Concentrations, distribution, and source appointment of heavy metal/loids in non-clastic sedimentary rocks: a case study of early jurassic chert, northeastern türkiye

The Current study used geochemical indicators such as the geo-accumulation index (Igeo), the Enrichment Factor (EF), and the contamination factor (CF) to evaluate the regional distributions and accumulations of various heavy metal/loids (HM; Co, Mo, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, As, Cd) in early Jurassic cherts in the Gümüşhane (NE Türkiye). Five stratigraphic section measurement (MS) areas (Tedaş, Alemdar, Akçakale, Tekke, and Pirahmet) and one borehole (Eskibağlar well) were selected for sampling. Major and trace element compositions of the selected 25 samples were measured by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Calculated geochemical indexes indicated that Alemdar, Tekke MS, and Eskibağlar well samples were polluted with Pb, Zn, Cu, As, and Cd, Tedaş, Akçakale, and Pirahmet MS samples were polluted with Cd. Pearson's correlation coefficient (PCC) and principal component analysis (PCA) suggested that Zn, Pb, and Cu contaminating the Alemdar, Tekke MS, and Eskibağlar well samples were of ore mineralization origin, As was of terrigenous input, and Cd was probably of diatom origin. PCC and PCA showed that the Cd contaminating the Tedaş, Akçakale, and Pirahmet MS samples was probably of diatom origin, and the other metals found at normal levels in the samples were due to terrigenous input. The Early Jurassic period, which was a rift environment in the Gümüşhane region, is thought to have produced the cherts of the Alemdar, Tekke MS, and Eskibağlar well samples in a graben environment, while the cherts of the Tedaş, Akçakale, and Pirahmet MS were deposited in a horst environment. δU values, Ni/Co, and Vi/(V + Ni) ratios indicated that oxic-anoxic conditions were generally prevalent in the depositional environment, but redox conditions did not affect the abundance and distribution of HMs. These findings provide critical information for assessing heavy metal/loid enrichment and contamination potential not only in clastic sedimentary rocks, river sediments, and soils but also in non-clastic sedimentary rocks.