Evolution of Sedimentary Basins Sedimentation and Tectonics:

Evolution of sedimentary basins is spatially related to continental evolution and global tectonic processes. Several studies show a close relationship between sedimentary pattern and larger structural elements of the Earth Continents are formed by different tectonic processess and related magmatism. On the other hand these continents are destroyed by continuous physical and chemical weathering/erosion processes. These sediments have been shifted through mass transport by water, wind and ice to nearest depression(Basins).

In order to understand evolution of sedimentary basins following aspects/factors are considered : 1) Distribution of sediments(Large Scale). 2) Kinds of Sedimentary basins existing during geological history. 3) Nature and organisation of sedimentary fill. 4) Relationship between sediments and their source land(Provenance)

1) Distribution of Sediments
Sediments are known to occur throughout the geological history from 4200 m.y to present day. They are extremly useful and provide crucial information on the evolution of upper continental crust, global surface environments, redox conditions and biological evolution

During the Achaean era(4200-2500m.y) sediments spatially associated with volcanism and chemical alteration processes were dominant over physical breakdown. These sediments were involved in sedimentation and metamorphism of varying degrees. During Proterozoic stable environments prevailed so sediments was quite extensive and extensive flat sequences of conglomerates, sandstone, shales and limestone were deposited and these sediments were not affected by deformation and metamorphism.

During Phanerozoic, sediments were dominated by volcanoclastic sequences in different environments(shallow to deep waters). These sedimentary associations contain abundant biogenic materials such as plant and animal fossils.

2) Kinds of sedimentary basins existing during Geological history

Achaean sedimentary basins are extremely difficult to characterize in regard of its nature and geometry as these basins were affected by several episodes of deformation and metamorphism and their original geometry and other characteristics have been erased. Intracratonic and back arc basins were common during middle to late archaean(3200-2600)

During Proterozoic, globally stable environment prevailed as continental crust lost huge amount of heat producing elements during late archaean techtanothermal events. Most of the Proterozoic sedimentary basins are stable, continental platforms, where detrital sediments derived from large cratons were filled.

During Phanerozoic large sedimentary basins developed along plate margins(back arc and island arc basins) and also in collisional environments(Sedimentary fill between two continents e.g Tethys sea between India and Asian plate). The sedimentary basins were huge and spatially associated with orogenic cycle.

4) Nature and organisation of sedimentary fill

The Nature and organisation of sedimentary sequences provide information on sedimentary environments It is not easy to characterise the nature and organisation of sedimentary fill up in the Archaean sedimentary sequence as they are affected by deformaton and matamorphism and their original and depositional characteristics have been disrupted.

The Proterozoic sedimentary sequences globally comprise abundant flat sequences of conglomerate-sandstone-shale and carbonate associationswhich are unmetamorphosed The Phanerozoic sediments are fossiliferous and comprise thick associations of conglomerate, sandstone, greywacke-argillite, shale, carbonate and iron stones. These sediments were deposited in diverse environments including shallow to deep marine environments and were derived from old continental crust as well as young volcanic arc.

4) Relationship between sediments and their source land (Provenance)

In recent years numerous studies focussed on sedimentologgy particularly to characterise sediment source(provenance) by using sediment characteristics, dating of heavy minerals(zircon, monazite, garnet)and isotope tracers. These studies show that sediments derived from mixed sources with contrasting histories. Combined sedimentological and geochronological studies of clastic sediments useful to reconstruct geometry of the source land

Isotope tracers (Nd, Sr and Pb) provide information on history of source areas of some clastic and chemical sediments. O and C isotopes are particularly useful to characterize sedimentary environments and digenetic processes including residence time of non-clastic sediments in water.

In summary sedimentary basins known to occur throughout the earths history and provide information on the evolution of continents. They are known to occur in diverse environments including Intracratonic, passive margin, backarc, island arc, rift and continental collisional environments. Thus Evolution of sedimentary basins is spatially associated with magmatism and tectonic processes

Sediment Supply and climate

The process of transporting/deposition of sediments from the source area to the depositional area or basin is known as sediment supply Normally sediments are derived through physical or chemical breakdowns while the Achaean sediments presents a different scenario as sediments were derived through volcanism and chemical alteration processes.

Climate
Climate play a very crucial and important rule in sedimentary formations The very basic building block i.e sediments were derived as a result of climatic factors acting on different rocks or materials Without the influence of climate a lot of sedimentary formations would not be available.