Geochemistry of Paleo to Mesoproterozoic Metasedimentary Units of Chandil Formation, North Singhbhum Crustal Province: Implications for Provenance and Source Area Weathering

Abstract

The Mesoproterozoic metasedimentary units of Chandil Formation belong to the northern part of Singhbhum crustal province, eastern India. The Formation lies north of Dalma volcano-sedimentary belt and is separated from the Meso- Neoproterozoic Chhotanagpur granite gneissic complex (CGGC) by Tamar-Porapahar shear zone (TPSZ), i.e. South Purulia shear zone, (SPSZ) at its northern boundary. The metasedimentary unit comprises of quartz-mica-sericite-schist, quartzite, amphibolites and carbonaceous phyllites, which have not been studied well, so far in terms of their geochemistry, source rock and provenance characterization. In this work, the existing gaps in all those aspects are studied to infer the provenance of these metasedimentary sequences. The high silica contents of the Chandil Formation (~95% for the quartzites and ~70% for the metapelites) and low trace element concentrations indicate silica-rich source. The REE patterns of the quartzites and the metapelites exhibit LREE enrichment and HREE depletion with moderate negative Eu-anomalies which strongly favor felsic nature of the provenance. The significant enrichment of LREE, flat HREE patterns and negative Eu-anomalies of the metapelites suggest their derivation from an old upper continental crust, which is composed of felsic components and the negative Eu-anomalies indicate intra-crustal differentiation. The higher concentrations of the HFSE i.e. Zr, Hf and Ta, within the Chandil metasediments relative to those of EPC (Early Proterozoic Continental Crust), also suggests a felsic provenance. The geochemical signatures of the Chandil metasediments indicate that the sediments were derived during a prolonged period of weathering due to the slow upliftment and unroofing of the southern evolving Singhbhum granitic complex (SGC).