Petrography and geochemistry of the Lopingian (upper Permian)-Lower Triassic strata in the southern Junggar and Turpan basins, NW China: implications for weathering, provenance, and palaeogeography

This study investigates three Lopingian (upper Permian)-Lower Triassic terrestrial successions in northwest China, namely the Urumqi and Jimsar sections in the southern Junggar Basin (SJB), and the Taodonggou section in the Turpan Basin (TB). Stratigraphy studies suggest that, in all three sections, the Lopingian-Lower Triassic strata are represented by mixed fluvial and lacustrine deposits. The lithofacies and geochemical indicators (CIA, PIA) suggest that, in all three sections, the Wutonggou Formation (Wuchiapingian) was deposited under subhumid conditions. The Guodikeng Formation (Changhsingian-early Induan) represents subhumid to semiarid conditions. The Jiucaiyuan and Shaofanggou formations (mid-to-late Induan to Olenekian) in the SJB show highly variable subhumid-semiarid conditions, while the two formations in the TB display early episode of fluctuating subhumid-semiarid and later semiarid-arid conditions. Within each section, all four formations display similar petrographic and geochemical characteristics, suggesting consistency in provenance during deposition. However, the provenance characteristics of the Urumqi and Jimsar sections differ from those of the Taodonggou section. Relative to the Taogonggou section, the two sections in the SJB contain more felsic and recycled sedimentary components. This suggests that the greater Junggar-Turpan Basin was in a partitioned setting during the Lopingian-Early Triassic, when different subbasins have relatively independent provenance systems.