ABSTRACT The Palaeo-Mesoproterozoic sedimentary formations of the Cuddapah Basin, India, provide insights into basin evolution, provenance, and paleoenvironmental conditions. Trace element ratios (Th/Sc, Zr/Sc) and rare earth element (REE) patterns reveal complex sedimentary recycling with contributions from felsic and mafic source terrains. The Papaghni Sub-basin exhibits mixed mafic-felsic provenance, characterised by MgO enrichment, intermediate Th/Sc ratios, and weaker Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.7−0.85), reflecting syn-rift volcanic activity and cratonic basement erosion. The Chitravati Sub-basin exhibits polycyclic sedimentation with variable compositional maturity and enrichment in Fe2O3 and TiO2, indicating heavy-mineral concentration from weathered mafic sources. The Nallamalai Sub-basin is dominated by extensively recycled felsic sources with high compositional maturity and intense chemical weathering. Th-Sc-Zr ternary plots indicate polycyclic provenance in Chitravati, while Nallamalai represents multi-cycle reworking. Tectonic discrimination diagrams suggest rift-related deposition for Chitravati, while Papaghni’s collisional signature likely reflects basement source characteristics. The CIA (62−94) and CIW (77−98) values indicate intense chemical weathering under humid conditions. REE fractionation patterns, including LREE enrichment and negative Eu anomalies, confirm the presence of evolved, weathered crustal sources. This integrated study enhances understanding of sediment provenance, basin evolution, and Proterozoic paleoclimatic conditions in southern India’s cratonic basins.
Bhat et al. (Sun,) studied this question.