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Kaimur Formation

Kaimur Fm

Period: 
Stenian

Age Interval: 
Late Stenian


Province: 
Proterozoic N.India Vindhyan Basin west, Proterozoic N.India Vindhyan Basin east

Type Locality and Naming

Lower formation of the Upper Vindhyan Gr

Synonym: Kaimur Gr (used as Group by Basu- and Chakrabarti, 2020; but as Formation by Sarkar and Banerjee, 2020, which is used here)


Lithology and Thickness

In WEST -- Upward succession of Chittaur Fort Sandstone and Mahadev Sandstone with an intervening Dulchipur Conglomerate in some publications.

In EAST – Transgressive then regressive succession of Lower Quartzite (also called Lower Kairmur Sandstone, Domarkhoka Quartzite, or the Sasaram Sandstone member), Bijaygarh Shale, Scarp Sandstone and the Dhandraul Quartzite members (the upper two are sometimes merged into a Upper Kaimur Sandstone). Lower Quartzite Member exhibits a fining-upward trend from a basal tidal-origin sandstone to shale-sandstone alternations. The Bijaygarh Shale is pyrite- and organic-carbon-rich shale, locally with phosphate. The Scarp Sandstone is predominantly storm-influenced, and the widespread Dhandraul Quartzite sandstone is a coarsening-upward body of variable thickness.


Lithology Pattern: 
Clayey sandstone


Relationships and Distribution

Lower contact

Major unconformity. Underlain by the Lower Vindhyan Gr: In WEST overlies the Suket Shale at top of Khorip Fm; and in EAST overlies the Bhagawar Shale of upper Rohtas Limestone Fm. [Note: group/formation/member nomenclatures differ among publications.]

Upper contact

In WEST - Overlain by Panna Shale at base of Rewa Fm; and in EAST – Overlain by Rewa Shale at base of Rewa Fm

Regional extent


GeoJSON

null

Fossils


Age 

See Upper Vindhyan Gr description for age model used only for graphics; in which the Kaimur Fm suites are assigned as 1100-1020 Ma. Presence of pyroclastsic units have been reported. Is intruded by kimberlite and lamproite pipes (dated as ca. 1050 to 1150 Ma). But Re-Os age of 1210 +/- 50 Ma in middle of Bijaygarh Shale (middle of Kaimur Fm). Intrusion of Majhgawan Kimberlite with Ar/Ar age of 1073 +/- 14 Ma into basal part of Upper Vindbyan Supergroup at Chitrakut would imply an onset before ca. 1100 Ma?

Age Span: 

    Beginning stage: 
Stenian

    Fraction up in beginning stage: 
0.5

    Beginning date (Ma): 
1,100.00

    Ending stage: 
Stenian

    Fraction up in the ending stage: 
0.9

    Ending date (Ma):  
1,020.00

Depositional setting

Clastic units of the Kaimur Fm are deposited under fluvial to shallow-marine conditions.


Depositional pattern:  


Additional Information


Compiler:  

Main sources: S. Sarkar and S. Banerjee (2020), A Synthesis of Depositional Sequence of the Proterozoic Vindhyan Supergroup in Son Valley, Springer Geology, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-32-9551-3_2

Basu, P., and Chakrabarti, R. 2020. Origin and evolution of the Vindhyan Basin: A geochemical perspective. Proc. Indian Natn. Sci. Acad., 86: 111-126.

Kumar, S., 2012. Stratigraphy and correlation of the Neoproterozoic deposits of central and western India: an overview. In Bhat, G. M., Craig, J., Thurow, J. W., Thusu, B.&Cozzi, A. (eds) 2012. Geology and Hydrocarbon Potential of Neoproterozoic–Cambrian Basins in Asia. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 366, 75–90.