Variations in source rock assemblage recorded in the Tokiguchi Porcelain Clay Formation, central Japan

Hatano, Nozomi*; Yoshida, Koki*; Sasao, Eiji   ; Yasue, Kenichi; Adachi, Yoshiko*; Iwano, Hideki*; Danhara, Toru*

The Miocene Tokiguchi Porcelain Clay Formation consists mainly of muddy sediments, which were deposited in the tectonical-controlled small inland basin in the southern part of the Gifu Prefecture, central Japan. This research focuses the U-Pb radiometric ages of detrital zircon grains in the sandy sediments in this formation in order to clarify the provenance variations by radio metric ages. Additionally bulk rock assemblage of the hinterland was estimated by the REE chemical composition of the muddy sediments. The age of detrital zircon grains were concentrated at the 12-15 and 70-80Ma. Some grains showed 200, 1700, 1800, 1900 and 2900 Ma. REE composition of the muddy sediments indicates various source rocks in the hinterland including basic, intermediate and felsic rocks. The wide range of age assemblage of detrital zircons shows significant difference, implying provenance variation. Also REE geochemistry is indicative of various source rock assemblage in the hinterland.