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Systematics of Trace Elements in Sediments from the North-Western Caucasus Mud Volcanoes

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Abstract

Comparison of trace element distribution in bulk samples from the North-Western Caucasus mud volcanoes with PAAS (average Australian post-Archean shale) showed their depletion in many elements. The contents of most elements in sediments of the mud volcanoes are comparable with those of the Middle Maikopian clay. Compared to the Upper Maikopian clay, most of the studied samples have much higher concentrations of Mo, Sr, Y, Nb and Ba, whereas contents of many other elements, in contrast, are lower. The rare earth elements (REE) distribution in bulk sediment samples is similar to that of PAAS. On the La/Sc–Th/Co diagram, the compositions of most bulk samples of the North-Western Caucasus mud volcanoes fall in the field typical of disintegration products of felsic rocks. This is confirmed by their localization in the Cr/Th–Th/Sc and Sc–Th/Sc diagrams. The comparison of the distribution of data points of sediments of mud volcanoes of the North-Western Caucasus, the Junggar Basin, and the Andaman Islands on the La/Sc–Th/Co and Cr/Th–Th/Sc diagrams shows that the latter have a large contribution of geochemically immature components, possibly the disintegration products of mafic igneous rocks. The data points of sediments ejected from the North-Western Caucasus mud volcanoes on the La/Sc–Th/Co and Cr/Th–Th/Sc diagrams show the wider compositional range than those of other two regions (mixing “felsic” and “mafic” components in the proportions ~100 : 1 to 50 : 50). In general, the comparison of trace element distribution in sediments from mud volcanoes of the North-Western Caucasus, the Junggar Basin and the Andaman Islands suggests the geochemical heterogeneity of these sediments not only in different geodynamic regions, but also within mentioned mud volcanic provinces, thus indicating a heterogeneous composition of their sources.

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Notes

  1. These rocks are determined in (Melchakov et al., 2017, p 338) as “clays beyond the fault zone”, but more detailed information is absent.

  2. Calculated using formula (Hosample/HoPAAS)/√(Dysample/ DyPAAS) × (Ersample/ErPAAS).

  3. In particular, Aliev (2006) indicated that the solid phase (volcanic breccia) of mud volcanic products of the South Caspian petroleum basin is specialized for boron, mercury, manganese, barium, strontium, lithium, rubidium, and cesium, whose contents are many times higher than the average/clarke contents for sedimentary rocks.

  4. According to concepts (Idris, 2008, and others), the enrichment factor, EF, <1, implies that the enrichment of sediments/mud volcanic products in trace elements is absent. The EF values from 1 to 3 suggest an insignificant enrichment, while EF from 3 to 5 means a moderate enrichment.

  5. (Ce/Ce*)PAAS was calculated using formula 0.5(Lasample/LaPAAS) + 0.5(Prsample/PrPAAS).

  6. It is however impossible to establish exactly which complexes were sources of this “mafic” component. It is known that the Late Mesozoic–Cenozoic deposits of the Greater Caucasus are devoid of mafic volcanic rocks. Mafic volcanism and its erosion products in this area were more typical of the Early Jurassic, but available data are insufficient to determine whether they were involved in mud volcanism.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We are grateful to G.I. Komarov, A.G. Kurilko, V.I. Rusanov, and A.V. Shevchenko for help in sampling. N.S. Glushkova is thanked for help in preparing the graphical works. Comments of reviewers significantly improved the manuscript.

Funding

The results were interpreted in the framework of State Task of the Shirshov Institute of Oceanology (project no. 0149-2019-0007).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zavaritsky Institute of Geology and Geochemistry, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Akad. Vonsovsky 15, 620016, Yekaterinburg, Russia

    A. V. Maslov

  2. Geological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pyzhevsky per., 7, 119017, Moscow, Russia

    A. V. Maslov

  3. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Nakhimovsky pr., 36, 117997, Moscow, Russia

    V. P. Shevchenko

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  1. A. V. Maslov
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Correspondence to A. V. Maslov or V. P. Shevchenko.

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Translated by M. Bogina

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Maslov, A.V., Shevchenko, V.P. Systematics of Trace Elements in Sediments from the North-Western Caucasus Mud Volcanoes. Geochem. Int. 58, 1027–1049 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1134/S001670292008008X

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