Agbogun, Henry M.D., Wüst, Raphael A.J., Adeboye, Oyeleye O., and Nassichuk, Brent (2024) Elemental geochemistry insights into source inputs, paleo-productivity, and paleo-depositional conditions of the Montney Formation. Applied Geochemistry, 170. 106079.

PDF (Published Version) - Published Version Restricted to Repository staff only

Abstract

The analysis of the elemental composition of sediments provides valuable information about input sources, paleoredox conditions, or paleoproductivity. In this study, 1498 rock samples from six wells within the Triassic Montney Formation in Central Alberta, Western Canada, were analyzed using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF). Wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence measurements were used to build and validate a Montney-specific calibration to interpret elemental concentrations from the ED-XRF dataset. The calibration accounted for heterogeneities, matrix variations and unique elemental associations that may be present within the Montney Formation. Sediment input sources are interpreted based on cross-plots of proxy elements to be terrigenous, carbonates and biogenic in origins. Analysis of multiple paleoredox proxies indicated the environment of deposition to be mainly oxic. The ratios of potassium (K) to rubidium (Rb) were used as a paleoclimate proxy. Results suggest the predominance of low chemical weathering attributed to a hot and arid paleoclimate during deposition of Montney Formation sediments. Phosphorous concentrations were determined to be strongly associated with Ca, as such it was interpreted to be inorganically sourced, thereby precluding it from being used to assess paleoproductivity. Excess Si interpreted to be biogenically sourced was used in interpreting moderate and high paleoproductivity for the Montney formation. This work demonstrates the versality of matrix-specific calibrated ED-XRF measurements as a valuable, cost efficient, standalone technique in geochemical analysis for characterizing geological formations.

Item ID:	85541
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	1872-9134
Copyright Information:	© 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.
Date Deposited:	20 May 2025 04:23
FoR Codes:	37 EARTH SCIENCES > 3703 Geochemistry > 370304 Organic geochemistry @ 100%
SEO Codes:	28 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 2801 Expanding knowledge > 280107 Expanding knowledge in the earth sciences @ 100%
	More Statistics