Stratigraphy and paleoenvironment during the Late Pliocene at Masol paleonto-archeological site (Siwalik Range, NW India): Preliminary results

摘要: Abstract The Quranwala zone (Siwalik Range, NW India) is known for its Late Pliocene vertebrates. Since 2008, cut marks and stone tools have been collected from Masol. sedimentary series belongs to the Subathu sub-basin. These sub-Himalayan deposits contain repetitive sequences (∼170 m thick) of silt/clays sandstones corresponding cyclical influx detrital material in a fluvial environment. Particular features lithological units allow identification stratigraphic position different paleonto-archeological localities. A first pale environmental reconstruction was enabled by analysis clay magnetic minerals. Iron minerals such as haematite goethite indicate dominant oxic conditions during after deposition. Clay are origin, were supplied Himalaya rivers. Illite, result physical weathering, dominant. Smectite present lower part sequence, probably Lesser (Suresh et al., 2004). Its presence suggests that studied area still paleo-drainage major river(s) time considered here.