Mineralogical and trace element composition of clay-sized fractions from Albian siliciclastic rocks (Oliete Basin, NE Spain)

Author： López J. M. González Bauluz B. Yuste A. Mayayo M. J. Fernández-Nieto C.

Publisher： Mineralogical Society

ISSN： 1471-8030

Source： Clay Minerals, Vol.40, Iss.4, 2005-12, pp. : 565-580

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Abstract

Mineralogical and geochemical techniques have been used to determine the role of minerals in controlling the trace element composition of a set of clay-sized fractions from Albian siliciclastic rocks in NE Spain. These clay-sized fractions are composed of kaolinite and illite, minor quantities of quartz, and accessory heavy minerals. Kaolinite has a smaller crystal size than illite, accounting for its relative concentration in these fractions. The μm-sized heavy minerals are rutile, Fe-Ti- and Fe-oxides, zircon, pyrite, cassiterite, monazite and xenotime. Geochemical data indicate that most of the trace elements are relatively concentrated in clay-sized fractions, except for Zr, Hf, Y and HREE. Statistical treatment shows three different associations in the clay-sized fractions: (1) Rb, Cs and Ba with clay phyllosilicates, especially illite; (2) REE with Th, Y and P phases; and (3) Sc, Cr and V with Ti- and Nb oxides. Therefore, these data do not support the dominant REE control by clay mineralogy that other authors have reported.