M. T. Krupenin

New data on Sr-and C-isotopic chemostratigraphy of the Upper Riphean type section (Southern Urals)

New data on Sr-and C-isotopic systematics of carbonate rocks from the Upper Riphean stratotype (Karatau Group of the southern Urals) are obtained for several southwestern sections of the Bashkirian meganticlinorium, which have not been studied before. The results obtained supplement the Sr-and C-isotopic information for the group upper horizons thus detailing chemostratigraphic characterization of the entire succession. Limestone and dolostone samples used to analyze the Sr isotope composition satisfy strict geochemical criteria of the isotopic system retentivity and have been subjected to preliminary treatment in ammonium acetate to remove secondary carbonate phases. Data on 255 samples of carbonate rocks (171 studied for the first time) show that δ13C value varies in the Karatau Group succession from −2.8 to +5.9 ‰ V-PDB with several in-phase excursions from the general trend in all the sections studied in the area 90 × 130 km. The δ13C variation trend demarcates several levels in the carbonate succession of the Karatau Group suitable for objectives of regional stratigraphy and for C-isotope chemostratigraphic subdivision of the Upper Riphean. The results of Sr isotopic analysis of 121 samples (51 unstudied before) from the Karatau Group imply that rocks in its lower part (the Katav Formation and basal horizon of the Inzer Formation) experienced considerable secondary alterations, while limestones and dolostones of the overlying interval of the group are frequently unaltered. In the “best” samples satisfying geochemical criteria of the isotopic system retentivity, the 87Sr/86Sr initial ratio increases from 0.70521–0.70532 in the lower Inzer deposits to 0.70611 in the upper Min’yar carbonates, decreasing to <0.70600 near the top of the latter. Above the regional hiatus separating the Min’yar and Uk formation, this ratio grows from 0.70533 to 0.70605–0.70609 in the limestone succession of the last formation.

The Sr Isotopic Characterization and Pb-Pb Age of Carbonate Rocks from the Satka Formation, the Lower Riphean Burzyan Group of the Southern Urals

The Rb-Sr and U-Pb systematics are studied in carbonate deposits of the Satka and Suran formations corresponding to middle horizons of the Lower Riphean Burzyan Group in the Taratash and Yamantau anticlinoria, respectively, the southern Urals. The least altered rock samples retaining the 87Sr/86Sr ratio of sedimentation basin have been selected for analysis using the original method of leaching the secondary carbonate phases and based on strict geochemical criteria of the retentivity (Mn/Sr < 0.2, Fe/Sr < 5 and Mg/Ca < 0.024). The stepwise dissolution in 0.5 N HBr has been used to enrich samples in the primary carbonate phase before the Pb-Pb dating. Three (L-4 to L-6) of seven consecutive carbonate fractions obtained by the step-wise leaching are most enriched in the primary carbonate (in terms of the U-Pb systematics). In the 206Pb/204Pb-207Pb/204Pb diagram, data points of these fractions plot along an isochron determining age of 1550 ± 30 Ma (MSWD = 0.7) for the upper member of the Satka Formation. The initial 87Sr/86Sr ratio in the least altered limestones of this formation is within the range of 0.70460–0.70480. Generalization of the Sr isotopic data published for the Riphean carbonates from different continents showed that 1650–1350 Ma ago the 87Sr/86Sr ratio in the world ocean was low, slightly ranging from 0.70456 to 0.70494 and suggesting the prevalent impact of mantle flux.

Fine-Grained Aluminosiliciclastic Rocks of the Middle Riphean Stratotype Section in the Southern Urals: Formation Conditions, Composition and Provenance Evolution

General trends of the formation of Middle Riphean fine-grained aluminosiliciclastic rocks in the Bashkir Meganticlinorium are considered. It is shown that Yurmatinian shales do not contain any significant pyroclastic admixture. Judging from the relatively constant Th/Cr ratio throughout the Yurmatinian section, the tectonic regime in the study territory during the early Middle Riphean is suggested to be rather stable. The main paleoclimatic indices and indicators of the pelitic material maturity (CIA, CIW, IVC, PIA, and ΣCe/ΣY) suggest that paleodrainage systems in the early Middle Riphean were dominated by humid climate that gave way to the arid or semiarid type in the middle Yurmatinian. The low Mo/Mn ratio and some other indicators of redox conditions in shales from all Yurmatinian lithostratigraphic units show that no explicit reducing conditions existed in the basin during the early Middle Riphean. The shales were characterized by the increase in K2O/Al2O3 ratio, gradual enrichment in REE, and growth of LREE/HREE and LaN/YbN ratios toward the middle Yurmatinian, indicating the gain of an appreciable amount of slightly weathered arkosic aluminosiliciclastic material in the sedimentary basin about 1220–1200 Ma ago. The REE distribution and the UCC- and AUC-normalized shale compositions suggest that the eroded upper crust was compositionally close to the UCC. The occurrence of mafic and ultramafic rocks is also inferred. Data points of Yurmatinian shales plotted in the Cr–Ni, Eu/Eu*–GdN/YbN, and (La/YB)N–YbN diagrams are localized between the fields of Upper Archean and post-Archean rocks or within the latter field. Hence, post-Archean igneous and metamorphic complexes prevailed in paleodrainage systems of the early Middle Riphean. This is also confirmed by the model Nd ages.

U-Pb (SHRIMP II) Age of Zircons from Ash Beds of the Chernokamen Formation, Vendian Sylvitsa Group (Central Urals)

The Serebryanka and Sylvitsa groups on the western slope of the Urals characterize the Vendian section of the eastern folded framework of the East European Platform [1]. They are conspicuous against the background of the coeval platformal sequences by their relatively complete sedimentary record, sufficiently good outcrops, and opportunities for detailed sedimentological study both along and across the regional paleoslope. The tillite units serve as key elements of the stratigraphic framework of the Serebryanka Group. However, their number and continuity along the strike remain a matter of debate [1, 2]. The Sylvitsa Group comprises the following formations recognized on a regional scale (from bottom to top): Staropechny Formation (with a thin tillite unit at the base), Perevalok, Chernokamen, and Ust’-Sylvitsa formations. Their specific structural features serve as criteria for largescale correlation with Upper Vendian platformal sequences [1‐3]. The Ediacaran-type soft-bodied fossil biota is abundant in the Chernokamen Formation. The great density of fossil populations, the high taxonomic diversity of this biota, and the presence of endemic (for the Southeast White Sea region) taxons give grounds to suggest biogeographic links between the Central Ural and White Sea segments of the Late Vendian paleobasin [4]. The fossil biota from sedimentary rocks of the Chernokamen Formation comprises Cyclomedusa davidi Sprigg, Dickinsonia sp., Dickinsonia tenuis Glaessner et Wade, Ediacaria flindersi Sprigg, Eoporpita medusa Wade, Inaria khatyspytia (Vodanjuk), Irridinitus multiradiatus Fedonkin, Medusinites mawsoni (Sprigg), Nemiana simplex Palij, Paliella patelliformis Fedonkin, Palaeopascichnus delicatus Palij, Protodipleurosoma wardi Sprigg, Vaizitsinia sophia Sokolov et Fedonkin, and Yorgia sp. These data make it possible to correlate the Chernokamen Formation of the Central Urals with the reference section of the southeastern White Sea region. The Upper Vendian of the White Sea region includes a very characteristic taxon Yorgia , which appears for the first time in the Zimnegorsk Formation. However, insufficiently reliable stratigraphic and facies affiliations of the Sylvitsa Group and the absence of isotopic datings remained serious obstacles for such correlation until recently. In 2002, we found thin volcanic ash beds in the upper part of the Staropechny Formation. These beds are associated with the chocolate brown thin-bedded mudstones that crop out on the left bank of the Sylvitsa River downstream of the Kernos Creek. In 2003, volcanic ash beds, which are also closely related to the chocolate brown mudstones, were revealed in the Staropechny and Perevalok formations and in the lower subformation of the Chernokamen Formation in the Vilukha ravine on the left and right banks of the Us’va River. In 2004, ash beds were traced for 4.5 km in the lower subformation of the Chernokamen Formation along the Mezhevaya Utka River. In all the above cases, ash beds were readily discernible as a poorly cemented light gray (with pinkish, cream, and greenish hues) rock among the host chocolate brown mudstones. Members of chocolate brown mudstones with volcanic ash beds are important for Upper Vendian stratigraphy of the East European Platform. The tuffaceous rocks serve as key units for subdivision and correlation of outcrops and borehole sections [2, 3, 5, 6]. The most complete Upper Vendian platformal sections of the Mezen syneclise and the southeastern White Sea region

Lithogeochemistry of the fine-grained siliciclastic rocks of the Vendian Serebryanka Group of the Central Urals

Sedimentation environments were reconstructed for the Early Vendian successions of the western slope of the Central Urals, which comprises one of the most complete sections of the terminal Precambrian system in northern Eurasia. It was shown that, despite the presence of several diamictite levels in the sections of the Serebryanka Group, mature and multiply recycled fine-grained siliciclastic materials (CIA = 65–77) were delivered into the sedimentation basin over the whole Early Vendian. Based on the lithochemical characteristics of shales, the climate of Serebryanka time can be estimated as semiarid-semihumid, similar to that dominating in Late Vendian paleocatchments. Based on relatively high Mo/Mn values (0.011–0.024), it was suggested that anoxic or similar conditions existed in the basin of Buton time, whereas other sedimentary complexes of the Serebryanka Group were formed in well aerated environments. The systematics of Sr, Ba, Zr, Cu, and V in fine-grained siliciclastic rocks and Sr isotopic data for carbonate rocks indicate that the sediments were accumulated in a fresh-water basin. The values of trace-element indicator ratios, e.g., Th/Sc, La/Sc, Th/Cr and others, in the shales of the Serebryanka Group and Nd model age estimates indicate that a variety of mainly Early Proterozoic complexes, ranging from granitoids to basic rocks, occurred in the Early Vendian paleocatchments. The basic rocks were eroded most extensively probably in the end of Serebryanka time. Based on the Ce/Ce* values of shales, it was concluded that submarine volcanism had no significant influence on sedimentation processes in the Early Vendian. An exception is Koiva and Kernos time, when hematite-bearing shales were accumulated in association with pillow basalts in some zones of the basin. The distribution of the compositions of shales from various formations of the Serebryanka Group in discrimination diagrams suggests that the Early Vendian sedimentary sequences were formed in passive geodynamic settings.

Structure and Depositional History of the Vendian Sylvitsa Group in the Western Flank of the Central Urals

A detailed description of sections and a genetic facies analysis has rendered a reconstruction of the depositional environments of the Upper Vendian Sylvitsa Group in the western flank of the Central Urals. The revealed cyclic structure, patterns of distribution of depositional systems, and position of surfaces of facies migration allowed a more comprehensive stratification of the fossiliferous sedimentary succession of the Chernyi Kamen Formation. The identified sequence of the stratigraphic architecture of the Sylvitsa Group formed the basis for reconstructing a depositional history of the Central Urals segment of the late Vendian paleobasin that existed at the eastern margin of the East European Craton. The most fossiliferous and stratigraphically the most complete sections of the Chernyi Kamen Formation are located in the southern part of the Kvarkush-Kamennogorsk Meganticlinorium marking an area of continuous subsidence. The results open up new possibilities for a high-resolution intrabasinal correlation between the Sylvitsa Group and the coeval sedimentary successions in the South Urals, Moscow and Mezen basins.

The First U-Pb (LA-ICP-MS) isotope data of detrital zircons from the basal levels of the Riphean stratotype

Attempts at dating detrital zircons from Late Pre� cambrian terrigenous rocks of the Western Urals have already been made. In (1-3), the age data of detrital zircons from Upper Middle-Upper Riphean and Lower and Upper Vendian (Upper Vendian-Middle Cambrian) deposits were summarized. This work pre� sents the first results of U-Pb LAICPMS isotope dating of detrital zircons, extracted from sandstones of the basal horizons of the Riphean stratotype sequence of the Southern Urals (Ai Formation, Burzyan Group of the Bashkir Meganticlinorium). The Bashkir meganticlinorium, a major structural unit of the structure of the Uralian foldthrust belt is located in the western segment of the Southern Urals (Fig. 1a). The Bashkir Meganticlinorium is composed of unevenly dislocated Paleozoic rocks. Within the Meganticlinorium, PreOrdovician complexes, divided distinctly into two units, are exposed on the surface. The lower horizons of these complexes are represented by Early Precambrian granitoides, amphibolites, and gneisses with relics of granulite� facies rocks (4, 5). This rock assemblage is referred to the Taratash metamorphic complex. In the northeast� ern part of the Bashkir Meganticlinorium, the Taratash complex composes the core of the Taratash Anticline. The rocks of the Taratash complex are over� lapped with stratigraphic and structural unconformity by a complex of terrigenous, terrigenouscarbonate, carbonate, and rarely volcanogenic and volcano� genic-sedimentary rocks with a total thickness of up to 12-15 km (4, 6, 7). The basal part of the complex is represented by conglomerates. The large lower part of this complex is the typical Riphean Erathem sequence (4, 6-8). The upper part is represented by the stratum of alternating aleurolites, sandstones, and rare arkose, and polymictic conglomerates (up to 1500 m thick) are referred as Upper Vendian (4, 7) or Upper Ven� dian-Middle Cambrian Asha (9).

Pb-Pb age and Sr isotopic characteristic of the Middle Riphean phosphorite concretions: The Zigaza-Komarovo Formation of the South Urals

The Pb-Pb age of phosphorite concretions of the Zigaza-Komarovo Formation, which composes the intermediate horizons of the Riphean stratotype of the South Urals, was determined in fractions resulting from the stepwise dissolution of concretions in 0.1 N, 0.5 N, and 1 N HCl. The determination of the Sr isotopic composition in phosphate fractions was favorable for rejection the fractions polluted with extraneous material. On the 207Pb/204Pb-206Pb/204Pb diagram, the isochron based on 31 points corresponds to 1330 ± 20 Ma (MSWD = 1.12), which is in agreement with the stratigraphic position of the Zigaza-Komarovo Formation. The decreased μ2 value of 9.57 for the phosphorite concretions relative to that of the average earthly lead based on the Stacey-Kramers model (9.74) is related to the rocks with an admixture of mantle lead, which occur in the run-off area of the Zigaza-Komarovo sediments.

U-Pb systematics of detrital zircons from the Serebryanka Group of the Central Urals

Based on the LA-ICP-MS data, detrital zircons from the tillite-type conglomerates of the Tanin Formation (Serebryanka Group) on the western slope of the Central Urals include approximately equal proportions of crystals with Neoarchean and Paleoproterozoic U-Pb ages. Therefore, we can assume that crystalline rocks of the basement beneath the eastern part of the East European Craton served as a provenance for aluminosilicate clastics in the initial Serebryanka period. Detrital zircons from sandstones of the Kernos Formation have the Meso-Neoarchean (∼15%), Paleoproterozoic (∼60%), and Mesoproterozoic (∼26%) age. Comparison of the obtained data with the results of the study of detrital zircons from Riphean and Vendian sandstones of the Southern Urals shows that the Riphean and Lower Vendian rocks are mainly represented by erosional products of Middle and Upper Paleoproterozoic crystalline rocks that constitute the basement of the East European Craton. In addition, a notable role belonged to older (Lower Proterozoic, Neoarchean and Mesoarchean) rock associations during the formation of the Serebryanka Group. The terminal Serebryanka time (Kernos Age) differed from its initial stage (Tanin Age) by the appearance of Mesoproterozoic complexes in provenances. According to available data, these complexes played an insignificant role in the formation of Riphean-Vendian rocks in the neighboring South Uralian segment. This implies a spatiotemporal diversity of clastic material sources for Upper Precambrian rocks in the western megazone of the Southern and Central Urals.

Systematics of Rare Earth Elements, Th, Hf, Sc, Co, Cr, and Ni in the Vendian Pelitic Rocks of the Serebryanka and Sylvitsa Groups from the Western Slope of the Central Urals: A Tool for Monitoring Provenance Composition

This paper presents the first data on the systematics of rare earth elements (REE), Th, Hf, Sc, Co, Cr, and Ni and the Nd model ages of fine-grained aluminosilicate clastic rocks of the Serebryanka and Sylvitsa groups of the Vendian from the Kvarkushsko-Kamennogorskii meganticlinorium (western slope of the Central Urals). It was found that the REE distribution patterns of shales and mudstones of the two groups are similar to those of the majority of post-Archean fine-grained terrigenous complexes. The presence of pelitic rocks with GdN/YbN > 2.0 in a number of Vendian levels suggests a contribution from an Archean component in the composition of the fine aluminosilicate clastic material. This is probably also indicated by the high degree of heavy REE depletion in some mudstone samples. The REE systematics allow us to suppose a heterogeneity of Vendian paleocatchments and variations in their composition with time. The eroded areas had the most mature composition in the beginning of Serebryanka. Starting from the second half of Serebryanka, mafic and/or ultramafic rocks started playing a significant role in the provenances. The rocks of the lower portion of the Serebryanka Group show TNd(DM) values of about 2.0 Ga, whereas the upper part of the section is dominated by rocks with TNd(DM) ≅ 1.77–1.73 Ga. This indicates that during the Taninskaya and Koiva time periods, fine aluminosilicate clastic material was supplied into the sedimentation region mainly from the west, from the eastern areas of the east European platform, where Archean and Early Proterozoic crystalline complexes dominated. A decrease in model ages was related to the addition of juvenile mantle material to the mature continental crust. Such processes can be illustrated by the mafic-ultramafic complexes (Dvoretskii, Shpalorezovskii, Vil’vinskii, etc.) located in the field of Vendian sedimentary sequences, which show TNd(DM) values from 824 to 707 Ma. It was concluded that the history of the formation of an Early Vendian rift in the western slope of the central Urals included only one rifting event (rather than three, as was previously supposed), which was supported by a variety of recent geological and isotope geochemical data.