Imprints of Pan‐African Orogeny‐Related Zircon in the Western Indian Basin and Their Implications for Sediment Dispersal Patterns in Eastern Gondwana

ABSTRACT Detrital zircon dating of Lower Cretaceous fluvial sandstones of Himmatnagar Formation reveals their sources in Aravalli‐Delhi Fold Belt (ADFB), with minor contributions from Madagascar. Th/U ratios, along with trace element concentrations, indicate a continental origin for granitoids. Sediments derived from gneisses and granitoids (3207–2366 Ma, 1886–1607 Ma) in the ADFB make up the lower part of the formation. While the upper part of the formation received sediments from granitoids (999–650 Ma) of the Delhi supergroups and East‐African orogeny rocks (650–513 Ma) from Madagascar. The similarity in detrital zircon ages across the Kutch, Saurashtra and Cambay basins suggests a continuous fluvial system originating from the ADFB and its associated regions, extending along the Mesozoic basins in western India. The 650–513 Ma zircon population within these basins reflects transcontinental sediment input, related to tectonic events associated with Deccan volcanism, and the final stage of Eastern Gondwana rifting.