Eocene lignites from Cambay basin, Western India： An excellent source of hydrocarbon

In the present paper lignites from the Cambay basin have been studied for their hydrocarbon potential.The samples were collected from three lignite fieldse Vastan, Rajpardi and Tadkeshwar, and were investigated by petrography, chemical analyses and Rock-Eval pyrolysis. The results are well comparable with the empirically derived values. The study reveals that these ‘low rank C＇ lignites are exceedingly rich in reactive macerals（huminite t liptinite） while inertinite occurs in low concentration. These high volatile lignites generally have low ash yield except in few sections. The Rock-Eval data indicates the dominance of kerogen type-III with a little bit of type-II. The study reveals that the lignites of Vastan（lower and upper seams） and Tadkeshwar upper seam are more gas-prone while Rajpardi and Tadkeshwar lower seams are oil-prone. Further, the fixed hydrocarbons are several times higher than the free hydrocarbons. The relation between TOC and fixed hydrocarbon indicates that these lignites are excellent source rock for hydrocarbon which could be obtained mainly through thermal cracking. The empirically derived values reveal a high conversion（94e96%） and high oil yield（64e66%） for these lignites.

Palaeoenvironmental and biostratigraphic implications of microbial mat-related structures:Examples from the modern Gulf of Cambay and the Precambrian Vindhyan Basin,India

A stretch of the modern hypersaline coastal plain of the Gulf of Cambay was chosen to examine the distribution of the microbial mat-related structures(MRS) on siliciclastic sediments in the intertidal and supratidal zones.The abundance of MRS increases from the lower intertidal zone to the upper supratidal zone while the type of MRS records a systematic change.While the lower intertidal zone exhibits wrinkle structures,sieve-like surfaces and patchy ripples in places,the upper intertidal zone exhibits diverse MRS related to reduced current activity on the mat layer and intermittent exposure.MRS in the upper intertidal zone include wrinkle structures,sieve-like surfaces,gas domes,reticulated surfaces,multi-directional ripples,patchy ripples,rolled-up mat fragments,setulfs and occasional petee ridges and cracked mat surfaces.The lower supratidal zone is characterized by increased occurrence of petee ridges,gas domes and cracked mat surfaces compared to the upper intertidal zone.The upper supratidal zone is distinguished by the presence of abundant cracked mat surfaces,petee ridges,gas domes and wrinkle structures.The presence of cm-scale,disc-shaped microbial colonies(DMC) with a variety of internal structures is a unique feature of the Gulf of Cambay study area.While wrinkle structures occur in all the coastal zones,setulfs occur close to the boundary between the upper intertidal and lower supratidal zones.An attempt has been made to compare the distribution of MRS in this modern environment with those in the ~1.6 Ga Chorhat Sandstone of the Vindhyan Supergroup for high-resolution palaeoenvironmental interpretation.The upper part of the intertidal segment of the Chorhat Sandstone is distinguished from its lower part by the presence of abundant cracked mat surfaces,petee ridges and gas domes in the former,while wrinkle structures,Kinneyia,rolled-up mat fragments,patchy ripples and multi-directional ripples are equally abundant in both parts.The lower part of the intertidal segment of the Chorhat Sandstone is thus analogous to the upper intertidal zone of the modern Gulf of Cambay environment,while the upper part of the Chorhat intertidal segment reflects prolonged exposure close to the high tide line.The bottom-most part of the intertidal segment of the Chorhat Sandstone with fewer MRS corresponds to the lower intertidal zone at Cambay.Inferred disc-shaped microbial fossils within Vindhyan sandstones are analogous to the DMC found in the modern environment and these features do not have any biostratigraphic implication.

Tracking sources and paleotectonic settings of Mesozoic sandstones in interlinked rift basins of western India:An integrated approach using petrography and heavy mineral chemistry

Based on integration of field,petrographic and heavy mineral chemical data,this study highlights the source and tectonic setting of the Mesozoic sandstones of Kutch,Saurashtra,Narmada and Cambay basins at the western margin of India,formed by the progressive splitting of the eastern Gondwanaland.The Kutch Basin is dominated by arkosic sandstone,whereas Saurashtra,Narmada and Cambay basins show the predominance of sub-arkose and sub-litharenite.The modal analyses of framework grains in Kutch sandstones indicate basement uplift and transitional continent settings.In contrast,the sandstones of Saurashtra,Narmada and Cambay basins bear imprints of recycled orogenic and craton interior belts.The presence of abraded and detrital quartz overgrowth and rounded zircons in most sandstones reveal the recycling of sediments in these basins.Tourmaline and rutile mineral compositions constrain the possible lithology of source rocks.The tourmaline mineral chemistry(Ca-Fe_(tot)-Mg plot)suggests the derivation of sediments from various sources,including Li-poor granitoids associated with pegmatites,aplites,Ca-poor metapelites,metapsammites and quartz-tourmaline-rich granitic rocks.The compositions of rutile grains(Cr vs.Nb plot)in sandstones indicate metapelitic sources.The gamut of all mineral chemical data supports the predominance of sediment sources from quartzo-feldspathic rocks with minor inputs from mafic rocks.Based on available paleocurrent data and correlation of source compositions,we infer that the Mesozoic sediments of Kutch,Saurashtra,Narmada and Cambay basins were primarily sourced by various lithologies of the Aravalli Craton.The Narmada Basin possibly received additional sediment input from the Bundelkhand Craton.