P–T conditions of the cratonic rocks and Eastern Ghats granulites along the Eastern Ghats Frontal Thrust,Jeypore (Orissa), India

The Eastern Ghats Frontal Thrust (EGFT) demarcates the boundary between the Archaean/Paleoproterozoic cratonic rocks to the west, and the Meso/Neoproterozoic granulites of the Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt (EGMB) to the east. At Jeypore (Orissa, India), mafic schists and granites of the cratonic domain document a spatial increase in the metamorphic grade from greenschist facies (garnet, clinozoisite – absent varieties) in the foreland to amphibolite facies (clinozoisite- and garnet-bearing variants) progressively closer to the EGFT. Across the EGFT, the enderbite–charnockite gneisses and mafic granulites of EGMB preserves a high-grade granulite facies history; amphibolite facies overprinting in the enderbite–charnockite gneisses at the cratonic fringe is restricted to multi-layered growth of progressively Al, Ti – poor hornblende at the expense of pyroxene and plagioclase. In associated mafic granulites, the granulite facies gneissic layering is truncated by sub-centimeter wide shear bands defined by synkinematic hornblende + quartz intergrowth, with post-kinematic garnet stabilized at the expense of hornblende and plagioclase. Proximal to the contact, these granulites of the Eastern Ghats rocks are intruded by dolerite dykes. In the metadolerites, the igneous assemblage of pyroxene–plagioclase is replaced by intergrown hornblende + quartz ± calcite that define the thrust-related fabric and are in turn mantled by coronal garnet overgrowth, while scapolite is stabilized at the expense of recrystallized plagioclase and calcite. Petrogenetic grid considerations and thermobarometry of the metamorphic assemblages in metadolerites intrusive into granulites and mafic schists within the craton confirm that the rocks across the EGFT experienced prograde heating (T_max value ∼650–700 °C at P ∼ 6–8 kbar) along the prograde arm of a seemingly clockwise P–T path. Since the dolerites were emplaced post-dating the granulite facies metamorphism, the prograde heating is correlated with renewed metamorphism of the granulites proximal to the EGFT. A review of available age data from rocks neighboring the EGFT suggests that the prograde heating of the cratonic granites and the re-heating of the Eastern Ghats granulites are Pan – African in age. The re-heating may relate to an Early Paleozoic Pan-Gondwanic crustal amalgamation of older terrains or reactivation along an old suture.     

Intrusion age,geochemistry and metamorphic conditions of a quartz-monzosyenite intrusion at the craton–Eastern Ghats Belt contact near Jojuru,India

The boundary between the Archean cratons and the Eastern Ghats Belt in peninsular India represents a rifted Mesoproterozoic continental margin which was overprinted by a Pan-African collisional event associated with the westward thrusting of the Eastern Ghats granulites over the cratonic foreland. The contact zone contains a number of deformed and metamorphosed nepheline syenite complexes of rift-related geochemical affinities. In addition to the nepheline-bearing rocks, metamorphosed quartz-bearing monzosyenitic bodies can also be identified along the suture in the region between the Godavari-Pranhita graben and the Prakasam Igneous Province. One such occurrence at Jojuru near Kondapalle is geochemically comparable to the nepheline syenites and furnishes a weighted mean concordant U–Th–Pb SHRIMP zircon age of 1263 ± 23 Ma (2σ), which provides a lower age bracket for the rift-related magmatic activity. The original igneous mineral assemblage in the monzosyenite was partially replaced by the formation of coronitic garnet during the Pan-African metamorphism of the rocks. P–T estimates of garnet corona formation at the interface between clinopyroxene–orthopyroxene–ilmenite clusters and plagioclase indicate mid to upper amphibolite facies condition (5.5–7.0 kbar and 600–700 °C) during the thrust induced deformation and metamorphism associated with the Pan-African collisional tectonics.     

Zircon geochronology of the Koraput alkaline complex: Insights from combined geochemical and U–Pb–Hf isotope analyses,and implications for the timing of alkaline magmatism in the Eastern Ghats Belt,India

Zircon formation and modification during magmatic crystallization and high-grade metamorphism are explored using TIMS and LA-ICP-MS U–Pb geochronology, Lu–Hf isotope chemistry, trace element analysis and textural clues on zircons from the Koraput alkaline intrusion, Eastern Ghats Belt (EGB), India. The zircon host-rock is a granulite-facies nepheline syenite gneiss with an exceptionally low Zr concentration, prohibiting early magmatic Zr saturation. With zircon formation occurring at a late stage of advanced magmatic cooling, significant amounts of Zr were incorporated into biotite, nearly the only other Zr-bearing phase in the nepheline syenite gneisses. Investigated zircons experienced a multi-stage history of magmatic and metamorphic zircon growth with repeated solid-state recrystallization and partial dissolution–precipitation. These processes are recorded by complex patterns of internal zircon structures and a wide range of apparently concordant U–Pb ages between 869 ± 7 Ma and 690 ± 1 Ma. The oldest ages are interpreted to represent the timing of the emplacement of the Koraput alkaline complex, which significantly postdates the intrusion ages of most of the alkaline intrusion in the western EGB. However, Hf model ages of TDM = 1.5 to 1.0 Ga suggest an earlier separation of the nepheline syenite magma from its depleted mantle source, overlapping with the widespread Mesoproterozoic, rift-related alkaline magmatism in the EGB. Zircons yielding ages younger than 860 Ma have most probably experienced partial resetting of their U–Pb ages during repeated and variable recrystallization events. Consistent youngest LA-ICP-MS and CA-TIMS U–Pb ages of 700–690 Ma reflect a final pulse of high-grade metamorphism in the Koraput area and underline the recurrence of considerable orogenic activity in the western EGB during the Neoproterozoic. Within the nepheline syenite gneisses this final high-grade metamorphic event caused biotite breakdown, releasing sufficient Zr for local saturation and new subsolidus zircon growth along the biotite grain boundaries.     

Calibration and validation of a model of forest disturbance in the Western Ghats,India 1920–1990

This paper introduces a new statistical method that we recommend should become standard procedure to quantify the goodness-of-fit of calibration and validation for land-use change models. We present a multiple-resolution Relative Operating Characteristic (ROC) that measures the goodness-of-fit between a reference map, which is considered reality, and a simulated map, which is a model’s output. This proposed ROC is based on: (1) multiple-resolutions, (2) soft classification, (3) sampling without replacement, and 4) explicit separation of factors of quantity versus location of land-use change. We illustrate the method with a case study in India’s Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot, where we have maps of cumulative forest disturbance for 1920 and 1990. We use a predictive modeling approach similar to GEOMOD in which we calibrate the model with the map of 1920, then predict the map of 1990, at which point we subject the model to validation. We show that the fit of calibration tends to be much larger than the fit of validation. Thus if a modeler assess a model by goodness-of-fit of calibration only, then the modeler will likely be over confident in the model’s predictive ability.     

Assessing climate change impacts on river hydrology – A case study in the Western Ghats of India

The objective of this study is to evaluate the hydrological impacts of climate change on rainfall, temperature and streamflow in a west flowing river originating in the Western Ghats of India. The long-term trend analysis for 110 yr of meteorological variables (rainfall and temperature) was carried out using the modified Mann–Kendall trend test and the magnitude of the trend was quantified using the Sen’s slope estimator. The Regional Climate Model (RCM), COordinated Regional climate Downscaling EXperiment (CORDEX) simulated daily weather data of baseline (1951–2005) and future RCP 4.5 scenarios (2006–2060) were used to run the hydrological model, Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), in order to evaluate the effect of climate change on rainfall, temperature and streamflow. Significant changes were observed with regard to rainfall, which have shown decreasing trend at the rate of 2.63 mm per year for the historical and 8.85 mm per year for RCP 4.5 future scenarios. The average temperature was found to be increasing at \(0.10\,^{\circ }\hbox {C}\) per decade for both historical and future scenarios. The impact of climate change on the annual streamflow yielded a decreasing trend at the rate of \(1.2\,\hbox {Mm}^{3}\) per year and 2.56 \(\hbox {Mm}^{3},\) respectively for the past and future scenarios. The present work also investigates the capability of SWAT to simulate the groundwater flow. The simulated results are compared with the recession limb of the hydrograph and were found to be reasonably accurate.     

Mesoproterozoic arc magmatism in SE India: Petrology,zircon U–Pb geochronology and Hf isotopes of the Bopudi felsic suite from Eastern Ghats Belt

The southern segment of the Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt (EGMB) in India was an active convergent margin during Mesoproterozoic, prior to the final collision in Neoproterozoic during the assembly of the Rodinia supercontinent. Here we present mineralogical, whole-rock geochemical, zircon U–Pb and Hf isotopic data from a granitoid suite in the Bopudi region in the EGGB. The granitoid complex comprises quartz monzodiorite with small stocks of rapakivi granites. The monzodiorite, locally porphyritic, contains K-feldspar megacrysts, plagioclase, quartz, biotite and ortho-amphibole. The presence of mantled ovoid megacrysts of alkali feldspar embaying early-formed quartz, and the presence of two generations of the phenocrystic phases in the rapakivi granites indicate features typical of rapakivi granites. The K-feldspar phenocrysts in the rapakivi granite are mantled by medium-grained aggregates of microcline (Ab₇ Or₉₃), which is compositionally equivalent to the rim of Kfs phenocryst and Pl (An_23–24 Ab₇₅). The geochemistry of both the granitoids shows arc-like features for REE and trace elements. LA-ICP-MS zircon analyses reveal ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages of 1582 (MSWD = 1.4) for the rapakivi granite 1605 ± 3 Ma (MSWD = 3.9) for the monzodiorite. The zircons from all the granitoid samples show high REE contents, prominent HREE enrichment and a conspicuous negative Eu anomaly, suggesting a common melt source. The zircons from the monzodiorite have a limited variation in initial ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf ratios of 0.28171–0.28188, with εHf(t) values of −2.2 to +2.8. Correspondingly, their two-stage Hf isotope model ages (T_DM2) ranging from 2.15 to 2.47 Ga probably suggest a mixed source for the magma involving melting of the Paleoproterozoic basement and injection of subduction-related juvenile magmas. The prominent Mesoproterozoic ages of these granitoids suggest subduction-related arc magmatism in a convergent margin setting associated with the amalgamation of the Columbia-derived fragments within the Neoproterozoic Rodinia assembly.     

Hydrogeochemistry and geochemical simulations to assess water–rock interactions in complex carbonate aquifers: The case of Aguadulce (SE Spain)

The hydrogeological unit of Aguadulce (Campo de Dalías aquifers, SE Spain) has a complex geometry. This fact, together with a continuous rise in water demand due to intensive agriculture and tourism create problems for groundwater quantity and quality. In this paper classic geochemical tools managed by means of GIS software and geochemical simulations are combined to delineate, identify and locate the possible physicochemical processes acting in the Aguadulce groundwater. Two main aquifers can be distinguished: the carbonate or lower aquifer of Triassic age, and the calcodetritic or upper aquifer of Plio-Quaternary age. Groundwaters from the latter are more saline and, assuming all chlorinity originates from seawater intrusion, the seawater contribution to their composition would be up to 7%. Nevertheless the carbonate aquifer appears not to be homogeneous: it is compartmentalised into 4 zones where different processes explain the different groundwaters compositions. Zone 4 samples (E margin of the carbonate aquifer) resemble those of the Plio-Quaternary aquifer, where calcite precipitation, dolomite and gypsum dissolution and some cation exchange (water–rock interaction) together with seawater–freshwater mixing occur. In contrast, water–rock interaction predominates in zones 1 and 3 of the carbonate aquifer. Moreover, zone 2 samples, located between zones 1 and 3, are explained by water–rock interaction in addition to mixing with Plio-Quaternary aquifer waters. The combination of geochemical simulations with GIS and hydrogeochemical analyses has proven to be effective in identifying and locating the different physicochemical processes in the aquifer areas, thus improving understanding of hydrogeochemistry in complex aquifers.     

Experimental modeling of the immobilization of heavy metals at the carbonate adsorption–precipitation geochemical barrier

Experimental data obtained on the adsorption–precipitation immobilization of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Co, and Ni) from acidic and neutral solutions by calcite and dolomite demonstrate that interaction of solutions of heavy metals with these minerals at pH > 7.8–8.1 leads to a significant decrease in the concentrations of the metals because of the crystallization of carbonates of these metals. Except Pb, which is equally removed from solutions by both minerals, the immobilization efficiency of the metals on dolomite is greater than on calculate at the same pH. Residual Zn, Cd, Co, and Ni concentrations are immobilized by chemosorption, which is the most efficient for Cd and less significant for Co, Ni, and Zn. It is proved that artificial geochemical barriers on the basis of carbonate rocks can be efficiently applied to protect environment from contamination with heavy metals.     

Contrasting rock permeability in the aureole of the Ballachulish igneous complex, Scottish Highlands: the influence of surface energy?

The Ballachulish igneous complex in the Scottish Highlands, part of a widespread group of late Caledonian calcalkaline intrusions, was emplaced at a depth of 10 km into Dalradian metasediments resulting in melting of the country rocks near the intrusive contact. The greatest extent of melting occurred in the Leven schist in the 400 m wide so-called Chaotic Zone which experienced infiltration of aqueous fluids from the pluton. In contrast, adjacent to the Chaotic Zone, the feldspar-bearing Appin quartzite underwent significant melting only within a few metres of the intrusion, despite both being in contact with the same fluid source as the Leven schist and having a similar (wet) melting point. The permeability of the Appin quartzite and quartz horizons in the Leven schist to pervasive grain-edge infiltration of aqueous fluids was determined by measuring the equilibrium quartz-H₂O dihedral angle for the P-T conditions of contact metamorphism. Addition of powdered samples of both rock types to the pure quartz-H₂O system results in a linear decrease of the quartz-H₂O dihedral angle with increasing temperature. The rate of this decrease for the Leven schist is greater than that for the Appin quartzite, and the angle decreases below 60° some 30 °C below the wet solidus (670 °C at 0.3 GPa). Charges bearing Appin quartzite had dihedral angles greater than 60° at all temperatures below the wet solidus (690 °C at 0.3 GPa). These results demonstrate that quartz-rich horizons in the Leven schist would have been permeable to infiltration of aqueous fluids close to the solidus, permitting extensive H₂O-fluxed melting to occur. The Appin quartzite would have remained impermeable to grain-edge flow, consistent with the observed differences in the extent of partial melting of the two lithologies. Received: 25 November 1996 / Accepted: 29 October 1997     

Zircon–quartz–calcite segregations in carbonate–alkaline metasomatic rocks of the western Baikal region and their petrogenetic implications

Fine-grained segregations up to 5 mm in size composed of graphic intergrowths of zircon, quartz, calcite and containing up to 0.8 wt % SrO have been found in albite–riebeckite and dolomite–biotite metasomatic rocks formed after alaskite granite. They contain magnetite, titanomagnetite (25.4 wt % TiO₂), cerite-(Ce,Nd), rutile (up to 1.2 wt % Nb₂O₅), as well as rare micrograins of monazite-(Ce), bastnaesite-(Ce), and barite (up to 5.7 wt % SrO). The fine-grained structure of mineral aggregates suggests a metacolloidal nature. It is assumed that the zircon–quartz–calcite assemblage was formed due to exchange decomposition reaction between the salt phase of hydrothermal solution with predominant Na₂CO₃, elevated Zr and, to a lesser extent, Fe, Ti, LREE, Nb contents and dissolved calcium and silica compounds of a Na₂SiO₃ type.     

Listvenite–lode association at the Barramiya gold mine,Eastern Desert,Egypt

Several occurrences of gold-bearing quartz veins are situated along the east–northeast-trending Barramiya–Um Salatit ophiolitic belt in the central Eastern Desert of Egypt. In the Barramiya mine, gold mineralization within carbonaceous, listvenized serpentinite and adjacent to post-tectonic granite stocks points toward a significant role of listvenitization in the ore genesis. The mineralization is related to quartz and quartz–carbonate lodes in silicified/carbonatized wallrocks. Ore minerals, disseminated in the quartz veins and adjacent wallrocks are mainly arsenopyrite, pyrite and trace amounts of chalcopyrite, sphalerite, tetrahedrite, pyrrhotite, galena, gersdorffite and gold. Partial to complete replacement of arsenopyrite by pyrite and/or marcasite is common. Other secondary phases include covellite and goethite. Native gold and gold–silver alloy occur as tiny grains along micro-fractures in the quartz veins. However, the bulk mineralization can be attributed to auriferous arsenopyrite and arsenic-bearing pyrite (with hundreds of ppms of refractory Au), as evident by electron microprobe and LA-ICP-MS analyses.The mineralized quartz veins are characterized by abundant carbonic (CO₂ ± CH₄ ± H₂O) and aqueous-carbonic (H₂O–NaCl–CO₂ ± CH₄) inclusions along intragranular trails, whereas aqueous inclusions (H₂O–NaCl ± CO₂) are common in secondary sites. Based on the fluid inclusions data combined with thermometry of the auriferous arsenopyrite, the pressure–temperature conditions of the Barramiya gold mineralization range from 1.3 to 2.4 kbar at 325–370 °C, consistent with mesothermal conditions. Based on the measured δ³⁴S values of pyrite and arsenopyrite intimately associated with gold, the calculated δ³⁴S_Σs values suggest that circulating magmatic, dilute aqueous-carbonic fluids leached gold and isotopically light sulfur from the ophiolitic sequence. As the ore fluids infiltrated into the sheared listvenite rocks, a sharp decrease in the fluid fO₂ via interaction with the carbonaceous wallrocks triggered gold deposition in structurally favorable sites.     

Petrotectonic framework of granulites from northern part of Chilka Lake area,Eastern Ghats Belt,India: Compressional vis-à-vis transpressional tectonics

Granulite-facies rocks occurring north-east of the Chilka Lake anothosite (Balugan Massif) show a complex metamorphic and deformation history. The M₁–D₁ stage is identified only through microscopic study by the presence of S₁ internal foliation shown by the M₁ assemblage sillimanite–quartz–plagioclase–biotite within garnet porphyroblasts of the aluminous granulites and this fabric is obliterated in outcrop to map-scale by subsequent deformations. S₂ fabric was developed at peak metamorphic condition (M₂–D₂) and is shown by gneissic banding present in all lithological units. S₃ fabric was developed due to D₃ deformation and it is tectonically transposed parallel to S₂ regionally except at the hinge zone of the F₃ folds. The transposed S₂/S₃ fabric is the regional characteristic structure of the area. The D₄ event produced open upright F₄ folds, but was weak enough to develop any penetrative foliation in the rocks except few spaced cleavages that developed in the quartzite/garnet–sillimanite gneiss. Petrological data suggest that the M₄–D₄ stage actually witnessed reactivation of the lower crust by late distinct tectonothermal event. Presence of transposed S₂/S₃ fabric within the anorthosite arguably suggests that the pluton was emplaced before or during the M₃–D₃ event. Field-based large-scale structural analyses and microfabric analyses of the granulites reveal that this terrain has been evolved through superposed folding events with two broadly perpendicular compression directions without any conclusive evidence for transpressional tectonics as argued by earlier workers. Tectonothermal history of these granulites spanning in Neoproterozoic time period is dominated by compressional tectonics with associated metamorphism at deep crust.     

Pressure–temperature-deformation history for a part of the Mesoproterozoic fold belt in North Singhbhum,Eastern India

The supracrustal rocks in the easternmost part of the Proterozoic fold belt of North Singhbhum, eastern India, are folded into a series of large upright folds with variable plunges. The regional schistosity is axial–planar to the folds. The folds were produced by a second phase of deformation (D2) and were preceded by D1 deformation, which gave rise to isoclinal folds (mapped outside the study area) and the locally preserved, bedding-parallel schistosity. A shearing deformation during D2 was responsible for the sheath-like geometry of a major fold. The axial planes were curved by D3 warping. The first metamorphic episode (M1) of low-pressure type produced andalusite porphyroblasts prior to, or in the early stage of, D1 deformation. The main metamorphism (M2), responsible for the formation of chloritoid, kyanite, garnet and staurolite porphyroblasts, was late- to post-D2 in occurrence. The Staurolite isograd separates two zonal assemblages recorded in the high-alumina and the low-alumina pelitic schists. Geothermobarometric calculations indicate the peak metamorphic temperature to be 550 °C at 5.5 kb. Fluid composition in the rocks before and during M2 metamorphism was buffered and fluid influx, if any, was not extensive enough to overcome the buffering capacity of the rocks. From M1 to M2, the P–T path is found to have a clockwise trajectory, that is consistent with a tectonic model involving initial asthenospheric upwelling and rifting, followed by compressional deformation leading to loading and heating.     

Experimental study of the apatite–carbonate–H2O system at P = 0.5 GPa and T = 1200°C: Efficiency of fluid transport in carbonatite

Partitioning of more than 35 elements between coexisting phases in the apatite (Apt)–carbonate (Carb)–H₂O system was studied experimentally at P = 0.5 GPa and T = 1200°C for estimation of the efficiency of fluid transport during the formation of carbonatite in platform alkaline intrusions. The interphase partition coefficients of elements (D) range from n × 10^–2 to 100 and higher, which provides evidence for their effective fractionation in the system. The following elements were distinguished: (1) Apt-compatible (REE, Y, Th, Cu, and W), which are concentrated in apatite; (2) hydrophile (Na, K, Mg, Ba, S, Mn, Pb, U, W, and Re), which are preferably distributed into fluid or the carbonate melt. The high hydrophilicity of alkali metals controls the alkaline character of postmagmatic fluids and related metasomatic rocks, whereas the high D(Fl/Apt) and D(Fl/L_Carb) for S, Zr, W, Re, and U show their high potential in relation to U–W–Re mineralization.

     

Non-double-couple mechanisms of microearthquakes induced during the 2000 injection experiment at the KTB site, Germany: A result of tensile faulting or anisotropy of a rock?

Moment tensors of microearthquakes induced during the 2000 injection experiment at the KTB deep drilling borehole at a depth level of 5.4 km are studied. A family of 37 most reliable moment tensors contains significant non-double-couple (non-DC) components. The DC is on average 60% and the non-DC is 40%. Fault plane solutions computed from the DC part show preferred strike-slip mechanisms with small normal or reverse components. A predominant azimuth of P and T axes is in the range of N320°–340°E and of N230°–250°E, respectively. The non-DC components contain both the isotropic (ISO) and compensated linear vector dipole (CLVD) components. The mean value of ISO is 1.5%, the mean value of CLVD is − 5.7%. The predominantly negative CLVD components are inconsistent with the concept of the non-DC mechanisms as a result of tensile faulting due to fluid injection into the rock. The main origin of the non-DC components is probably anisotropy in the focal area. The other origins are errors produced by mismodelling of the medium when calculating the Green functions, and numerical errors produced by noise and limitations of input data. Adopting four alternative models of anisotropy obtained by other seismic measurements at the KTB, we have employed the non-DC components for estimating an optimum orientation of anisotropy in the focal area. The optimum orientation of the symmetry plane of anisotropy is nearly vertical with a strike of N335°–340°E. This strike coincides well with the strike of 330° typical for many major lithological units and faults and with the orientation of the transversely isotropic model inferred by other authors. After removing the anisotropy effects from the moment tensors by calculating the source tensors, the distribution of ISO is significantly narrowed. This indicates predominantly shear, but not tensile faulting.     

Thermal history of the Krishna–Godavari basin,India: Constraints from apatite fission track thermochronology and organic maturity data

The Krishna–Godavari (KG) basin, a passive margin Late Carboniferous to Holocene basin along the rifted east coast of India, includes the deltaic and inter-deltaic regions of the Krishna and Godavari rivers onshore and extends into the offshore. It is one of India’s premier hydrocarbon-bearing basins. In an attempt to better understand the thermal history of the basin, apatite fission track (AFT) data has been obtained from six exploration wells (five onshore and one offshore). AFT thermal history models as well as other thermal indicators e.g. vitrinite reflectance (VR), Rock–Eval T_max data reveal that the host rocks are currently at their maximum post-depositional temperatures and that any possible heating related to small-scale tectonism or rifting episodes in the basin bears little significance on the maturation of the sediments. In the case of one borehole (M-1) however, the organic maturity data reveals a period of Oligocene cooling across an unconformity when ∼1000 m of section was eroded due to falling sea-level. This information offers the potential for improved basin modeling of the KG basin.     

Fluid–rock reactions in the 1.3 Ga siderite carbonatite of the Grønnedal–Íka alkaline complex,Southwest Greenland

Petrogenetic studies of carbonatites are challenging, because carbonatite mineral assemblages and mineral chemistry typically reflect both variable pressure–temperature conditions during crystallization and fluid–rock interaction caused by magmatic–hydrothermal fluids. However, this complexity results in recognizable alteration textures and trace-element signatures in the mineral archive that can be used to reconstruct the magmatic evolution and fluid–rock interaction history of carbonatites. We present new LA–ICP–MS trace-element data for magnetite, calcite, siderite, and ankerite–dolomite–kutnohorite from the iron-rich carbonatites of the 1.3 Ga Grønnedal–Íka alkaline complex, Southwest Greenland. We use these data, in combination with detailed cathodoluminescence imaging, to identify magmatic and secondary geochemical fingerprints preserved in these minerals. The chemical and textural gradients show that a 55 m-thick basaltic dike that crosscuts the carbonatite intrusion has acted as the pathway for hydrothermal fluids enriched in F and CO₂, which have caused mobilization of the LREEs, Nb, Ta, Ba, Sr, Mn, and P. These fluids reacted with and altered the composition of the surrounding carbonatites up to a distance of 40 m from the dike contact and caused formation of magnetite through oxidation of siderite. Our results can be used for discrimination between primary magmatic minerals and later alteration-related assemblages in carbonatites in general, which can lead to a better understanding of how these rare rocks are formed. Our data provide evidence that siderite-bearing ferrocarbonatites can form during late stages of calciocarbonatitic magma evolution.     

Comment on: ‘High-temperature dehydration melting and decompressive P–T path in a granulite complex from the Eastern Ghats India’ by S. Bhattacharya and R. Kar

Thermodynamic and chemographic modelling of complex reaction textures observed in Mg-Al-rich pelitic granulites is an important tool to unravel the P–T evolutionary history of high-grade rocks. In the Eastern Ghats Belt, India, several studies have been carried out on these fascinating aluminous granulites, and the results of these studies have revealed complex P–T–t histories (Dasgupta and Sengupta 1995; Sengupta et al. 1999; Rickers et al. 2001a, 2001b; Gupta et al. 1999; Dobmeier and Simmat 2002; Dobmeier and Raith 2003). In recent communication, Bhattacharya and Kar (2002) reported reaction textures from a suite of Mg-Al granulites from the Paderu area of the Eastern Ghats Belt. Combining the textural relations and thermodynamic calibration of some construed reactions, the authors have put forward a single phase metamorphic evolution of the area along a clockwise pressure–temperature trajectory. Combining the petrological features from the Paderu area with those reported from the Chilka Lake complex, the authors proposed a general tectonic model for the entire Eastern Ghats Belt. Incidentally, the rocks in and around Paderu have been studied in some detail by several other workers (Lal et al. 1987; Mohan et al. 1997; Sengupta et al. 1997). The purpose of this comment is to demonstrate that the conclusions made in the paper are inconsistent with the petrological features described in the text. Further, the thermodynamic treatment used in the paper has serious errors in many places, and hence, is often in complete disagreement with the existing experimental data and theoretical analyses on the Mg-Al-rich assemblages. There are also significant problems arising from the poor quality of the analytical database. Unfortunately, the authors cite only a few published works (mostly their own) ignoring many other relevant studies from this belt (cited above). Our observations are organised according to the sections of the paper.Editorial responsibility: T.L. Grove