Sources of Neogene rare metal-titanium placers of the northeastern side of the Dnieper-Donetsk Basin: first results of U–Pb geochronological studies of detrital zircon

The sources of terrigenous material involved in the structure of Neogene rare metal-titanium placers on the northeastern side of the Dnieper-Donetsk Basin (DDB) were determined using lithological and mineralogical methods was used, including U-Pb geochronological and chemical study of detrital zircon. Characteristics of the accessory mineral association of the placer, the morphology of individual mineral grains, and the depletion of U, Th, Y, Yb in most of the zircon population indicate that the source was chemical residue probably formed on Proterozoic (70%) and Neoarchean (15%) metamorphic rocks. The presence of zircon crystals with Paleozoic U-Pb age and high contents of U, Th, Y and Yb indicates the proximal source destruction of igneous rocks of Neoproterozoic-Early Paleozoic trap formations, Devonian igneous and volcanic-sedimentary rocks of the DDB. Perhaps the development of salt tectonics, which is widespread in the DDB, facilitated the involvement of debris from the above rocks in sedimentary recycling.