Sedimentological and mineralogical characteristics of active glacial sediments in the Indian Himalaya regions

Abstract

Glaciated sediments are a significant source to know the glacier environment processes. Glacial meltwater streams draining from the Himalayan glaciers carry with a different type of sediment sizes, because of the supraglacial, englacial, and subglacial debris, as well as formation of sediments from erosion by the movement of the ice. This study examines mineralogical and textural characteristics of sediments transported in the selected Indian Himalayan glacier meltwater streams. The results indicate that various sedimentological diversity occurring within proximity of active glaciations due to glacio-hydrological processes. Sedimentological and mineralogical characteristics suggest that sediments of the proglacial area are polygenic in nature. A comparative change in feldspar/quartz among bedrock, sand, and clay suggested that the active geochemical weathering regime at a low-temperature environment maturing the sand composition. The less clay fraction in glacier sediment indicates limited generation of clay minerals in the glacier environment. Change in clay composition from supraglacial moraine to proglacial environment indicated a chemical alteration in glaciated valley assisted by low slope glacio-fluvial environment.