Lithofacies associations and stable isotopes of palustrine and calcrete carbonates from an Indian Maastrichtian regolith

Tandon, S. K. and Andrews, J. E. (2001) Lithofacies associations and stable isotopes of palustrine and calcrete carbonates from an Indian Maastrichtian regolith. Sedimentology (48). pp. 339-355. ISSN 1365-3091

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract

Detailed information on semi-arid, palustrine carbonate–calcrete lithofacies associations in a sheetwash-dominated regolith setting is sparse. This is addressed by studying the Lower Limestone of the Lameta Beds, a well-exposed Maastrichtian regolith in central India. The general vertical lithofacies assemblage for this unit comprises: (a) basal calcareous siltstones and marls with charophytes, ostracods and gastropods; (b) buff micritic limestones associated in their upper parts with calcretized fissure-fill sandstones; (c) sheetwash as fissure-fill diamictites and thin pebbly sheets, locally developed over a few metres; and (d) sandy, nodular, brecciated and pisolitic calcretes at the top. The sequence is ‘regressive’, with upsection filling of topographic lows by increased sheetwash. Lateral lithofacies change is marked, but there are no permanent open-water lake deposits. In topographic lows close to the water table, marshy palustrine or groundwater calcretes formed, whereas on better drained highs, brecciation and calcretization occurred. Prolonged exposure is implied, suggesting that shrinkage was the main cause of brecciation. Evidence for rhizobrecciation and other biological calcrete fabrics is sparse, contrasting with the emphasis on root-related brecciation in many studies of palustrine lithofacies. Stable isotope (d18O and d13C) values are consistent with the palustrine limestones being fed from meteoric-derived groundwater with a strong input of soil-zone carbon. There is overlap of both d18O and d13C values from the various palustrine and calcrete fabrics co-occurring at outcrop. This suggests that, in groundwater-supported wetlands, conversion from palustrine carbonate to calcrete need not show isotopic expression, as the groundwater source and input of soil-zone carbon are essentially unchanged. Cretaceous–Tertiary d18O and d13C values from palustrine lithofacies and associated calcretes appear to be strongly influenced by the inherited values from lakes and wetlands. Hydrologically closed lakes and marine-influenced water bodies tend to result in low negative palustrine d18O and d13C values. During brecciation and calcretization, the degree of isotopic inheritance depends on whether or not alteration occurs in waters that are different from those of the original water body or wetland. Marked biological activity (e.g. rhizobrecciation or root mat development) during calcretization may lower d13C values where C3 plants are abundant but, in shrinkage-dominated systems, d13C values will be largely inherited from the palustrine limestones.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	sdg 14 - life below water ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/life_below_water
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Geosciences
Depositing User:	Rachel Snow
Date Deposited:	03 Mar 2011 09:38
Last Modified:	24 Sep 2024 10:25
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/25568
DOI:	10.1046/j.1365-3091.2001.00367.x

Actions (login required)

View Item