Composition of macrobenthos from the Central Indian Ocean Basin

The deep sea is well known for its high faunal diversity. But the current interest in its abundant polymetallic nodules, poses a threat to the little known benthic organisms surviving in this unique environment. The present study is the first attempt to document the Indian Ocean abyssal benthic diversity of macroinvertebrates and to investigate its relation to the surface primary production (chl-a), sediment labile organic matter, organic carbon and texture. The present study is based on 87 individuals. Altogether 39 macroinvertebrate genera were obtained from water depths of 4500–5500 m from 23 box cores. Reduction in macrobenthic density was seen towards the southern latitudes. The area was dominated by deposit feeding macrobenthos. Vertically, the fauna was distributed down to 30 cm depth, with the highest faunal density in the top 2–5 cm sediment section. The values for population density were strongly correlated with surface water chl-a and sediment protein, indicating supply of fresh organic matter as a critical factor for maintaining the deep sea benthic diversity and abundance.     

Seamounts in the Central Indian Ocean Basin: indicators of the Indian plate movement

The study of seamount parameters in the tectonically most-complicated and least-understood Indian Ocean assumes importance since their properties vary as a function of tectonic setting, physics of lithosphere, conduit geometry and chemical composition of magma. More than 100 such seamounts ranging in summit height (h) from 300 to 2870 m, are indentified in the oceanic crust between Indian continent and Mid-Indian Ridge (MIR) and South-East Indian Ridge (SEIR). Most of the minor seamounts (h > 1000) are found in the southern part of the study area. Major seamounts (h < 1000 m) are roughly distributed in two groups—the northern group on Cretaceous Oceanic Crust and southern group on Pliocene-Miocene Oceanic Crust. On an average northern group seamounts (SM 1 to 6) are taller, wider and flatter than those from the southern group. These seamounts appear to be the result of continuous growth from tapped, moving magma chamber while stress depleted magma and inconsistent Indian Plate movement during Mid-Tertiary are attributed to the origin of southern group of smaller seamounts. Distribution and morphology of seamounts as a whole indicate their formation either from Reunion hotspot or from two separate hotspots in the geological past.     

Petrological Characteristics and Genesis of the Central Indian Ocean Basin Basalts

The Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB) basalts are plagioclase-rich, while olivine and pyroxene are very few. The analyses of 41 samples reveal high FeOT (~10–18 wt%) and TiO2 (~1.4–2.7 wt%) indicating a ferrobasaltic composition. The basalts have high incompatible elements (Zr 63–228 ppm; Nb ~1–5 ppm; Ba ~15–78 ppm; La ~3–16 ppm), a similar U/Pb (0.02–0.4) ratio as the normal mid-oceanic basalt (0.16±0.07) but the Ba/Nb (12.5–53) ratio is much larger than that of the normal mid-oceanic ridge basalt (~5.7) and Primitive Mantle (9.56). Interestingly almost all of the basalts have a significant negative Eu anomaly (Eu/Eu*=0.78–1.00) that may have been a result of the removal of feldspar and pyroxene during crystal fractionation. These compositional variations suggest that the basalts were derived through fractional crystallization together with low partial melting of a shallow seated magma.     

Composition and Genesis of Zeolitic Claystones from the Central Indian Ocean Basin

We examined more than fifty indurated sediments recovered from the Central Indian Ocean Basin （CIOB） during the course of collection for manganese nodules and crusts. The samples occur as slabs either over which ferromanganese oxides are present or over a substrate of altered oceanic basalt in conjunction with palagonite or within the nucleus of manganese nodules. Mineralogically and compositionally, the samples show a mixture of phillipsite, palagonite and montmorillonite. We suggest that the volcanogenic precursors occurring in the CIOB were subjected to varying degrees of alteration under the influence of low temperature conditions, resulting in the formation of zeolitic claystones. The CIOB samples have similarities to those reported from various sites in the world oceans.     

Tectonic types of deepwater basins in the Indian Ocean

Among 16 deepwater basins located in the central Indian Ocean and along its western, eastern, and southern margins, the central, perioceanic, and perispreading tectonic types are recognized. The Central, Cocos, Wharton, and Crozet basins belong to the first type. The second type comprises the Somalia, Mascarene, Madagascar, Mozambique, and Agulhas basins localized along the western margin of the ocean; the Argo, Gascoyne, Cuvier, and Perth basins that are situated along its eastern periphery; and the African-Antarctic Basin in the southern periphery. The South Australian and Australian-Antarctic basins pertain to the third type. Spatially and tectonically, the pericontinental basins are conjugated with continental blocks in the ocean (rises, plateaus, microcontinents). Together, they make up specific tectonic systems that extend parallel to the continents. The formation of such systems is controlled by horizontal movement of continental blocks and tectonic subsidence of the oceanic bottom.     

Morphological characteristics and emplacement mechanism of the seamounts in the Central Indian Ocean Basin

The morphotectonic features of the Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB) provide information regarding the development of the basin. Multibeam mapping of the CIOB reveals presence of abundant isolated seamounts and seamount chains sub-parallel to each other and major fracture zones along 73° E, 79° E and 75°45′ E. Morphological analyses were carried out for 200 seamounts that occur either as isolated edifies or along eight sub-parallel chains. The identified eight parallel seamount chains that trend almost north–south and reflecting the absolute motion of the Indian plate, probably originated from the ancient propagative fractures. Inspite of the differences in their height, the seamounts of these eight chains are morphologically correlatable. In the study area the seamounts are clustered north and south of 12° S latitude. Interestingly, in the area north of 12° S (area II: 9°–12° S) the seamounts are distinctly smaller (≤ 400 m height) whereas, the area south of 12° S (area I: 12°–15° S) has a mixed population of seamounts. The normalized abundance of the CIOB seamount is 976 seamounts/10⁶ km² but on a finer scale this value varies from 500 to 1600 seamounts/10⁶ km², which is less than the seamount concentrations of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans (9000 to 16,000 seamounts/10⁶ km²). Three categories of seamounts are present in the CIOB e.g. (1) single-peaked (2) multi-peaked and (3) composite. The study indicate that single-peaked seamounts are dominant (89%) while multi-peaked is less (8%) and composite ones are rare (3%) in the CIOB.The progressive northward movement of the Indian continent caused collision between India and Asia at around 62 Ma ago. A majority of the near-axis originated seamounts in the CIOB seemed to have formed as a consequence of the temporally widespread (Cretaceous  65 Ma to late Eocene < 49 Ma) collision between India and Eurasia. The regional stress patterns in the Indian plate vary N to NE in the continent and N to NW in Indian Ocean areas. The combined effect of the regional stress patterns maintained the orientation of the seamount chains and the local stress regime helped in the upwelling of magma and formation of seamounts. The low heat flow, morphological features and geochemical signature indicate that the morphotectonic structures formed contemporaneously with the oceanic crust.     

Biogenic signature and ultra microfossils in ferromanganese nodules of the Central Indian Ocean Basin

Theories related to the precipitation mechanism of the metallic elements in marine manganese nodules have remained controversial between two schools of thoughts (1) chemical oxidation (abiotic origin) and (2) deposition of the metals through microbial enzymatic processes (biogenic origin). One of the most important evidence in support of the biogenic origin is the occurrence of fossilized microbes. However, well-documented literature in this regard is either lacking or very scanty in case of Indian Ocean nodules. Using high resolution FEG-SEM we have recorded various biogenic signatures and ultra microfossils in the ferromanganese nodule samples from Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB) that are presented in this paper. The microfossils are mostly protozoans belonging to varieties of bacteria, diatoms and foraminifera. Some of the features recorded in this study have perhaps never been reported before from any manganese nodules. The chemical compositions of these ultra microfossils indicate a high-level of manganese precipitation in and around them in comparison to the distant surrounding areas. While clumpy microbes are enriched with nickel, the rod shaped bacteria are rich in copper. Up to 4.70 wt.% nickel and 5.31 wt.% Cu have been recorded in the fossilized microbe bodies. The high abundance of biogenic features as well as microfossils in the ferromanganese nodules and their chemical compositions support arguments in favor of a dominant role of the microorganisms in the construction of the nodules of the CIOB.     

西南印度洋构造地貌与构造过程

本文基于海底水深数据,制定了西南印度洋超慢速扩张脊新的海底构造地貌划分原则,将西南印度洋划分为7级构造地貌单元;并以该洋中脊中段的Discovery II和Gallieni转换断层之间及其邻区的海底构造地貌特征为依据,将其与该区断裂演化、分段性、分段拓展机制、中央裂谷形成过程、脊–柱相互作用和洋中脊跃迁进行综合分析。结果表明,该区洋中脊可以划分为4个三级构造地貌单元(即洋中脊的一级分段),从西向东被Andrew Bain和Prince Edwards、Discovery II以及Gallieni转换断层依次分割,分别反映为强热点–洋中脊相互作用的扩张脊、弱热点–洋中脊相互作用的扩张脊和正常超慢速扩张脊的地貌类型。每个三级分段可进一步划分为3~4个四级分段,本文仅侧重Discovery II和Gallieni转换断层间洋中脊四到七级的4个级别分段划分(即洋中脊的四级构造地貌单元再划分为3级)。其中,第七级构造地貌单元分别为侧列式裂谷(剪切带)、雁列式裂谷、横断层带等构造分割。该段洋中脊先后受Marion、Crozet、Madagascar等热点或海台的影响,经历了3次洋中脊跃迁,时间大致分别为80 Ma,60 Ma和40 Ma,该过程与冈瓦纳大陆裂解以来的大洋演化有关。最后,本文详细分析了20 Ma以来的西南印度洋洋中脊轴部的周期性拉分式断陷、多米诺式箕状断陷、地堑式断陷和海洋核杂岩等构造过程。     

Physical Properties, Morphology and Petrological Characteristics of Pumices from the Central Indian Ocean Basin

About 400 pumice clasts collected from the Central Indian Ocean Basin(CIOB)were studied for their morphology and were classified based on their shape and size.A majority of the samples range between<1 cm and 36 cm and in the Zinggs shape diagram plot in the equant and oblate fields.The Corey Shape Factor for most of the samples is close to 0.7,which is common for volcaniclastic material. The physical properties such as density,specific gravity,void ratio,porosity,moisture content and degree of saturation...     

Physical Properties, Morphology and Petrological Characteristics of Pumices from the Central Indian Ocean Basin

About 400 pumice clasts collected from the Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB) were studied for their morphology and were classified based on their shape and size. A majority of the samples range between <1 cm and 36 cm and in the Zinggs shape diagram plot in the equant and oblate fields. The Corey Shape Factor for most of the samples is close to 0.7, which is common for volcaniclastic material. The physical properties such as density, specific gravity, void ratio, porosity, moisture content and degree of saturation, were determined for 30 pumice samples. Density varies from 0.21 to 0.74 g/cm3 specific gravity 1.84 to 3.27, void ratio 2.21 to 10.67, porosity 67% to 91%, moisture content during sinking 0.44 to 2.35 and degree of saturation varies from 26.5% to 86%. Binocular and electron microscopy studies reveal that 60% of the vesicles are elongated, 30% are spherical and 10% are fibrous. Petrography of the pumices exhibits vitrophyric texture with phenocrysts of feldspars and clinopyroxenes. X-ray diffractrogram and mineral analyses confirm plagioclase to be a major phase, while quartz and orthoclase are not uncommon. Todorokite is commonly present in the ferromanganese oxide coating present over some of the pumices. This paper also delves into some details concerning the controversial origin of the pumices and glass shards in the CIOB.     

中印度洋海盆表层沉积物稀土元素分布特征及富集规律

对中印度洋海盆14个站位的表层沉积物进行了稀土元素(REE+Y,简称REY)分布特征和富集规律研究.结果表明,样品中REY主要富集于沸石黏土和远洋黏土中(稀土元素总量最高为1239×10?6),且明显富集钇(Y)等重稀土元素(Y富集系数高达14.1,重稀土元素和Y富集系数最高为11.6);富稀土沉积物呈明显Ce亏损,发...     

Relationship between chemical composition and magnetic susceptibility in sediment cores from Central Indian Ocean Basin

Three sediment cores in a north-south transect (3°N to 13°S) from different sediment types of the Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB) are studied to understand the possible relationship between magnetic susceptibility (χ) and Al, Fe, Ti and Mn concentrations. The calcareous ooze core exhibit lowest χ (12.32 × 10⁻⁷ m³ kg⁻¹), Al (2.84%), Fe (1.63%) and Ti (0.14%), terrigenous clay core with moderate χ (29.93 × 10⁻⁷ m³ kg⁻¹) but highest Al (6.84%), Fe (5.20%) and Ti (0.44%), and siliceous ooze core with highest χ (38.06 × 10⁻⁷ m³ kg⁻¹) but moderate Al (4.49%), Fe (2.80%) and Ti (0.19%) contents. The distribution of χ and detrital proxy elements (Al, Fe, and Ti) are identical in both calcareous and siliceous ooze. Interestingly, in terrigenous core, the behaviour of χ is identical to only Ti content but not with Al and Fe suggesting possibility of Al and Fe having a non-detrital source. The occurrence of phillipsite in terrigenous clay is evident by the Al-K scatter plot where trend line intersects K axis at more than 50% of total K suggesting excess K in the form of phillipsite. Therefore, the presence of phillipsite might be responsible for negative correlation between χ and Al (r = −0.52). In siliceous ooze the strong positive correlations among χ, Al_exc and Fe_exc suggest the presence of authigenic Fe-rich smectite. High Mn content (0.5%) probably in the form of manganese micronodules is also contributing to χ in both calcareous and siliceous ooze but not in the terrigenous core where mean Mn content (0.1%) is similar to crustal abundance. Thus, χ systematically records the terrigenous variation in both the biogenic sediments but in terrigenous clay it indirectly suggests the presence of authigenic minerals.     

Ultra high temperature-metamorphism and its significance in the Central Indian Tectonic Zone

In the present study from the southern margin of the Central Indian Tectonic Zone, it is demonstrated how the metamorphic P–T path of ultrahigh-temperature granulite terranes can be reconstructed using the metamorphic transition in corundum granulites from early biotite melting to later FMAS solid–solid reaction. The extreme metamorphism in these rocks caused two-stage biotite melting, resulting in initial porphyroblastic garnet₁ and later sapphirine–spinel₁ incongruent solid mineral assemblages. During this process, the leucocratic and melanocratic layers in the corundum granulites evolved from an initial silica-oversaturated to a later silica-undersaturated domain. In the melanocratic layer, this allowed localized concentration of sapphirine-spinel₁ and residual sillimanite₁, producing an extremely restitic assemblage, at the culmination of peak metamorphism, BM₁. BM₁ is constrained at  1000 °C at relatively deep crustal levels (P  9 kbar) from the stability of ferroaugite in a co-metamorphosed Iron Formation granulite. During subsequent metamorphism (BM₂), the reaction path and history in the corundum granulites shifted to the restitic domain allowing reacting sapphirine, spinel₁ and sillimanite to produce coronal garnet₂–corundum assemblage via a FMAS univariant reaction. In the final stages of reaction history, biotite₂–sillimanite₂–spinel₂ assemblage was produced after garnet₂–corundum due to localized melt–crystal interaction. The metamorphic sequence, when interpreted with the help of a newly constructed, qualitative KFMASH petrogenetic grid, reveals successive stages of heating, increasing pressure and cooling around the KFMASH invariant point, [Opx,Crd], which is consistent with a counterclockwise metamorphic P–T path. The near isobaric nature of post-peak cooling (ΔT  250–300 °C) is also evident from multistage pyroxene exsolution and by the appearance of lamellar and coronal garnets in the Iron Formation granulites. This study provides the first tight constraint for ultrahigh-T metamorphism along a counter clockwise P–T trajectory in the Central Indian Tectonic zone, and has important bearing for terrane correlations in this part of East Gondwanaland. In addition, the new KFMASH grid allows evaluation of metamorphic phase relations in ultrahigh-T, corundum-bearing and corundum-absent aluminous granulites.     

印度次大陆中央构造带沉积—变质型锰矿的矿物学和地球化学

对印度中央构造带sauaar带锰矿及其围岩的31个样品进行了显微镜仔细的观察和鉴定,并分析了其主量元素、微量元素和稀土元素的地球化学特征,发现该带的锰矿主要是软锰矿和硬锰矿,锰矿主要富集在锰榴石英岩内.含锰岩系样品具非常高的Mn/Fe比值,说明热液运输和成矿作用期间锰和铁的强烈分异;MnO/TiO2为67.98-1417.52,说明有大量陆源物质经风化、搬运加入并混合沉积而成.用太古界平均澳大利亚页岩（PAAS）标准化后,稀土元素含量中δEu,δCe都有明显的正异常,说明该带锰矿床是在较强氧化海洋环境和有大量陆源物质加入的条件下沉积,并经过热液的变质交代作用而成的沉积一变质型锰矿床.该沉积—变质型锰矿的发现和研究对我国南方扬子克拉通中元古代浅变质岩系的锰矿寻找具有一定的借鉴意义.     

Hydrothermal petroleum in the sediments of the Andaman Backarc Basin,Indian Ocean

Recent sediments of the Andaman Backarc Basin, Indian Ocean, between the Andaman Nicobar islands and the Malay Peninsula have been analyzed for biomarker lipids. Three cores were selected: one each from the fault zone in a deep basin (a graben between two fault systems), another from a location adjacent to the fault, and the third from the topographic high in the rift valley. The molecular composition of the lipid classes (n-alkanes, isoprenoids, alkylbenzenes, alkylcyclohexanes, hopanoids, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, steranes, alcohols, sterols and fatty acids) was examined by gas chromatography (GC) and GC/mass spectrometry to understand the nature and source of the hydrocarbons present and the processes of maturation of organic matter. The data show that the hydrocarbons are of hydrothermal origin, derived from thermal alteration of sedimentary organic matter, consisting of a mixture predominantly of marine-derived components with some terrestrial inputs. Normal alcohols and fatty acids also corroborate the distribution of n-alkanes. The distribution profiles and various parameters computed from the concentration of the target compounds suggest that oxidative reactions and microbial degradation in this environment are insignificant. Triterpane and PAH compositions indicate that the thermal maturity of the bitumen in the samples is comparable to or lower than that found at other hydrothermal regions such as the Northern Juan de Fuca Ridge, Guaymas Basin and Escanaba Trough.     

构造叠加弱应变沉积岩地区的磁组构研究——以川西北盆地为例

磁组构是一种灵敏的应变指示计。单一方向应力作用下,在平行层缩短的初始阶段,磁线理与地层走向是一致的。然而,在构造叠加背景下弱变形的沉积岩地区,另一个（多个）不同方向的应力使得已经产生定向排列的磁性矿物发生旋转,表现为磁线理和与地层走向斜交。川西北盆地在新生代是一个典型的构造叠加区域,来自龙门山和米仓山的变形在此相互作用。本文在川西北盆地分3条剖面在18个采样点中采集了172个样品进行了磁组构研究。研究区内观察到3种弱变形的磁组构类型：沉积磁组构、初始变形磁组构和铅笔状磁组构。由于应变的叠加,由盆地内部向造山带前缘没有出现应变由弱到强的变化趋势,同时磁线理的方向也不一致。由盆地向造山带,来自米仓山的变形逐渐增强,磁线理从与地层走向一致转变成与地层走向斜交。     

Bacterial response to contrasting sediment geochemistry in the Central Indian Basin

In order to investigate whether geochemical, physiographic and lithological differences in two end‐member sedimentary settings could evoke varied microbe–sediment interactions, two 25 cm long sediment cores from contrasting regions in the Central Indian Basin have been examined. Site TVBC 26 in the northern siliceous realm (10°S, 75·5°E) is organic‐C rich with 0·3 ± 0·09% total organic carbon. Site TVBC 08 in the southern pelagic red clay realm (16°S, 75·5°E), located on the flank of a seamount in a mid‐plate volcanic area with hydrothermal alterations of recent origin, is organic‐C poor (0·1 ± 0·07%). Significantly higher bacterial viability under anaerobic conditions, generally lower microbial carbon uptake and higher numbers of aerobic sulphur oxidizers at the mottled zones, characterize core TVBC 26. In the carbon‐poor environment of core TVBC 08, a doubling of the ¹⁴C uptake, a 250 times increase in the number of autotrophic nitrifiers, a four‐fold lowering in the number of aerobic sulphur oxidizers and a higher order of denitrifiers exists when compared with core TVBC 26; this suggests the prevalence of a potentially autotrophic microbial community in core TVBC 08 in response to hydrothermal activity. Microbial activity at the northern TVBC 26 is predominantly heterotrophic with enhanced chemosynthetic activity restricted to tan‐green mottled zones. The southern TVBC 08 is autotrophic with increased heterotrophic activity in the deepest layers. Notably, the bacterial activity is generally dependent on the surface productivity in TVBC 26, the carbon‐rich core, and mostly independent in TVBC 08, the carbon‐poor, hydrothermally influenced core. The northern sediment is more organic sink‐controlled and the southern sediment is more hydrothermal source‐controlled. Hydrothermal activity and associated rock alteration processes may be more relevant than organic matter delivery in these deep‐sea sediments. Thus, this study highlights the relative importance of hydrothermal activity versus organic delivery in evoking different microbial responses in the Central Indian Basin sediments.     

An appraisal of an iterative construction of the endmembers controlling the composition of deep-sea manganese nodules from the Central Indian Ocean Basin

This paper describes an estimation of endmember compositions followed by the assessment of those results by log-ratio variance analysis. As an appraisal, it deals only with the first objective of an endmember analysis namely, to identify endmembers if they exist by estimating their compositions. Following the creation of the endmember estimates, the computation of an array of log-ratio variances was a key innovation in this type of study. Log-ratio variances revealed intrinsic linear associations between the dominant elements on each of the estimated endmember compositions, largely confirming the endmember analysis. The dataset under study contained the concentrations of 16 elements in 93 samples of deep-sea manganese nodules from the Central Indian Ocean Basin. Many previous analyses of these nodules were undertaken to assess the economic potential of the deposits. This study by contrast, quantified the inter-element associations that account for the nodule compositions. Four endmembers were identified. The elements loaded on each were: (1) Mn, Zn, Ni, Cu, Mn-rich, (2) Fe, Ti, P, Co, Fe-rich, (3) Si, Al, Na, K, clay minerals, (3) Mg, ultramafic material, possibly including Mn, Cr, V, Ca, Na. These latter elements were also detected by their log-ratio variances to be associated with Mg on the 4th endmember.     

Correlation of the oldest Toba Tuff to sediments in the central Indian Ocean Basin

We have identified an ash layer in association with Australasian microtektites of ∼0.77 Ma old in two sediment cores which are ∼450 km apart in the central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB). Morphology and chemical composition of glass shards and associated microtektites have been used to trace their provenance. In ODP site 758 from Ninetyeast Ridge, ash layer-D (13 cm thick, 0.73–0.75 Ma) and layer-E (5 cm thick, 0.77–0.78 Ma) were previously correlated to the oldest Toba Tuff (OTT) eruptions of the Toba caldera, Sumatra. In this investigation, we found tephra ∼3100 km to the southwest of Toba caldera that is chemically identical to layer D of ODP site 758 and ash in the South China Sea correlated to the OTT. Layer E is not present in the CIOB or other ocean basins. The occurrence of tephra correlating to layer D suggests a widespread distribution of OTT tephra (∼3.6 × 10⁷ km²), an ash volume of at least ∼1800 km³, a total OTT volume of 2300 km³, and classification of the OTT eruption as a super-eruption.     

Mesoproterozoic Reworking of Palaeoproterozoic Ultrahigh-temperature Granulites in the Central Indian Tectonic Zone and its Implications

In the southern periphery of the Sausar Mobile Belt (SMB), thesouthern component of the Central Indian Tectonic Zone (CITZ),a suite of felsic and aluminous granulites, intruded by gabbro,noritic gabbro, norite and orthopyroxenite, records the polymetamorphicevolution of the CITZ. Using sequences of prograde, peak andretrograde reaction textures, mineral chemistry, geothermobarometricresults and petrogenetic grid considerations from the felsicand the aluminous granulites and applying metamorphosed maficdyke markers and geochronological constraints, two temporallyunrelated granulite-facies tectonothermal events of Pre-Grenvillianage have been established. The first event caused ultrahigh-temperature(UHT) metamorphism (M₁) (T 950°C) at relatively deepercrustal levels (P 9 kbar) and a subsequent post-peak near-isobariccooling P–T history (M₂). M₁ caused pervasive biotite-dehydrationmelting, producing garnet–orthopyroxene and garnet–rutileand sapphirine–spinel-bearing incongruent solid assemblagesin felsic and aluminous granulites, respectively. During M₂,garnet–corundum and later spinel–sillimanite–biotiteassemblages were produced by reacting sapphirine–spinel–sillimaniteand rehydration of garnet–corundum assemblages, respectively.Applying electron microprobe (EMP) dating techniques to monazitesincluded in M₁ garnet or occurring in low-strain domains inthe felsic granulites, the UHT metamorphism is dated at 2040–2090Ma. Based on the deep crustal heating–cooling P–Ttrajectory, the authors infer an overall counterclockwise P–Tpath for this UHT event. During the second granulite event,the Palaeoproterozoic granulites experienced crustal attenuationto 6·4 kbar at T 675°C during M₃ and subsequentnear-isothermal loading to 8 kbar during M₄. In the felsic granulites,the former is marked by decomposition of M₁ garnet to orthopyroxene–plagioclasesymplectites. During M₄, there was renewed growth of garnet–quartzsymplectites in the felsic granulites, replacing the M₃ mineralassemblage and also the appearance of coronal garnet–quartz–clinopyroxeneassemblages in metamorphosed mafic dykes. Using monazites frommetamorphic overgrowths and metamorphic recrystallization domainsfrom the felsic granulite, the M₄ metamorphism is dated at 1525–1450Ma. Using geochronological and metamorphic constraints, theauthors interpret the M₃–M₄ stages to be part of the sameMesoproterozoic tectonothermal event. The result provides thefirst documentation of UHT metamorphism and Palaeo- and Mesoproterozoicmetamorphic processes in the CITZ. On a broader scale, the findingsare also consistent with the current prediction that isobaricallycooled granulites require a separate orogeny for their exhumation. KEY WORDS: Central Indian Tectonic Zone; UHT metamorphism; counterclockwise P–T path; monazite chemical dating