Mineralogy and geochemistry of the Mahi River sediments in tectonically active western India: Implications for Deccan large igneous province source, weathering and mobility of elements in a semi-arid climate

Large igneous provinces (LIPs) hosting mafic rocks over million km2 are likely to influence global sediment production and distribution and help in resolving discrepancies in upper continental crust (UCC) compositions. This work focuses on the texture, mineralogy, and compositions including REE of fine sand/silt deposited by a small to medium-sized river, the Mahi River (about 600 km) in a tectonically active, semi-arid region draining the Deccan Traps in western India, one of the largest LIPs in the world. The results are also applied to a sedimentary rock of fluvial origin (Siwalik mudstone/siltstone) to ascertain the source characteristics of this alluvium and evaluate comparative element (K, Ba, Sr, Na, Ca and Mg) mobility.The Mahi sediments are lithiarenite, mostly composed of quartz and basalt fragments with lesser pyroxene, biotite, feldspar, calcite and clay minerals (smectite ± illite). The Mahi sediments have higher FeOt (⩽10.9 wt.%), TiO2 (⩽2.41 wt.%), Al2O3 (⩽15.2 wt.%), Cr (⩽737 ppm), Co (⩽36 ppm), Cu (⩽107 ppm) than the UCC and PAAS; Ni (⩽54 ppm) higher than the UCC (33.5 ppm), but similar to PAAS (60 ppm). The low CIA (37–59) values and presence of basalt fragments and smectite in the samples suggest incipient weathering in the semi-arid Mahi catchment. In agreement with the mineralogy, the UCC-normalized LREE depleted patterns (LREE/HREE < 1) in the Mahi sediments confirm Deccan basalt contributions from the provenance with about 70–75% basalts and 25–30% Archean biotite-rich granitoids. The mafic contribution, in addition to the UCC, is important for the Siwalik rocks too.Similarly limited depletion of Ba, K and Ca (Ba ⩾ K > Ca) in weathering-limited Mahi (aver CIA 47.5) and transport-limited Siwalik (aver CIA 69) systems indicate their climate insensitivity. At the same time, more Ba depletion than Ca is new for the Deccan Traps River. Decoupling of Ca and Sr, however, could be mineralogy controlled.