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Major and trace element geochemistry of the Atrai River sediments from the Bengal Basin (Bangladesh): implication for provenance, chemical weathering, and tectonic setting in the southeastern Himalaya

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Abstract

The Atrai River rises in the southeast Himalaya and empties into the Bengal Basin in the northwest. In this study, major and trace element geochemistry of the Atrai River sediments is carried out in addition to petrography to determine the compositional maturity, provenance, chemical weathering, and tectonic setting. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry was employed for geochemical studies. Results reveal that, in comparison to the Upper Continental Crust (UCC), the sediments are significantly enriched in SiO2, Fe2O3, Cr, and Ni and markedly depleted in Na2O, MgO, CaO, MnO, and TiO2. This is likely because feldspars were lost during chemical weathering. The sediments of the Atrai River are sub-arkosic in composition. The index of compositional variability (ICV) (0.95 to 1.35), and SiO2/Al2O3 ratio (6.15 to 6.81) in the Atrai River sediments suggest poorly sorted grains, and low compositional and mineralogical maturity. The geochemical and petrographic discriminate diagrams and high Al2O3/TiO2 values (20.57 to 32.55) indicate a felsic igneous provenance for the Atrai River sediments. They are mainly derived from granitic sources, with subordinate metamorphic and pre-existing sedimentary sources. The Higher Himalayas and the Lesser Himalayas are considered the possible source areas of the Atrai River sediments. Weathering indices (CIA, CIW, and PIA), as well as major and trace element discriminating diagrams, point to a weak-to-moderate degree of chemical weathering that may be prevalent in the source area under semi-arid climatic conditions. Petrographic and geochemical discriminating diagrams reveal an active margin tectonic setting for the Atrai River sediments.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are also grateful to the Institute of Mining, Mineralogy and Metallurgy (IMMM), BCSIR, for allowing us in their XRF laboratory. A special thanks goes to Mr. Masum Shah for his kind cooperation during the field work.

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This work is funded by the Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Jahangirnagar University.

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  1. Department of Geological Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, 1342, Bangladesh

    Abu Sadat Md. Sayem, Md. Rokonuzzaman, Rashed Abdullah, Zahidul Bari & Md. Sazzad Hossen

  2. Institute of Mining, Mineralogy and Metallurgy (IMMM), Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Joypurhat, 5900, Bangladesh

    Md. Shams Shahriar

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Sayem, A.S.M., Rokonuzzaman, M., Shahriar, M.S. et al. Major and trace element geochemistry of the Atrai River sediments from the Bengal Basin (Bangladesh): implication for provenance, chemical weathering, and tectonic setting in the southeastern Himalaya. Arab J Geosci 16, 487 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-023-11599-4

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