Abstract
The calcretes in the Thar desert occur in a variety of settings, including the piedmonts, sheetwash aggraded plains; and this study adds calcretes in regolith and colluvio-alluvial plains to the group of settings in which calcretes occur in the region. Field logs, morphological details and analytical data such as petrographic, cathodoluminescence and geochemical characteristics are described along with a discussion on their implications. Sand dunes and sandy plains dating to < 20 ka have weakly developed calcretes. The better-developed calcrete horizons occur in piedmonts, interdunes or in areas that have sufficient groundwater. Deep sections in the region show phases of calcrete development in aeolian sand aggradation at ∼ 150, ∼ 100, ∼ 60 and 27–14 ka. The extensive sheetwash plains have mature calcretes and date to mid-Pleistocene. Our studies indicate that these calcretes represent a hybrid process, where carbonate enrichment of the originally calcareous host occurred due to periodically raised groundwaters, and its differentiation into nodules occurred under subaerial environment i.e., after recession of groundwater. Deep sections also show a stack of discrete calcretes that developed in individual aggradation episodes with hiatuses as indicated by ESR dating results. Nodules display a multiplicity of carbonate precipi tation events and internal reorganization of calcitic groundmass. The process is accompanied by degradation and transformation of unstable minerals, particularly clays and with a neosynthesis of palygorskite.
The ancient calcretes are dated from the beginning of the Quaternary to ∼ 600 ka and show more evolved morphologies marked by brecciation, dissolution, laminar growth on brecciated surfaces, pisolites and several generations of re-cementation. Mica/chlorite schists and such other rocks are particularly vulnerable to replacement by carbonate. In an extreme case, replacement of quartzose sandstone was observed also. The presence of stretches of alluvio-colluvial plains in an area presently devoid of drainage bespeaks of occasional high-energy fluvial regime, under a semi-arid climate. The mid-Pleistocene period saw a shift towards more arid climate and this facilitated sheetwash aggradation. Finally, during the late Pleistocene, aggradation of aeolian sands indicated a progressively drier climate. However, this does not find its reflection in stable isotope data. The amount of carbonate in the form of calcretes is substantial. The present studies indicate that aeolian dust or rainwater are minor contributors to the carbonate budget. A more important source was provided by the pre-existing calcretes in the sheetwash aggraded plains and detrital carbonate in the aeolian sediments. The original source of carbonate in the region, however, remains unresolved and will need further investigations. Electron spin resonance protocols for the dating of calcretes were developed as a part of this study and the results accorded well with geological reasoning
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Achyuthan H and Rajaguru S N 1997 Genesis of ferricretes and calcretes of Jayal gravel ridge-a micromorphological approach; Geology in South Asia-II Geological Survey & Mines Bureau Sri Lanka Professional paper7 51–59
Achyuthan H and Rajaguru S N 1998 Micromorphology of Quaternary calcrete around Didwana in Thar Desert of Rajasthan;Annals of Arid Zone 37(1) 25–35
Andrews J E, Singhvi A K, Kailath A J, Kuhn R, Dennis P F, Tandon S K and Dhir R P 1998 Do stable isotope data from calcrete record Late Pleistocene monsoonal climate variation in the Thar Desert of India;Quat. Res. 50 240–251
Arakel A V 1982 Genesis of calcrete in Quaternary soil profiles Hutt and Leeman lagoons western Australia;J. Sed. Pet. 52 109–125
Arakel AV and McConchie D 1982 Classification and genesis of calcrete and gypcrete lithofacies in palaeodrainage systems of inland Australia and their relationship to carnotite mineralisation;J. Sed. Pet. 52 1149–1170
Bachman G W and Machette M N 1977 Calcic soils and calcretes in the southwestern United States; U.S.Geol. Survey Open File Report 77–794; 163pp
Chadwick O A and Nettleton W D 1990 Micromorphological evidence of adhesive and cohesive forces in soil concentrations. In:Soil Micromorphology-A Basic and Applied Science (ed) L A Douglas (Amsterdam: Elsevier) 207–212
Chawla S, Dhir R P and Singhvi A K 1992 Thermoluminescence chronology of sand profiles in the Thar Desert and their implications;Quat. Sci. Rev. 11 25–32
Cerling T E and Quade J 1993 Stable carbon and oxygen isotopes in soil carbonates. In : “ContinentalIsotopic Indicators of Climate” (eds) P. Swartz, K.C. Lohmann and J.A. McKenzie AGU Monograph.78 pp 217–237
Choudhari J S and Dhir R P 1981 Clay mineralogy of medium-fine textured alluvial soils Western Rajasthan;Proc. Indian Natn. Sci. Acad. 47-A (6) 695–704
Choudhari J S and Dhir R P 1982 Clay mineralogy of arid zone soils developed from Quaternary Deposits of Western Rajasthan;Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. (Earth Planet. Sci.) 91(2) 119–126]
Courty M A, Dhir R P and Raghavan H 1987 Microfabrics of calcium carbonate accumulations in arid zone soils of Western India. In:Proc. VII Soil Micromorphology Fedoroff et al. (ed) 227–234
Courty M A and Fedoroff N 1985 Micromorphology of recent and buried soils in a semiarid region of northwestern India;Geoderma 35 287–332
Das Sarma D C 1984 Geomorphology of arid zones of Rajasthan and Gujarat; Proc. Indo-US Workshop “Arid Zone Research” Dept of Science and Technology, New Delhi 132–139
Deutz P, Montanez I P, Monger H C and Morrison J 2001 Morphology and isotope heterogeneity of Late Quaternary pedogenic carbonates: implications for Palaeosol carbonates as paleoenvironmental proxies;Paleogeogr. Paleoclimatol., Paleoecol.,166: 393–317
Dhir R P 1995 Genesis and distribution of arid zone calcretes;Mem. Geol. Soc. India 32 191–209
Dhir R P, Joshi D C and Singh N 1982 Morphology and genesis of calcic layer in soils of arid Rajasthan; 12th Intern. Soil Sci. Congress CommV. Abs 139
Dhir R P and Kolarkar A S 1977 Genesis and evolution of arid zone soils;J Indian Soc Soil Sci. 25 260–284
Dhir R P, Rajaguru S N and Singhvi A K 1994 Desert Quaternary formations and their morphostratigraphy: implications for Quaternary history of the Thar Desert;J. Geol. Soc. India 43(4) 435–447
Ehleringer J R 1988 Carbon isotope ratios and physiological processes in arid grasslands. In “Applications of Stable Isotopic Ratios to Ecological Research” (eds) P W Rundel J R Ehleringer and K.A. Nagy (NY Springer-Verlag) 41–54
Eitel B 1995 Contribution to discrimination of Tertiary and Pleistocene Calcretes in Namibia; Regensburg Geog. Schriffen25 9–21
Eitel B and Stengele F 1996 Kalkkrustenaufbereitung zur Residuumsanalyse: die Anwendung von Salzsaure-und EDTA-Lasungen;Die erde 127 181–191
Ghose B, Singh S and Kar A1977 Geomorphology of Rajasthan Desert. In: “Desertification and its Control” (ed) P.L. Jaiswal. (New Delhi: ICAR) 69–76
Gile L H, Peterson F F and Grossman R B 1966 Morphological and genetic sequences of carbonate formation in desert soils;Soil Sci. 101 347–360
Goudie A S 1983 Calcrete. In: Chemical Sediments and Geomorphology: Precipitates and Residua in the NearSurface Environment. (eds) A S Goudie and K Pye. 93–131 (London: Academic Press)
Jain M, Tandon S K, Bhat S C, Singhvi A K and Mishra S 1999 Alluvial and aeolian sequences along the river Luni, Barmer District: physical stratigraphy and feasibility of luminescence chronology methods;Mem. Geol. Soc. India 42 273–295
Kailath A J, Rao T K G, Dhir R P, Nambi K S N, Gogate V D and Singhvi AK2000 Electron spin resonance charcterisaton of calcretes from Thar Desert for dating applications;Radiation Measurements 32 371–383
Kar A 1992 Geomorphology of Thar Desert in Rajasthan. In “ Geomorphological Facets of Rajasthan” (ed) H. Sharma. (Ajmer: Kuldeep Pub) pp 236–264
Kar A, Singhvi A K, Rajaguru S N, Juyal N, Thomas J V, Banerjee D and Dhir R P 2001 Reconstruction of Late Quaternary Environment of the Lower Luni Plains, Thar Desert, India;J. Quaternary Sci. 16(1): 61–68
Khadkikar A S, Merh S S, Malik J N and Chamyal I S 1998 Calcretes in Semi-arid alluvial systems—Formative pathways and sinks;Sed. Geol. 116 251–260
Khadkikar A S, Chamyal L S and Ramesh R 2000 Characterisation and genesis oif calcretes in Late Quaternary alluvial deposits, Gujarat, Western India, and its bearing on the interpretation of ancient climates;Paleogeogr. Paleoclim. Paleoecol. 162 239–261
Krishna Murthi GSR and Narayan M R 1968 Clay mineralogy of few desert soils of Western Rajasthan;J. Agri. Sci. 38 945–949
Machette M N 1985 Calcic soils of the south western United States. In: Soils and Quaternary Geology of the Southwest United States (ed) D.L. WeideGeol. Soc. Amer. Special Paper No. 203 pp. 1–21
McGrath D B and Hawley J W 1987 Geomorphic evolution and geoimorphic relationship in Socorro area Central New Mexico. In: “Guidebook to the Socorro Area New Mexico”. (New Mexico: Bur. of Mines) pp. 55–67
Milnes A R 1992 Calcrete. In: Weathering Soils and Palaeosols (eds) I.P. Martini and W. Chesworth (Amsterdam: Elsevier) pp. 309–345
Misra V N, Rajaguru S N, Raju D R, Raghavan H and Gailard C 1982 Acheulian occupation and evol;ving landscape around Didwana in the Thar Desert, India;Man and Environ 6 72–86
Monger H C and Daugherty L A 1991 Neoformations of palygorskite in a southern New Mexico Aridisol.Soc. Am. J. 55 1646–1650
Nash D J and Smith R F 1998 Multiple calcretes in the Tabernas Basin, Southeast Spain: their origins and geomorphic implications;Earth Surface Process. Landforms 23 1009–1029
Netterberg F. (1969). The interpretation of some basic calcrete types;South African Arch. Bull 24 117–122
Pendall E and Amundson R 1994 Stable isotopic chemistry of pedogenic carbonate in an alluvial soil from the Punjab Pakistan;Soil Sci. 149 199–211
Pimentel N L, Wright V P and Azevdo T M 1996 Distinguishing early groundwater alteration effects from pedogenic in ancient alluvial basins: examples from Palaeogene of Southern Portugal;Sed. Geol. 105 1–10
Quade J, Cerling T E and Bowman J R 1989 Systematic variation in stable carbon and oxygen isotope composition of pedogenic carbonate along elevation transect in southern Great Basin, USA;Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull. 101 464–475
Raghvan H, Courty M A 1987 Holocene and Pleistocene pedo-sedimentary environments in the Thar Desert;Proc. VII Soil Micromorphology Fedoroff et al (Eds) 639–646
Reeves C C 1976. Caliche: Origin Classification and Morphology Land Uses. Estacado Books Lubbock 233 pp.
Sehgal J L and Stoops G 1972 Pedogenic calcite accumulations in arid and semi-arid regions of the Indo-Gangetic alluvial plain of erstwhile Punjab (India);Geoderma 8 59–72
Sharma N 1999 Petrography, geochemistry and chronological studies of a calcareous duricrust (Quaternary) of Anwana (Jodhpur District), Rajasthan, India, M.Sc. Thesis Dept. of Geology, University of Delhi
Sidhu P S 1977 Aeolian additions to soils of northwest India;Pedologie 3 323–336
Singer A, Kirsten, W and Buhmann C 1995 Fibrous clay minerals in soils of Namaqualand, South Africa: characteristics and formation;Geoderma 66 43–70
Slate J L, Smith G A, Wang Y and Cerling T E 1996 Carbonate-Palaeosol genesis in the Plio-Pleistocene St. David Formation Southeastern Arizona;J. Sed. Res. 66 85–94
Solomons W, Goudie A and Mook W G 1978 Isotopic composition of calcrete deposits from Europe, Africa and India;Earth Surface Processes 3 43–57
Sundaram R M, Rakshit P and Pareek S 1996 Regional stratigraphy of Quaternary deposits in parts of Thar Desert Rajsthan;J. Geol. Soc. India 48(2) 203–210
Tandon S K, Sareen B K, Rao M S and Singhvi A K 1997 Aggradation history and luminescence chronology of Late Quaternary semiarid sequences of the Sabarmati basin, Gujarat, western India;Paleogeogr. Paleoclim. Paleoecol. 128 339–357
Tandon S K, Andrews J E, Sood A and Mittal S 1998 Shrinkage and sediment supply control on multiple calcrete profile development: a case study from the Maastrichtian of Central India;Sedimentary Geology 119 25–45
Tandon S K and Kumar S 1999 Semi-arid/arid zone calcretes: A review. in “ Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction of Drylands (ed). A.K. Singhvi and E. Derbyshire. (New Delhi: Oxford-IBH Pub. house) 109–152
Thomas J V, Kar A, Kailath A J, Juyal N, Rajaguru S N and Singhvi A K 1999 Late Pleistocene history of aeolian accumulations in Thar Desert, India;Z. Geomorph. Suppl Bd 116 181–194
Thompson L G, Yao T, Davis M E, Handerson K A, Moseley-Thompson E, Lin N, Beer J, Synai H A, ColeDai J and Bolzan J F 1997 Tropical climate instability: the last glacial cycle from QinghaiTibetan ice core;Science 226 1821–1825
Wang Y, Nahon D and Merino E 1994 Dynamic model of genesis of calcretes replacing silicate rocks in semi-arid regions;Geochim. et Cosmochim. 58 5131–5145
Watts N L 1980 Quaternary pedogenic calcrete from the Kalahari (South Africa): Mineralogy genesis and diagenesis;Sedimentology 27 661–686
Weaver C E and Beck K C 1977 Miocene of the SE united States: model for chemical sediments in a peri-marine environment;Sed. Geol. 17 1–234
Wieder M and Yaalon D 1974 Effect of matrix composition on carbonate nodule crystallisation;Geoderma 11 95–121
Wright V P and Tucker M E 1991 Calcretes: an introduction; In:Calcrete Internat. Assoc; Sedimentologists Reprint Series 2 1–22
Yaalon D H 1988 Calcic horizon and calcrete in aridic soils and paleosols: progress in last twenty years;Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. Agron. Abstracts
Yaalon D H and Wieder M 1976. Pedogenic palygorskite in some arid brown soils of Israel;Clay Miner 11 73–80
Yadava M G and Ramesh R 1999 Speleothems-useful proxies for paleomonsoon rainfall records;J. Scientific and Industrial Research 58 339–348
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dhir, R.P., Tandon, S.K., Sareen, B.K. et al. Calcretes in the Thar desert: Genesis, chronology and palaeoenvironment. J Earth Syst Sci 113, 473–515 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02716737
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02716737