Geochemical signatures of Lower Gondwana sandstones of eastern Arunachal Himalayas, India: Implications for tectonic setting, provenance and degree of weathering

Bashab N Mahanta; B R Syngai; R K Sarmah; T K Goswami; Amit Kumar

doi:doi:10.2205/2020ES000698

Geochemical signatures of Lower Gondwana sandstones of eastern Arunachal Himalayas, India: Implications for tectonic setting, provenance and degree of weathering

Published в Russian Journal of Earth Sciences · Volume 20, Issue 3, 2020 · Pages 1–11 · Rubrics: ORIGINAL ARTICLES

DOI 10.2205/2020ES000698

Received: 25.06.2020 Accepted: 25.06.2020 Published: 25.06.2020 Language of publication: ENG

Authors

Bashab N Mahanta ¹ · B R Syngai ² · R K Sarmah ³ · T K Goswami ⁴ · Amit Kumar ⁵

1 Geological Survey of India

2 Geological Survey of India

3 Dept. of Applied Geology, Dibrugarh University

4 Dept. of Applied Geology, Dibrugarh University

5 Geological Survey of India

ABSTRACT

The compositional variability of the sandstones leads to insight about the controlling sedimentary processes and plate tectonic environments. The geochemical composition of the Lower Gondwana sandstones exposed along the Main Boundary Thrust in parts of East Siang and West Siang districts of Arunachal Pradesh, India was determined to deduce their provenance and tectonic setting governing their deposition. The overall analyses of the samples from the study area reveals the chemically coherent nature of the sediments and derivation from rocks of acidic and intermediate compositions. Trace element concentrations of the rocks of the study area are in concurrence with average Upper Continental Crust (UCC) whereas the Rare Earth Element (REE) values indicate felsic source rocks. Discrimination of tectonic setting using oxide data indicates passive margin setting for the sediments. The Chemical Alteration Index (CIA) was calculated and indicates medium to high chemical weathering during sedimentation of the basin.

KEYWORDS

Gondwana sandstone Himalayas geochemistry tectonic setting weathering

Information References

Authors:

1. Geological Survey of India

2. Geological Survey of India

3. Dept. of Applied Geology, Dibrugarh University

4. Dept. of Applied Geology, Dibrugarh University

5. Geological Survey of India

Type:

Article

Pages:

from 1 to 11

Status:

Published

Language:

English

Keywords:

Gondwana, sandstone, Himalayas, geochemistry, tectonic setting, weathering

Funding

The authors are gratefull to the Dy. Director General & HOD, Geological Survey of India, NER, Shillong, Meghalaya, India for permitting the authors to publish the work.

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Geochemical signatures of Lower Gondwana sandstones of eastern Arunachal Himalayas, India: Implications for tectonic setting, provenance and degree of weathering

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