Ferricretes of Sriperumbudur: Micromorphology and Geochemistry

Abstract

Earlier studies on the ferricrete of Sriperumbudur Formation were focused on their types of occurrences and mode of formation. However, in the present study, an attempt is made to understand the physico-chemical changes across seven saprolite-ferricrete profiles developed over sedimentary protolith after upliftment to decipher the paleoenvironmental conditions to which the Sriperumbudur Formation was exposed and to understand the processes of ferricretisation. For this purpose, the ferricrete exposures around Sriperumbudur were surveyed and mapped for their occurrences and types of ferricretes, collected samples were examined for various physio-chemical aspects. Geochemical and petrographic studies exhibit a relatively high percentage of iron content. The Fe₂O₃ content varies from 7.71% to 14.9% followed by the higher concentration of Al₂O₃ and SiO₂ as a result of deep weathering of the Sriperumbudur beds. Other major oxides such as CaO, MgO, Na₂O, K₂O, MnO and TiO₂ show lower concentrations. The bulk X-ray diffraction of the ferricrete samples shows the occurrence of tourmaline, muscovite and magnetite. SEM analysis of the ferricrete samples exhibits solution channels and pits in the matrix, on the limonite, quartz and magnetite revealing intense chemical weathering. Petrographic studies show the occurrence of quartz in a variety of shapes, sizes and sediment sorting, cemented by iron oxides in varying stages. It also reveals iron oxide mobilization due to the alteration of ferruginous sandstone forming a hard ferricrete crust. Iron oxide cementation is due to leaching and re-cementing from the parent sedimentary rock with subsequent re-deposition of the earlier material taking place in a near shore environment and in wetter conditions after the Sriperumbudur beds were exposed since the lower Cretaceous period.