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δ13C and 87Sr/86Sr signatures from carbonates of the Morar Formation, Gwalior Group: Implications towards depositional setting and Paleoproterozoic seawater chemistry

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Abstract

The Paleoproterozoic Gwalior Group of central India holds carbonates at two stratigraphic levels within the Morar Formation, exposed at the Bela-Ki-Bauri and Utilla sections. Limestones are micritic/sucrosic in grain size and dominantly calcitic in mineralogy. Preservation of primary sedimentary structures, poor correlation between δ13C and δ18O values and a narrow range in isotopic values suggest preservation of near-pristine sea water signature. δ13C values for Bela-Ki-Bauri and Utilla carbonates vary between –1.1 and –2.8‰ and 0.5 to 0.1‰, respectively, with an average 2.37‰ depletion in value in Bela-Ki-Bauri carbonates. Without any significant difference in total organic carbon content between the two studied sections, the depletion in δ13C value within Bela-Ki-Bauri carbonates is correlated with influx of 12C enriched meteoric water at a shallow marine setting dominated by stromatolites and algal laminites. The 87Sr/86Sr values obtained from Gwalior carbonates (0.707403–0.711283) are well consistent with Proterozoic carbonates and a value of 0.707403 is considered composition of Gwalior seawater.

Research highlights

  • For the first time Strontium isotopes data are reported from Paleoproterozoic Gwalior Basin.

  • 87Sr/86Sr values from Gwalior carbonates are well consistent with other Proterozoic carbonates.

  • Positive shift in δ13C in the Gwalior carbonate helps to infer the paleo bathymetry.

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Author statement

PPP: Fieldwork, collection of samples, data analysis, visualisation of the manuscript and writing, conceptualisation of figures and drawings.

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Acknowledgements

P P Paul thanks the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, for financial support in the form of SRA (Scientist Pool) No. 13(9182-A/2021-Pool) and the University Grants Commission in the form of a major Project. Thanks are due to Dr S Balakrishnan, Department of Earth Sciences, Pondicherry University and Dr M K Bera, Department of Geology and Geophysics, IIT Kharagpur for providing laboratory facilities. Dr P P Chakraborty, University of Delhi, is specially thanked for his mentorship throughout this study.

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    Pritam Paritosh Paul

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Paul, P.P. δ13C and 87Sr/86Sr signatures from carbonates of the Morar Formation, Gwalior Group: Implications towards depositional setting and Paleoproterozoic seawater chemistry. J Earth Syst Sci 131, 222 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-022-01970-6

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