Depositional Environment and Geochemical Characterization of Quaternary Sediments along National Highway in Samba and Kathua Districts, Jammu and Kashmir, India

The Quaternary sediments are well exposed along the National Highway between Samba and Kathua districts of Jammu and Kashmir, India. These sediments represented by loose / unlithified sediments ranging in size from boulder conglomerate to fine clay particles. In the present study, three sections viz. Basanter North, Samba South East and Dhalta West has been chosen for facies and grain size analyses, geochemical characterization and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis to know the depositional environment, provenance and mineralogical composition of Quaternary sediments. Based on the facies study and grain size analysis, a mixed type of depositional environment suggested for Basanter North, Samba South East and Dhalta West sections. Major Oxides, Trace and REE elemental data and XRD analysis indicate that the source was felsic in composition and sediments are from lesser and Outer Himalayas. Keywords: Quaternary Sediments, Depositional Environment, Provenance, Mineral Composition, Jammu and Kashmir