Abstract
The lower Tertiary mudrocks are rich in clay minerals, which together form 48–60% whereas quartz forms 30–41% of the bulk minerals. Clay minerals of the Subathu shales are composed of illite, chlorite, and sepiolite. In the mudstones of the Murree Group, illite and chlorite are associated with kaolinite and sepiolite. The illite- and chlorite-bearing suites are indicative of their derivation from metamorphic and magmatic sources. The presence of smectite in the calcrete indicates weathering and soil-forming processes. In SiO2 vs. K2O/Na2O diagram, the mudrocks occupy active continetal margin (ACM) field with a few exceptions, suggesting that they originated from an active continental margin, orogenic belt or strike-slip basin. On the other hand in mudrock maturity index vs. log K2O/Na2O plot, the points occupy an area in and above/around phyllo-tectic field. The trace elements values, and Rb/Sr and Ba/Sr ratios are close to the values suggested for active continental margin.
A common presence of illite, chlorite, and sepiolite in the lower Tertiary mudrocks suggests their derivation either from the TransHimalayan schists, phyllites, and granites or from the Higher Himalyan Crystallines and the Indus Suture zone.
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Singh, B.P., Andotra, D.S. & Kumar, R. Provenance of the lower Tertiary mudrocks in the Jammu Sub-Himalayan Zone, Jammu and Kashmir State (India), NW Himalaya and its tectonic implications. Geosci J 4, 1–9 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02910208
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02910208