Source Area Weathering and Tectonic History Inferred from the Geochemistry of the Maastrichtian Sandstone from Patti Formation, Southern Bida Basin, North Central Nigeria

Sandstones sampled from Patti Formation, Southern Bida Basin, were studied geochemically using Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrophotometer (ICP-AES) and an Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) technique to evaluate their weathering tectonic setting as well deduce the paleo-climatic conditions that existed during deposition. Geochemically, SiO2 range 73.9% 86.2%, Al2O3 (6.7%~17.1%), Fe2O3 (1.1%~1.9%), K2O (0.1%~0.7%) while MgO, CaO, Na2O, P2O5, MnO TiO2 <1%. Enriched in Ba (Av. 622.94), Sr 153.63), Rb 55.08) Zr 51.86) relatively similar composition UCC. High but low other major oxides signify high mobility processes of weathering. This was confirmed by value (>80%) for indices like chemical index alteration, weathering, plagioclase mineralogical alteration lower values parker, recently used alpha (αAl E) sodium (326.17αΑl Na<344.40), magnesium (100.54αΑl mg<398.55), calcium (12.07αΑl Ca<198.99), potassium (4.43αΑl K<64.33), strontium (0.84αΑl E<21.40), barium (0.45 αΑl Ba<10.52) rubidium (0.0008αΑl Rb<0.06), supported AI2O3-(CaO*+Na2O)-K2O CIA vs. plots imply intense source area. The obtained (>80) indicates a steady-state under warm/humid climate Al2O3+ + Na2O plot. average (75.41wt%) with K2O/Na2O ratio >1 (15.63), (1.27wt %), (15.82wt%) (0.46) suggest passive margin setting. is enriched ΣREE (209.64 ppm), ΣLREE (195.78), LREE/HREE (27.78) negative Eu/Eu* (0.68), log (K2O/Na2O) SiO2/Al2O3 K2O/Na2O. Major elements discriminant-function multi-dimensional diagram, DF1 (arcrift-col) DF2 (arc-rift-col), high-silica sediments revealed continental rift Thus, Formation sandstone underwent degree humid climatic condition within