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Proterozoic sandstone of Rajgarh Formation, Alwar sub-basin, Northeastern Rajasthan: sedimentological and paleo-hydrodynamical implications

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Abstract

The Proterozoic Rajgarh Formation Sandstone, Alwar sub-basin, Northeastern Rajasthan, was studied utilising a range of methodologies, including sedimentary features such as grain size, shape, and characteristics of microtextures presented on the quartz grain surfaces (determined in Stereozoom Binocular microscope and scanning electron microscope). The representative samples of sandstone were collected from different locations to determine the transportation behaviour of the sediments and depositional environments on the basis of textural parameters such as mean size, sorting, skewness, and kurtosis along with microtextures presented on the surface of quartz grains. As per textural analysis, majority of the samples showing mean size ranging from coarse to medium sand (0.43–1.69 ϕ), sorting ranging from poorly to very well sorted (1.36–0.26 ϕ), skewness ranging from fine to very fine skewed (− 0.36–0.69) and kurtosis values ranging from platykurtic to very leptokurtic (0.84–1.71) size distribution. In the different textural plots, the samples are mainly distributed in river and beach field showing fluvial to shallow marine environments for the studied samples. The rolling process for sediment deposition in shallow marine environments is depicted in the C–M diagram. The superiority of marine environments with lesser fluvial deposition areas is indicated by the Linear Discriminant Function (LDF). The microtextures presented on the quartz grains indicating different physical and chemical processes caused by the sedimentary dynamics under fluvial to shallow marine environments. The grain size data interpretation of the hydrodynamic conditions evolution history is consistent with the sedimentary structures proofs of the studied area.

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Acknowledgements

Authors are thankful to Chairperson, Department of Geology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh for providing necessary facilities in the Department. SK is grateful to the University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi, for the financial assistance in the form of Non-NET fellowship. We thank the Editor for the editorial support, and the two anonymous reviewers for their constructive suggestions, that significantly improved the manuscript.

Funding

The financial aid for the current work has been provided by the University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi, in the form of Non-NET fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India

    Sadia Khanam, K. F. Khan, M. A. Quasim & Faiz Ahmad

  2. Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Prof. Rajendra Singh (Rajju Bhaiya) Institute of Physical Sciences for Study and Research, V.B.S.P.U., Jaunpur, India

    Shyam Kanhaiya

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  1. Sadia Khanam
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SK, MAQ and FA have carried out the fieldwork. SK has processed the data. KFK, MAQ, SK and SK drafted the first outline of the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

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Khanam, S., Khan, K.F., Quasim, M.A. et al. Proterozoic sandstone of Rajgarh Formation, Alwar sub-basin, Northeastern Rajasthan: sedimentological and paleo-hydrodynamical implications. J. Sediment. Environ. 7, 261–282 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43217-022-00097-4

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