The Source and Significance of Silicon in the Late Permian Dalong Formation, Northeastern Sichuan Basin

The Late Permian was a critical interval in geological history, during which dramatic changes occurred in the Earth’s surface system, and a set of black rock series rich in organic matter and silicon, the Dalong Formation, was deposited in the northeastern Sichuan Basin. We conducted a detailed sedimentological and petrological investigation integrated with (major and trace) element contents in the deep-water sequence of the Xibeixiang and Jianfeng sections. It demonstrates the source of silicon, tectonic background, and sedimentary environment of the Dalong Formation, and explores the influence of hydrothermal activities on organic matter enrichment. The results show that the upper part of the Dalong Formation contained more radiolarians in the Xibeixiang section compared to the Jianfeng section. Hydrothermal proxies such as Eu/Eu*, Al-Fe-Mn diagram, Al/(Al + Fe + Mn), and LuN/LaN suggest a biotic origin for the chert in the Dalong Formation in the Xibeixiang and Jianfeng sections, while the Xibeixiang section was slightly affected by hydrothermal activities. The La-Th-Sc diagram and the La/Sc and Ti/Zr crossplots point to a continental island arc and active continental margin origins for the Xibeixiang and Jianfeng sections. Combined with previous research, the silicon of the Dalong Formation in the northeastern Sichuan Basin is mainly derived from biological sources. The Xibeixiang section was affected by a small amount of hydrothermal fluid due to its proximity to the Paleo-Tethys Ocean and continental island arcs. Furthermore, the enrichment of organic matter was predominantly driven by high productivity, with minimal impact from hydrothermal activities. These insights hold significant research value and practical implications for shale gas exploration in the Sichuan Basin.