The use of heavy mineral chemistry in reconstructing provenance: A case study from Mesozoic sandstones of Kutch Basin, India

Abstract

Petrography and geochemistry of the Mesozoic sedimentary rocks of the Kutch Basin in western India reveal the predominance of felsic source rocks. Single-grain chemistry of the detrital heavy minerals in these sediments refines the existing provenance interpretations by incorporating additional data related to source lithology. The study presents information on type, composition, and metamorphic grade of the source rocks for the Mesozoics of the Kutch Basin, which comprises Jhurio, Jhumara, Jhuran, and Bhuj formations. Chemistry of rutile, garnet, and tourmaline supports multiple sources of sediments. The ratio between Cr and Nb in rutile suggests the dominance of sediment input from metapelites. The relationship between (Fe + Mn)-Mg-Ca in garnets and CaFe total-Mg in tourmalines indicates the dominance of Ca-poor felsic metamorphic source along with intermediate-acidic plutonic rocks. The multivariate discrimination of the detrital garnets reveals the dominance of granulite and amphibolite facies source rocks. Rutile compositions indicate subordinate inputs from mafic sources across the investigated sedimentary succession. The single-grain analysis of heavy minerals, therefore, infers a wide variation in source rock types.

Tracing source and palaeo‐weathering conditions of quartzose sandstone in the Cretaceous Cambay Basin: A combined petrographical, geochemical and geochronological approach

“…Although a large number of studies documented the provenance and tectonic setting of the craton interior and passive margin basins, very few studies examined the mineralogical and chemical evolution in the rift settings. Riftogenic sandstones are predominantly arkosic and rarely dominated by quartzose sandstones (Chaudhuri et al, 2018; Chaudhuri, Banerjee, Prabhakar, et al, 2020; Chaudhuri, Das, et al, 2020; Dickinson, 1985; Dickinson & Suczek, 1979). Quartzose sandstones are attributed to extensive sedimentary recycling of pre‐existing sediments and intense weathering of source rocks (Garzanti, 2019).…”

“…The mineralogy of sandstones infers the type of source rock and provides insights into the palaeotectonic and palaeoclimatic conditions (Dickinson & Suczek, 1979; Dickinson et al, 1983; Garzanti, 2016, 2019; Suttner & Dutta, 1986; Suttner et al, 1981). The varietal mineral chemistry of highly stable rutile and tourmaline grains in quartzose sandstones is particularly useful for tracking the source rocks (Chaudhuri, Banerjee, Prabhakar, et al, 2020; Henry & Guidotti, 1985; Meinhold, 2010; Rajak et al, 2022; Triebold et al, 2007, 2012; Zack et al, 2004). The whole‐rock chemical composition of fine clastic sediments associated with quartzose sandstones is particularly useful for inferring source rock characteristics, palaeoweathering and palaeoclimatic conditions (Armstrong‐Altrin et al, 2021, 2022; Bhatia, 1983; Chaudhuri, Banerjee, & Chauhan, 2020; Condie, 1991; Critelli et al, 2008; Hayashi et al, 1997; Le Bas et al, 1986; McLennan & Taylor, 1991; Roser & Korsch, 1988; Suttner & Dutta, 1986; Taylor & McLennan, 1985).…”

Provenance of sediments from Barra del Tordo and Tesoro beaches, Tamaulipas State, northwestern Gulf of Mexico

“…The mineralogical and geochemical compositions of detrital sediments are commonly used to investigate the provenance, weathering, and tectonic setting of source area (e.g. Cullers et al 1988;Chaudhuri et al 2018Chaudhuri et al , 2020Critelli 2018;Al-Kaaby and Albadran 2020;Banerjee et al 2020;Rivera-Gómez et al 2020;Critelli et al 2021;Karlik et al 2021). Although detrital sediments are influenced by diagenesis and recycling, their mineral and geochemistry composition is primarily depended on source rocks.…”

“…Similarly, chondrite-normalized REE patterns and the Eu anomaly are also extensively utilized in various studies to infer source rock characteristics (e.g. Bankole et al 2020;Chaudhuri et al 2020).…”

Tourmaline and rutile geochemistry in the Early–Middle Devonian sandstones of the Padeha Formation, Alborz Range, Northern Iran

“…Heavy‐mineral assemblage plays a crucial role in identification of source areas (e.g., Azizi et al, 2018; Bónová, Mikuš, & Bóna, 2018; Chaudhuri, Banerjee, Prabhakar, & Das, 2020; Garzanti & Andò, 2019; Garzanti, Andò, & Vezzoli, 2006; Lewin et al, 2020; Mange & Wright, 2007). It can provide valuable information on reconstruction of the transport history (Armstrong‐Altrin, 2020; Armstrong‐Altrin, Ramos‐Vázquez, Hermenegildo‐Ruiz, & Madhavaraju, 2020; Makuluni, Kirkland, & Barham, 2019), and it is also a very useful tool for palaeoclimate reconstructions (Derkachev & Nikolaeva, 2013; Garzanti et al, 2020).…”