Climatic aridity over India 11,000 years ago: Evidence from feldspar distribution in shelf sediments

Abstract

Feldspars and quartz contents of sand and silt fractions of forty three samples from the western continental shelf of India were determined by the X-ray diffraction method. The results indicate that the feldspar content in the relict (9,000–12,000 yrs B.P.) outer continental shelf sediments exceeds the feldspar content in modern inner continental shelf sediments. The types of feldspar are maximum and intermediate microcline, orthoclase and high albite. The paleoclimatic inferences drawn from these data are that the climate during the late Pleistocene and early Holocene was arid. These findings are in general agreement with the climate of other tropical areas for that period.