The Origin and Evolution of Late Holocene Tsunamiites in the Doñana National Park (SW Spain): Trace Elements as Geochemical Proxies

The elemental content—mainly trace elements—of samples from two boreholes (PLN, CM) with evidence of tsunamiites, located in the Doñana National Park (SW Spain), were studied. The geochemical variations of the REE, LILE, HFSE, and other elements (Al, Ti, S, Na, Br, Sc, Co, Cr) were interpreted accor...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Manuel Pozo, Francisco Ruiz, María Luz González-Regalado, María Isabel Carretero, Guadalupe Monge, Joaquín Rodríguez Vidal, Luis Miguel Cáceres, Manuel Abad, Josep Tosquella, Tatiana Izquierdo, Juan Manuel Muñoz, María Isabel Prudencio, María Isabel Dias, Rosa Marques, Paula Gómez, Antonio Toscano, Verónica Romero, Marta Arroyo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-10-01
Series:Minerals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/10/11/956
Description
Summary:The elemental content—mainly trace elements—of samples from two boreholes (PLN, CM) with evidence of tsunamiites, located in the Doñana National Park (SW Spain), were studied. The geochemical variations of the REE, LILE, HFSE, and other elements (Al, Ti, S, Na, Br, Sc, Co, Cr) were interpreted according to the mineralogy present in the samples. The results obtained show the geochemical complexity of the estuarine paleoenvironments, in this case with the existence of three Holocene-age tsunamigenic deposits (around 4.25, 3.56 and 2.2–2 kyr BP). The statistical analysis of the samples’ geochemistry, by means of linear correlation and factor analysis, made it possible to differentiate two associations. The first is representative of an inherited mineralogy (REE-Y-Rb-Sr-Cs-Th-U-Hf-Al-Ti-Co-Cr-Sc); the second includes elements (Br-Na) linked to mineral formation under evaporite conditions (halite). The trace element geochemistry of sediments thus becomes an excellent tool to identify tsunamiites in the studied zone, especially those elements that are clear proxies for marine incursions (Na, Br, Sr) and high energy events (Hf, Ti). The parent area of the provenance of the materials is mainly of felsic composition.
ISSN:2075-163X