A Paleoproterozoic paleosol horizon in the Lesser Himalaya and its regional implications

A Paleoproterozoic paleosol horizon in the Himachal Himalaya along a basement-cover contact is identified on the basis of an integrated field-petrographic-geochemical studies.The paleosol horizon is exposed in a road section along the Sutlej River near Karcham. It is represented by a 2–5 m thick sericite schist unit along the contact of the 1866 ± 10 Ma Jeori–Wangtu–Bandal Gneissic Complex (JWBGC) and the overlying sericite quartzite of the Manikaran Formation (Rampur Group), which is interstratified with 1800 ± 13 Ma tholeiitic flows in its basal part. The geochemical studies reveal a sharp drop in the concentration of SiO2, Fe2O3, MgO, CaO, Na2O and a rise in concentration of Al2O3, TiO2, K2O and P2O5 at the contact of granite gneiss and sericite schist. REE plots of granite gneiss, sericite schist and quartzite samples of the Manikaran Formation display similarity of pattern, fractionation between the LREE and HREE and comparable negative Eu anomaly. The total REE of the sericite schist and sericitic quartzite is lower than those of the granite gneiss.Based on these studies the sericite schist is inferred to be a metamorphosed alumina-rich soil, which appears to have formed in a warm and humid climate in a waterlogged terrain of gentle relief, and is post-1866 Ma and pre-1800 Ma in age.Apparent gradation from the strongly deformed amphibolite facies JWBC to the sericite schist with diffused contact indicates that the JWBGC was already metamorphosed and deformed prior to the development of the paleosol; thereafter both together with the overlying Manikaran Formation were subjected to low-grade metamorphism during the Himalayan orogeny. The JWBC is involved in the crystalline thrust sheet and is present throughout the length of the Himalaya. Thus, it is inferred that the Paleoproterozoic metamorphism was a regional event in the Himalaya at a time when the Indian Plate was part of the Nuna Supercontinent.

► Paleoproterozoic metamorphosed paleosol horizon in the Himachal Himalaya, India.
► Paleosol present in all undisturbed sections along JWBGC (basement)-cover contact.
► Paleosol formed in a warm-humid climate in a waterlogged terrain of gentle relief.
► The JWBGC had undergone a phase of deformation and metamorphism at 1866 ± 10 Ma.