Synthesis of structure and tectonic evolution of Meso-Neoproterozoic Vindhyan Basin, India using geophysical and geological data: A plate tectonic perspective

The Origin of the Mesoproterozoic intracratonic basins is not well understood compared with the Phanerozoic basins of the world. The present investigation attempts to comprehend the evolution of one such basin of Indian origin and relates its tectonic events with the amalgamation and fragmentation of supercontinents. The Vindhyan basin, India, is one of the largest Meso-Neoproterozoic basins in the world and has probable hydrocarbon potential. It is mostly undeformed and unmetamorphosed, except at the margins. Seismic reflection and refraction, gravity, and well data are integrated with geology, geochemistry, and geochronological data to understand the tectonic evolution of the region. A basement ridge identified in the study divides the basin into two parts: the Chambal valley in NW and Son-valley in SE, which contain 5.8 km and 4.5 km thick Proterozoic sediments. A collisional suture and an arc signature are identified at the Narmada-Son Lineament zone. We suggest a dual-stage foreland basin system has evolved due to the subduction of the leading edge of the Bundelkhand Craton beneath the Mewar and Bastar Cratons around 1.8 Ga. Subsequent collisions of these cratons resulted in the evolution of Aravalli and Satpura orogens. Nature of basin boundary faults, crustal-scale Great Boundary Thrust in NW, and the Narmada-Son lineament in SE, formed during the collision processes are discussed. Far-field plate boundary forces developed due to subduction-collision processes likely influenced the evolution of the basins subsequent to foreland setup. Presence of the Vindhyan Sea and tilting of the continental block to northeast during 1200–800 Ma resulted in common Upper Vindhyan sedimentation in the Chambal- and Son-Valley Basin, including the Ganga Basin in NE. Present study suggests extension of the Vindhyan Basin beneath the Ganga basin. We propose an evolutionary model in a plate tectonic framework that explains several aspects of the basin, including the formation of basin-central ridge during Proterozoic subduction process. The 2.5 Ga and 2.2 Ga events of the region are cotemporaneous with the assembly and breakup of Neoarchean supercontinent Kenorland. Timings of Lower and Upper Vindhyan sedimentation and termination broadly coincide with the assembly and breakup of Paleo- and Mesoproterozoic supercontinents Columbia and Rodinia.