REE, Y, Th, U and Mn systematics of Upper Devonian conodonts in the West Uralian Folded Zone (Southern Urals)

Research subject. This article presents the results of a study undertaken to investigate the systematics of rare-earth elements (REE), Y, Th, U and Mn in the Upper Devonian conodonts of the Western Ural region of the foreland fold of the Southern Urals (Askyn and Makarovo horizons, Kukkarauk, Ryauzyak and Lemezinsky sections).

Methods. The conodonts were isolated from carbonate rocks using the conventional method of their dissolution in organic acids, mainly formic acid. Sample preparation and mass spectrometric analysis were carried out in the class 1000 and 10 000 cleanroom facilities of the Zavaritsky Institute of Geology and Geochemistry. A PerkinElmer ELAN 9000 quadrupole ICP mass-spectrometer was used to determine the concentration of the trace elements under study. Sm and Nd isotope ratios were measured from a 3% nitric acid solution by a Thermo Fischer Neptune Plus multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometer. The long-term reproducibility and accuracy of the measurement procedure were evaluated using a standard Merck Nd solution based on the NIST Nd2O3 and yielded 143Nd/144Nd = 0.511720 ± 15 (1 SD, n = 40).

Results. The established features of PAAS-normalised lanthanide distributions in the conodont bulk samples (10.4–21.8 mg), Ce-anomalies, high REE values (173–1211 ppm) and a number of other parameters indicate the leading role of late diagenetic processes in the formation of conodont REE systematics. This is also evidenced by the Y/Ho values (≈26–32) specific for the studied conodont samples.

Conclusions. In general, the distribution of lanthanides in the conodonts suggests that this process was mainly controlled by a lithogenic (from 90 to more than 99%) REE source. The εNd (t) (–4.0…–2.8) values characteristic of the cono donts of the Askyn and Makarovo horizons suggest that their Nd isotopic composition was either formed under the influence of the open ocean (island arc basin), characterised by a significant share of radiogenic Nd, or due to the entry of radiogenic waters of the ocean into the shelf zone at the peak of the marine transgression that took place in the region under consideration in the Famennian. 

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