Geochemistry of black shales from the Lower Cretaceous Paja Formation, Eastern Cordillera, Colombia: Source weathering, provenance, and tectonic setting

The major and trace element characteristics of black shales from the Lower Cretaceous Paja Formation of Colombia are broadly comparable with those of the average upper continental crust. Among the exceptions are marked enrichments in V, Cr, and Ni. These enrichments are associated with high organic carbon contents. CaO and Na2O are strongly depleted, leading to high values for both the Chemical Index of Alteration (77–96) and the Plagioclase Index of Alteration (86–99), which indicates derivation from a stable, intensely weathered felsic source terrane. The REE abundances and patterns vary considerably but can be divided into three main groups according to their characteristics and stratigraphic position. Four samples from the lower part of the Paja Formation (Group 1) are characterized by LREE-enriched chondrite-normalized patterns (average LaN/YbN = 8.41) and significant negative Eu anomalies (average Eu/Eu∗ = 0.63). A second group of five samples (Group 2), also from the lower part, have relatively flat REE patterns (average LaN/YbN = 1.84) and only slightly smaller Eu anomalies (average Eu/Eu∗ = 0.69). Six samples from the middle and upper parts (Group 3) have highly fractionated patterns (average LaN/YbN = 15.35), resembling those of Group 1, and an identical average Eu/Eu∗ of 0.63. The fractionated REE patterns and significant negative Eu anomalies in Groups 1 and 3 are consistent with derivation from an evolved felsic source. The flatter patterns of Group 2 shale and strongly concave MREE-depleted patterns in two additional shales likely were produced during diagenesis, rather than reflecting more mafic detrital inputs. An analysis of a single sandstone suggests diagenetic modification of the REE, because its REE pattern is identical to that of the upper continental crust except for the presence of a significant positive Eu anomaly (Eu/Eu∗ = 1.15). Felsic provenance for all samples is suggested by the clustering on the Th/Sc–Zr/Sc and GdN/YbN–Eu/Eu∗ diagrams. Averages of unmodified Groups 1 and 3 REE patterns compare well with cratonic sediments from the Roraima Formation in the Guyana Shield, suggesting derivation from a continental source of similar composition. In comparison with modern sediments, the geochemical parameters (K2O/Na2O, LaN/YbN, LaN/SmN, Eu/Eu∗, La/Sc, La/Y, Ce/Sc) suggest the Paja Formation was deposited at a passive margin. The Paja shales thus represent highly mature sediments recycled from deeply weathered, older, sedimentary/metasedimentary rocks, possibly in the Guyana Shield, though Na-rich volcanic/granitic rocks may have contributed to some extent.