Geochemical characteristics of Early Cambrian phosphate bearing sedimentary rocks from the Mussoorie Syncline, India: Implications for paleo-redox conditions

The phosphate bearing sedimentary rocks of Masrana and Kimoi blocks of Mussoorie Syncline are found to occur associated with a variety of chert-shale-carbonate with some pyrites of Tal Group of Early Cambrian age. Petro-mineralogical studies have revealed that apatite is a dominant phosphate mineral...

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Main Authors: Saif A. Khan, Shamim A. Dar, K.F. Khan, Yasir Karim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2022-08-01
Series:Geosystems and Geoenvironment
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772883822000255
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author Saif A. Khan
Shamim A. Dar
K.F. Khan
Yasir Karim
author_facet Saif A. Khan
Shamim A. Dar
K.F. Khan
Yasir Karim
author_sort Saif A. Khan
collection DOAJ
description The phosphate bearing sedimentary rocks of Masrana and Kimoi blocks of Mussoorie Syncline are found to occur associated with a variety of chert-shale-carbonate with some pyrites of Tal Group of Early Cambrian age. Petro-mineralogical studies have revealed that apatite is a dominant phosphate mineral with gangue constituents as calcite, dolomite, variable amounts of quartz, pyrite, hematite as well as some organic structures. Quartz veins are also found cutting across the pellets of collophane. Major element analysis indicates that high P2O5 and CaO values designate high apatite, calcite or gypsum. The antipathetic correlation of P2O5 with most of the major oxides represents, replacement, leaching and weathering of major elements with P2O5 in the voids, cavities and veins during the formation of deposit. The results of trace elements reveal that the phosphorites are more enriched in V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, Pb than Sc, Cs, Hf, Ta, Th, U. Higher concentration of V may be due to the presence of organic matter and its close affinity with P2O5. Vanadium (V) therefore occurs associated with Ni-Cr-Zn-Cu-Ag, which is distinctive of the organic matter obtained from the marine sediments. Rich Concentration of Ba, Cu, Ni and Zn in these phosphorites might be due to the presence of organic matter derived from marine plankton. Ni/Co ratios are low in the phosphate bearing sedimentary rocks (<5), which indicates oxic conditions. The plotted binary diagram of V/(V + Ni) versus Ni/Co also confirms oxic conditions for these samples. In the present study most of the samples have values of V/Cr below 2, whereas two samples show value above 2, indicating dominant oxic environmental conditions with mild reducing conditions. Oxic and anoxic diagenetic environment has been also supported by negative Ce and positive Eu on Post-Archean Australian Shale (PAAS) normalised REE patterns.
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spelling doaj.art-25b4b04d51cd4ae3ba8b7e762f09686b2022-12-22T00:55:01ZengElsevierGeosystems and Geoenvironment2772-88382022-08-0113100046Geochemical characteristics of Early Cambrian phosphate bearing sedimentary rocks from the Mussoorie Syncline, India: Implications for paleo-redox conditionsSaif A. Khan0Shamim A. Dar1K.F. Khan2Yasir Karim3Department of Civil Engineering, KIET Group of Institutions, Ghaziabad, Delhi-NCR 201206, IndiaDepartment of Geology (Centre of Advanced Study), Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India; Corresponding author.Department of Geology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh 202002, IndiaDepartment of Civil Engineering, KIET Group of Institutions, Ghaziabad, Delhi-NCR 201206, IndiaThe phosphate bearing sedimentary rocks of Masrana and Kimoi blocks of Mussoorie Syncline are found to occur associated with a variety of chert-shale-carbonate with some pyrites of Tal Group of Early Cambrian age. Petro-mineralogical studies have revealed that apatite is a dominant phosphate mineral with gangue constituents as calcite, dolomite, variable amounts of quartz, pyrite, hematite as well as some organic structures. Quartz veins are also found cutting across the pellets of collophane. Major element analysis indicates that high P2O5 and CaO values designate high apatite, calcite or gypsum. The antipathetic correlation of P2O5 with most of the major oxides represents, replacement, leaching and weathering of major elements with P2O5 in the voids, cavities and veins during the formation of deposit. The results of trace elements reveal that the phosphorites are more enriched in V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Ba, Pb than Sc, Cs, Hf, Ta, Th, U. Higher concentration of V may be due to the presence of organic matter and its close affinity with P2O5. Vanadium (V) therefore occurs associated with Ni-Cr-Zn-Cu-Ag, which is distinctive of the organic matter obtained from the marine sediments. Rich Concentration of Ba, Cu, Ni and Zn in these phosphorites might be due to the presence of organic matter derived from marine plankton. Ni/Co ratios are low in the phosphate bearing sedimentary rocks (<5), which indicates oxic conditions. The plotted binary diagram of V/(V + Ni) versus Ni/Co also confirms oxic conditions for these samples. In the present study most of the samples have values of V/Cr below 2, whereas two samples show value above 2, indicating dominant oxic environmental conditions with mild reducing conditions. Oxic and anoxic diagenetic environment has been also supported by negative Ce and positive Eu on Post-Archean Australian Shale (PAAS) normalised REE patterns.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772883822000255GeochemistryPhosphoritesSedimentary rocksPaleo-redox conditionsMussoorie SynclineUttrakhand
spellingShingle Saif A. Khan
Shamim A. Dar
K.F. Khan
Yasir Karim
Geochemical characteristics of Early Cambrian phosphate bearing sedimentary rocks from the Mussoorie Syncline, India: Implications for paleo-redox conditions
Geosystems and Geoenvironment
Geochemistry
Phosphorites
Sedimentary rocks
Paleo-redox conditions
Mussoorie Syncline
Uttrakhand
title Geochemical characteristics of Early Cambrian phosphate bearing sedimentary rocks from the Mussoorie Syncline, India: Implications for paleo-redox conditions
title_full Geochemical characteristics of Early Cambrian phosphate bearing sedimentary rocks from the Mussoorie Syncline, India: Implications for paleo-redox conditions
title_fullStr Geochemical characteristics of Early Cambrian phosphate bearing sedimentary rocks from the Mussoorie Syncline, India: Implications for paleo-redox conditions
title_full_unstemmed Geochemical characteristics of Early Cambrian phosphate bearing sedimentary rocks from the Mussoorie Syncline, India: Implications for paleo-redox conditions
title_short Geochemical characteristics of Early Cambrian phosphate bearing sedimentary rocks from the Mussoorie Syncline, India: Implications for paleo-redox conditions
title_sort geochemical characteristics of early cambrian phosphate bearing sedimentary rocks from the mussoorie syncline india implications for paleo redox conditions
topic Geochemistry
Phosphorites
Sedimentary rocks
Paleo-redox conditions
Mussoorie Syncline
Uttrakhand
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772883822000255
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AT shamimadar geochemicalcharacteristicsofearlycambrianphosphatebearingsedimentaryrocksfromthemussooriesynclineindiaimplicationsforpaleoredoxconditions
AT kfkhan geochemicalcharacteristicsofearlycambrianphosphatebearingsedimentaryrocksfromthemussooriesynclineindiaimplicationsforpaleoredoxconditions
AT yasirkarim geochemicalcharacteristicsofearlycambrianphosphatebearingsedimentaryrocksfromthemussooriesynclineindiaimplicationsforpaleoredoxconditions