Depositional environments of Quaternary deposits of the Son Valley as revealed by scanning electron microscopy

Abstract

Topographic irregularities as a result of weathering on quartz grains of Quaternary deposits of the Son Valley are used to interpret the sedimentary environment and transport mechanisms. About 90% quartz grains show composite features, as they contain surfaces attributed to glacio-fluvial, subaqueous and diagenetic activities. The glaciated materials of the Vindhyan range appear to have undergone fluvial cycles in the river valley during subsequent times (≤100,000 yrs B.P.), while the water velocity of the river has fluctuated throughout the Quaternary. The diagenetic characteristics suggest that wet and warm climatic conditions during subaerial weathering of the soils give rise to extensive chemical features. The arid climate with incresed surface temperature is responsible for producing a rolling topography as a result of silica solution and precipitation. In cold and arid climatic conditions only mechanical features predominate. © 1987.