International E-publication: Publish Projects, Dissertation, Theses, Books, Souvenir, Conference Proceeding with ISBN.  International E-Bulletin: Information/News regarding: Academics and Research

Clay Mineralogy, Palynology and Geochemistry of the Paleogene sediments in Inner Fold Belt of Nagaland, Northeast India

Author Affiliations

  • 1Department of Geology, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai-600 025, India
  • 2Department of Geology, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai-600 025, India
  • 3Department of Geology, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai-600 025, India
  • 4Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College (Autonomous), PG and Research Department of Botany, Mylapore, Chennai-600 004, India

Int. Res. J. Earth Sci., Volume 4, Issue (12), Pages 1-18, December,25 (2016)

Abstract

The present study frame on the paleoclimate, paleoenvironmental, depositional settings and lithological variations based on lithofacies study, clay mineralogy, palynofossils, organic concentrations and geochemical trace concentration in the tectonic units of Inner Fold Belt of Nagaland. Clay mineralogy in both study areas suggest dominance of Illite followed by Chlorite and less concentration of Montmorillonite and Kaolinite. High contents of Illite and Chlorite suggests that these sediments were derived by the continental erosion of pre-existing rocks, subjected to low intensity chemical weathering associated with a temperate climate. The palynological assemblage consists of pteridophytic spores, angiosperm pollen grains, fungal spores, Algal filaments, woody and organic matter. Analysis of the palynofloral assemblage yielded a total of 14 different dominant and accessory palyno taxa. Out of 14 species 9 species Cyathidites sp1, Lycopodiumsporites sp, Triletes sp1 Triletes sp2, Triletes sp3, Polypodiisporites sp, Laevigatosporites sp, Cyathidites sp2 and Polypodiaceosporites sp belongs to pteridophytes spores, and 4 species Tetracolpies sp, Tricolporites sp and Arecipites 1 & Arecipites 2 sp. belong to angiosperms pollens, and 1 Phragmothrites sp. belongs to fungal spores. Its recorded assemblages and occurrences indicate the prevalence of subtropical to tropical climate under very warm and humid condition, and show an affinity of Tertiary age of non-marine condition. While palynomorph on deep water marine facies do contain several palynofossils assemblages of shallow water/ continental origin as reported from deep sea Bengal fan sediments. Low values of organic matter in both the study locations shows that both may be sourced authigenic chiefly from planktons and plant debris from continental flora deposited in an oxidising environment. Trace element concentration in both the study areas shows up appreciable variation in Fe, Mn, Zn, Cr, Ni and Cu contents. Whereas in the case of Cd, Co, and Pd the variation is relatively moderate. Appreciable increase in the concentration of Cr, Ni, Zn, and Mn content is observed in Disang black shale and in siltstone. The ophiolite complex which is haphazardly juxtaposed along faults or they consist of lensoid slices interbedded with Disang group of rocks, where the lower Disang sediments are intermixed with pelagic cherts and limestone. Elevated Cr concentration values in both the study areas are indicative of mafic or ultramafic source rock, caused by the mineralised ophiolitic rocks and sedimentary rocks derived from them. The Cd trace concentration of both the study areas is relatively higher than the average Cd crustal abundance. Elevated Cd values are generally indicative of sulphide mineralisation.

References

  1. Tewari V.C., Kumar K.., Siddaiah N.S. and Lokho K. (2010)., Lakadong Limestone:Paleocene-Eocene boundary carbonate sedimentation in Meghalaya, northeastern India., Curr. Sci., 98 (1), 88-95
  2. Tewari V.C., Lokho K., Kumar K. and Siddaiah N.S. (2010)., Late Cretaceous-Paleogene basin architecture and evolution of the Shillong shelf sedimentation, Meghalaya Northeast India., Jour. Indian Geol.Cong.4(4), 61-73
  3. Lokho K., Venkatachalapathy R. and Raju D.S.N. (2004)., Stratigraphy tables for the northeast basin of India: with brief notes compiled by D.S.N. Raju., Indian Jour. Petrol. Geol., 13(1), 1-7.
  4. Lokho K., Venkatachalapathy R. and Raju D.S.N. (2004)., Uvigerinids and associated Foraminiferaand their values as direct evidence from the shelf and deep marine paleo environments during upper Disang of Nagaland, Eastern Himalaya and its implication in Hydrocarbon Exploration., Ind. Jour. Petrol. Geol., 13, 1-7.
  5. Acharyya S.K., Roy D.K. and Mitra N.D. (1986)., Stratigraphy and palaeontology of the Naga Hills Ophiolite Belt., Geol. Surv. India Memoirs 119, 64–79.
  6. Acharyya S.K., Ray K.K. and Sengupta S. (1990)., Tectonics of the Ophiolite belt from Naga Hills and Andaman Islands, India., Proc. India Acad. Sci., Earth Planet. Sci., 99(2), 187-199.
  7. Watitemsu Imchen., Glenn T. Thong. and Temjenrenla Pongen. (2014)., Provenance, tectonic setting and age of the sediments of the Upper Disang Formation in the Phek District, Nagaland., Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 88, 11–27.
  8. Srivastava S.K. and Pandey N. (2008)., Palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of Disang-Barail Transition using grain size parameters in Nagaland, , Nagaland Univ. Res. Jour., 5, 164-176.
  9. Evans P. (1932)., Tertiary succession in Assam., Trans. Mineral. Geol. Inst. India, 27, 155–260.
  10. Brindley G.W. and Brown G. (1980)., X–ray diffraction procedures for clay mineral identification., In G.W. Brindley and G. Brown, Eds., Crystal structures of clay minerals and their X–ray identification, Mineralogical Society, London, 305 – 359.
  11. Erdtman G. (1943)., An introduction to pollen analysis-Chronica Botanica Co., Waltham, hlassachusetts., xv, [i], 239, [I] pp. [= A new series of plant science books, vol. 12. Also 1954 corrected reprint by same publisher, with same pagination.]
  12. Hedges J.I. and Keil R.G. (1995)., Sedimentary organic matter preservation: an assessment and speculative synthesis: Marine Chemistry., 49, 81–115.
  13. Shapiro L. and Brannock W. (1952)., Rapid analysis of silicate rocks., U.S. Geol. Surv. Bull. v. 1036 C, 56.
  14. Hardy R. and Tucker M. (1988)., X-ray powder diffraction of sediments., In: Tucker M.(Ed.),Techniques in sedimentology, 191-228, BlackwellScientific Publication, Oxford.
  15. Madhavaraju J. and Ramasamy S. (2002)., Petrography and geochemistry of Late Maastrichtian-Early Paleocene sediments of Tiruchirapalli Cretaceous, Tamil Nadu Paleoweathering and provenance implications., Jour.Geol Soci of India, 59, 133-142.
  16. Meunier A. (1980)., Mechanisms of the alteration of granites and the role of microsystems., Study of the bullring of the granite massif of Parthenay. Memoirs of the Geological Society of France, 140, 80.
  17. Dunoyer D.E. and Segonzac (1970)., The transformation of clay minerals, during diagenesis and low grade metamorphism., Sedimentol, 15, 218-348.
  18. Grim R.E. (1968)., Clay Mineralogy,, 2nd Edition. McGraw-Hill, New York, 596.
  19. Stalder P.J. (1979)., Organic and inorganic metamorphism in the Taveyannaz sandstone of the Swiss Alp sand equivalent sandstones in France and Italy., Jour. Sed. Petrol., 49, 463-482.
  20. Keller W.D. (1970)., Environmental aspects of clay minerals., J. sedimentary Petrology, 40, 788-813
  21. Fürsich F.T., Singh I.B., Joachimski M., Krumm S., Schlirf M. and Schlirf S. (2005)., Palaeoclimate reconstructions of the Middle Jurassic of Kachchh (western India): an integrated approach based on palaeoecological, oxygen isotopic, and clay mineralogical data., Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 217, 289–309.
  22. Ramesh K., Saxena and Gyanendra K. (2009)., Palynological investigation of the Kopili Formation (Late Eocene) in North Cachar Hills, Assam, India, Acta Palaeobotanica, 49(2), 253–277.
  23. Mandaokar B.D. and Debi Mukherjee (2014)., Palynostratigraphy of the Cuddalore formation (early Miocene) of Panruti, Tamil Nadu, India, Journal of the Palaeontological Society of India, 59(1), 69-80.
  24. Basumatary S.K., Bera S.K., Sangma S.N. and Marak G. (2014)., Modern pollen deposition in relation to vegetation and climate of Balpakram valley, Meghalaya, northeast India: Implications for Indo-Burma, palaeoecological contexts, .
  25. Mandaokar B.D. and Debi Mukherjee (2012)., Palynological Investigation of Early Miocene Sediments, Exposed At Panruti, Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu, India.
  26. McLennan S.M., Hemming S.R., Taylor S.R. and Eriksson K.A. (1995)., Early Proterozoic crustal evolution: Geochemical and Nd-Pb isotopic evidence from metasedimentary rocks, southern North America., Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 59, 1153–1177.
  27. Mclennan S.M., Hemming S., Mcdaniel D.K. and Hanson G.N. (1993)., Geochemical approaches to sedimentation, provenance and tectonics., In: M. J. Johnson and A. Basu (Eds.) Processes Controlling the Composition of Clastic Sediments. Geol. Soc. Amer. Spec. Paper 284, 21-40.
  28. Kabata, Pendiasa and Pendias H. (2001)., Trace Elements in Soils and Plants., 3rd edition, CRC Press, 397.
  29. Bhattacharjee C.C. (1991)., The ophiolites of northeast India—a subduction zone ophiolite complex of the Indo-Burman orogenic belt., Tectonophysics, 191, 213-222
  30. Mielke J.E. (1979)., Composition of the Earth, In:Siegel, F.R. (Ed.), Review of Research on Modern Problems in Geochemistry.UNESCO Report, Paris, 13–37. mineralogical data. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol. 217, 289–309.
  31. Smith K.S., Cadmium Marshall C.P. and Fairbridge R.W., eds. (1999)., Encyclopedia of geochemistry: Dordrecht,, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 50-51.
  32. Speelman E.N., Van Kempen M.M.L., Barke J., Brinkhaus H., Reichart G.J., Smolders A.J.P., Roelofs J.G.M., Sangiorgi F., De Leeuw J.W., Lotter A.F. and Damsté J.S.S. (2009)., The Eocene Arctic Azolla bloom: environmental conditions, productivity, and carbon drawdown, Geobiology, 7, 155-170.
  33. Pagani M., Zachos J.C., Freeman K.H., Tipple B. and Bohaty S. (2005)., Marked Declinein Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Concentration During the Paleogene., Science, 309, 600-603.
  34. Ramesh S. and Ramasamy S. (2000)., Palynodebris accumulation characteristics of a sediment core from the eastern part of Lower Bengal Fan., Current Science, Bangalore, 78(11), 24-26 .
  35. Millot Georges (1953)., Heritage and neoformation in the clayey sedimentation, : Congress, Geo International, 1952, issue 18, 163-175.