of the opaque detrital phases, specific detrital mineral compositions used as petrogenetic tracers in volcaniclastic sequences, or providing petrogenetic constraints on high-pressure source rocks’ provenance, authigenic minerals, etc.). Moreover, the use of sand grain petrography as a tool within the Earth sciences is also expanding in environmental and criminal geoforensics, as accounted for by studies published in the past. Most of these studies, which contributed to both civil and criminal forensic investigations, demonstrated that the petrographic analysis of sand grains, determined accurately with a standard petrographic microscope, assisted in the location of their possible geographical source area. Thus, reviews or research papers addressing the potential forensic use of sandy particle petrographic approaches are also highly appreciated.

Prof. Emilia Le Pera
Dr. Consuele Morrone
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • sand and sandstone provenance
  • sedimentary systems
  • detrital mineralogy composition
  • epiclastic processes
  • effects of diagenesis in sandstones
  • forensic sedimentary petrography

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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28 pages, 5127 KiB  
Article
Petrographical and Geochemical Study of Syn-Rift Sediments, Pranhita-Godavari Intracratonic Gondwana Basin, India: Genesis and Paleo-Environmental Implications
by Sanghita Dasgupta, Santanu Banerjee and Parthasarathi Ghosh
Geosciences 2022, 12(6), 230; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences12060230 - 30 May 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3485
Abstract
The approximately 2 km thick fluvio-lacustrine deposits of Pranhita-Godavari Gondwana syn-rift basin, ranging in age from 235 to 196 Ma, track the compositional changes from the Middle Triassic to Early Jurassic. Mineralogical and geochemical investigations, as well as paleocurrent data of the siliciclastic [...] Read more.
The approximately 2 km thick fluvio-lacustrine deposits of Pranhita-Godavari Gondwana syn-rift basin, ranging in age from 235 to 196 Ma, track the compositional changes from the Middle Triassic to Early Jurassic. Mineralogical and geochemical investigations, as well as paleocurrent data of the siliciclastic deposits of the four conformable formations—Yerrapalli, Bhimaram, Maleri and Dharmaram—trace the source of sediments to the south and southwest of the Gondwana basin. The dominance of arkosic to sub-arkosic sandstones in all the formations suggests mostly felsic sources. The high value of Zr/Sc, as well a high content of Hf, reflects the addition of zircon by sediment recycling. The index of compositional variability (ICV) and chemical index of alteration (CIA) values of these Gondwana samples suggest intermediate weathering of Proterozoic shales, granites and gneisses. The concentration of Cr and Ni, ratios of Eu/Eu* and (GdN/YbN) suggest a dominant post-Archean source. The insignificant variation in ICV and CIA values across the studied Mesozoic formations corroborates the continuation of syn-rift tectonics of the Pranhita-Godavari Gondwana basin since the Late Paleozoic. Sandstone samples show a gradual shift from arkose to subarkose in Yerrapalli, Barakar and Maleri formations, and to sublithic arenite sandstones in the younger Dharmaram formation, indicating recycling. However, the insignificant variation of feldspar and/or quartz content throughout these Mesozoic formations suggests lesser tectonic activity. The paleocurrent direction, shifting from NNW to NE direction, suggests a change in basin tectonism and/or sediment supply, which is corroborated by mineralogical and geochemical data. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sand(stone)s Quantitative Provenance Analysis)
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22 pages, 45685 KiB  
Article
High Preservation Potential Volcaniclastic Sedimentation in the Serravallian Sequence of the Amantea Basin (Coastal Chain, North-Western Calabria)
by Cannata Chiara Benedetta, De Rosa Rosanna, Donato Paola, Morrone Consuele and Muto Francesco
Geosciences 2021, 11(9), 360; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences11090360 - 25 Aug 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2713
Abstract
Evidence of volcaniclastic sedimentation occurs in the first depositional sequence of the sedimentary succession of the Amantea Basin. Volcaniclastic deposits are intercalated in the upper part of a sandstone formation and these show a maximum thickness of about 8 m. The Amantea Basin [...] Read more.
Evidence of volcaniclastic sedimentation occurs in the first depositional sequence of the sedimentary succession of the Amantea Basin. Volcaniclastic deposits are intercalated in the upper part of a sandstone formation and these show a maximum thickness of about 8 m. The Amantea Basin is a Neogene depozone located along the Tyrrhenian margin of Calabria whose onset started during the Upper Serravallian. The source volcano to these materials had to have been located within or near to the marine basin in order to supply it with significant amounts of pyroclastic fragments emplaced by either pyroclastic fall/or flows during one or more explosive eruptions. The marine environment of volcaniclastic flows made up of pyroclastic fragments mixed with minor siliciclastic and carbonate material. The textural and structural features of the deposits and the composition of the volcanic glass fragments indicate an origin from a sub-aerial coeval explosive eruption, with initial sedimentation in a shallow marine environment, mixing with non-volcanic materials, reworking and final re-sedimentation into the basin. The age of the volcaniclastic/sedimentary sequence makes these deposits a marker for the geodynamic evolution of the area, and the lack of such horizons in the other coeval peri-Tyrrhenian basins allows us to consider the Amantea Basin as a confined elongated coastal basin area, whose tectonostratigraphic architecture denotes a structural partitioning of the eastern nascent Tyrrhenian Basin. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sand(stone)s Quantitative Provenance Analysis)
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10 pages, 2301 KiB  
Article
Diagenetic Clay Minerals and Their Controls on Reservoir Properties of the Shahbazpur Gas Field (Bengal Basin, Bangladesh)
by Md Nahidul Hasan, Rumana Yeasmin, M. Julleh Jalalur Rahman and Sally Potter-McIntyre
Geosciences 2020, 10(7), 250; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences10070250 - 30 Jun 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3712
Abstract
Clay mineralogy and diagenesis affect the reservoir quality of the Neogene Surma Group in the Hatiya trough of Bengal Basin, Bangladesh. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopic analyses of diagenetic clay minerals from Shahbazpur#2 well reveal that on average illite is the dominant [...] Read more.
Clay mineralogy and diagenesis affect the reservoir quality of the Neogene Surma Group in the Hatiya trough of Bengal Basin, Bangladesh. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopic analyses of diagenetic clay minerals from Shahbazpur#2 well reveal that on average illite is the dominant clay mineral (50%), followed by chlorite (24%), kaolinite (23%) and smectite (2.50%). The absence of smectite at Core-2 (3259.80 m to 3269 m) results from the total transformation of smectite to illite owing to burial depth and high K–feldspar. The diagenetic changes are a result of chemical processes such as cementation, chlorite authigenesis, dissolution, alteration and replacement that have significantly affected the reservoir properties. Cementation plays an important role in reducing reservoir properties with pore and fracture filling cement. The relative percentage of illite and smectite minerals (>90% illite in I/S mixed layer) and Kübler index value (0.34° to 0.76° Δ2θ) indicate a diagenetic zone with subsurface temperatures of 120–180 °C in the studied samples. The temperature range determined using clay percentages and the Kübler index as a geothermometer is supported by observed diagenetic features such as quartz overgrowths, smectite to illite transformations and chlorite coatings. The diagenetic features cause variable reservoir porosity and permeability that are critical in planning exploration and development programs of this field or analog fields across the Bengal Basin. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sand(stone)s Quantitative Provenance Analysis)
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Review

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12 pages, 3133 KiB  
Review
Deep-Water Accumulation of Volcaniclastic Detritus from a Petrographic Point of View: Beginning a Discussion from the Alpine Peripheral Basins
by Andrea Di Capua, Federica Barilaro and Gianluca Groppelli
Geosciences 2021, 11(11), 441; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences11110441 - 27 Oct 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1822
Abstract
The interpretation of eruptive mechanisms accumulating ancient submarine volcaniclastic sequences is still extremely challenging, particularly when no spatial nor temporal constraints are identifiable. The present work reviews petrographic results gained during the last few decades on three different Paleogene Formations accumulated around the [...] Read more.
The interpretation of eruptive mechanisms accumulating ancient submarine volcaniclastic sequences is still extremely challenging, particularly when no spatial nor temporal constraints are identifiable. The present work reviews petrographic results gained during the last few decades on three different Paleogene Formations accumulated around the Alpine and Apennine Mountain belts, discussing how their detritus could have been formed and moved from the volcanic centers to the depo-centers, taking into account the volcanic mechanisms which are at the base of the production, transportation and accumulation of volcaniclastic detritus. In doing this, we reconsider the classical diagrams of Folk and Gazzi–Dickinson, rediscussing their significance on the basis of how orogenic volcanism delivers detritus to the environment. In addition, this work highlights the need of the scientific community for gaining new petrographic data on modern sedimentary systems to better constrain interpretative criteria for the petrographic study of ancient volcano–sedimentary sequences. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sand(stone)s Quantitative Provenance Analysis)
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25 pages, 2286 KiB  
Review
Influencing Factors on Petrography Interpretations in Provenance Research—A Case-Study Review
by Carita Augustsson
Geosciences 2021, 11(5), 205; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences11050205 - 8 May 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4367
Abstract
The use of framework petrography is a common initial step in provenance research of sand and sandstone. The data tend to be interpreted based on the three main components quartz, feldspar, and lithic fragments. Surprisingly often, this is done without taking other influencing [...] Read more.
The use of framework petrography is a common initial step in provenance research of sand and sandstone. The data tend to be interpreted based on the three main components quartz, feldspar, and lithic fragments. Surprisingly often, this is done without taking other influencing factors than the tectonic setting of the catchment and/or the surroundings of the depositional basin into account. Based on a database of 14 studies with approximately 900 petrographic data points from sand and sandstone, this study demonstrates quantitative effects on the apparent composition resulting from both geological and non-geological biases. The study illustrates sandstone-classification differences based on different specifications of the three end-members quartz, feldspar, and lithic or rock fragments, how the point-counting method can affect the apparent petrographic composition of sandstone, how sorting and facies bias may be differentiated from a climate or provenance signal, and how bias due to diagenetic effects can be minimised. In conclusion, both geological and non-geological biases should be considered for provenance studies that include petrographic data. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sand(stone)s Quantitative Provenance Analysis)
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