International Journal of Advanced Earth Science and Engineering, Volume 3 (Year 2014)

Search for Generic Provenance and Petrographic Evolution of Sandstones, Bhadasar Formation (Middle Jurassic), Jaisalmer Basin, Rajasthan, India

Shyam N. Mude, Suyog A. Jagtap, P. Kundal

Abstract


Provenance and petro graphic studies of sandstones of the Bhadasar Formation have been ascertained by means of heavy mineral and petro graphic analysis. Petrography reveals an abundance of angular to sub-round mono-crystalline, at places poly-crystalline quartz followed by orthoclase, microcline and plagioclase feldspar. The overall composition of sandstone matches with those of calc-arenites. The heavy mineral crop of sandstones of the Bhadasar Formation shows Euhedral to sub-hedral as well as rounded to sub-rounded grains of tourmaline, zircon, garnet, rutile, apatite, epidote, staurolite, kyanite and hornblende with decreasing order of abundance. Heavy mineral suite coupled with petrography indicates a mixed provenance dominated by a sedimentary source which is derived from intra-cratonic basins.