Geochemical Appraisal on History and Evolution of Barail Sandstones of Zote-Ngur, Champhai District, Mizoram, India

Abstract

Mizoram is part of Surma basin which later evolved into the present state of geological terrain due to Indo- Myanmar tectonic collision during the Oligocene period. The present work deals with geochemical characteristics of Barail sandstones exposed in Champhai area of eastern region in Mizoram. The major/minor oxides, trace elements and rare earth elements data are used to infer the geological history and evolution of the sandstone in the study area of Champhai. The petrographic study shows the presence of various detrital grains like quartz, lithic fragments, feldspar, chertz, mica, etc., which are cemented by siliceous and ferruginous materials. Geochemically, the sandstones indicate high wt% of SiO2, Al2O3 and MgO compared to Upper Continental Crust (UCC) while rest of the major oxides indicate low concentrations. The geochemical classification indicated the sandstones as litharenite and wacke. The chondrite normalised REE pattern shows the enrichment of HREE and depletion of LREE with negative Eu anomaly. The value of Eu/Eu*, La/Lu, La/Co, Th/Sc, Th/Co, Cr/Th and high ratio of LREE/HREE of Barail sandstone suggest felsic source rock. The analysis of paleoweathering history indicated moderate to intensive weathering in the provenance. Various tectonic discriminant function diagrams suggested Active Continental Margin settings.