The Dharwar craton, southern India, and its Late Archaean plate tectonic setting: current interpretations and controversies

In spite of detailed geological investigations of the Dharwar craton since the 1890s, its principal lithological units, structure and chronology remain contentious. Important new work on lithostratigraphy, basin development, structure, geochemistry and geochronology has led to wide-ranging speculation on the Late Archaean plate tectonic setting. Much of the speculation is based on uniformitarian models which contrast with a recent proposal that the evolution of the craton was controlled by gravity-driven processes with no crustal shortening.     

Rare earth element geochemistry and Rb-Sr geochronology of Archaean stromatolitic cherts of the Dharwar craton, south India

Stromatolites associated with cherty dolomites of the Vanivilaspura Formation of the Archaean Dharwar Supergroup show a morphology indicative of the deposition of the latter in a intertidal to subtidal environment. The cherts are moderately high in their Al/Al + Fe ratios but depleted in Fe₂C₃ and also most trace elements. Unlike most other Archaean cherts, the Vanivilaspur cherts exhibit significant negative Ce anomaly, which is interpreted to have resulted from contemporary manganese deposition. The Rb/Sr ratios in the cherts show a sufficient spread to define a linear correlation line in the Rb-Sr evolution diagram corresponding to an age of 2512 ± 159 Ma and initial Sr ratio of 0.7128 ± 0.0012 (2σ). While this age is strikingly close to that of regional metamorphism in the Dharwar craton, the initial ratio is distinctly higher than that of the associated volcanics. Acid leaching experiments on the cherts suggest that they may have been isotopically equilibrated on a mm to cm scale about 500 Ma later than the time of regional metamorphism.     

Chromite and PGE deposits of mesoarchaean ultramafic-mafic suites within the greenstone belts of the Singhbhum craton,India: Implications for mantle heterogeneity and tectonic setting

The Archaean cratonic nuclei of the continents are important as they contain the most significant evidences for the evolution of Earth e.g. the greenstone sequences. In the Indian Shield, one of the important cratons is the Singhbhum craton, where nearly 95% of the Indian chromite deposits and only PGE deposits are located which are hosted within Mesoarchaean ultramafic-mafic rock sequences. The ultramafic units occur as sill like intrusions within the Iron Ore Group (IOG) greenstone belts and often associated with gabbroic intrusions. In the Nuasahi and Sukinda mining districts of these occurrences, detailed petrological, geochemical and isotopic studies have been carried out in the last decades. Petrological and geochemical studies indicate a supra-subduction zone (SSZ) tectonic settings in Archaean for the origin of these ultramafic-mafic sequences. The Os isotopic and platinum group element (PGE) geochemical studies of chromites from the two mining districts indicate presence of a subchondritic source mantle domain beneath and within the Singhbhum craton similar to the Zimbabwean craton of southern African continent. The Os model age calculation indicates melt extraction from a subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) before 3.7 Ga which is similar to the other ancient cratons. As a whole the study supports the premise that India was part of the African continent in pre-Gondwana times and even in early Archaean and suggest possible amalgamation and building up of a supercontinent during late Archaean. However, in comparison with other occurrences, the Singhbhum craton of the Indian Shield and the Zimbabwean craton in southern Africa are characterized by the presence of subchondritic lithospheric mantle domains within the SCLM, which were developed prior to 3.7 Ga.     

Two types of Archaean supracrustal belts in the Bundelkhand craton,India: Geology,geochemistry, age and implication for craton crustal evolution

Groundwater sampling was carried out in fast growing Vijayawada urban agglomeration in Andhra Pradesh state with a view to generate base line data and to assess groundwater quality, its variations vis-à-vis urbanization and hydrochemical characteristics. The groundwaters are found to be fresh to brackish, hard to very hard, often enriched with nitrate, phosphate,and faecal colliform indicating anthropogenic influence on groundwater on account of urbanization. Manganese and iron of geogenic origin are also found to be in high concentrations in some localities. The quality deterioration is more in shallow aquifers, as also in core urban and red soil covered areas. Spatial variations in groundwater quality are discernible, with high concentrations of SO₄^-4–,NO₃^- in core urban area suggesting the impact of urbanization. A wide range of chemical constituents indicate water rock interactions as influenced by anthropogenic activities controlling the urban aquifers. The order of abundance of cations is Na>Mg>Ca>K, while the order of abundance of anions is Cl>HCO₃>SO₄>NO₃. The baseline study suggests the need to protect the groundwater resource through sound environmental protection measures for the welfare of the inhabitants in the city around which the new capital is proposed to be constructed for newly formed Andhra Pradesh state in India.     

Geology and geochemistry of giant quartz veins from the Bundelkhand Craton,central India and their implications

Giant quartz veins (GQVs; earlier referred to as ‘quartz reefs’) occurring in the Archean Bundelkhand Craton (29,000 km²) represent a gigantic Precambrian (∼2.15 Ga) silica-rich fluid activity in the central Indian shield. These veins form a striking curvilinear feature with positive relief having a preferred orientation NE-SW to NNE-SSW in the Bundelkhand Craton. Their outcrop widths vary from ≤1 to 70m and pervasively extend over tens of kilometers along the strike over the entire craton. Numerous younger thin quartz veins with somewhat similar orientation cut across the giant quartz veins. They show imprints of strong brittle to ductile-brittle deformation, and in places are associated with base metal and gold incidences, and pyrophyllite-diaspore mineralization. The geochemistry of giant quartz veins were studied. Apart from presenting new data on the geology and geochemistry of these veins, an attempt has been made to resolve the long standing debate on their origin, in favour of an emplacement due to tectonically controlled polyphase hydrothermal fluid activity.     

恒山绿岩带的构造特征—晚太古代大陆裂谷作用证据

恒山太古宙绿岩带呈断片或复式向形穿插于片麻岩基底内，绿岩带地层连续性较好，可以恢复出完整的沉积－火山地层序列。主要经历二期变形，早期逆冲褶皱变形和晚期右旋走滑变形。为绿帘角闪岩相－角闪岩相变质。构造恢复表明，绿岩带的形成明显晚于基底，并整合其上，且在其演化过程中对基底产生叠加影响，最合适的构造环境为大陆裂谷，在大陆裂谷闭合过程中。绿岩带及克拉通基底曾发生双向的逆冲作用，基底发生重新活动，并且受到开裂时形成的正断层的控制。当裂谷闭合到一定程度，由于受北部刚性基底的制约，横向挤压不再能调节压应力时，发生了右旋走滑变形，并使早先构造线向ＮＥＥ－ＥＷ向偏转。恒山绿岩带对应于五台山区、太行山北段、灵丘南山等地的五台群，有力地证明绿岩带形成于太古代末期－早元古代陆内裂谷环境，代表华北克技通演化过程中的重要事件，标志着晚太古代华北克拉通已达到相当大的规模，并发生ＮＥ向的刚性破裂。     

Neoarchaean magmatism and metamorphism of the western granulites in the central domain of the Mozambique belt, Tanzania: U–Pb shrimp geochronology and PT estimates

U–Pb sensitive high resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) dating of zircons from charnockitic and garnet–biotite gneisses from the central portion of the Mozambique belt, central Tanzania indicate that the protolith granitoids were emplaced in a late Archaean, ca. 2.7 Ga, magmatic event. These ages are similar to other U–Pb and Pb–Pb ages obtained for other gneisses in this part of the belt. Zircon xenocrysts dated between 2.8 and 3.0 Ga indicate the presence of an older basement. Major and trace element geochemistry of these high-grade gneisses suggests that the granitoid protoliths may have formed in an active continental margin environment. Metamorphic zircon rims and multifaceted metamorphic zircons are dated at ca. 2.6 Ga indicating that these rocks were metamorphosed some 50–100 my after their emplacement. Pressure and temperature estimates on the charnockitic and garnet–biotite gneisses were obscured by post-peak metamorphic compositional homogenisation; however, these estimates combined with mineral textures suggest that these rocks underwent isobaric cooling to 800–850 °C at 12–14 kbar. It is considered likely that the granulite facies mineral assemblage developed during the ca. 2.6 Ga event, but it must be considered that it might instead represent a pervasive Neoproterozoic, Pan African, granulite facies overprint, similar to the ubiquitous eastern granulites further to the east.     

The Wide Spread 2 Ga Dyke Activity in the Indian Shield -Evidences from Bundelkhand Mafic Dyke Swarm, Central India and Their Tectonic Implications

The mafic dyke swarms are important feature of the Proterozoic and in parts of some stabilised cratonic areas. The early Proterozoic Bundelkhand massif of Central India is extensively intruded by suites of NW-SE and NE-SW trending mafic and ultramafic dykes. These dykes are mostly dolerites with subordinate pyroxenite, or lamproites, moreover, geochemical signatures of the two compositional types are different for the NW-SE and NE-SW trending suites. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age determinations of the dolerite dykes suggest two phases of dyke activity at c.2150Ma and c.2000 Ma in this region. The dolerites are typically tholeiites and quartz normative types represented by Group I and Group II, whilst the ultramafics are komatiite or basaltic komatiite in composition and show an olivine-normative character. Rare earth element (REE) patterns show some enrichment of LREE and exhibit both positive and negative Eu anomalies. Most of the tholeiites display incompatible elements patterns indicative of an enriched mantle source, whilst those of the ultramafics indicate a depleted source. The 2 Ga event is a global event and well documented in various parts of Singhbhum, Aravalli terrane, Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala regions of Indian Peninsular Shield and many parts of globe. The genesis of these dyke swarms clearly constitutes a major thermal event affecting the Earth's mantle during that period.     

Geology,geochemistry and geochronology of the Archaean Peninsular Gneiss around Gorur,Hassan District,Karnataka, India

The Peninsular Gneiss around Gorur in the Dharwar craton, reported to be one of the oldest gneisses, shows nealy E-W striking gneissosity parallel to the axial planes of a set of isoclinal folds (DhF₁). These have been over printed by near-coaxial open folding (DhF₁₂) and non-coaxial upright folding on almost N-S trend (DhF₂). This structural sequence is remarkably similar to that in the Holenarasipur schist belt bordering the gneisses as well as in the surpracrustal enclaves within the gneisses, suggesting that the Peninsular Gneiss has evolved by migmatization synkinematically with DhF₁ deformation. The Gorur gneisses are high silica, low alumina trondhjemites enriched in REE (up to 100 times chondrite), with less fractionated REE patterns (Ce_N/Yb_N < 7) and consistently negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.5 to 0.7). A whole rock Rb-Sr isochron of eight trondhjemitic gneisses sampled from two adjacent quarries yields an age of 3204 ± 30 Ma with Sr _i of 0.7011 ± 6 (2σ). These are marginally different from the results of Beckinsale and coworkers (3315 ± 54 Ma, Sr _i = 0.7006 ± 3) based on a much wider sampling. Our results indicate that the precursors of Gorur gneisses had a short crustal residence history of less than a 100 Ma.     

Geochronology (SHRIMP II) of zircons from Archean stratotectonic associations of Karelian greenstone belts: Significance for stratigraphic and geodynamic reconstructions

Individual grains of zircon from the Archean Kostomuksha, North Karelian and Matkalakhta greenstone belts, which are situated respectively in western, northern and eastern Karelia, are studied using the ion microprobe SHRIMP II. As a result, the oldest ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages of 3151 ± 4.6 and 3329 ± 16 Ma are first determined for detrital zircons from northern and eastern Karelia. The ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages estimated for two subsequent metamorphic events of Archean Eon in eastern Karelia correspond to 3.25 and 3.17–3.10 Ga. The age value of 2711 ± 9.6 Ma is determined for silicic volcano-plutonic complex and quartz stockwork in northern Karelia and the date 2821 ± 15 Ma for magmatic rocks of eastern Karelia. Silicic volcanics from an oceanic plateau section in the Kostomuksha belt are dated at 2791.7 ± 6.1 Ma for the first time in the Archean of Fennoscandia. The oldest detrital zircons from siliciclastic metasediments determine the stabilization time of Archean continental nuclei in East Fennoscandia. The younger generation of greenstone belts is exemplified in the Karelian craton by the Matkalakhta and Kostomuksha structures comprising rock associations less than 2.82 Ga old, mafic rocks of the Kontokki Group included. Geological history of these belts corresponds to geodynamic mesocycle 90–110 Ma long and to the Archean global epoch of metallogeny, which was responsible for origin of most valuable deposits of base and precious metals.     

A late Neoproterozoic paleomagnetic pole for the Congo craton: Tectonic setting, paleomagnetism and geochronology of the Nola dike swarm (Central African Republic)

New structural, geochronological and paleomagnetic data were obtained on dolerite dikes of the Nola region (Central African Republic) at the northern border of the Congo craton. In this region, metavolcanic successions were thrust southward onto the craton during the Panafrican orogenic events. Our structural data reveal at least two structural klippes south of the present-day limits of the Panafrican nappe suggesting that it has once covered the whole Nola region, promoting the pervasive hydrothermal greenschist metamorphism observed in the underlying cratonic basement and also in the intrusive dolerite dikes. Paleomagnetic measurements revealed a stable dual-polarity low-inclination magnetization component in nine dikes (47 samples), carried by pyrrhotite and magnetite. This component corresponds to a paleopole at 304.8°E and 61.8°S (dp = 5.4, dm = 10.7) graded at Q = 6. Both metamorphism and magnetic resetting were dated by the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar method on amphibole grains separated from the dikes at 571 ± 6 Ma. The Nola pole is the first well-dated paleomagnetic pole for the Congo craton between 580 and 550 Ma. It marks a sudden change in direction of the Congo craton apparent polar wander path at the waning stages of the Panafrican orogenic events.     

Geochemistry of the Neoarchaean mafic volcanic rocks of the Geita area, NW Tanzania: Implications for stratigraphical relationships in the Sukumaland greenstone belt

Geochemical data are presented for a suite of mafic volcanic rocks from the Geita area in the Sukumaland greenstone belt (SGB) of northwestern Tanzania with the aim of constraining their petrogenesis, tectonic setting and to assess a possible genetic link with mafic volcanic rocks from the Rwamagaza area also from the SGB previously reported by [Manya, S., Maboko, M.A.H., 2003. Dating basaltic volcanism in the Neoarchaean Sukumaland greenstone belt of the Tanzania Craton using the Sm–Nd method: implications for the geological evolution of the Tanzania Craton. Precambrian Research 121, 35–45] and [Manya, S., 2004. Geochemistry and petrogenesis of volcanic rocks of the Neoarchaean Sukumaland greenstone belt, northwestern Tanzania. Journal of African Earth Sciences 40, 269–279]. Mafic volcanic rocks from the two locations in the SGB show similar geochemical and Nd-isotopic compositions. Trace element and Nd-isotope compositions are consistent with their generation from a depleted MORB mantle (DMM) source which had been metasomatised by a subduction component in a late Archaean back arc setting at 2823 Ma.These findings are at variance with the previously proposed lithostratigraphical framework in the SGB which postulated an inner arcuate belt dominated by lower Nyanzian mafic volcanic rocks and an outer belt dominated by upper Nyanzian chemical sedimentary rocks, rare felsic flows and shales. The presence of mafic volcanic rocks flanking the outer belt which are of similar composition and age as those of the inner belt suggests that mafic volcanics in the SGB form discontinuous patches of rock distributed throughout the belt and separated by intervening granites. Furthermore, they corroborate previous evidence that both the rocks of the inner and outer belt formed more or less coevally and the subdivision of the volcano-sedimentary package of the SGB (and other greenstone belts of the Tanzania Craton) into a lower mafic volcanic dominated unit and an upper felsic volcanic and BIF dominated unit is not stratigraphically valid.     

Physical volcanology and geochemistry of Palaeoarchaean komatiite lava flows from the western Dharwar craton,southern India: implications for Archaean mantle evolution and crustal growth

ABSTRACT

Palaeoarchaean (3.38–3.35 Ga) komatiites from the Jayachamaraja Pura (J.C. Pura) and Banasandra greenstone belts of the western Dharwar craton, southern India were erupted as submarine lava flows. These high-temperature (1450–1550°C), low-viscosity lavas produced thick, massive, polygonal jointed sheet flows with sporadic flow top breccias. Thick olivine cumulate zones within differentiated komatiites suggest channel/conduit facies. Compound, undifferentiated flow fields developed marginal-lobate thin flows with several spinifex-textured lobes. Individual lobes experienced two distinct vesiculation episodes and grew by inflation. Occasionally komatiite flows form pillows and quench fragmented hyaloclastites. J.C. Pura komatiite lavas represent massive coherent facies with minor channel facies, whilst the Bansandra komatiites correspond to compound flow fields interspersed with pillow facies. The komatiites are metamorphosed to greenschist facies and consist of serpentine-talc ± carbonate, actinolite–tremolite with remnants of primary olivine, chromite, and pyroxene. The majority of the studied samples are komatiites (22.46–42.41 wt.% MgO) whilst a few are komatiitic basalts (12.94–16.18 wt.% MgO) extending into basaltic (7.71 – 10.80 wt.% MgO) composition. The studied komatiites are Al-depleted Barberton type whilst komatiite basalts belong to the Al-undepleted Munro type. Trace element data suggest variable fractionation of garnet, olivine, pyroxene, and chromite. Incompatible element ratios (Nb/Th, Nb/U, Zr/Y Nb/Y) show that the komatiites were derived from heterogeneous sources ranging from depleted to primitive mantle. CaO/Al₂O₃ and (Gd/Yb)_N ratios show that the Al-depleted komatiite magmas were generated at great depth (350–400 km) by 40–50% partial melting of deep mantle with or without garnet (majorite?) in residue whilst komatiite basalts and basalts were generated at shallow depth in an ascending plume. The widespread Palaeoarchaean deep depleted mantle-derived komatiite volcanism and sub-contemporaneous TTG accretion implies a major earlier episode of mantle differentiation and crustal growth during ca. 3.6–3.8 Ga.     

Petrogenesis and tectonics of late Permian felsic volcanic rocks,eastern Qiangtang block,north-central Tibet: Sr and Nd isotopic evidence

The Palaeo-Tethyan tectonic evolution of central Tibet remains a topic of controversy. Two Permian to Late Triassic arc-like volcanic suites have been identified in the eastern Qiangtang (EQ) block of north-central Tibet. Three competing models have been proposed to explain the formation of these volcanic suites, with two models involving a single stage of long-lived subduction but with opposing subduction polarities, while the other model involves a two-stage subduction process. Here, we present new whole-rock geochemistry, including Sr–Nd isotope data, for late Permian felsic volcanics of the Zaduo area. These volcanics are mainly low to middle K calc-alkaline felsic tuffs and rhyolites with SiO₂ concentrations up to 73 wt.%. In primitive mantle-normalized diagrams, the volcanics are typified by large ion lithophile element enrichment and high-field-strength element (e.g. Nb, Ta, P, and Ti) depletion, with slightly negative Eu anomalies. They have initial Sr ratios (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) _i of 0.70319–0.70547, and ?Nd(t) values of +3.4 to +3.5, suggesting derivation by the partial melting of a depleted mantle wedge, followed by assimilation of crustal material. The available geochemical data indicate the presence of two distinctive igneous evolution trends within the Permian to Late Triassic volcanics of the EQ block, consistent with a two-stage subduction model. Permian to Early Triassic arc-like volcanics are formed during northward (present-day orientation) subduction, whereas the Late Triassic volcanics are related to southward (present-day orientation) subduction of mafic crust of the Garze–Litang Ocean.     

Geochemistry and geochronology of the bimodal volcanic rocks of the Suguti area in the southern part of the Musoma-Mara Greenstone Belt, Northern Tanzania

The Suguti volcanic rocks of the southern Musoma-Mara greenstone belt in northern Tanzania comprise mainly of a bimodal suite of tholeiitic basalts-basaltic andesites and calc-alkaline rhyolites with a subordinate amount of intermediate rocks. Zircon U–Pb and whole rock Sm–Nd geochronology suggests that the two suites are cogenetic and were emplaced at 2755 ± 1 Ma with a common initial _Nd value of 2.1.The tholeiitic basalts are characterised by relatively flat chondrite-normalised REE patterns with La/Yb_CN ratios of 0.8–1.6 (mean = 1.0). The basalts also exhibit negative Ti and Nb anomalies in primitive mantle-normalised multi-element diagrams. The flat REE patterns, the presence of prominent negative Nb anomalies and the positive initial _Nd value of 2.1 suggest that the basalts were formed by low pressure melting of a mantle wedge in an active continental margin setting.Compared to the tholeiitic basalts, the calc-alkaline rhyolites are characterised by low abundances of the transition elements (Cr < 20 ppm, Ni < 20 ppm) and moderately high HFSE (e.g. Zr = 111–250 ppm) abundances. The rhyolites display strongly fractionated, slightly concave upward chondrite normalised REE patterns that are characterised by a slight depletion of the MREE relative to the HREE and minor to large negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.3–0.9) and their epsilon Nd values range from +2.05 to +2.33. The depletion of the MREE relative to the HREE is an indication of fractionation of clinopyroxene and hornblende during petrogenesis whereas the negative Eu anomalies indicate plagioclase fractionation. The rhyolites are interpreted to have formed from the parental magma of the basalts by fractional crystallization and/or partial melting of a relatively young basaltic crust.     

Neoproterozoic accretionary and collisional events on the western margin of the Siberian craton: new geological and geochronological evidence from the Yenisey Ridge

The geological, structural and tectonic evolutions of the Yenisey Ridge fold-and-thrust belt are discussed in the context of the western margin of the Siberian craton during the Neoproterozoic. Previous work in the Yenisey Ridge had led to the interpretation that the fold belt is composed of high-grade metamorphic and igneous rocks comprising an Archean and Paleoproterozoic basement with an unconformably overlying Mesoproterozoic–Neoproterozoic cover, which was mainly metamorphosed under greenschist-facies conditions. Based on the existing data and new geological and zircon U–Pb data, we recognize several terranes of different age and composition that were assembled during Neoproterozoic collisional–accretional processes on the western margin of the Siberian craton. We suggest that there were three main Neoproterozoic tectonic events involved in the formation of the Yenisey Ridge fold-and-thrust belt at 880–860 Ma, 760–720 Ma and 700–630 Ma. On the basis of new geochronological and petrological data, we propose that the Yeruda and Teya granites (880–860 Ma) were formed as a result of the first event, which could have occurred in the Central Angara terrane before it collided with Siberia. We also propose that the Cherimba, Ayakhta, Garevka and Glushikha granites (760–720 Ma) were formed as a result of this collision. The third event (700–630 Ma) is fixed by the age of island-arc and ophiolite complexes and their obduction onto the Siberian craton margin. We conclude by discussing correlation of these complexes with those in other belts on the margin of the Siberian craton.     

Regional variation in exhumation and strain rate of the high-pressure Sambagawa metamorphic rocks in central Shikoku, south-west Japan

Regional variation in the P–T path of the Sambagawa metamorphic rocks, central Shikoku, Japan has been inferred from compositional zoning of metamorphic amphibole. Rocks constituting the northern part (Saruta River area) exhibit a hairpin type P–T path, where winchite/actinolite grew at the prograde stage, the peak metamorphism was recorded by the growth of barroisite to hornblende and sodic amphibole to winchite/actinolite grew at the retrograde stage. In the southern part (Asemi River area), rocks exhibit a clockwise type P–T path, where barroisite to hornblende core is rimmed by winchite to actinolite. The difference in P–T path could suggest a faster exhumation rate (i.e. more rapid decompression) in the southern than in the northern part. On the other hand, physical conditions of deformation during the exhumation stage have been independently inferred from microstructures in deformed quartz. Recrystallized quartz grains in rocks from the low‐grade (chlorite and garnet) zones are much more stretched in the southern part (aspect ratio ≥ 4.0) than in the northern part (aspect ratio< 4.0), indicating a higher strain rate in the former than in the latter. These facts may indicate that the exhumation and strain rates are correlated (i.e. the exhumation rate increases with increasing the strain rate). The difference in the exhumation rate inferred from amphibole zoning between the northern and southern parts could be explained by an extensional model involving normal faulting, where the lower plate can be exhumed faster than the upper plate due to the displacement along the fault. Furthermore, the model may explain the positive correlation between the exhumation and strain rates, because the lower plate tended to support more stress than the upper plate.     

Geology and geochemistry of archaean felsic metavolcanic rocks of the Eastern Part of the Kolar greenstone belt, Dharwar craton, India: Implications for their petrogenesis and geodynamic setting

In the Kolar greenstone belt of the Dharwar craton, felsic metavolcanics are encountered prominently in its eastern region around Surapalli and Marikoppa. These felsic volcanic rocks are essentially homogeneous and their bulk mineralogy is almost the same. They consist of phenocrysts of quartz and feldspar, set in a fine-grained quartzo-feldspathic groundmass. They are calc-alkaline rhyolite in composition, and are characterized by high SiO₂ (av. 75.74 wt.%), moderate Al₂O₃ (av. 11.84 wt.%), Na₂O (av. 3.55 wt.%), K2O (av. 3.26 wt%) contents and low Mg# (av. 6.07), Cr (av. 8 ppm), Ni (av. 8 ppm), Sr (av. 331 ppm.), Y (av. 7 ppm), Yb (av. 0.87 ppm) and Nb/Ta (av. 6.40) values, suggesting Tonalite-Trondhjemite-Granodiorite (TTG) affinity for these felsic volcanics. They are strongly fractionated [(La/Yb)_N? = 14.41–48.70] with strong LREE enrichment [(La/Sm)_N = 2.50-3.59] and strong HREE depletion [(Gd/Yb)_N = 1.34–2.77] with positive Eu anomaly. The regional geological set-up, petrographic and geochemical characteristics suggest that these felsic volcanics probably were derived by partial melting of a subducting basalt slab at shallow depth without much involvement of mantle wedge in an island arc geodynamic setting.     

Anatomy of a subduction complex: architecture of the Franciscan Complex,California, at multiple length and time scales

The Franciscan Complex of California records over 150 million years of continuous E-dipping subduction that terminated with conversion to a dextral transform plate boundary. The Franciscan comprises mélange and coherent units forming a stack of thrust nappes, with significant along-strike variability, and downward-decreasing metamorphic grade and accretion ages. The Franciscan records progressive subduction, accretion, metamorphism, and exhumation, spanning the extended period of subduction, rather than events superimposed on pre-existing stratigraphy. High-pressure (HP) metamorphic rocks lack a thermal overprint, indicating continuity of subduction from subduction initiation at ca. 165 Ma to termination at ca. 25 Ma. Accretionary periods may have alternated with episodes of subduction erosion that removed some previously accreted material, but the complex collectively reflects a net addition of material to the upper plate. Mélanges (serpentinite and siliciclastic matrix) with exotic blocks have sedimentary origins as submarine mass transport deposits, whereas mélanges formed by tectonism comprise disrupted ocean plate stratigraphy and lack exotic blocks. The former are interbedded with and grade into coherent siliciclastic units. Palaeomegathrust horizons, separating nappes accreted at different times, appear restricted to narrow zones of <100 m thickness. Exhumation of Franciscan units, both coherent and mélange, was accommodated by significant extension of the hanging wall and cross-sectional extrusion. The amount of total exhumation, as well as exhumation since subduction termination, needs to be considered when comparing Franciscan architecture to modern and ancient subduction complexes. Equal dextral separation of folded Franciscan nappes and late Cenozoic (post-subduction) units across strands of the (post-subduction) San Andreas fault system shows that the folding of nappes took place prior to subduction termination. Dextral separation of similar clastic sedimentary suites in the Franciscan and the coeval Great Valley Group forearc basin is approximately that of the San Andreas fault system, precluding major syn-subduction strike-slip displacement within the Franciscan.