Zhang Haiyang 1, 2, 3, 4 , Fang Shi 1, 2, 3 ∗, Zhang Hao 1, 2, 3 , Wang Qingfeng 1, 2, 3 , Zhang Peng 5 , Ma Peisong 5
World Geology.
Online available: 2026-05-26
Abstract: To clarify the vertical evolution of redox conditions during deposition of the Qingshankou Formation
in the marginal shallow-lake area of the Songliao Basin, the authors investigate the PM002 section in Binxian County
on the eastern margin of the basin. A total of 286 samples from an approximately 45 m thick transitional interval
between the upper part of member 1 and the lower part of member 2 of the Qingshankou Formation were subjected
to 10 cm resolution lithological description, loss on ignition (LOI) analysis, and X-ray fluorsescence spectrometry
(XRF) analysis of major and trace elements. Aluminum (Al) normalization, enrichment factor (EF) calculation,
principal component analysis ( PCA), and constrained incremental sum of squares ( CONISS) clustering were
further applied to identify redox environmental variations. The results show that the studied interval is dominated by
fine-grained sediments, mainly including mudstone, bioclast-bearing mudstone, and silty mudstone, with locally
intercalated calcareous and dolomitic thin beds and developed dolomitic nodules. Five fifth-order depositional cycles
characterized by “rapid deepening followed by gradual shallowing” are recognized. The mean U/ Th ratio is 0. 16,
the mean V/ Cr ratio is 0. 45, and the mean Mo content is 0. 58 μg / g. In the Mo--U covariation diagram, all
samples plot below the 0. 1 × SW ( seawater) reference line, indicating that the studied interval was generally
deposited under oxic to weakly oxic conditions and did not experience significant large-scale authigenic Mo
enrichment. Based on Z score standardized sensitive indicators, including LOI550, S / Al, Mn / Al, V/ Sc, and Fe /
Mn, together with CONISS clustering, the section can be divided into six redox-evolution stages, namely Stages
Ⅰ--Ⅵ, showing a non-steady-state transition pattern from relatively reducing, strongly oxic, weakly oxic, strongly
oxic, weakly oxic to relatively reducing conditions. The fifth-order depositional cycles and CONISS stages do not
correspond one-to-one, but instead display a cross-cutting coupling relationship, suggesting that redox variations
were jointly controlled by depositional cyclicity, hydrodynamic disturbance, and local diagenetic processes. The
maximum local sulfur content reaches 4. 24% , but it is clearly decoupled from Mo enrichment, indicating that
sulfur enrichment mainly reflects short-term pore-water reduction or local sulfide fixation rather than a stable euxinic
water column. Overall, the PM002 section records intermittent weak water-column stratification and its episodic
breakdown in a marginal shallow-lake setting, and the redox conditions are characterized by pronounced non-steady-state
fluctuations.