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Geochemistry of the Palaeo–Mesoproterozoic Tadpatri shales, Cuddapah basin, India: implications on provenance, paleoweathering and paleoredox conditions

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Abstract

The Palaeo–Mesoproterozoic Tadapatri formation of the Cuddapah basin is comprised of clastic sedimentary rocks with minor carbonates and mafic–ultramafic sill bodies. Geochemistry of the shale is used to study the provenance, paleoweathering and paleoredox conditions of this Tadpatri formation in order to better understand the development of the Cuddapah basin during Palaeo–Mesoproterozoic time. The higher CIA (average 74.39), PIA (average 85.94) and CIW (average 87.59) values of the Tadpatri shales suggest intensely weathered sources. Higher Al2O3/TiO2 (average 30.78) and LREE/HREE ratio (average 8.80) with negative europium anomaly indicate derivation of the clastic sediments from a felsic source rock. The geochemical parameters like U, U/Th, Cu/Zn, Ni/Co, V/Cr ratios reveal that the Tadpatri shales are mainly deposited in an oxic condition.

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(Reproduced with permission from Taylor and McLennan 1985)

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(Reproduced with permission from Herron 1988)

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(Reproduced with permission from Nesbitt and Young 1984)

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India for financial support vide PURSE (Phase-II) program (No. F4/SC/20/15) and University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi for the scholarship of the first author. Analyses of the major oxides and Trace, REE are performed at National Centre for Earth Science Studies, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala and National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad respectively. The authors are thankful to the Directors of these institutions. The authors are also grateful to Dr. C. Manikyamba, Senior Principal Scientist, NGRI and Dr. Sisir Mondal, Professor, Jadavpur University for their whole hearted support. Sincere thanks are also being accorded to Dr. J. S. Armstrong-Altrin and an anonymous reviewer for their constructive comments.

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  1. Department of Geological Sciences, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, 700032, India

    Rahul Mitra & Debasish Shome

  2. Education Directorate, Government of West Bengal, Kolkata, 700091, India

    Gopal Chakrabarti

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Mitra, R., Chakrabarti, G. & Shome, D. Geochemistry of the Palaeo–Mesoproterozoic Tadpatri shales, Cuddapah basin, India: implications on provenance, paleoweathering and paleoredox conditions. Acta Geochim 37, 715–733 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11631-017-0254-3

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