An integrated petrographical and geochemical study of the Tredian Formation in the Salt and Trans-Indus Surghar ranges, North-West Pakistan: Implications for palaeoclimate

Abstract

The Middle Triassic Tredian Formation is well exposed in the western region of the Salt Range. It is mostly composed of sandstone with minor alternations of shales and dolomite. This is the first integrated attempt using petrographical and geochemical features to reveal palaeoclimate during deposition of the Tredian Formation. This work sheds light on the petrographical and geochemical properties of the Tredian sandstone in order to date various layers and evaluate the palaeoclimate. The formation was sampled at two distinct stratigraphic layers for petrographic and geochemical analysis of major and trace elements. The sandstone of the Tredian Formation is sub-feldspathic to feldspathic arenite with sub-angular to rounded grains that are moderately to extensively sorted. The relative proportions of the quartz, feldspars and lithoclasts in the examined sandstone samples shows that the Tredian sediments originated from the interior of the craton during a transitional continental regime. Chemical index of alteration values of 59, chemical index of weathering values of 67, and plagioclase index of alteration values of 74.5 indicate a low to moderate degree of weathering in the Tredian sediment source region. Based on the silica content, SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratios (2.7–6.1; mean 4.1), and chemical maturity index, it is deduced that the Tredian Formation was deposited in chemically immature to sub-mature and dry to semi-arid conditions. Geochemical proxies indicate the acidic source of sediment and deposition on the passive margin of the Indian Plate. The trace element characteristics of the sediments, especially the Rb/Sr, Cu/Zn, Ni/Co, V/Cr and Sr/Ba ratios, indicate that the sediments originated from the first weathering cycle and support the notion that they were deposited in an oxidising continental environment. A semi-arid to arid palaeoclimate predominated through the Middle Triassic at the north-western passive continental margin of the Indian Plate in the south-eastern Neo-Tethys.