Open Access Chilean Papers
Advertisement

Lyell Collection
Journal of the Geological Society
Lyell Centre  |   Lyell Collection  |   Subscriptions   |   Geological Society  |   Email alerts  |   Online bookshop  |   Help

Keywords:
Author:
Advanced search>>
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow References
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by OWEN, A. W.
Right arrow Articles by FLOYD, J. D.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
GeoRef
Right arrow GeoRef Citation
Journal of the Geological Society; 1999; v. 156; issue.1; p. 191-204;
DOI: 10.1144/gsjgs.156.1.0191
© 1999 Geological Society of London

Article

Rare earth element geochemistry of upper Ordovician cherts from the Southern Uplands of Scotland

A. W. OWEN1, H. A. ARMSTRONG2 & J. D. FLOYD3

1 Division of Earth Sciences, Department of Geography, University of Glasgow, Gregory Building, Lilybank Gardens, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK (e-mail:awo{at}geology.gla.ac.uk)
2 Department of Geological Sciences, The University, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK
3 British Geological Survey, Murchison House, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3LA, UK

Caradoc and Ashgill radiolarian cherts and siliceous mudstones from the Southern Uplands preserve primary rare earth element (REE) signatures which are comparable to those of more recent deposits from continental margin settings. This is incompatible with the widely held view of these rocks as open ocean deposits incorporated in an accretionary prism and reinforces the model of deposition on an extensional continental margin. The REE signatures can be used as fingerprints to differentiate between some of the fault-bounded formations within the area. They indicate the provenance of the mud grade siliciclastic material in these distal hemipelagites and are comparable with published REE data on grey wackes in the same successions. This detailed analysis of the REE patterns in Lower Palaeozoic cherts demonstrates the usefulness of this approach in ancient orogens.


Keywords: Southern Uplands, Ordovician, chert, rare earth elements, geochemistry.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Scottish Journal of GeologyHome page
H. A. Armstrong, H. A. Armstrong, J. D. Floyd, L. Tingqing, and H. F. Barron
Conodont biostratigraphy of the Crawford Group, Southern Uplands, Scotland
Scottish Journal of Geology, 2002; 38: 69 - 82.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Journal of the Geological SocietyHome page
H. A. Armstrong, H. A. ARMSTRONG, and A. W. OWEN
Terrane evolution of the paratectonic Caledonides of northern Britain
Journal of the Geological Society, 2001; 158: 475 - 486.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Scottish Journal of GeologyHome page
H. A. Armstrong, H. A. Armstrong, A. W. Owen, and E. N. K. Clarkson
Ordovician limestone clasts in the Lower Old Red Sandstone, Pentland Hills, southern Midland Valley Terrane
Scottish Journal of Geology, 2000; 36: 33 - 37.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Journal of the Geological SocietyHome page
H. A. ARMSTRONG, A. W. OWEN, and J. D. FLOYD
Rare earth geochemistry of Arenig cherts from the Ballantrae Ophiolite and Leadhills Imbricate Zone, southern Scotland: implications for origin and significance to the Caledonian Orogeny
Journal of the Geological Society, 1999; 156: 549 - 560.
[Abstract] [PDF]