A Review on the Sediments Origin Using Geochemical Proxies and Petrographic Analysis in Cuddapah Basin

Abstract Sedimentary rocks are the only source of information that exists physically to understand the geochemical evolution of Earth’s surface. Its crustal deformation and origination will help to understand the origin, tectonics, and palaeoweathering of clastic deposits. This study explores the same in the Cuddapah Basin (CB), Andhra Pradesh. The composition, provenance, origin, paleo-weathering, and tectonic setting of the basin are analysed using geochemical investigations, such as mineralogical, petrographical, major element, trace, and rare earth elements (REE), suggesting the importance of Nd isotopes as vital indicators of the provenance of sediments, especially in fine-grained sediments where petrography is inadequate. Differentiation between tectonic settings and origin, major elements, trace elements, and REE’s—including Light Rare Earth Elements (LREE) and Heavy Rare Earth Elements (LREE) is carried using predefined ratios, where elemental ratios like Th/Sc, Th/Co, and La/Sc possesses both the higher values (indicating a crustal source) and lower values (indicating a mantle origin). The results also possess a possible felsic provenance: LREE enrichment, a flat HREE pattern, and a negative Eu-Anomaly in the study area. Further, the observed depletion of CaO and Na2O in the study area indicates high weathering conditions over time. Discriminant diagrams plotted for Th/Sc Vs La/Sc, Th/Co Vs La/Sc, and Th/Cr Vs La/Cr confirm the materials' felsic origin even further. Thus, the study confirms that the Cuddapah Basin is situated in a Rift-Collisional tectonic setting during the evaluation of the tectonic environment.