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Spatial Variation in the Composition of Andaman Flysch Across the Andaman Islands in Relation to Source of Sediments and Tectonics

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The Andaman Islands and Adjoining Offshore: Geology, Tectonics and Palaeoclimate

Part of the book series: Society of Earth Scientists Series ((SESS))

Abstract

Detailed petrographical and geochemical investigations of the Andaman Flysch provide distinct yet contrasting provenance and tectonic setting in different parts of the arc-parallel, uplifted subduction complex. Petrographical and geochemical data from multiple sections in North, Middle and South Andaman Islands highlight the spatial variation in the composition of sediments from north to south. While lithic wacke dominates North and Middle Andaman Islands, the composition of sandstone varies from lithic wacke to quartz wacke in the South Andaman Islands. The QFR data corresponds to the dissected arc origin of samples. Flysch sediments of North Andaman Islands exhibit a moderate to high Al2O3/SiO2, variable K2O/Na2O ratios and high Fe2O3+MgO contents, while those in South Andaman Islands show a low to moderate Al2O3/SiO2, high K2O/Na2O ratios and high TiO2. Flysch sediments of South and Middle Andaman Islands bear the signature of active continental margin to continental island arc system while those of the North Andaman Islands bear oceanic island signature. The REE data indicates the predominance of felsic source of the South Andaman Island samples. The combined petrographical and geochemical study suggests the derivation of sediments in the North Andaman Islands possibly from the Irrawaddy delta, while Andaman Flysch in Middle and South Andaman Islands possibly sourced from rocks occurring to the east and northeast direction.

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Acknowledgements

Authors thank Indian Institute of Technology Bombay for infrastructure facilities. Authors are thankful to Swagata Paul and Rajib Sadhu for chemical analysis of samples.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400076, India

    Sandip K. Roy, Angana Chaudhuri & Santanu Banerjee

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  1. Sandip K. Roy
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  2. Angana Chaudhuri
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  3. Santanu Banerjee
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Correspondence to Santanu Banerjee .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Geosciences Division, Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

    Jyotiranjan S. Ray

  2. Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

    M. Radhakrishna

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Roy, S.K., Chaudhuri, A., Banerjee, S. (2020). Spatial Variation in the Composition of Andaman Flysch Across the Andaman Islands in Relation to Source of Sediments and Tectonics. In: Ray, J., Radhakrishna, M. (eds) The Andaman Islands and Adjoining Offshore: Geology, Tectonics and Palaeoclimate. Society of Earth Scientists Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39843-9_4

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