Quartz grains surface texture of the crest relief deposits of the Tobol-Ishim interfluves

The paper presents the results of quartz grains surface textures study in order to reconstruct the sedimentary history and deposition environments of the crest strata formation in the Kareglazova section (southern part of the West Siberian Plain, Russian Federation). Using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), quartz grains of the medium sand fraction (0.25–0.5 mm) from 19 samples were studied. The crest is composed mainly of fine low-sorted sand with a large proportion of clay and silt components. The studied samples from the Kareglazova section contains four main types of quartz grains with different morphology and complexes of surface textures, which bear signs of transportation and accumulation in various environments. The roundness ratio of grains of the medium sand fraction (according to A.V. Khabakov) varies across the section from 54 to 65%. Semi-rounded quartz grains predominate (up to 57%), the share of well-rounded grains averages 39%. Vast majority of grains bear traces of post-sedimentary transformations, which are expressed in the presence of amorphous silica films and traces of etching of previously formed textures. Alluvial-lacustrine sediments of different age, common in the study area, are likely to be the primary sources for the crest deposits. The quartz grains surface features have traces of eolian processing and overlay of aeolian surface textures (upturned plates) on the surface textures typical for subaqueous environments (V-shaped pits, curved grooves, smooth surface). The occurrence of specific aeolian surface textures mainly on convex areas of quartz grains and the presence of cryogenic processing traces indicate the accumulative nature of crest with the predominance of local terrigenous provenances in cold and arid conditions of the periglacial climate. The upper part of the crest section was probably formed in a relatively moderate humid climate, when the migration of colloidal solutions was possible.

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