Elemental geochemistry and Nd isotope constraints on the provenance of the basal siliciclastic succession of the middle Paleoproterozoic Francevillian Group, Gabon

Whole-rock elemental geochemistry and Nd isotope composition of siliciclastic rocks from the basal part of the unmetamorphosed middle Paleoproterozoic Francevillian Group, Gabon (FA Formation and FB₁ Member) were examined to provide insights into their provenance and its crustal evolution. Chemical weathering index diagrams suggest moderate degree of weathering in the provenance and secondary K-addition during illitization. Trace element geochemical proxies including the REEs provide evidence for sediment derivation from felsic-dominated upper continental crust (UCC) similar to Archean trondhjemite-tonalite-granodiorite (TTG) with minor contribution of mafic components. The low ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd and negative εNd values (−10.83 to −5.76) provide further evidence for old and evolved upper continental crust components in detrital sources. The depleted mantle model ages for the provenance protolith (2.73–3.05 Ga) are consistent with sediments sourced from the Mesoarchean granitoids of East Gabonian block exposed in the northern and southern parts of Gabon. We infer that the evolved, Mesoarchean felsic TTG-like granitoids were the main source for the sediments of the basal Francevillian Group, while minor mafic inputs from the contemporaneous greenstone belt with the Belinga Group cannot be completely discounted. The predominantly old crustal sources for the sediments suggest crustal addition and recycling of differentiated granitoid plutons instead of formation of juvenile crust during deposition in the Francevillian basin.