Geochemistry and U–Pb geochronology of detrital zircon grains in beach sediments from the northwestern gulf of Mexico, Tamaulipas, Mexico: Implication for provenance

Abstract

The mineralogy, bulk geochemical composition, chemistry and U–Pb ages of detrital zircons in sediments from the La Pesca (LP) and Tesoro Altamira (TA) beaches, NW Gulf of Mexico are analyzed. The aim of this study is to infer the weathering history and provenance of sediments, and to identify the potential source terranes that are contributing sediments to the LP and TA beach areas. The beach sediments are rich in quartz and aluminosilicates. The Chemical Index of Weathering (CIW') and trace elements such as Th, Sr, U, and Ba reveal high weathering intensity for the LP and TA beach sediments. Major-element based diagrams and trace elemental ratios based on Co, Cr, Sc, La, and Th contents in sediments indicate felsic provenance, which is further supported by a negative europium anomaly and rare earth element (REE) patterns. The Th/U ratios (>0.3) together with positive cerium and negative europium anomalies of zircons in the LP and TA beaches indicate igneous origin. The comparison of zircon U–Pb ages of this study with ages reported from the adjacent terranes revealed that the Proterozoic (Paleoproterozoic: 1607.07–1943.45 Ma and Mesoproterozoic: 1021.19–1586.52 Ma) zircons are derived from the Oaxaquia, Mesa Central, Sierra Madre Oriental Provinces of Mexico and Mazatzal–Yavapai Province of the USA. On the other hand, Mesozoic (Jurassic 146.49–199.43 Ma and Cretaceous 68.46–136.82 Ma) and Cenozoic (Eocene 33.97–51.46 Ma and Oligocene 23.39–33.86 Ma) zircons are contributed by the Mexican volcanic rocks, Mesa Central and Sierra Madre Oriental Provinces in Mexico, and Mogollon-Datil Volcanic field and Colorado Plateau in USA. The rivers and their tributaries draining from the source areas are considered as a carrier and agent of distributing sediments along the northwestern Gulf of Mexico coastal areas, which are subsequently mixed by littoral currents.