Author(s)

Yaxuan Yuan, Hongliang Wang^*

School of Energy Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China.

The characteristics of sedimentary petrology are significant in determining geological provenance. By using field outcrop observation and indoor identification of thin sections, the characteristics of Jurassic system Tuchengzi Formation clastic rocks exposed in the Beijing Yanqing “flowerpot” basin, which include rock types, clastic composition and cement type, etc. have been analyzed systematically to identify the provenance direction and tectonic setting and nature of the provenance. Research shows that the sedimentary rocks in this area belong to analluvial fan and braided river sedimentary rock system and include mainly conglomerates, lithic sandstone, and feldspathic lithic sandstone. The main compositions of the conglomerate are dolomite and limestone. Nearly 50% to 70% of the sandstones are mainly polycrystalline quartz; 10% to 15% are feldspar; and 40% to 55% are composed of debris from mainly magmatic and metamorphic rocks. A Dickinson triangular diagram indicates that the provenance type in this area is recycled orogny evolving from clastic recycled orogeny such as a collisional orogenic belt to a transitional recycled orogeny. On the basis of the geographic position and tectonic setting, three types of provenance can be identified in the Jurassic system Tuchengzi Formation. The far source provenances are Archean erathem basement metamorphic rocks in the northern basin and granite or adamellite that intruded rocks of the Late Jurassic epoch of the Yanshanian period in the northeast. The nearby provenance is the Mesoproterozoic erathem Changchengian system and Jixianianian system dolomite in both the east and west.

Tuchengzi Formation, Sandstone Components, Petrologic Characteristics, Provenance Analysis, Dickinson Triangular Diagram

Yuan, Y. and Wang, H. (2016) Sedimentary Petrology Characteristics and Their Implications for Provenance of Flowerpot Basin Jurassic System in Yanqing County, Beijing. Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 4, 69-79. doi: 10.4236/gep.2016.46006.