FACIES ARCHITECTURE OF GLACIO-MARINE TALCHIR FORMATION, HASDEO RIVER, CENTRAL INDIA

Abstract

Talchir Formation (Permo-Carboniferous) basalmost unit of the Gondwana Supergroup records the Late Paleozoic glaciation in Peninsular India. The Hasdeo River section of the Talchir formation, Son valley basin signifies as a glacio-marine depositional environment, yet it is not adequately studied and represented. It is imperative to understand the cyclicity in term of glacial advancement and retreat history of Talchir Formation in order to properly understand the evolutionary history of Gondwana supergroup of Son valley basin. Talchir sedimentary succession of the Hasdeo river section , Son Valley basin exhibits thirteen facies types grouped under three facies associations, i.e., Reworked Proglacial Facies Association(FA-I), Proximal Periglacial–Marine Facies Association(FA-II), Distal Periglacial-Marine Facies Association (FA-III). Overall facies architecture reflects a fining upward sequence which starts from ice-covered proglacial sedimentation, which was reworked by marine influences and finally, overlain by shelfshore marine sediments. The depositional model indicates increasing marine influence in the sedimentation pattern, which is evident from the vertical distribution of facies in the sedimentary succession. Increasing marine influence over glacial sedimentation can be interpreted as a result of either rising sea level or basinal subsidence from tectonic activities within the basin