Geochemistry of the sandstone of Mallawa Formation in the Southern arm of Sulawesi, Indonesia: Implications for provenance and tectonic setting

Abstract

This study focuses on the geochemical analysis of sedimentary rocks from the Mallawa Formation in the southern arm of Sulawesi, Indonesia. It aims to provide comprehensive and unprecedented research results on the Mallawa Formation sandstones through geochemical analysis, which has not been conducted previously. By analyzing twelve sedimentary rock samples collected from three locations—Bone, Maros, and Pangkep Regencies, the study seeks to explore provenance, source rocks, and tectonic settings by analyzing major elements, REE, and trace elements. The results indicate that SiO₂ is the most abundant component, reflecting the presence of detrital quartz, chert, feldspar fragments, and other mineral contents. The rocks are classified as sandstones with fine to coarse grains, ranging from wacke to quartz arenite. Based on various discrimination diagrams, the sandstones are associated with a passive margin transitioning into an active margin. The provenance of these sandstones originates from siliceous-clastic rocks and intermediate to felsic igneous rocks. These findings align with the paleogeography of South Sulawesi and provide new insights into the evolution of the Mallawa Formation.