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Geoscience ›› 2025, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (03): 825-838.DOI: 10.19657/j.geoscience.1000-8527.2025.024

• Energy Geology and Engineering • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Sedimentary-geochemical Characteristics and Paleoenvironmental Significance of the Hejiazhai Formation in Western Henan

WANG Xin(), ZHENG Deshun*(), SUN Fengbo, XU Boyang, LI Qianqian, LI Ting, SHI Zeyuan   

  1. School of Resources and Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Henan, Jiaozuo 454003
  • Online:2025-06-10 Published:2025-07-03
  • Contact: ZHENG Deshun

Abstract:

The paleo-marine environment and paleo-sedimentary environment information preserved by the Neoproterozoic clastic and carbonate mixed sedimentary rocks can respond to the Neoproterozoic oxidation events. In this paper, via a combination of sedimentological and geochemical methods, the Hejiazhai Formation in western Henan Province was taken as a case study to discuss the sedimentary characteristics and its depositional environment, to reconstruct the pale-oceanic conditions and finally to provide some basis for the paleoenvironmental reconstruction of the Neoproterozoic southern margin of the North China Craton. The Hejiazhai Formation is composed of marlstone, limestone and quartz-bearing clastic limestone, and some molar-tooth structures and stromatolites can be seen, which are the characteristics of marine carbonate tidal flat deposits. The ratios of V/Cr、 Ni/Co and Sr/Ba indicate that there is a good correlation between the paleo-water depth and the redox condition of the paleo-ocean in the Hejiazhai Formation. It has experienced three cycles of water deepening and shallowing, and the oxygen content of the paleo-ocean decreases and then increases. By comparing with the paleoenvironment of the strata in the same period, the marine environment around the early Neoproterozoic plate has shown an oxidation state. We can use the conclusion of sedimentary environment analysis of Hejiazhai Formation to analyze the sedimentary environment and paleogeographic conditions of carbonate rocks in the southern margin of North China. The results of the analysis can provide evidence support for the Neoproterozoic oxidation events.Keywords: Neoproterozoic; Hejiazhai Formation; diamictite; stromatolite; Western Henan

Key words: Neoproterozoic, Hejiazhai Formation, diamictite, stromatolite, Western Henan

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