Compositional variations,chemical weathering,and provenance of sands from the Cox’s Bazar and Kuakata beach areas,Bangladesh

The modal and chemical composition of sands from Cox’s Bazar beach (CBB) and Kuakata beach (KB) areas of Bangladesh has been investigated to infer their maturity, chemical weathering, and provenance signatures. The CBB and KB sands are typically high quartz, low feldspar, and lithic fragments, representing a recycled orogen source. Major element compositions of CBB sands are characterized by high SiO₂ (83.52–89.84 wt%) and low Al₂O₃ (4.39–6.39 wt%), whereas KB sands contained relatively low SiO₂ (63.28–79.14 wt%) and high Al₂O₃ (9.00–11.33 wt%) contents. The major, trace and rare earth element (REE) compositions of beach sands display comparable distribution patterns with enriched Th and SiO₂ for both sands relative to upper continental crust (UCC). Pb, Rb, Y, and Fe for KB sands are little higher than UCC and the rest of the elements are marked depleted for both suites reflecting destruction of plagioclase and K-feldspar during fluvial transportation. The CBB and KB sands are compositionally low mature to immature in nature subsequently classified as subarkose and litharenite, respectively. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns for CBB and KB sands show LREE enrichment and nearly flat HREE (La_N/Yb_N, 7.64–9.38 and 5.48–8.82, respectively) coupled with prominent Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu*, 0.51–0.72 and 0.52–0.76, respectively), suggesting felsic source provenance. The provenance discrimination diagrams, immobile trace element ratios (Th/Sc, Zr/Sc, Ce/Sc, and Ti/Zr), and REE (∑LREE/HREE, Eu/Eu* and Gd_N/Yb_N) parameters indicate that CBB and KB sands were largely derived from felsic source rocks, with compositions close to average rhyolite, granodiorite, granite, and UCC.     

海岸沙丘表面现代风成沙地球化学元素分异的典型研究--以河北昌黎黄金海岸横向沙脊为例

在我国海岸沙丘主要分布地区河北昌黎黄金海岸选取代表性的海岸横向沙脊为研究对象,对其典型断面上沙丘表面不同部位的21种地球化学元素的含量进行了比较分析。结果表明,Co、Zr和Mg三种元素在海岸沙脊表面不同部位的含量差异明显且与海滩沙相比含量差异较大,Cr、Pb、Ti、Nb、As、Mn、Zn和Ba等8种元素的含量差异程度中等,但Y、Ca、Fe、Na、Al、Sr、P、K、Rb和Si等10种元素的差异并不明显,而11种差异程度中等以上元素在海岸横向沙脊迎风坡脚、迎风坡、脊顶、背风坡、背风坡脚等部位的含量变化特征并不一致,呈现出不同的分异模式,其主要原因是受沉积环境、化学元素性质、粒度特征及营力的影响等。     

Rare earth elements of the Altar Desert dune and coastal sands, Northwestern Mexico

Twenty-one surficial sand samples from the Altar Desert coastal and desert dune systems were analysed for rare earth elements (REE) content. This was done to observe the provenance signatures for four strategic dune localities near the Colorado River Delta, the El Pinacate dune fields, and the beaches of the north of the Gulf of California in the state of Sonora, Mexico. Our goals are to show which mechanisms (i.e., aeolian, marine) exert more influence on the composition of the Altar Desert dune sands. This study also shows the usefulness of REE spatial distribution to determine the relative mobility of the sand. Some sand samples from the dune systems in San Luis Río Colorado (SLRC), Golfo de Santa Clara (GSC), and Puerto Peñasco (PP) displayed dissimilar REE concentrations with respect to the rest of the sand samples from the same sites. These differences can be related to short aeolian transport distance in the sands with high REE concentrations and long aeolian transport distance in the sands with low REE concentrations. Besides, high REE concentration in the sands might be due to their closeness to the Colorado River Delta sediments and to recycled sands derived from granitic rocks. In contrast, all the sand samples from the El Pinacate (EP) site have similar REE concentration values, suggesting that the El Pinacate dune sands are influenced by more selective aeolian processes and less diverse heavy mineral content. The Altar Desert dune sands are derived from granitic sources eroded by the Colorado River. Our results also indicate that the Altar Desert dune sands are low in heavy mineral content (with the exception of Fe and Ti bearing minerals) and enriched in carbonates with phosphates (especially at the PP site) yielding poor correlations between REE and major element concentrations. The REE geographical distribution values in the Altar Desert dune sands indicate that light and heavy REE concentration values are related to aeolian transport, maturity of the sands, their low weathering rates, proximity of the source rocks, and the biogenic debris input from beach sands into the dune.     

Geochemical characteristics of fine and coarse fractions of sediments in the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin (southern Tibet,China)

Tracing sources of aeolian sediment is key to reconstructing earth surface processes in arid areas and interpreting the paleoenvironmental significance of aeolian sequences. However, the difference of geochemical characteristics between different fractions of sediments in the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin (YZRB) is still unclear, so we want to identify which fraction of sediments is more suitable for tracing sediment sources. Considering the long distance between different wide valleys in the YZRB, we wonder whether there is any difference between these wide valleys in terms of geochemical characteristics of sediments. Forty-three surface sediment samples in the YZRB are collected, and the grain-size distributions and the major-element composition for 37 samples and the trace and rare earth element composition for the coarse (75–500 μm) and fine (<?75 μm) fractions of all samples are determined. The results reveal the following: (1) the fine fractions of the deposits contain more environmental information, suggesting that the fine fractions cannot be directly compared between different climate zones for provenance identification and that appropriate coarse fractions, based on the grain-size distribution of the targeted sediments, are more ideal for tracing sediment sources; and (2) geochemical characteristics of various sediment types show spatial heterogeneity. The coarse and fine fractions of the loose sediment samples can be divided into two regional groups based on geochemical characteristics: the Maquanhe zone in the upper reach, the Xigaze, Shannan and Mainling zone in the middle reach, which is consistent with the geological background of the YZRB; (3) aeolian deposits in the YZRB are a local origin and predominantly derived from the adjacent loose sediments, and fluvial sediments in the upper reach contribute little to the aeolian sands in the middle reach.     

Climatic changes indicated by trace elements in the Chagelebulu Stratigraphic Section,Badain Jaran Desert,China, since 150 kyr B.P.

This paper analyzes the contents of 16 trace elements in the strata of the Chagelebulu Stratigraphic Section, Badain Jaran Desert, since 150 kyr B.P. and discovered that both the contents of the relatively stable elements, such as P, Mn, Zr, Cr, Pb, Rb, Nb, Y, and the relatively active elements, such as V, Sr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As fluctuated with the sedimentary cycles composed of 25 aeolian dune sands, loess, paleosols, lacustrine facies, alluvial, and colluvial sandy gravels, showing 25 cycles of low-high variation and a fluctuant jagged graph of chemical elements’ migration and accumulation. The lower contents of the elements in the aeolian sands show the erosion, migration and deposition of wind power in a cold and arid climate. The relative accumulation of sandy-gravel layers, especially the lacustrine facies, loess, and paleosols correlates with the section’s position in the special depression relief with a background of warm and humid climate. The above-mentioned variational characteristics were mainly caused by 25 cycles of arid-cold, windy, and warm-humid climatic fluctuation on the southern fringe of the Badain Jaran Desert since 150 kyr B.P. The essential reason bears a relationship with the back and force swing of the East Asia winter monsoon and summer monsoon influenced by climatic vicissitudes during the glacial and interglacial periods.     

Grain size characteristics of Namib Desert linear dunes

The results of a systematic sampling of linear dunes in the northern Namib sand sea show that they are composed of two distinct groups of sands: a fine, well-sorted, near-symmetrical crest and slip face population, and a coarse, moderately sorted, positively skewed plinth population. These may be explained in terms of the aeolian sorting processes operative on the dunes, which involve differential rates of movement of creep and saltation load on windward flanks and avalanching on leeward slopes, leading to the concentration of coarse sands towards the dune base.     

Geochemistry of the Pliocene basalts erupted along the Malatya-Ovacik fault zone (MOFZ), eastern Anatolia, Turkey: Implications for source characteristics and partial melting processes

The study area is located on the middle sector of the Malatya-Ovacık Fault Zone (MOFZ) in the eastern Anatolia. Four basaltic flows from bottom to top, which are tholeiitic in character and intercalated with Pliocene sedimentary rocks, were erupted along this fault zone. Chemical compositions of these flows reveal some differences between the first flow and others in terms of high-field strength elements (HFSEs) (e.g. Ti, Zr, Nb). Limited variations in compositions within the first flow and upper flows suggest a limited fractionation range. Trace-element patterns exhibit that all the flows have similar and OIB-like patterns without positive peak at Pb and a trough at Nb—Ta, indicating minimal or no crustal contribution. Rare-earth element (REE) patterns indicate that the first flow has flat patterns with negative Eu anomaly, whereas the upper flows have variable enrichments in LREE and depletions in HREE. La/Sm_N, Dy/Yb_N and Zr/Y ratios exhibit that the degree of partial melting decreases from the first flow to upper flows. Higher values of La/Yb_N ratio for the upper flows and depletions at Y and Yb on the trace-element patterns suggest the presence of garnet as a residual phase, which imply that the depth of partial melting took place solely in the garnet-stability field. OIB-like trace-element patterns and trace-element ratios (e.g. La/Nb, Ce/Y and Zr/Nb) emphasize that the melts forming the Arguvan basalt were originated from the asthenospheric mantle rather than the lithospheric mantle.     

微量元素记录的毛乌素沙漠全新世气候波动--以萨拉乌苏流域DGS1层段为例

选取毛乌素沙漠东南缘萨拉乌苏河流域具有代表性的滴哨沟湾剖面全新统(DGS1层段),结合微量元素与测年分析结果,探讨了该地全新世千年尺度的气候波动.结果表明,P、V、Cu、Zn、Sr、Ni、As、Cr、Pb属于易迁移-较稳定元素,其含量在沉积相中主要呈现为古土壤< 沙丘砂 <湖沼相,Co、Rb、Nb、Ba、Cl、Zr属于稳定-惰性元素,主要呈现为古土壤 >沙丘砂 >湖沼相,说明沙丘砂是冬季风主导下的沉积,古土壤和湖沼相是夏季风主导下的沉积.以Rb和Sr两种元素在垂向上峰谷交替的变化特征为依据,将DGS1记录的全新世气候分为升温期(11 000~10 130 a B.P.)、大暖期(10 130~6 590 a B.P.)、降温期(6 590~3 760 a B.P.)和寒冷期(3 760~0 a B.P.)四个阶段,这与国内外的相关研究结果一致,表明萨拉乌苏河流域全新世的气候变化是全球环境变化影响下的结果.     

Geochemistry of Renuka Lake and wetland sediments,Lesser Himalaya (India): implications for source-area weathering,provenance, and tectonic setting

The geochemical investigation of sediments deposited in the Renuka Lake basin and its adjoining wetland has shown variation in the distribution and concentration of major, trace and REEs. The major elements are depleted in the lake in relation to wetland and that of Post Archaean Australian, Shale (PAAS), except for CaO which is strikingly in excess and has a dilution effect on SiO₂ and other oxides and trace elements. The Wetland sediments, on the other hand, are enriched in Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, K₂O and TiO₂ and the latter three show a positive correlation with Al₂O₃ in both wetland and lake sediments suggesting their association with phyllosilicates and similar source rocks. The enrichment of Y, Zr, Ni, Th, U and Nb in wetland compared to lake and their similarity with PAAS in the former, suggests more clay fractions in the wetland. A high Zr/Hf ratio in wetland and lake sediments and a positive correlation of Zr with Y and HREE indicate Zr control on HREEs. However, higher Zr/Yb and Zr/Th ratios in wetland compared to lake indicate mineral sorting during the process of lighter particles (clays) being trapped in wetland soil. This is also reflected from negative correlation of Gd_N/Yb_N with Al₂O₃ and a strong positive correlation with SiO₂ in wetland sediments. The wetland in this context has a control on lake sediment chemistry. The chondrite normalized REE patterns are essentially the same for lake as well as wetland sediments but abundance decreases in the former. The similarity of pattern with that of PAAS and negative Eu anomaly indicates a cratonic source of sediments. In a plot of the individual samples, wetland samples cluster while lake samples are separated indicating fractionation of lake sediments. A strong positive correlation of La_N/Yb_N with Al₂O₃ and a positive correlation of Zr-∑LREE and Zr-La_N/Yb_N suggest that LREEs are controlled by both phyllosilicates and zircon. The chemical index of alteration (CIA) indices in lake sediments and in wetland are higher than PAAS indicating moderate chemical weathering in the source area. The petrography, lack of felsic magmatic rock fragments, and negative correlation between Zr-(Gd/Yb)_C indicate sedimentary source rocks for the detritus. This is in conformity with the Lesser Himalayan sedimentary sequence belonging to neo-Proterozoic–Proterozoic age and constituting lake catchment of Renuka. The tectonic delineation and discriminant function plots of lake and wetland sediments indicate their cratonic and/or quartzose sedimentary orogenic terrain source that has been deposited in a passive margin setting.     

The behaviour of so-called immobile elements in hydrothermally altered rocks associated with volcanogenic submarine-exhalative ore deposits

Evidence is available that some elements, notably Zr, TiO₂, Y, Sc, Ce and Nb are largely immobile during the alteration of volcanic rocks owing to metamorphism, hydrothermal events and weathering (e.g. Floyd and Winchester, 1978). However, it is shown, by reference to analyses of rocks from the environment of five volcanogenic massive sulphide bodies, that while Zr, TiO₂ (and Ce?) are mostly immobile even during intense hydrothermal alteration, Y and particularly Sc and Nb may be extremely mobile. When elements are removed by solution in a hydrothermal fluid it seems that reaction rates are such that these elements are almost totally removed from the rock. Therefore, of the so-called immobile trace elements, only Zr and TiO₂ may be used with any reliability to identify the degree of magmatic differentiation in an hydrothermally altered rock. However, if an element has been mobile it is usually readily identified as having moved.     

New insights into mineralogy and geochemistry of allanite-bearing Mediterranean coastal sands from Northern Greece

Allanite-bearing black coastal sands of Kavala (N. Greece) were studied using a combination of single-crystal XRD, EMPA, μ-XRF, bulk ICP-MS, LA-ICP-MS, μ-XANES and γ-ray spectrometry. The sands are rich in REE (ΣREE + Y: 4010 to 10,810 mg/kg), Th (236–1205 mg/kg) and other critical metals such as Nb, Ta and Co. The main REE- and Th-hosts are allanite and titanite. The allanite unit cell parameters were calculated whereas its formula was found to be (REE_0.470Ca_1.499Th_0.031) (Ti_0.031Fe⁺³_1.089Al_1.880) (Si_2.906Al_0.094O₁₂) (OH). The μ-XANES spectra showed that LREE are present in trivalent oxidation state. Analyses of the non-magnetic sand fractions showed higher LREE (12,470 mg/kg) due to accumulation of allanite. The materials showed elevated radioactivity ranging from 885 ± 13 to 3467 ± 20 Bq/kg. The obtained results provide new insights on the provenance of the sands, the abundance of REE, Th, and other immobile elements, and offer new clues for potential exploration and exploitation.     

Textural characteristics and genesis of the aeolian sediments in the Kuwaiti desert

Several types of aeolian deposits have been recognized in Kuwait: (a) smooth sand sheets that resemble desert floor sand, (b) immobile sands that include rugged vegetated sand sheets and wadi fill deposits, and (c) mobile sands that form active sand sheets and sand dunes. Simple size frequency curves illustrate the genetic relationship between the various aeolian sediment types. The four size parameters, namely, mean size, sorting, skewness and kurtosis, were calculated. Scatter plot diagrams of sorting versus mean size and sorting versus kurtosis are effective in differentiating smooth sand sheet deposits from dune sands. Active sand sheet deposits can also be recognized because they are usually located between the two end members–smooth sand sheets and dune sands. Size parameters change with location regardless of their types. Coarsening and positive skewness usually increase downwind. Mineralogical and textural characteristics of the aeolian deposits in Kuwait revealed that they are mostly derived from the lower Mesopotamian muddy flood plain deposits, the sand fraction of the Al-Dibdibba gravelly deposits and the disintegrated material from calcretic and gypcretic duricrusts. Distribution of depositional and deflational areas indicates that the northern desert of Kuwait is characterized by a positive sand budget, whereas the southern desert has a negative sand budget.     

Pleistocene sediment-hosted uranium deposits at Henkries, South Africa: using settling tubes to delineate buried ore bodies

Sediment-hosted uranium ores at Henkries in northwest South Africa occur in fine-grained sands, carbonaceous muds and diatomaceous earth within late Pleistocene lake deposits. The lakes are linked by short fluvial channel reaches and these aqueous beds are encompassed in predominant aeolian dune deposits. The late Pleistocene fluvial-lacustrine-aeolian succession is succeeded by a Holocene dune cover. Textural characterisation of lacustrine, fluvial and aeolian sands was based on volume percentages observed in sediment settling tubes. Vortex action during Holocene dune migration contaminated these aeolian cover sands with small amounts of substrate material, whose presence could be detected in settling tube patterns of surface aeolian sediment samples. It was thus possible to map buried lacustrine ore bodies, which were shown, by a successful drilling programme, to be displaced downwind. Received: 28 August 1996 / Accepted: 3 September 1996     

海岸现代风成砂粒度参数特征的研究--以中国温带海岸为例

现代海岸风成砂的粒度特征是海岸风沙研究的重要问题,本文以我国温带海岸为研究区域,利用 136个现代海岸风成砂样数据,通过粒度组成、平均粒径、标准偏差和偏差、峰态等粒度参数分析了其粒度特征。结果表明,我国温带海岸的现代风成砂并非过去认为的几乎全由分选很好的细砂组成,是以正偏为主,粒度参数的地域差异明显,并随沙丘类型、规模及距海岸线的远近不同等而变化。与海滩砂比较,风成砂具有普遍含有粉沙、略细、多正偏、峰态偏窄等特点,但利用粒度参数散点图和因子分析法二者均无法区分。我国温带海岸现代海岸风成砂粒度参数的上述特征与其特有的发育条件和演化过程密切相关,其中主要与季风气候特征显著、形成时间短、风力作用时间有限以及风沙活动空间狭小并受到水力与重力作用的干扰等有关。     

西藏东巧地区玄武岩地球化学特征及构造环境分析

东巧蛇绿岩出露于班公湖-怒江缝合带中段,是蛇绿岩组合单元出露较完整的地区。微量(稀土)元素分析结果表明,蛇绿岩中的玄武岩具有轻稀土元素(LREE)显著富集的右倾稀土元素配分模式。(La/Yb)N=7.05~12.02,Th、Nb、Ta、Zr和Hf略具有正异常的微量元素组成特征,属于典型的洋岛玄武岩(OIB),与洋中脊玄武岩(MORB)和板块汇聚环境下的岛弧玄武岩(IAB)存在明显差异。通过对其构造环境的判别,并结合蛇绿岩与相邻地质体的关系分析,认为东巧蛇绿岩中的玄武岩形成于大洋板内岩石圈上隆减压的洋岛环境,代表班公湖-怒江洋盆形成和发展阶段洋岛环境的大洋岩石圈残片。     

华南海岸沙丘岩的特征及其形成发育模式

海岸沙丘岩是一种热带、亚热带干旱及季节性湿润地区特有的碳酸盐胶结的风成碎屑岩。本文对华南沿海沙丘岩的沉积结构、沉积构造特征,地球化学与古生物特征,及其胶结类型、成岩机制和发育模式进行了较系统研究,并讨论了与海滩岩的区别。     

青藏高原典型地区沉积物地球化学特征与矿物组成的粒度效应

地表松散沉积物中不同粒级的颗粒蕴含着不同的信息,这种差异与其物质来源、搬运和沉积过程中的分选作用以及沉积后的风化作用等有关。因此,可根据沉积物中不同粒级颗粒地球化学特征与矿物组成的差异,进行沉积物物源追踪或沉积环境重建。选择青藏高原在气候和地貌方面具有典型意义的柴达木盆地、错那湖、雅鲁藏布江流域作为研究区,分别采集了这几个地区的沙丘沙、黄土、湖积物、冲积物、洪积物、残坡积物等地表松散沉积物样品,用干筛法将沉积物样品分为两个部分,粗颗粒部分粒径范围为≥75~500 μm,细颗粒部分粒径<75 μm。对上述粗、细颗粒分别进行稀土与微量元素、Sr-Nd同位素、轻矿物组成的实验室分析测试,并对沉积物中粗、细颗粒的测试结果采用古典多维尺度方法进行相似性分析。结果表明：青藏高原松散沉积物中粗、细颗粒在轻矿物组成、微量和稀土元素含量、稀土特征、元素参数等方面存在差异;细颗粒部分蕴含了更多的环境信息,富含容易受化学风化影响的黏土矿物以及硬度较小、容易被磨蚀的方解石等矿物。在物源示踪中不同气候区的沉积物细颗粒不宜进行直接比较,应根据样品的粒度分布情况优先选择合适的粗颗粒组分进行物源示踪。     

赣北风沙-粉尘堆积体系元素地球化学变化特征及其对黄土物源示踪意义

粉尘的搬运与堆积过程,理论上是不同粒径的岩屑与矿屑颗粒被风力分选并依次沉降的过程,而元素在不同粒级的岩屑与矿屑的富集程度有所差异;因此,对岩屑与矿屑颗粒分选,在一定程度上是对地球化学元素的分选。因此,基于元素地球化学对黄土粉尘示踪研究中,单一节点或(和)剖面均不具有对粉尘源区的严格代表性,通过比较单一节点或剖面的元素地球化学而进行物源示踪的方法往往存在较大的不确定性。本文通过对中亚热带赣北鄱阳湖地区芙蓉-周溪一带的风沙-粉尘堆积体系常量和微量元素的多维度统计分析,发现地球化学元素及其元素对均存在系统性的分选与分异特点。稳定元素(如Al、Ti、Zr、Nb、Lu、Hf、Ta)及其元素对随距物源区的远近呈现线性、指数或对数等的单向变化特点,其变化幅度在沉积体系中可达31%~42%;在二维和三维散点图中其元素对的投影轨迹,是一个有方向的线状或者带状区域。这表明,风沙-粉尘堆积体系内元素地球化学从上风向到下风向是单调变化的,传统上基于元素地球化学的黄土粉尘物源示踪,通过判断投影区域的远近而进行示踪分析,在理论上有一定缺陷。初步建议,未来的元素地球化学示踪应避免单一剖面元素示踪的方法,而应根据粉尘堆积体系的分布情况系统采样,通过揭示粉尘堆积体系元素地球化学的系统特征来开展基于地球化学元素的黄土粉尘物源示踪研究。     

Trace element and REE geochemistry of fine- and coarse-grained sands in the Ordos deserts and links with sediments in surrounding areas

In addition to mineral analyses, REE and trace element geochemical characteristics of fine- and coarse-grained sands in the Ordos deserts and other sediments in surrounding areas are investigated.Commonly the samples consist of quartz, feldspar and muscovite and less clinochlore, dolomite and ankerite. In few samples muscovite is absent.REE and trace compositions are spatially uniform for the same grain-size sands, suggesting that they could have the same sources or/and were well homogenized. However, fine- and coarse-grained sands in the Ordos deserts show different REE and trace element compositions. Fine-grained sands show higher contents of REE and trace elements than those of coarse-grained sands. They differ in Eu anomalies and (La/Yb)_N ratios although both fractions are characterized by the steep LREE and smooth HREE patterns. The fine- and coarse-grained sands are also distinct in some characteristic element ratios (e.g., Th/Co, La/Sc, Th/Sc and Y/Ni).REE and trace element patterns of the two different grain-size fractions are closely associated with geological properties of individual sources rather than the mineralogical differentiation induced by wind sorting. The coarse-grained sands mainly resulted from sandstone weathering in the Ordos deserts and movements of coarse particles by wind. REE and trace element patterns of fine-grained sands in the Ordos deserts differ from those of sandstones in the Ordos deserts, the alluvial sands in the surrounding mountains and the coarse fluvial sands in the Yellow River. They resemble the fine fluvial sands in the Yellow River. In addition, arid areas of Northwest China such as the Tarim Basin and the Alxa Plateau should not be ruled out as the source of the fine-grained sands in the Ordos deserts because these arid areas reserve plenty of fine-grained sediments and also located in the upwind directions of the Ordos deserts.     

Geochemistry of Mansar Lake sediments, Jammu, India: Implication for source-area weathering, provenance, and tectonic setting

The sediment geochemistry, including REE, of surface and core samples from Mansar Lake, along with mineralogical investigations, have been carried out in order to understand the provenance, source area weathering, hydrolic sorting and tectonic setting of the basin. The geochemical signatures preserved in these sediments have been exploited as proxies in order to delineate these different parameters.The major element log values (Fe₂O₃/K₂O) vs (SiO₂/Al₂O₃) and (Na₂O/K₂O) vs (SiO₂/Al₂O₃) demarcate a lithology remarkably similar to that exposed in the catchment area. The chondrite normalized REE patterns of lake samples are similar to Post Archaean Australian Shale (PAAS) with LREE enrichment, a negative Eu anomaly and almost flat HREE pattern similar to a felsic and/or cratonic sedimentary source. However, the La–Th–Sc plot of samples fall in a mixed sedimentary domain, close to Upper Continental Crust (UCC) and PAAS, suggesting sedimentary source rocks for the Mansar detritus. It also indicates that these elements remained immobile during weathering and transportation. The mineralogical characteristic, REEs, and high field strength elements (HFSE), together with the high percentage of metamorphic rock fragments in the Siwalik sandstone, support a metamorphic source for lower Siwalik sediments. A very weak positive correlation between Zr and SiO₂, poor negative correlation with Al₂O₃, negative correlation of (La/Yb)_N and (Gd/Yb)_N ratios with SiO₂ and positive correlation with Al₂O₃, suggest that Zr does not dominantly control the REE distribution in Mansar sediments. The petrographic character and textural immaturity indicate a short distance transport for the detritus. The distribution of elements in core samples reflect fractionation. The higher Zr/Th and Zr/Yb ratios in coarse sediments and PAAS compared to finer grained detritus indicate sedimentary sorting. Plots of the geochemical data on tectonic discrimination diagrams suggest that the sediments derived from the lower Siwalik were originated within a cratonic interior and later deposited along a passive margin basinal setting. It therefore reveals lower Siwalik depositional history.