Geochemical evidence for the provenance, tectonic settings and depositional environment during the Cambrian Series 2-Wuliuan (Miaolingian) from the Kunzam La Formation in the Sumna Valley, Spiti, NW Himalaya

• Published in: Journal of Earth System Science 2022-03, Vol.131 (1), p.27, Article 27
• Main Authors: Singla, Garry, Ali, Sajid, Singh, Birendra P, Bhargava, Om N, Morrison, Scott, Kaur, Ramanpreet, Sati, Madhusudhan, Stopden, Stanzin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cambrian; Composition; Continental crust; Continental margins; Cratons; Deposition; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Geology; Plate tectonics; Precambrian; Rare earth elements; Rocks; Scandium; Sediment; Sediments; Space Exploration and Astronautics; Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics; Tectonics; Thorium; Trace elements; Valleys; Zinc
• ISSN: 2347-4327; 0253-4126; 0973-774X
• DOI: 10.1007/s12040-021-01764-2

We present trace-element compositions and rare-earth elements (REEs) analyses of the Cambrian Series 2-Wuliuan (Miaolingian), Kunzam La Formation from the Sumna Valley, Spiti, Tethyan Himalaya, in order to identify the provenance, tectonic settings and depositional environment in the region. The trace elemental ratios (Th/Co, Th/Sc, La/Sc, Cr/Th) and REE patterns show compositions similar to the felsic composition, which are comparable with the upper continental crust, suggesting that the sediments in the Sumna Valley were derived from a felsic source that possibly lie in the felsic igneous province of the old Precambrian Indian craton. The elemental discrimination diagrams show deposition of the Sumna Valley rocks in a passive continental margin tectonic setting. The selected trace-element ratios such as V/Cr, Ni/Co, Th/U and V/V+Ni as well as positive Ce and negative Eu anomalies indicate oxidising conditions prevailed during the deposition of the Cambrian Series 2-Wuliuan (Miaolingian) rocks. The concentration of Y and Rb trace elements indicates continental sediments depositional site was proximal and close to near-shore environment. Finally, the low REE+Y and selected trace elements (La, Th, Sc, Ni, Cr, V, U, Rb, Zn, Y) concentration indicate a major transgressive event at the boundary of the Cambrian Series 2-Wuliuan (Miaolingian) associated with the Oryctocephalus indicus biozone.