Caracterización composicional de los depósitos arenosos actuales generados en el Sistema Central

Abstract

In this work we have studied the light mineral fraction of modern sands derived from single source lithologies (plutonic, gneissic or slate-schists) in the Sistema Central (Central Spain). In this way we can analize the control of the source area lithology in sand composition. First we pay attention on tbe control of grain size sand in composition. Rock fragments decrease when grain size decreases. However, the amount of feldspar increases due to its low mechanical stability. Thus, the K/P index (K-feldspar/plagioclases) is highly variable with grain size, because the different mechanical stabilities of both minerals. The trends of the amounts of components in relation with grain size are very similar, in a11 deposits. However, each percentages vary markedly between source areas with different lithologies. The projection area of the studied sands in a QFFR díagram is highly controled by grain size and lithology of source area. Thus, sands derived from slate-schists lithology appear near QFR fringe in a11 grain size fractions. Sands derived from plutonic or gneissic rocks have a high dispersion in the diagram, fram FR pole to QF fringe, depending on grain size of the sand. We conclude that the use of a single sand size fraction (0,5-0,25 mm) to provenance analysis permits to discrimine source lithologies, but with a 1055 of information about global deposit composition