Factors Controlling the Lower Radioactivity and Its Relation with Higher Organic Matter Content for Middle Jurassic Oil Shale in Yuqia Depression, Northern Qaidam Basin, China: Evidence from Organic and Inorganic Geochemistry

[Image: see text] Organic-rich oil shale with unusual lower radioactivity (expressed by GR) was found in Member 7 of Dameigou Formation, middle Jurassic (J(2)d(7)) in Yuqia depression of northern Qaidam Basin, China. In order to systematically and contrastively investigate the factors controlling the lower GR and its relation with higher organic matter (OM) content (expressed by total organic carbon, abbr. TOC), organic and inorganic geochemical analyses were performed on samples consisting of oil shale and the underlying conformable contact dark shale from Well YQ-1Y. Our study shows that GR of J(2)d(7) oil shale is mainly derived from uranium and thorium. Compared with dark shale, oil shale is characterized by higher OY and TOC, lower GR, and clay mineral content. During oil shale deposition, the paleoclimate was relatively arid, indicated by a decreased C value and siderite content as well as an increased carbonate content and Classopollis. Under such paleoclimate conditions, sedimentary water became more anoxic, suggested by higher V/(V + Ni), pyrite content and lower pristane/phytane (Pr/Ph). From oil shale to dark shale deposition, according to analyses of Al(2)O(3)/TiO(2), TiO(2) versus Zr, La/Sc versus Th/Co, La/Th versus Hf, and La–Th–Sc, the felsic igneous rock could always be deduced as the parent rock of provenance; however, the increasing arid paleoclimate resulted in weakened chemical weathering of provenance, inferred by relatively low chemical index of alteration, chemical index of weathering, and plagioclase index of alteration corresponding to the input degree of radioactive materials and other terrigenous detrital materials (TDMs), evidenced by Ti and Al contents and terrigenous (%). Meanwhile, the relatively high P/Ti and Ba/Al both indicated increased primary paleoproductivity. Together with the maximum flooding stage of oil shale deposition, the relatively low radioactivity tends to be associated with the inhibited input of clay minerals and radioactive materials, largely caused by increasing arid paleoclimate. The accompanying decreased TDM benefited primary paleoproductivity and anoxic conditions; their combined influence could induce sapropelic OM accumulation.