Abstract:
To investigate the paleoclimate, paleo-weathering characteristics, sediment provenance, and tectonic setting, the study conducts a geochemical analysis on the extensively developed aluminum-bearing rock series within the lower part of the Upper Permian Heshan Formation in Fusui area of western Guangxi Region. The results reveal significant differences in the major oxide components (Al
2O
3, SiO
2, and Fe
2O
3) between the upper and lower layers, while the loss on ignition (LOI) and TiO
2 content show only minor variations. The total rare earth element (REE) content varies slightly, and most trace elements are enriched to varying degrees, except for Rb, Sr, Ba, and Ti. Provenance analysis indicates that the detrital material was mainly sourced from intermediate igneous rocks, with a subordinate contribution from felsic igneous rocks. The rock series formed through intense chemical weathering under warm, alternating wet and dry climatic conditions and was deposited in a continental anoxic-dysoxic (locally dysoxic-suboxic) environment on a passive continental margin. Detrital zircon U-Pb ages are predominantly concentrated around 260 Ma. The presence of volcanic ash fragments, as well as crystal and glass shards derived from andesite, basalt, and feldspar, suggests a close genetic relationship between diagenesis/mineralization and coeval magmatic eruptions. The volcanic ash may have originated from the Emeishan Large Igneous Province or the Southwestern Volcanic Island Arc, although contributions from isolated volcanoes within Youjiang Basin cannot be ruled out.