Stratigraphic evolution of the Proterozoic succession in the western part of the Chattisgarh basin, India

Abstract

The Meso to Neoproterozoic succession in the western Chattisgarh basin around Rajnandgaon has been classified into coarse siliciclastic dominated proximal and fine siliciclastic-carbonate dominated distal assemblages. The proximal assemblage, the Chandarpur Group, unconformably overlies the Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic Dongargarh- Kotri volcanics (c.2.2-2.3 Ga), Bengpal Granite (c.2.5-2.6 Ga) and BIF of the Dalli-Rajhara Group (~2.4 Ga). The Chandarpur Group consists of 15-20 m thick conglomerate and feldspathic sandstone at the basal part of the succession, which is mapped as a lateral equivalent of the Lohardih Formation. The coarse clastics, conglomerate succession gradationally passes up to ~280 m thick succession of supermature sandstone, the Kansapathar Formation. The thick mudstone dominated heterolithic unit, the Gomarda Formation and its lateral equivalent, the Chaporadih Formation is not present in the western part of the Chattisgarh basin. The fine siliciclastic-carbonate assemblage of the Raipur Group conformably overlies the Chandarpur Group. The Raipur Group consists of Charmuria Limestone (~320 m), Gunderdehi Shale (~450 m), Chandi Limestone (~ 550 m) with Deodongar Member (~50 m) and Tarenga Shale. The sediments of Chandarpur Group were deposited in a shallow marine environment with occasional fluvial input in a relatively fluctuating sea level. The palaeoshoreline was NW-SE oriented with an open sea towards north which remained same throughout the deposition of the Chandarpur-Raipur sequence. It has also been inferred that the Lohardih Formation and the Kansapathar Formation represents a rifting phase followed by a stable subsidence stage when the basin evolved into a large epicontinental sea. The sequences further display signatures of passive margin sedimentation with multiple events of carbonate-shale rhythmite deposition.