Light Detrital Minerals At a New Spotlight K.P.THRIVIKRAMAJL Department of Geology, University of Kerala, Karlavattom Campus Thinwvanathapuram 695 581. Although beginnings of clastic sedimentary petrologic research was not biased either toward the study of heavy or light minerals, later there was gradual shift In the focus to heavy minerals. But the 70’s and later decades witnessed a resurgence In the study of mineralogy of light detritals, (viz., quartz, feldspar and rock fragments) and their implications In sedimentary petrogenesis including nature of provenance, transportational modification and sedimentation processes, Later studies of chemical composition of detrital sediments and their lithified analogues gained prominence as these had considerable potential In unraveling the nature of sedimentary basin as well as the sourcé area. The link between petrofacies on the one hand and the climate and nature of provenance on the other was reemphasized by Suttner and students and Potter and co-workers. Alongside, the detrital modes were applied by Dickinson and associates, to the plate tectonic environment. INTRODUCTION Despite Krynine's (1935, 1936, 1948) ‘pioneering efforts in the application of light detrital mineralogy (LDM) like their relative abundance and survivability, in deciphering the nature and /or climate of provenance and hence the genesis of clastic sedimentary rocks, for a long while sedimentologists had pursued an "unbalanced" approach by committing “an extra-emphasis" on the role of heavy minerals (HM) or heavy mineral sultes (HMS) in the genesis of detrital sediments or rocks and In stratigraphic analysis. However, by the early 70's, focus shifted to the study of LDM's of sediments from specific climatic domains, with a view to better understand the origin of arenites. Answers for some of the vexing questions relating to the roles of climate and tectonic setting on the one hand and composition of the parent material and hence of primary detritus on the other, have been made much simpler by the sustained efforts of Suttner and students of the Indiana University. Another approach in the application of LDM’s, centered on the use of chemical compositional variability of LDM’s or the chemical maturity, in the study of arenites on the one hand and of climate or tectonics on the other, Pettjohn and Potter through some seminar papers in the Journal of Geology, further clarified some of the points for furtherance of active research in various parts of the world In this paper, application of the commonest light minerals like quartz, feldspar and rock fragments, (also known as the frame work mineralogy or detrital modes) expressed as Q:F:RA, in the study of provenance of arenites is reviewed. 44LIGHT DETRITAL MINERALS Petrographers have been clasifying components of detrital sedimentary rocks viz., arenites, into frame work grains, matrix and cement, Most of the time, the light detrital minerals which constitute the frame work grains of the rock are derived from the process of weathering of most ubiquitous primary rocks, like plutonic Igneous rocks, quartzo-feldspathic gneisses or schists, granites, basalts or sedimentary rocks themselves. The detritus derived from sedimentary rocks are designated with prefix multi- cyclic or poly-cyclic or recycled. The types of weathering, viz., physical and chemical, and the extent or duration of weathering, source rocks and physlography of the site largely dictate the nature of primary detritus supplied to the lower order streams. More over, the composition of this detritus Is controlled by the nature of the parent rock and Is generally dominated by the following constituents. QUARTZ, (Q) Quartz is the most Important and durable detrital constituent of sedimentary rocks, averaging 65% in sandstone, 30% in shale and 5% in carbonate rocks (Blatt et al., 1972). In fact, Henry Clifton Sorby (1877, 1880 quoted in Blatt et al.1972) suggested documentation of the characteristics of mineral constituents of primary rocks in order to understand the provenance of the sedimentary rocks in general. Further, the primary detritus derived form the parent material must also be made the subject of study. Blatt (1967) undertook a pioneering study of quartz derived from gruss from the desert areas of western United States. FELDSPAR, (F) Among the feldspars, potash feldspars are much more stable than the plagioclases in the weathering environment. The primary detritus resulting trom chemical weathering does not result In the complete destruction of potash feldspar. Further, weathering of feldspar takes place In the sediment Itself as well as during transport by the process of breaking into smaller sizes. With longer residence time, the more intense Is the destruction of feldspar. ROCK FRAGMENTS, (A) Rock fragments are those frame work grains having one or more mineral phases, and hence may be poly-mineralic or monomineralic, Itis very common to notice such grains in the sediments. Their abundance is a function of the degree of weathering as well as the extent of transport the detritus has been through. Basu (1976) carried out a study of first cycle detritus of granitic plutons under humid (Appalachian mountains) and arid (Rocky mountains) climatic conditions. He had recognized compositional trends that depended on composition in respect of the four components viz., poly-mineralic rock fragments, monominerallc rock 45fragments, mono-mineralic resistates and monomineralic labiles in the samples, which can be summarised as:- a. Rock fragments (R), dominated all size fractions of the sediment in arid climate than in humid climate b. In both climates, the content of R decreased with decrease In sediment size. Yet the rate of decrease was much sharp in arid climate. c. Feldspars increased with decreasing grain size in both climates but the quartz/feldspar ratio is 1.0 in humid and in arid climate. Basu Inferred that the detrital modes of sand normally reflected the climate of the source area, Basu (1976) depicted the results of modal analysis in a series of triangular diagrams, and argued that the model given above can be used to check the paleo-climate of formation of ancient sandstones deposited near the source area. James et al.,(1981) looked into the relative stability of microcline and sodic plagioclase under humid and arid climates. However, as the same weathering products can result from the diagenetic alteration of pre-existing minerals, the difference In composition of alteration products of feldspar under sub-aerial weathering conditions is not a reliable criterion of past climate. Ideally, weathering of feldspar in humid climate favours production of kaolinite and arid climate favours smectite clay. DETRITAL MODES AND PLATE TECTONICS In 1942, Krynine had interpreted the detrital mineralogy in terms of the geosynclinal cycle. The detrital mineralogy in turn is controlled by the nature of the source rocks, rate of uplift of the source area and the rate of subsidence of the basin of deposition, In a later contribution, Middleton (1960) also endeavored to achieve the similar goals by making use of the chemical composition of sandstones. Dickinson (1970), Schwab (1975) and Crook (1974) take the credit for some of the early attempts In relating Composition of sandstones or petrofacies analysis to plate tectonics, Table-1 shows the nine provenances Identified on the basis of tectonic setting with the help of 4 different ternary plots, viz., DQFL, QmFLt, QpLvLs and dQmPK, of detritus originating form the various provenances. lt has also been demonstrated that sandstone composition is a function of transport (Suttner, 1974; Franzinelli and Potter, 1983), depositional environment (Davies and Ethridge, 1975) and by paleo-climate (Basu, 1976; Suttner et al., 1981). Therefore, petrofacies analysis of ancient sandstones may help illuminate the tectonic setting of ancient detrital sequences. Occurrence or otherwise of certain minerals may also signal the changes in the tectonic attribute of the source area, like uplift and erosion of an arc plutonic suite or ophiolite assemblage. 46WHERE DO WE GO? In a recent paper, Suttner (1989) posed some important challenges facing the students of detrital sediments. For example, attempts ought to be made to assess the duration or residence time of grains in weathering environment. Secondly we have to appraise the survivabllity of grains during transport. Another related question Is the role of pedogenels In the modification of grains. The signature of temporary storage of sediment in channels and velleys should be sorted out from those of permanent storage In the basin. Another area needing careful work relates to the extent of diagenetic modification of original frame work mineralogy. Signatures useful in the estimation of rates of tectonic processes, like uplift, subsidence and denudation In the source area etc. are in the sediment record. Issues like how far back In the geologic past did the standstones occur and if so did the boundary conditions between now and then differed to any degree needs to be understood. In fact, for students of detrital rocks, there Is bound to be a continuation of excitement in future also, SUMMARY Analysis of the detrital modes or percentage abundance of quariz (Q), feldspars (PF) and rock fragments (R) In sediments as well as sedimentary rocks has proved itself as a powerful tool In the description of provenance - its geography, climate and tectonics (Dickinson, 1970; Dickinson et al., 1986). From a plot the detrital modes (i.8., percentage contents of quartz (Q), feldspars (F) and rock fragments (R) in a trangular diagram (the QFA-diagram), it should be possible to classify arenites into its varieties (Dickinson, 1970). Suttner and Dutta (1986) used the phrase compositional maturity synonymous with Q:F:A percentage. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ' | thank Drs.L.J. Suttner arid A. Basu (Indiana University, U.S.A.) for promptly offering assistance on our work related to this theme, Dr.V.Rajamanickam (Tamil University, Thanjavur) for extending an invitation to write this article and Dr.Anirudhan. S, (Univ. of Kerala, Karlavattom) for many hours of brain storming. Table 1, The types of provenances and tectoric settings (Dickinson and Suzeck, 1979). a, Continental Cratonic interior; transitional; uplifted basement. b. Magmatic arc Dissected; transitional; un-dissected c. Recycled orogen Subducted complex; collision orogen; foreland uplift. 47BIBLIOGRAPHY Basu, A.,1976, Petrology of Holocene fluvial sand derived from plutonic source rocks: implication to paleoclimate interpretation: Jour, Sed. Petrology, 46, 594-709. Blatt, H., 1967, Original characteristics of clastic quartz grains: Jour. Sed, Petrology, 37, 407-424. 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