S and Sr Isotope Compositions and Trace Element Compositions of the Middle Jurassic Evaporites in Eastern Tibet: Provenance and Palaeogeographic Implications

Abstract

The origin of Middle Jurassic evaporites in the Qamdo Basin is still controversial because palaeontological studies have reported that they have both marine and continental characteristics. The 87Sr/86Sr ratios of the gypsum in the Middle Jurassic Dongdaqiao Formation in the Qamdo Basin range from 0.707602 to 0.708163, which are higher than that of contemporaneous seawater. Model calculations suggest that continental water prevailed over seawater during the precipitation of these evaporites. However, the majority of the gypsum samples have δ34S values of 15.3‰ to 16.3‰, which are consistent with that of contemporaneous seawater. This range of values (15.3‰ vs. 16.3‰) was likely caused by S isotope fractionation during evaporation because the δ34S values and Sr contents are negatively correlated. The δ34S values of the other three gypsum samples are 20.0‰, 20.5‰, and 20.8‰, which are significantly higher than that of Middle Jurassic seawater. The trace element compositions and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations indicate that these elevated δ34S values were caused by bacterial sulphate reduction (BSR). The Sr and S isotope systematics of the gypsums from the Dongdaqiao Formation demonstrate that the parent brines from which the evaporites precipitated were marine based with a large quantity of continental input. A comparison of the lithologies and Sr isotope compositions of the Middle Jurassic sequences in the Qamdo and Qiangtang Basins revealed that the Qiangtang Basin was mainly recharged by Jurassic seawater, while the Qamdo Basin was primarily recharged by continental water with some seawater-derived overflow from the Qiangtang Basin.