A Framework for Integrating Sediment Provenance and Tectonic Setting Analysis

Thesis Abstract

The provenance of sediments and their relationship to tectonic settings are critical components for understanding basin evolution, paleoenvironmental reconstructions, and mineral resource assessments. Despite the wealth of individual studies focusing on sediment provenance or tectonic processes separately, an integrated framework that synthesizes both aspects within a cohesive analytical model remains underdeveloped. This study aims to develop a comprehensive framework that combines sediment provenance analysis with tectonic setting interpretation to enhance the predictive capacity of basin evolution models and improve geological hazard assessments in sedimentary basins. The specific objectives are to evaluate the geochemical, mineralogical, and petrographic characteristics of sediments, identify provenance signatures through multivariate statistical methods, and correlate these signatures with tectonic settings using an integrated geodynamic model. The research adopts a mixed-methods approach, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis techniques within a comparative case study design. The population includes sediment samples collected from 150 stratigraphic units across three active sedimentary basins—each representing distinct tectonic regimes (passive margin, foreland basin, and rift basin). Sampling followed a stratified random sampling technique to ensure representative coverage of different depositional environments. Data collection involves petrographic point counting, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and zircon U-Pb geochronology to establish provenance signatures. Additional data are obtained through geological mapping and stratigraphic correlation from existing well logs and remote sensing imagery. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and principal component analysis (PCA) are used to interpret geochemical and mineralogical data, while regression analysis and ANOVA determine correlations between provenance signatures and tectonic setting variables. A conceptual model integrating sedimentary provenance indicators with plate tectonic reconstructions is developed to interpret the data within a geodynamic framework. Expected findings include the identification of distinct provenance groups associated with different tectonic environments, such as recycled orogeny signatures linked to convergent plate boundaries, and magmatic signatures characteristic of continental rifting. The framework is anticipated to elucidate the influence of tectonic processes on sediment source contributions, transport pathways, and depositional environments. Furthermore, the model aims to improve the spatial and temporal prediction of sediment provenance in basins with complex tectonic histories. The study is expected to highlight the significant correlation between tectonic setting and provenance signatures, thereby advancing the understanding of basin evolution processes and sedimentary dynamics. This research makes a significant contribution to sedimentology and tectonics by providing an integrated analytical framework that enhances the accuracy of provenance and tectonic reconstructions. It extends existing theories by operationalizing a combined approach rooted in geochemical, mineralogical, and geodynamic principles, aligned with Wilson’s (1989) plate tectonic theory and the geodynamic environment hypothesis. The framework’s practical implications include improving hydrocarbon exploration, mineral resource delineation, and geological hazard prediction in tectonically active sedimentary basins. In conclusion, the framework developed offers a novel, systematic means of integrating provenance data with tectonic context, facilitating more robust interpretations of basin evolution. Recommendations include adopting this integrated model in regional geological surveys and further refining the methodology through the inclusion of detrital thermochronology and geophysical data. Future research should explore the temporal evolution of provenance signals and extend the framework to include paleo-seismicity and climate influences on sediment sourcing. Overall, this study advances the discipline by bridging sediment provenance and tectonic analysis, with implications for resource exploration, geological hazard mitigation, and understanding Earth’s dynamic processes.