Correlation of Paleo‐Mesozoic Sandstones Based on Heavy Mineral Chemistry and Th–U–Total Pb Monazite Dating: Implications on Paleogeographic Reconstruction in Eastern Gondwanaland

ABSTRACT The correlation between continental sandstones in adjacent sedimentary basins, lacking biostratigraphic control, is often problematic. Based on petrography, paleocurrent data, heavy mineral analysis, and monazite dating, this study correlates Paleo‐Mesozoic sandstones in the Wardha Basin with those in the adjacent Pranhita‐Godavari (P‐G) Basin, and presents a paleogeographic reconstruction of eastern Gondwanaland. Predominantly quartzose to feldspathic‐quartzose arenites of the Wardha Basin, showing N‐NW paleocurrent, contain heavy minerals such as ilmenite, garnet, zircon, rutile, monazite, tourmaline, and staurolite. Burial dissolution has caused preferential leaching of staurolite and rutile in relatively older sediments. The abundance of almandine garnet indicates the predominant granulite and subordinate amphibolite sources. The tourmaline chemistry, indicating the dominance of dravite and schorl, relates them primarily to amphibolites and granitoids, whilst rutile chemistry tracks them to metapelitic sources. The prevalence of leucoxene in younger formations reflects ilmenite alteration, indicating progressive tectonic stability and humidity from the Upper Carboniferous to Lower Triassic period. The Th–U–total Pb dating of detrital monazite in sandstones yields three major groups at (1) 2496–2395 Ma, (2) 927–722 Ma, and (3) 552–438 Ma. Heavy mineral chemistry, paleocurrent data, and monazite dating track sediment sources to the Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt, Karimnagar Granulite Belt, and Antarctica through the axial drainage system. Whilst local sediment sources include amphibolites and granitoids in Bastar Craton, hosting Bhopalpatnam Granulite Belt, Mul and Dongargarh granite, and Bengpal Group. Good matching of heavy mineral chemistry and monazite dating confirms the genetic relationship between Wardha Basin and Pranhita‐Godavari Basin.