S.N. Mude^1*, S.K. Parcha², S. Pandey² and S.B. Madane¹

¹Department of Geology, Fergusson College, Pune-411 004, India

²Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, GMS Road, Dehradun-248 001, India

*E-mail: Shyam.mude@fergusson.edu

Abstract

The major and trace element geochemistry of the Mastani Lake sediments from the Diveghat area of Pune, India has been carried out to understand the provenance, compositional maturity and source area weathering conditions. The major oxides viz., TiO2, Fe2O3, MgO and K2O shows strong positive correlation, when plotted against Al2O3, suggest the dominance of clay minerals in sediments. Low values of SiO2/Al2O3 and K2O/Na2O ratios indicate the presence of clay and the compositional immaturity of the lake sediments. The values of CIA , CIW, ICV and PIA of the sediments infer moderate to slightly high weathering conditions. The ratio (Al2O3+K2O+Na2O)/SiO2 indicate semi-arid climatic conditions. The discriminate function diagram, A-CN-K plot, Al2O3/TiO2 and TiO2/Ni ratios of the lake sediments suggest continental crustal provenance dominated by mafic igneous rocks.

Keywords: Mastani Lake sediments, Provenance, Compositional maturity, Weathering, Pune, India.