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Geochemistry and provenance of the Miocene sandstones of the Surma group from the Sitapahar anticline, Southeastern Bengal Basin, Bangladesh

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Journal of the Geological Society of India

Abstract

Geochemical composition (major and trace elements) of Miocene sandstones of the Surma Group exposed in Sitapahar anticline, Southeastern Bengal Basin was determined to reveal their provenance, tectonic setting and source area weathering conditions. The sandstones are sub-arkosic, sub-lithic and greywacke in composition with abundant low-grade metamorphic, sedimentary lithics (mainly chert with some shale fragments), low feldspars and little volcanic detritus. Compared to the average sandstone value, the Surma Group sandstones are depleted in CaO and enriched in Al2O3, Fe2O3 and Na2O. The Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA) values for the Miocene Surma Group sandstones vary from 57 to 73 with an average of 65, indicating low to moderate weathering of the source areas. The geochemical characteristics suggest an active continental margin to passive margin setting for the Surma Group sandstones; preserve the signatures of a recycled provenance that is agreement with sandstone petrography and derivation of these sandstones from felsic source rocks.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Geological Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    M. Julleh Jalalur Rahman & A. S. M. Sayem

  2. University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany

    Tom McCann

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  1. M. Julleh Jalalur Rahman
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Julleh Jalalur Rahman, M., Sayem, A.S.M. & McCann, T. Geochemistry and provenance of the Miocene sandstones of the Surma group from the Sitapahar anticline, Southeastern Bengal Basin, Bangladesh. J Geol Soc India 83, 447–456 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-014-0061-y

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