Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Geochemistry of Barail sandstone in Champhai, Mizoram: Implications on provenance and weathering history

  • Published:
Journal of Earth System Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Mizoram is geologically young comprising entirely of sedimentary rocks. The Oligocene age of Barail group of sedimentary rocks, exposed near the Indo Myanmar mobile belt, i.e., Champhai area, Mizoram have been studied to infer the provenance and paleoweathering history. The significance of the work is that it will uncover and reconstruct origin of Barail sandstone and restore the tectonic and paleoclimatic conditions based on petrography and geochemistry of the sandstone. The geochemical classification based on diagrams of log(SiO2/Al2O3) vs. log(Na2O/K2O) and log(SiO2/Al2O3) vs. log(Fe2O3/K2O) of the Barail sandstones indicated that the sandstones belong to litharenite and wacke. The geochemical characteristics of the rock are plotted in various binary and ternary diagrams and selected ratios of elements are interpreted in the light of source rock characteristics. The Chondrite normalised REE pattern show similar pattern to UCC (Taylor and McLennan 1985) with an enrichment of LREE and depletion of HREE. The ratio of Al2O3/TiO2 and the ternary diagram of La–Th–Sc indicate felsic to intermediate source. Similarly, the high LREE/HREE ratios and negative Eu anomaly (La/Lu)cn, ratios of Eu/Eu*, La/Sc, La/Co, Cr/Th, Th/Sc, Th/Co and Cr/V ratio indicate felsic source. The binary diagram between ratios of Zr/Sc vs. Th/Sc inferred volcanic source. The sediments are also found to be derived from recycled sedimentary rock which is proved by ratios of Zr/Sc and Th/U. The A–CN–K diagram and weathering indices such as CIA, PIA shows moderate to intense weathering in the source area. The investigated Barail sandstones are chemically mature as indicated by the ICV while the ratio of SiO2/Al2O3 indicated moderate sediment maturity.

Research Highlights

  • The present work focused on provenance and paleao-weathering history of the sedimentary rocks exposed in Champhai District of Mizoram, located in the eastern region of Indo-Myanmar border.

  • The research is mainly based on petrological and geochemical approaches. The work revealed the systematic nomenclature of the sandstone to sublitharenite and wacke.

  • The research found out that the detrital grains of the investigated sandstones are derived from active continental areas and the provenances which are cosmopolitan in nature varying from igneous and metamorphic to recycled sedimentary terrains.

  • The work also inferred intermediate to intense weathering phenomena in the provenance.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
Figure 8
Figure 9
Figure 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Al-Juboury A 2007 Petrography and major element geochemistry of Late Triassic Carpathian keuper sandstones: Implications for provenance; Bulletine de I’Institute Scientifique, Rabat, section science de la Terre 29 1–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Armstrong-Altrin J S, Lee Y and Ramasamy S 2004 Geochemistry of sandstones from the Upper Miocene Kudankulam Formation, Southern India: Implications for provenance, weathering and tectonic setting; J. Sed. Res. 74 285–297.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Armstrong-Altrin J S, Nagarajan R, Madhavaraju J, Rosalez-Hoz L, Lee Y I, Balaram V, Cruz-Martinez A and Avila-Ramirez G 2013 Geochemistry of the Jurassic and Upper Cretaceous shales from the Molango Region, Hidalgo, Eastern Mexico: Implications of source-area weathering, provenance, and tectonic setting; C. R. Geosci. 345 185–202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Behra U K, Mohanty, B K, Lahiri S, Ray J N, Gupta G D, Prakash H S M and Kesari G K 2011 Geology and mineral resources of Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura; Geol. Surv. India Misc. Pub. No. 30(4) 1(2) 103.

  • Bharali B, Borgohain P, Bezbaruah D, Vanthangliana V, Phukan P P and Rakshit R 2017 A geological study on Upper Bhuban Formation in parts of Surma Basin, Aizawl, Mizoram; Sci. Vis. 17(3) 128–147.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhatia M R 1983 Plate tectonics and geochemical composition of sandstones; J. Geol. 91 611–627.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhuiyan M A H, Rahman M J J, Dampare S B and Suzuki S 2011 Provenance, tectonics and source weathering of modern fluvial sediments of the Brahmaputra–Jamuna River, Bangladesh: Inference from geochemistry; J. Geochem. Expl. 111 113–137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bracciali L, Marroni M, Pandolfi L and Rocchi S 2007 Geochemistry and petrography of Western Tethys Cretaceous sedimentary covers (Corsica and Northern Apennines): From source areas to configuration of margins; In: Sedimentary provenance and petrogenesis: Perspectives from petrography and geochemistry (eds) Arribas J, Critelli S and Johnsson M J; Geol. Soc. Am. Spec. Paper 420 73–93.

  • Chaudhuri A, Baneerjee S and Chauhan G 2020 Compositional evolution of silica clastic sediments recording the tectonic stability of a pericratonic rift: Mesozoic Kutch Basin, western India; Mar. Petrol. Geol. 111 476–495.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cox R, Lower D R and Cullers R L 1995 The influence of sediment recycling and basement composition on evolution of mudrock chemistry in the southwestern United States; Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 59 2919–2940.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cullers R L 1994 The controls on the major and trace element variation of shales, siltstones and sandstones of Pennsylvanian–Permian age from uplifted continental blocks in Colorado to platform sediment in Kansas, USA; Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 58 4955–4972.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cullers R L 1995 The controls on the major and trace element evolution of shales, siltstones and sandstones of Ordovician to Tertiary age in the Wet Mountain region, Colorado, USA; Chem. Geol. 123 107–131.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cullers R L 2000 The geochemistry of shales, siltstones and sandstones of Pennsylvanian–Permian age, Colorado, USA: Implications for provenance and metamorphic studies; Lithos 51 181–203.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cullers R L and Podkovyrov V N 2000 Geochemistry of the Mesoproterozoic Lakhanda shales in southeastern Yakutia, Russia: Implications for mineralogical and provenance control, and recycling; Precamb. Res. 104 77–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cullers R L, Basu A and Suttner L J 1988 Geochemical signature of provenance in sand-size material in soils and stream sediments near the Tobacco Root Batholith, Montana, USA; Chem. Geol. 70 335–348.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dickinson W R, Beard L S, Brakenridge G R, Erjavec J L, Ferguson R C, Inman K F, Knepp R A, Lindberg F A and Ryberg P T 1983 Provenance of North American Phanerozoic sandstones in relation to tectonic setting; Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 94 222–235.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans P 1964 Tectonic framework of Assam; J. Geol. Soc. India 48 17–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fedo C M, Nesbitt H W and Young G M 1995 Unravelling the effects of potassium metasomatism in sedimentary rocks and paleosols, with implications for paleoweathering condition and provenance; Geology 23 921–924.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Folk R L 1974 Petrology of sedimentary rocks; Hemphill, Austin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ganguly S 1975 Tectonic evolution of the Mizo Hills; Bull. Geol. Min. Met. Soc. India 48 28–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ganju J L 1975 Geology of Mizoram; Bull. Geol. Min. Met. Soc. India 48 17–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garver J I, Royce P R and Smick T A 1996 Chromium and nickel shale of the Taconic Foreland: A case study for the provenance of fine-grained sediments with an ultramafic source; J. Sedim. Res. 66 100–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harnois L 1988 The CIW index: A new chemical index of weathering; Sedim. Geol. 55 319–322.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hauhnar M and Lalnunmawia J 2018 Petrography of Barail sandstone of Champhai–Mualkawi section in Champhai district, Mizoram: Implication on provenance and tectonic setting; Adv. Eng. Res. 178 66–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayashi K I, Fujisawa H, Holland H D and Ohmoto H 1997 Geochemistry of 1.9 Ga sedimentary rocks from northeastern Labrador, Canada; Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 61 4115–4137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herron M M 1988 Geochemical classification of terrigenous sands and shales from core or log data; J. Sedim. Res. 58 820–829.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hofer G, Wagreich M and Neuhuber S 2012 Geochemistry of fine-grained sediments of the Upper Cretaceous to Paleogene Gosau Group (Austria, Slovakia): Implication for paleoenvironmental and provenance studies; Geosci. Frontiers 4 449–468.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hussain M F and Bharali B 2019 Whole-rock geochemistry of Tertiary sediments of Mizoram Foreland Basin, NE India: Implications for source composition, tectonic setting and sedimentary processes; Acta Geochim. 38 897–914.

  • Ingersoll R V, Bullard T F, Ford R L, Grimm J P, Pickle J D and Sares S W 1984 The effect of grain size on detrital modes: A test of the Gazzi–Dickinson pointcounting method; J. Sedim. Petrol. 54 103–116.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jinliang Z and Xin Z 2008 Composition and provenance of sandstones and siltstones in Paleogene, Huimin depression, Bohai Bay basin, eastern China; J. China Univ. Geosci. 19 252–270.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karunakaran C 1974 Geology and mineral resources of the states of India; Misc. Publ. Geol. Surv. India 30(4) 93–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kichu A M and Srivastava S K 2018 Diagenetic environment of Barail Sandstones in and around Jotsoma Village, Kohima District, Nagaland, India; J. Geosci. Res. 3(1) 31–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • La Touche 1891 Note on the geology of Lushai Hills; Rec. Geol. Surv. India 24 83–141.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lalduhawma K and Kumar S 2014 Petrochemistry of Bhuban Formation rocks in and around Aizawl City, Mizoram, India; Sci. Vis. 14(2) 71–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lalmuankimi C, Kumar S and Tiwari R P 2011 Geochemical study of upper Bhuban sandstone in Muthi, Mizoram, India; Sci. Vis. 11(1) 40–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lalnunmawia J and Lalhlimpuii J 2014 Classification and provenance studies of the sandstones exposed along Durtlang road section, Aizawl, Mizoram; Sci. Vis. 14(3) 158–167.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lalnunmawia J, Vabeihmo Ch and Lalremruatsanga H 2016 Petrography and heavy minerals as tools for reconstruction of provenance and depositional environment of Bhuban sandstones in Aizawl, Mizoram; Sci. Vis. 16 1–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Long X, Yan C, Sun M, Wang Y, Cai K, Jiang Y 2012 Geochemistry and Nd isotopic composition of the Early Paleozoic flysch sequence in the Chinese ltai, central Asia: Evidence for a northward-derived mafic source and insight into Nd model ages in accretionary orogen; Gondwana Res. 22 554–566.

  • Madhavaraju J 2015 Geochemistry of Campanian–Maastrichtian sedimentary rocks in the Cauvery basin, south India; In: Constraints on paleoweathering, provenance and Cretaceous environments (ed.) Ramkumar M, Chemostratigraphy: Concepts, Techniques and Applications, Elsevier Spec. Vol., pp. 185–214.

  • Madhavaraju J, Loser H, Lee Y I, Lozano-Santacruz R and Pi-Puig T 2016a Geochemistry of Lower Cretaceous Limestones of the Alisitos Formation, Baja California, Mexico: Implications for REE source and paleo-redox conditions; J. South Am. Earth Sci. 66 149–165.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Madhavaraju J, Ramirez-Montoya E E, Monreal R, Gonzalez-Leon C M, Pi-Puig T, Espinoza-Maldonado I G and Grijalva-Noriega F J 2016b Paleoclimate, paleoweathering and paleoredox conditions of Lower Cretaceous shales from the Mural Limestone, Tuape section, northern Sonora, Mexico: Constraints from clay mineralogy and geochemistry; Revista Mexicana De Ciencias Geologicas 33(1) 34–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Madhavaraju J, Tom M, Lee Y I L, Balaram V, Ramasamy S, Carranza-Edwards A and Ramachandran A 2016c Provenance and tectonic settings of sands from Puerto Penasco, Desemboque and Bahia Kino beaches, gulf of California, Sonora, Mexico; J. South Am. Earth Sci. 71 262–275.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Madhavaraju J, Pacheco-Olivas S A, Gonzalez-León C M, Espinoza-Maldonado I G, Sanchéz-Medrano P A, Villanueva-Amadoz U, Monreal R, Pi-Puig T, Ramírez-Montoya E and Grijalva-Noriega F J 2017 Mineralogy and geochemistry of the Lower Cretaceous siliciclastic rocks of the Morita Formation, Sierra San José section, Sonora, Mexico; J. South Am. Earth Sci. 76 397–411.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Madhavaraju J, Saucedo-Samaniego J C, Löser L, Espinoza-Maldonado I G, Solari L, Monreal R, Grijalva-Noriega F J and Jaques-Ayala C 2019 Detrital zircon record of Mesozoic volcanic arcs in the Lower Cretaceous Mural Limestone, northwestern Mexico; Geol. J. 54 2621–2645.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McLennan S M, Hemming S, McDaniel D K and Hanson G N 1993 Geochemical approaches to sedimentation, provenance and tectonics; Geol. Soc. Am. Spec. Paper 284 295–303.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mongelli G, Critelli S, Perri F, Sonnino M and Perrone V 2006 Sedimentary recycling, provenance and paleoweathering from chemistry and mineralogy of Mesozoic continental red bed mudrocks, Peloritani Mountains, Southern Italy; Geochem. J. 40 197–209.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nandy D R 2017 Geodynamics of northeastern India and the adjoining Region; Scientific Book Centre, Guwahati, Assam, 272p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nesbitt H W and Young G M 1982 Early Proterozoic climates and plate motions inferred from major elements of lutites; Nature 299 715–717.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oni S O, Olatunj A S and Ehinola O A 2014 Determination of provenance and tectonic settings of Niger Delta clastic facies using Well-Y, Onshore Delta States, Nigeria; J. Geochem., https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/960139.

  • Pandey S and Parcha S K 2017 Provenance, tectonic setting and source-area weathering of the lower Cambrian sediments of the Parahio valley in the Spiti basin, India; J. Earth Syst. Sci. 126 27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parker A 1970 An index of weathering for silicate rocks; Geol. Mag. 107 501–504.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pettijohn F J, Potter P E and Siever R 1972 Sand and Sandstone; Springer-Verlag, 241p.

  • Rahman J J M and Suzuki S 2007 Geochemistry of sandstones from the Miocene Surma Group, Bengal Basin, Bangladesh: Implications for Provenance, tectonic setting and weathering; Geochem. J. 41 415–428.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramachandran A, Madhavaraju J, Ramasamy S, Lee Y I L, Rao S, Chawngthu D L and Velmurugan K 2015 Geochemistry of Proterozoic clastic rocks of the Kerur Formation of Kaladgi–Badami Basin, North Karnataka, South India: Implications for paleoweathering and provenance; Turkish J. Earth Sci. 25.

  • Ramamoorthy A and Ramasamy S 2015 Petrography and Provenance of Surface Barail Sandstones, Kohima, Nagaland, India; Int. J. Engr. Mgmt. Eco. 4(10) 35–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roser B P and Korsch R J 1988 Provenance signatures of sandstone–mudstone suites determined using discrimination function analysis of major element data; Chem. Geol. 67 119–139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roser B P and Korsch R J 1999 Geocehmical characterization, evolution and source of Mesozoic accretionary wedge: The Torlesse terrane, New Zealand; Geol. Mag. 136 493–512.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roser B P, Cooper R A, Nathan S and Tulloch A J 1996 Reconnaissance sandstone geochemistry, provenance, and tectonic setting of the lower Paleozoic terranes of the West Coast and Nelson, New Zealand; J. Geol. Geophys. 39 1–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sen S, Das P K, Bhagaboty B and Singha L J C 2012 Geochemistry of shales of Barail group occuring in and around Mandardisa, North Cachar Hills, Assam, India: Its Implications; Int. J. Chem. Appl. 4(1) 25–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava S K and Pandey N 2011 Search for Provenance of Oligocene Barail sandstones in and around Jotsoma, Kohima, Nagaland; J. Geol. Soc. India 77 433–442.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor S R and McLennan S M 1985 The continental crust: Its composition and evaluation; Oxford: Blackwell, 312p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tiwari R P and Kachhara R P 2003 Molluscan biostratigraphy of the tertiary sediments of Mizoram, India; J. Paleon. Soc. India 48 59–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zoramthara C, Ralte V Z and Lalramdina P 2015 Grain size analysis of Tipam sandstones near Buhchang village, Kolasib district, Mizoram; Sci. Vis. 15 42–51.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are deeply thankful DST-SERB for funding the research in the form of project. The authors would like to acknowledge the Director, National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), Hyderabad and Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG), Dehradun for their kind permission to do geochemical analysis. The authors also thank the authority of Mizoram University for support to do the project work. Funding was provided by Science and Engineering Research Board (Grant No. EEQ/2016/000655).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Mizoram University, Tanhril, 796 004, India

    Malsawmtluangkima Hauhnar, Jimmy Lalnunmawia & Orizen M S Dawngliana

Authors
  1. Malsawmtluangkima Hauhnar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jimmy Lalnunmawia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Orizen M S Dawngliana
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

The authors Jimmy Lalnunmawia, Malsawmtluangkima Hauhnar and Orizen M S Dawngliana contribute equally in various analytical works, plotting of all figures using software and other computer applications and the interpretations of data. Each author read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Malsawmtluangkima Hauhnar.

Additional information

Communicated by Santanu Banerjee

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hauhnar, M., Lalnunmawia, J. & Dawngliana, O.M.S. Geochemistry of Barail sandstone in Champhai, Mizoram: Implications on provenance and weathering history. J Earth Syst Sci 130, 27 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-020-01515-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-020-01515-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation