Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Major element geochemical variations in a Miocene-Pliocene Siwalik paleosol sequence: Implications to soil forming processes in the Himalayan foreland basin

  • Published:
Journal of the Geological Society of India

Abstract

Elemental mobility based on major element geochemistry from 58 horizons related to six paleosols profiles in a typical Miocene — Pliocene Siwalik fluvial sequence in the NW Himalaya has been reported here. The paleosols developed over felsic parent material of fine to medium grained sandstone indicate notable enrichment of sesquioxides (Al2O3 = 29 % and Fe2O3 = 54 %) depicting significant leaching and dissolution. The depletion of base cations (mean wt% of Na2O = 0.24; CaO = 0.51) and SiO2 (mean wt% = 63.6) in the pedogenic layers and its enrichment in the parental material (mean wt% of Na2O = 0.44; CaO = 1.3; SiO2 = 70.1) shows a good gradient of elemental mobility due to pedogenesis. Bivariate plots of the base ratios (Na2O/K2O, CaO/K2O, and MgO/K2O) vs. Al2O3 reveal independent distribution for parent material, pedogenic horizons and the incipient zone indicating the gradual addition/removal of immobile/mobile elements with varying pedogenesis. Discontinuous and segmented pattern of the geochemical parameters enables discrimination of multiple pedogenic episodes and recognition of soil welding processes in the multistorey composite paleosols. We also test the applicability of the geochemical climofunctions: the Mean Annual Precipitation (MAP) and Mean Annual Temperature (MAT); that demands more data for calibration in the Siwalik paleosols.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bagati, T.N. and Kumar, R. (1994) Clay mineralogy of the Middle Siwalik sequence in Mohand area, Dehradun: Implications for climate and source area. In: R. Kumar, S.K. Ghosh and N.R. Phadtare (Eds.), Siwalik Foreland Basin of Himalaya. Himalayan Geol., v.15, pp.219–228.

  • Birkeland, P.W. (1974) Pedology, weathering and geomorphological research. Oxford University Press, USA, 285p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Birkeland, P.W. (1999) Soils and Geomorphology. Oxford University Press, New York, 430p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubbin, W. (2001) Soils: past and present. Geology Today, v.17, pp.225–228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fitzpatrick, E.A. (1986) Soils, their formation, classification and distribution. ELBS, Longman, Hong Kong, 353p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gross, G.M. (1971) Carbon determination. In: R.E. Carver (Ed.), Procedures in sedimentary petrology Wiley-Interscience, New York, pp.573–596.

  • Jenny, H. (1941) Factors of soil formation. McGraw-Hill, New York, 281p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jenny, H. (1980) The soil resource. Springer-Verlag, New York, 377p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kraus, M.J. (1992) Mesozoic and Tertiary paleosols. In: I.P. Martini and W. Chesworth (Eds.), Developments in earth surface processes 2. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp.525–542.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kraus, M.J. (1999) Paleosols in clastic sedimentary rocks: their geologic applications. Earth Sci. Rev., v.47, pp.41–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, R. (1993) Coalescence megafan: Multistorey sandstone complex of the late-orogenic (Mio-Pliocene) sub-Himalayan belt, Dehra Dun, India. Sedimentary Geol., v.85, pp.327–337.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, R. and Nanda, A.C. (1989) Sedimentology of the Middle Siwalik Subgroup of Mohand area, Dehradun valley, India. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.34, pp.597–616.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, R., Sangode, S.J. and Ghosh, S.K. (2004) A multistorey sandstone complex in the Himalayan Foreland Basin, NW Himalaya, India. Jour. Asian Earth Sciences, v.23, pp.407–426.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumaravel, V., Sangode, S.J., Siva Siddaiah, N. and Kumar, R. (2005) Rock magnetic characterization of pedogenesis under high energy depositional conditions: A case study from the Mio-Pliocene Siwalik fluvial sequence near Dehra Dun, NW Himalaya, India. Sedimentary Geology, v.177, pp.229–252.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mclennan, S.M., Hemming, S., Mcdaniel, D.K. and Handon, (1993) Geochemical approaches to sedimentation, provenance, and tectonics. Geol. Soc. America, Spec. Paper, v.284, pp.21–40.

  • Munsell Color (2000) Munsell soil color charts. Gretag Macberth, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maynard, J.B. (1992) Chemistry of modern soils as a guide to interpreting Precambriam paleosols. Jour. Geol., v.100, pp.279–289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nesbitt. H.W., Markovics, G. and Price, R.C. (1980) Chemical processes affecting alkalies and alkaline earths during chemical weathering. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, v.44, pp.1659–1666.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nesbitt, H.W. and Young, G.M. (1982) Early Proterozoic climates and plate motions inferred from major element geochemistry of lutites. Nature, v.299, pp.715–717.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nesbitt, H.W. and Young, G.M. (1984) Prediction of some weathering trends of plutonic and volcanic rocks based on thermodynamic and kinetic consideration. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, v.48, pp.1523–1534.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nesbitt, H.W. and Young, G.M. (1989) Formation and Diagenesis of weathering profiles. Jour. Geol., v.97, pp.129–147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nettleton, W.D., Olson, C.G. and Wysocki, D.A. (2000) Paleosol classification: problem and solutions. Catena, v.41, pp.61–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ollier, C. (1969) Weathering. Oliver and Boyd, Edinburg.

    Google Scholar 

  • Olson, C.G. and Nettleton, W.D. (1998) Paeosols and the effects of alteration. Quaternary Internat., v.51/52, pp.185–194.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parkash, B., Sharma, R.P. and Roy, A.K. (1980) The Siwalik group (Molasse)—sediments shed by collision of continental plates. Sedimentary Geol., v.25, pp.127–159.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quade, J., Cater, M.L.J., Ojha, P.T., Adam, J. and Harrison, M.T. (1995) Late Miocene environmental change in Nepal and the northern Indian subcontinent: stable isotopic evidence from paleosols. GSA Bulletin, v.107, pp.1381–1397.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Retallack, G.J. (1988) Field recognition of paleosols. Geol. Soc. Amer. Spec. Paper, v.216, pp.1–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Retallack, G.J. (1990) Soils of the past: an introduction to paleopedology. Unwin Hyman Ltd., Boston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Retallack, G.J. (1991) Untangling the effects of burial alteration and ancient soil formation. Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci., v.19, pp.183–206.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Retallack, G.J. (1995) Paleosols of Siwalik group as a 15 Ma record of south Asian palaeoclimate. Mem. Geol. Soc. India, no.32, pp.36–51.

  • Ruhe, R.V. (1965) Quaternary paleopedology. In: H. Wright and D. Frey (Eds.), The Quaternary of the United States. Princeton University Press, New Jersey, pp.755–764.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sangode, S.J., Kumar, R. and Ghosh, S.K. (1999) Paleomagnetic and Rock Magnetic perspectives on the post-collisional continental sediments of the Himalaya, India. In: T. Radhakrishna and J.D.A. Piper (Eds.), The Indian subcontinent and Gondwana: a paleomagnetic and rock magnetic perspective. Mem. Geol. Soc. India, no.44, pp.221–248.

  • Sangode, S.J., Bloemendal, J., Kumar, R. and Ghosh, S.K. (2001) Plio-Pliestocene pedogenic changes in the Siwalik Paleosols: A rock magnetic approach. Curr. Sci., v.81, pp.387–392.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sangode, S.J. and Bloemendal, J. (2004) Pedogenic transformation of magnetic minerals in Pliocene-Pleistocene paleosols of the Siwalik Group, NW Himalaya, India. Palaeogeo., Palaeoclimat., Palaeoeco., v.212, pp.95–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sangode, S. J., Kumaravel, V., Bloemendal, J. and Kumar, R. (2008) Effect of Burial and Compaction on Soil Magnetic Properties: Results from Soil-Paleosol sequences in the Himalayan Foreland, India. Palaeogeo., Palaeoclimat., Palaeoeco., v.267, pp.235–244.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sawyer, E.W. (1986) The influence of source rock type, chemical weathering and sorting on the geochemistry of clastic sediments from the Quetico metasedimentary belt, Superior province, Canada. Chemical Geol., v.55, pp.77–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanyal, P., Bhattacharya, S.K., Rohtash Kumar, S.K. Ghosh, S.K. and Sangode, S.J. (2004) Mio-Pliocene monsoonal record from Himalayan foreland basin (Indian Siwalik) and its relation to vegetational change. Palaeogeo., Palaeoclimat., Palaeoeco., v.205, pp.23–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheldon, N.D., Retallack, G.J. and Tanaka, S. (2002) Geochemical climofunctions from North American Soils and Application to paleosols across the Eocene-Oligocene boundary in Oregon. Jour. Geol., v.110, pp.687–696.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheldon, N.D. (2003) Pedogenesis and Geochemical alteration of the Picture George Subgroup, Columbia river basalt, Oregon. GSA Bulletin, v.115, pp.1377–1387.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sposito, G. (1989) The chemistry of soils. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 304p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soil Survey Staff (1966) Soil Survey Laboratory Data and Descriptions for some soils of Nebraska. Soil Survey Investigative Report no. 5, SCS, USDA.

  • Soil Survey Staff (1999) Soil Taxonomy. Natural resources Conservation Service, USDA, 8th edition. Government printing office, Washington.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tandon, S.K. (1991) The Himalayan Foreland: focus on Siwalik Basin. In: S.K. Tandon, C.C. Pant, and S.M. Casshyap (Eds.), Sedimentary Basins of India: Tectonic Context. Gyanodaya Prakashan, Nainital (India), pp.177–201.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanaka, S. (1994) Paleosols in Churia (Siwalik) Group, west central Nepal. Him. Geol., v.15, pp.181–204.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, J.V., Parkash, B. and Mohindra, R. (2002) Lithofacies and paleosol analysis of the Middle and Upper Siwalik Groups (Plio-Pleistocene), Haripur-Kolar section, Himachal Pradesh, India. Sedimentary Geol., v.150, pp.343–366.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, J.V., Parkash, B., Mohindra, R., Bhattcharya, S.K. and Jani, A. (2005) Syndepositional tectonics and paleoclimatic implications of paleosols of the Plio-Pleistocene Siwalik Group, Haripur-Kolar section, H.P., India. Himalayan Geol., v.26, pp.327–345.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wills, B.J. and Behrensmeyer, A.K. (1995) Fluvial systems in the Siwalik Miocene and Wyoming Paleogene. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol., v.115, pp.13–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wright, V.P. (1992) Paleopedology: stratigraphic relationship and empirical models. In: I.P. Martini and W. Chesworth (Eds.), Developments in earth surface processes 2. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp.475–499.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, 33, General Mahadeo Singh Road, Dehra Dun, 248 001, India

    V. Kumaravel, S. J. Sangode, N. Siva Siddaiah & Rohtash Kumar

  2. K.S. Krishnan Geomagnetic Research Laboratory (IIG), Chamanganj, Post-Hetapur, Hanumanganj, Allahabad, 221 505, India

    V. Kumaravel

  3. Department of Geology, University of Pune, Ganeshkhind, Pune, 411 007, India

    S. J. Sangode

Authors
  1. V. Kumaravel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. J. Sangode
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. N. Siva Siddaiah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Rohtash Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. J. Sangode.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kumaravel, V., Sangode, S.J., Siva Siddaiah, N. et al. Major element geochemical variations in a Miocene-Pliocene Siwalik paleosol sequence: Implications to soil forming processes in the Himalayan foreland basin. J Geol Soc India 73, 759–772 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-009-0061-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-009-0061-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation