Carbon, oxygen, and strontium isotope geochemistry of carbonate rocks of the upper Miocene Kudankulam Formation, southern India: Implications for paleoenvironment and diagenesis

The carbon, oxygen, and strontium isotope compositions of carbonate rocks from the upper Miocene Kudankulam Formation, southern India, were measured to understand palaeoenvironment and carbonate diagenesis of this formation. Both carbon and oxygen isotope ratios of various carbonate phases including whole rocks, ooids, molluscan mold-fill and sparry pore-fill calcite cements are depleted in ¹⁸O and ¹³C compared to those of contemporaneous seawater, indicating that the Kudankulam carbonates underwent extensive meteoric diagenesis. Based on δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O values for sparry calcite cements (pore-fill and molluscan mold-fill) formed in the meteoric diagenetic realm (δ¹³C from −7.8‰ to −6.0‰ and −9.0‰ to −7.0‰; δ¹⁸O from −9.2‰ to −6.5‰ and −9.4‰ to −2.6‰, respectively), it is interpreted that the diagenetic system was open and was proximal to the vadose water recharge zone. The negative δ¹⁸O values of various carbonate components (about −9.4‰ to −4.1‰ for whole rocks; about −8.4‰ to −2.6‰ for ooids) suggest that during the late Miocene the paleoclimate of the study area was humid, unlike today, probably due to the intense Indian monsoon system. The carbon isotope compositions (−7.9‰ to −3.6‰ for whole rocks; −4.9‰ to −1.5‰ for ooids) are consistent with the interpretation that the paleo-ecosystem comprised a significant proportion of C₄ type plants, supporting a scenario of expansion of C₄ plants during the late Miocene in the Indian subcontinent as far south as the southern tip of India. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of the Kudankulam carbonates (0.70920 to 0.72130) are much greater than those of the contemporaneous or modern seawater (between 0.7089 and 0.7091) and show a general decrease up-sequence. Such high Sr isotope ratios indicate significant radiogenic ⁸⁷Sr influx to the system from the Archean rocks exposed in the drainage area, implying that the deep-seated Archean rocks were already exposed in southern India by the late Miocene.     

Chronology and Geochemistry of the Nadingcuo Volcanic Rocks in the Southern Qiangtang Region of the Tibetan Plateau: Partial Melting of Remnant Ocean Crust along the Bangong-Nujiang Suture

<正>The Nadingcuo high-K calc-alkaline rocks mainly composed of trachyte and trachyandesite are the largest outcrop area of volcanic rocks in southern Qiangtang terrane in the Tibetan plateau. However,their exact source and peterogenesis are still debated.~(40)Ar-~(39)Ar and LAM-ICPMS zircon U-Pb isotopic dating confirm that these rocks erupted in Eocene.In addition,the Nadingcuo volcanic rocks are characterized by high Sr/Y content ratios,similar with the adakite derived from partial melting of oceanic crust.They can be further classified as high Mg~#(Mg~#=48-57) and low Mg~# (Mg~#=33-42) subtypes.The Nadingcuo adakitic rocks have relatively low(~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr)_i and highε_(Nd)(t), showing a trend of similarity to the Dongcuo ophiolite present in the Bangong-Nujiang oceanic crust. Simple modeling indicates that the Nadingcuo adakitic rocks are a mix resulting from the basalt of Bangong-Nujiang Ocean with 10%-20%crustal material of Lhasa terrane.On these bases we suggest that the low Mg~# Nadingcuo adakitic rocks are the product of partial melting of remnant oceanic crust with small sediment,and the high Mg~# rocks are the result of reaction between rising melt of remnant oceanic crust with subducted sediment and mantle wedge.Therefore,the origin of Nadingcuo adakitic rocks may be related to intracontinental subduction triggered by collision of India-Asia during Cenozoic.     

Petrogenesis of the diamondiferous Pipe-8 ultramafic intrusion from the Wajrakarur kimberlite field of Southern India and its relation to the worldwide Mesoproterozoic(～1.1 Ga) magmatism of kimberlite and related rocks

Detailed mineralogy,bulk rock major,trace and Sr-Nd isotope compositions,and ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar dating of the Pipe-8 diamondiferous ultramafic intrusion in the Wajrakarur cluster of southern India,is reported.Based on the presence of Ti-rich phlogopite,high Na/K content in amphibole,Al-and Ti-rich diopside,a titanomagnetite trend in spinel and the presence of Ti-rich schorlomite garnet and carbonates in the groundmass,the Pipe-8 intrusion is here more precisely classified as an ultramafic lamprophyre(i.e.,aillikite).An aillikite affinity of the Pipe-8 intrusion is further supported by the bulk rock major and trace element and Sr-Nd isotope geochemistry.Sr-Nd isotope data are consistent with a common,moderately depleted upper mantle source region for both the Pipe-8 aillikite as well as the Wajrakarur kimberlites of southern India.A phlogopite-rich groundmass ~(40)Ar/~(39)Ar plateau age of 1115.8±7.9 Ma(2σ) for the Pipe-8 intrusion falls within a restricted 100 Ma time bracket as defined by the 1053-1155 Ma emplacement ages of kimberlites and related rocks in India.The presence of ultramafic lamprophyres,carbonatites,kimberlites,and olivine lamproites in the Wajrakarur kimberlite field requires low degrees of partial melting of contrasting metasomatic assemblages in a heterogeneous sub-continental lithospheric mantle.The widespread association of kimberlite and other mantle-derived magmatism during the Mesoproterozoic(ca.1.1 Ga) have been interpreted as being part of a single large igneous province comprising of the Kalahari,Australian,West Laurentian and Indian blocks of the Rodinia supercontinent that were in existence during its assembly.In India only kimberlite/lamproite/ultramafic lamprophyre magmatism occurred at this time without the associated large igneous provinces as seen in other parts of Rodinia.This may be because of the separated paleo-latitudinal position of India from Australia during the assembly of Rodinia.It is speculated that the presence of a large plume at or close to 1.1 Ga within the Rodinian supercontinent,with the Indian block located on its periphery,could be the reason for incipient melting of lithospheric mantle and the consequent emplacement of only kimberlites and other ultramafic,volatile rich rocks in India due to comparatively low thermal effects from the distant plume.     

Strontium isotope systematics of Amba Dongar and Sung Valley carbonatite-alkaline complexes,India: evidence for liquid immiscibility,crustal contamination and long-lived Rb/Sr enriched mantle sources

The results of a Sr isotopic study of coexisting alkaline silicate rocks and carbonatites of two Cretaceous alkaline complexes of India, Amba Dongar (Deccan Flood Basalt Province) and Sung Valley (Rajmahal–Bengal–Sylhet Flood Basalt Province) are reported. The overlapping nature of initial Sr isotopic ratios of alkaline rocks and carbonatites of both the complexes is consistent with a magmatic differentiation model. Modelling of initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr variation in alkaline rocks of Amba Dongar is consistent with a process of crustal assimilation by the parent magma undergoing simultaneous fractional crystallization of silicate rocks and silicate–carbonate melt immiscibility. A maximum of ∼5% crustal contamination has been estimated for the parent magma of Amba Dongar, the effect of which is not seen in the Sr isotope ratio of carbonatites generated by liquid immiscibility. A two point Rb–Sr isochron of the Sung Valley carbonatites, pyoxenite and a phlogopite from a carbonatite yielded an age of 106±11 Ma, which is identical to the ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar age of this complex. The same age for the carbonatites and the alkaline silicate rocks, similar initial Sr ratios and the higher Sr concentration in the former than the latter favour the hypothesis of liquid immiscibility for the generation of the Sung Valley. The higher initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio for these complexes than that of the Bulk Earth indicates their derivation from long-lived Rb/Sr-enriched sources.     

Isotopic evidence of middle proterozoic magmatism from bombay high field: Implications to crustal evolution of western offshore of India

Precambrian granitic basement rocks obtained from well BH-36 of Bombay High Field, western offshore of India has been studied both by Rb-Sr and K-Ar dating methods. Seven basement samples chosen from two cores have yielded whole rock Rb-Sr isochron age of 1446 ± 67 Ma with an initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of 0.7062 ± 0.0012. This age has been interpreted as the formation/emplacement time of the granite. Two biotite fractions of different grain size separated from a sample CC6B2T have yielded Rb-Sr mineral isochron age of 1385 ± 21 Ma. However, these fractions when studied by K-Ar dating method have yielded slightly higher but mutually consistent ages of 1458 ± 43 Ma and 1465 ± 43 Ma, respectively. Further, two biotites separated from additional samples CC5B9T and CC6B3B have yielded K-Ar ages of 1452 ± 42 Ma and 1425 ± 40 Ma with an overall mean age of 1438 ± 19 Ma. This mean K-Ar age is indistinguishable from whole rock Rb-Sr isochron as well as mineral isochron age within experimental error. The similarity in the whole rock and biotite ages obtained by different isotopic methods suggests that no thermal disturbance has occurred in these rocks after their emplacement/formation around 1450 Ma ago. The present study provides the evidence for the existence of an important Middle Proterozoic magmatic event around 1400-1450 Ma on the western offshore of India which, hitherto, was thought to be mainly confined to the eastern Ghats, Satpura and Delhi fold belt of India. This finding may have an important bearing on the reconstruction of Proterozoic crustal evolution of western Indian shield.     

Petrology and geochemistry of the Salma dike,Raniganj coalfield (Lower Gondwana), eastern India: linkage with Rajmahal or Deccan volcanic activity?

The Gondwana (Early Permian to Early Cretaceous) basins of eastern India have been intruded by ultramafic–ultrapotassic (minette, lamproite and orangeite) and mafic (dolerite) rocks. The Salma dike is the most prominent among mafic intrusives in the Raniganj basin. This dike is tholeiitic in composition; MgO varies from 5.4 to 6.3% and the mg number from 54 to 59. In general, the major and trace element abundances are uniform both along and across the strike. There is geochemical and mineralogical evidence for fractional crystallization. The chondrite normalized REE pattern of the Salma dike (La/Yb_n=3.5) is similar to that of Deccan dikes of the Son–Narmada rift zone, western India. ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr varies from 0.70552 to 0.70671 suggesting assimilation of crustal material. Some trace element abundances (e.g. Ti, Zr, Y) of the Salma dike are comparable to Group I Rajmahal basalts. The ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar whole rock age of 65 Ma for the Salma dike is less than the ca. 114 Ma age for the Rajmahal basalt, but is similar to the generally accepted age for Deccan volcanic rocks. Despite geographical proximity with the Rajmahal basalt, the Salma dike is believed to be related to late phase of Deccan volcanic activity.     

Petrology and geochemistry of the Salma dike, Raniganj coalfield (Lower Gondwana), eastern India: linkage with Rajmahal or Deccan volcanic activity?

The Gondwana (Early Permian to Early Cretaceous) basins of eastern India have been intruded by ultramafic–ultrapotassic (minette, lamproite and orangeite) and mafic (dolerite) rocks. The Salma dike is the most prominent among mafic intrusives in the Raniganj basin. This dike is tholeiitic in composition; MgO varies from 5.4 to 6.3% and the mg number from 54 to 59. In general, the major and trace element abundances are uniform both along and across the strike. There is geochemical and mineralogical evidence for fractional crystallization. The chondrite normalized REE pattern of the Salma dike (La/Yb_n=3.5) is similar to that of Deccan dikes of the Son–Narmada rift zone, western India. ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr varies from 0.70552 to 0.70671 suggesting assimilation of crustal material. Some trace element abundances (e.g. Ti, Zr, Y) of the Salma dike are comparable to Group I Rajmahal basalts. The ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar whole rock age of 65 Ma for the Salma dike is less than the ca. 114 Ma age for the Rajmahal basalt, but is similar to the generally accepted age for Deccan volcanic rocks. Despite geographical proximity with the Rajmahal basalt, the Salma dike is believed to be related to late phase of Deccan volcanic activity.     

The age of the Cuddapah and Kurnool systems,southern India

In southern India the older Precambrian is overlain unconformably in the Cuddapah Basin by the Cuddapah and Kurnool Systems. The former is tilted and unmetamorphosed in the west but eastwards becomes strongly folded and metamorphosed. It contains lavas and sills, particularly in the lower two groups, is intruded by dolerites and at Chelima by diatremes of kimberlitic affinities related to those intruding the older gneisses west of the Cuddapah Basin in the Wajrakarur area. The Kurnool System lacks any igneous rocks; its basal conglomerate is diamondi‐ferous.

Rb‐Sr dating of lava samples from the lowest group of the Cuddapah System shows that the age of the base of the system may be as great as 1,700 m.y. Together with data for a granite which intrudes probable Cuddapah rocks near the disturbed eastern margin of the basin the data imply that the base is unlikely to be younger than 1,555 m.y. Metamorphism affected some lavas at about 1,360 m.y. The diatremes have two ages of intrusion, about 1,225 m.y. and 1,140 m.y., the latter being the age of the Majhgawan pipe near Panna in northern India. Pre‐Kurnool dolerites have an age of 980 ±110 m.y.

The lavas and dolerites show a range of initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Rb ratios from about 0.704 to 0.708 and possibly 0.712.

The age data suggest that no simple correlation can be made with other Precambrian sequences in northern peninsular India. Deposition of the Cuddapah System appears to have started well before the start of the deposition of the Vindhyan System, while the Kurnool System is coeval with only part of the Upper Vindhyan. The data also suggest that present interpretations of the structural development of the Cuddapah Basin may need some revision.     

Paleoproterozoic granitoids in the basement of Bangladesh: A piece of the Indian shield or an exotic fragment of the Gondwana jigsaw?

We present the first precise age for Precambrian basement rocks in Bangladesh. These lie within the Dinajpur block, located between the Indian Craton to the southwest and the Shillong Massif to the east. There are no surface outcrops and the rocks were intersected by drill holes. They consist of a suite of tonalitic and granodioritic rocks, variously deformed to granitic gneiss and intruded by younger monzogranite. A tonalite obtained at a depth of 227.48 m in drill hole BH-2 at Maddhapara, in northwestern Bangladesh, records a SHRIMP zircon ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb magmatic age of 1722 ± 6 Ma. Paleoproterozoic rocks with similar magmatic ages are unknown in the adjacent Indian blocks of the Chotanagpur Plateau (Indian Craton) or Shillong Massif. This lack of comparable ages may be due to the paucity of precise radiometric ages from the Indian terrains or, more likely, because there are real age differences, with the buried rocks at Maddhapara representing a separate and discrete microcontinental fragment (the Dinajpur block) that was trapped by the northward migration of India during Gondwana dispersal.     

Strain-rate estimation using fractal analysis of quartz grains in naturally deformed rocks

The area-perimeter fractal dimension (D) of quartz grains has earlier been proposed as a strain-rate gauge based on experimental deformation of quartz aggregates. To test the application in naturally deformed rocks, D is calculated in (a) three quartzites belonging to the Lunavada Group of rocks (Aravalli Mountain Belt, NW India) that developed textures between 420–600°C and (b) one quartz reef sample from the Malanjkhand Granite (Central India), which underwent dynamic recrystallization between 250–400°C. Using the above T ranges and calculated D values, strain-rates are calculated for the two sets of samples. A 10^−12.7 s⁻¹ strain rate at 250°C is calculated for the quartz reef sample. However, at higher temperatures the calculated strain-rate is >10⁻¹⁰ s⁻¹ for the quartz reef and the quartzite samples. The quartzites show evidence of dynamic recrystallization by grain boundary migration (GBM) and subgrain rotation (SGR), while the quartz reef is replete with evidence of bulging (BLG) recrystallization. T and calculated strainrates are plotted on available recrystallization map of quartz. It is demonstrated that whilst the T/strain-rate of the quartzites does not fall in the region of GBM and SGR, the T/strain-rate of the quartz reef falls in the BLG region. The problems with strain-rate calculations using area perimeter fractal dimension are discussed. It is concluded that the method of strain-rate calculation can be used only for lower T.     

Hydrochemistry of groundwater (GW) and surface water (SW) for assessment of fluoride in Chinnaeru river basin,Nalgonda district, (AP) India

Hydrochemical studies were conducted in Chinnaeru river basin of Nalgonda district, Andhra Pradesh, India, to explore the causes of high fluorides in groundwater and surface water causing a widespread incidence of fluorosis in local population. The concentration of fluoride in groundwater ranges from 0.4 to 2.9 and 0.6 to 3.6 mg/l, stream water ranges from 0.9 to 3.5 and 1.4 to 3.2 mg/l, tank water ranges from 0.4 to 2.8 and 0.9 to 2.3 mg/l, for pre- and post-monsoon periods, respectively. The modified Piper diagram reflects that the water belongs to Ca²⁺–Mg²⁺–HCO₃ ^? to Na⁺–HCO₃ ^? facies. Negative chloroalkali indices in both the seasons prove that ion exchange between Na⁺ and K⁺ in aquatic solution took place with Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ of host rock. The interpretation of plots for different major ions and molar ratios suggest that weathering of silicate rocks and water–rock interaction is responsible for major ion chemistry of groundwater/surface water. High fluoride content in groundwater was attributed to continuous water–rock interaction during the process of percolation with fluorite bearing country rocks under arid, low precipitation, and high evaporation conditions. The low calcium content in rocks and soils, and the presence of high levels of sodium bicarbonate are important factors favouring high levels of fluoride in waters. The basement rocks provide abundant mineral sources of fluoride in the form of amphibole, biotite, fluorite, mica and apatite.     

Juxtaposition of India and Madagascar: A Perspective

Proterozoic terrains in South India and Madagascar provide important clues in understanding the Gondwanaland tectonics, especially the assembly of this mega-continent during the Pan-African period. The Archaean terrains in both Madagascar and India are characterized by N-S trending greenstone belts occurring within gneissose granitic rocks in the northern part. Extensive development of K-rich granitic rocks of ca. 2.5 Ga is also characteristic in both areas. Such a broad age zonation of younger Dharwar (ca 2.6–3.0 Ga) in the north and the older Sargur (ca 3.0–3.4 Ga) in the south as in South India remains to be identified in future studies from Madagascar. The occurrence of greenschist facies rocks in the northeastern part and higher grade rocks in most of other parts in the north-central terrain of Madagascar is comparable with the general tendency of increasing metamorphic grade from northwestern to southern areas ranging from greenschist to granulite facies in South India. The Proterozoic crystalline rocks in both continents show pronounced lithological similarity with the wide occurrence of graphite-bearing khondalite in association with charnockitic rocks. While the Archaean-Proterozoic boundary is well defined in southern India by the Palghat-Cauvery or the KKPT shear zones as recently identified, this boundary is ill-defined in Madagascar due to extensive Pan-African overprinting, as well as the development of the Proterozoic cover sequence, the Itremo Group. There is also a possible general correlation between the Mesoproterozoic cover sequences in Madagascar and India, such as between the Itremo Group of west-central Madagascar and the Kaladgi and Cuddapah sequences of South India. The Pan-African granulite facies metamorphism of ca. 0.5 Ga extensively developed in both India and Madagascar is generally comparable in intensity and extent. P-T conditions and P-T-t paths also appear comparable, with the general range of ca. 700–1000°C and 6–9 kb, and near-isothermal decompressional paths. A-type granite plutons and alkaline rocks including anorthosites and mafic plutonic rocks of ca. 500–800 Ma develop in both terrains, provide strong basis for the correlation of both terrains, and define a Pan-African igneous province within East Gondwanaland. Major shear zones in both continents are expected to play a critical role in the correlation, albeit are still poorly constrained. Detailed elucidation of the tectonic history of the shear zones, and the timing of various events along the shear zones would provide important constraints on the correlation of the two continental fragments.     

Trace element geochemistry of Amba Dongar carbonatite complex,India: Evidence for fractional crystallization and silicate-carbonate melt immiscibility

Carbonatites are believed to have crystallized either from mantle-derived primary carbonate magmas or from secondary melts derived from carbonated silicate magmas through liquid immiscibility or from residual melts of fractional crystallization of silicate magmas. Although the observed coexistence of carbonatites and alkaline silicate rocks in most complexes, their coeval emplacement in many, and overlapping initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios are supportive of their cogenesis; there have been few efforts to devise a quantitative method to identify the magmatic processes. In the present study we have made an attempt to accomplish this by modeling the trace element contents of carbonatites and coeval alkaline silicate rocks of Amba Dongar complex, India. Trace element data suggest that the carbonatites and alkaline silicate rocks of this complex are products of fractional crystallization of two separate parental melts. Using the available silicate melt-carbonate melt partition coefficients for various trace elements, and the observed data from carbonatites, we have tried to simulate trace element distribution pattern for the parental silicate melt. The results of the modeling not only support the hypothesis of silicate-carbonate melt immiscibility for the evolution of Amba Dongar but also establish a procedure to test the above hypothesis in such complexes.     

Variation in U-238 and Th-232 enrichment in U-mineralized zone and geological controls on their spatial distribution,Singhbhum Shear Zone of India

The determination of the natural radioactivity has been carried out, by means of gamma-ray spectrometry, in exposed rock samples collected from various geological formations across the Singhbhum Shear Zone of India. The spatial variation in the concentration of primordial radionuclides reflects, in general, the geochemical variance among the analyzed rocks and affirms the earlier views on genesis of uranium mineralization. This study further speculates new possibilities of thorium depletion during shearing and metamorphism. All the obtained U-values were more than the worldwide average U-concentration (which is about 40 Bq/kg). Interestingly, U-concentration in mica schists from Singhbhum group of rocks and in slates and argillaceous quartzites from Iron Ore group of rocks was five to seven times higher than the global values. In contrast, the granites in study area showed comparatively lower U-concentration. The overall results suggest the control of complex metamorphism and shearing on U-distribution in the terrane. The contribution of ²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K to the total radiation dose in the study area was found to be significant ranging from 110 to 310 nGy/h in comparison with the lower global, as well as Indian average values.     

Hydrochemical characteristics of groundwater quality with special reference to fluoride concentration in parts of Mulugu-Venkatapur Mandals,Warangal district,Telangana

Hydrochemical studies were carried out in Mulugu-Venkatapur Mandals of Warangal district, Telangana state, India to find out the causes of high fluorides in groundwater and surface water causing a widespread incidence of fluorosis in local population. The fluoride concentration in groundwater ranges from 0.28 to 5.48 mg/l with a mean of 1.26 mg/l in pre-monsoon and 0.21 to 4.43 mg/l with a mean 1.45 mg/l in post-monsoon. About 32% and 34% of samples in pre and post-monsoon containing fluoride concentrations that exceed the permissible limit. The Modified Piper diagram reflects that, water belong to Ca⁺²-Mg⁺²-HCO₃ - to Na⁺-HCO₃ - facies. Negative chloroalkali indices in both the seasons prove that ion exchange took place between Na⁺ & K⁺ with Ca⁺² and Mg⁺² in aquatic solution in host rock. Different plots for major ions and molar ratios suggest that weathering of silicate rocks and water-rock interaction is responsible for major ion chemistry of water. High fluoride content in groundwater attributed to continuous water-rock interaction during the process of percolation with fluorite bearing country rocks under arid, low precipitation, and high evaporation conditions. The low calcium content in rocks and soils, and the presence of high content of sodium bicarbonate in soils and waters are important factors favouring high levels of fluoride in waters. The basement rocks provide abundant mineral sources of fluoride in the form of amphibole, biotite, fluorite, mica and apatite.     

Carbon,oxygen and strontium isotope geochemistry of Proterozoic carbonate rocks of the Vindhyan Basin,central India

Carbon, oxygen and strontium isotope compositions of carbonate rocks of the Proterozoic Vindhyan Supergroup, central India suggest that they can be correlated with the isotope evolution curves of marine carbonates during the latter Proterozoic. The carbonate rocks of the Lower Vindhyan Supergroup from eastern Son Valley and central Vindhyan sections show δ¹³C values of ∼0‰ (V-PDB) and those from Rajasthan section are enriched up to +2.8‰. In contrast, the carbonate rocks of the Upper Vindhyan succession record both positive and negative shifts in δ¹³C compositions. In the central Vindhyan section, the carbonates exhibit positive δ¹³C values up to +5.7‰ and those from Rajasthan show negative values down to –5.2‰. The δ¹⁸O values of most of the carbonate rocks from the Vindhyan Supergroup show a narrow range between –10 and –5‰ (V-PDB) and are similar to the ‘best preserved’ ¹⁸O compositions of the Proterozoic carbonate rocks. In the central Vindhyan and eastern Son Valley sections, carbonates from the Lower Vindhyan exhibit best-preserved ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr compositions of 0.7059±6, which are lower compared to those from Rajasthan (0.7068±4). The carbonates with positive δ¹³C values from Upper Vindhyan are characterized by lower ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values (0.7068±2) than those with negative δ¹³C values (0.7082±6). A comparison of C and Sr isotope data of carbonate rocks of the Vindhyan Supergroup with isotope evolution curves of the latter Proterozoic along with available geochronological data suggest that the Lower Vindhyan sediments were deposited during the Mesoproterozoic Eon and those from the Upper Vindhyan represent a Neoproterozoic interval of deposition.     

New LA-ICPMS U–Pb ages of detrital zircons from the Highland Complex: insights into late Cryogenian to early Cambrian (ca. 665–535 Ma) linkage between Sri Lanka and India

ABSTRACT

Here we report new LA-ICPMS U–Pb zircon geochronology of ultrahigh temperature (UHT) metasedimentary rocks and associated crystallized melt patches, from the central Highland Complex (HC), Sri Lanka. The detrital zircon ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age spectra range between 2834 ± 12 and 722 ± 14 Ma, evidencing new and younger depositional ages of sedimentary protoliths than those known so far in the HC. The overgrowth domains of zircons in these UHT granulites yield weighted mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age clusters from 665.5 ± 5.9 to 534 ± 10 Ma, identified as new metamorphic ages of the metasediments in the HC. The zircon ages of crystallized in situ melt patches associated with UHT granulites yield tight clusters of weighted mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages from 558 ± 1.6 to 534 ± 2.4 Ma. Thus, using our results coupled with recently published geochronological data, we suggest a new geochronological framework for the evolutionary history of the metasedimentary package of the HC. The Neoarchean to Neoproterozoic ages of detrital zircons indicate that the metasedimentary package of the HC has derived from ancient multiple age provenances and deposited during the Neoproterozoic Era. Hence, previously reported upper intercept ages of ca. 2000–1800 Ma from metaigneous rocks should be considered as geochronological evidence for existence of a Palaeoproterozoic igneous basement which possibly served as a platform for the deposition of younger supracrustal rocks, rather than timing of magmatic intrusions into the already deposited ancient sediments, as has been conventionally interpreted. The intense reworking of entire Palaeoproterozoic basement rocks in the Gondwana Supercontinent assembly may have caused sediments of multiple ages and provenances to incorporate within supra-crustal sequences of the HC. Further, our data supports a convincing geochronological correlation between the HC of Sri Lanka and the Trivandrum Block of Southern India, disclosing the Gondwanian linkage between the HC of Sri Lanka and Southern Granulite Terrain of India.     

西藏康马片麻岩穹隆及其周围变质岩的主要特征

位于西藏康马县城北面的花岗片麻岩穹隆体,因其形态上类似一个侵入体,故早期的研究大都将其当作一个花岗岩体,其周围的变质岩则被认为是接触变质岩(周云生和张魁武,1981;张旗和李炤华,1981,涂光炽等,1981;李锦统等,1981)。目前,对穹隆体本身及其周围变质岩的性质和成因,仍然存在着争论。本文对康马片麻岩穹隆的性质及其成因机制进行了探讨,试图对认识拉轨岗日构造带的演化提供某些线索。     

Zircon evaporation ages and geochemistry of metamorphosed volcanic rocks from the Vinjamuru domain,Krishna Province: evidence for 1.78 Ga convergent tectonics along the southeastern margin of the Eastern Dharwar Craton

Palaeoproterozoic intermediate to potassic felsic volcanism in volcano‐sedimentary sequences could either have occurred in continental rift or at convergent magmatic arc tectonic settings. The Vinjamuru domain of the Krishna Province in Andhra Pradesh, SE India, contains such felsic and intermediate metavolcanic rocks, whose geochemistry constrains their probable tectonic setting and which were dated by the zircon Pb evaporation method in order to constrain their time of formation. These rocks consist of interlayered quartz–garnet–biotite schist, quartz–hematite–baryte–sericite schist as well as cherty quartzite, and represent a calc‐alkaline volcanic sequence of andesitic to rhyolitic rocks that underwent amphibolite‐facies metamorphism at ~1.61 Ga. Zircons from four felsic metavolcanic rock samples yielded youngest mean ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ages between 1771 and 1791 Ma, whereas the youngest zircon age for a meta‐andesite is 1868 Ma. A ~2.43 Ga zircon xenocryst reflects incorporation of Neoarchaean basement gneisses. Their calc‐alkaline trends, higher LILE, enriched chondrite‐normalized LREE pattern and negative Nb and Ti anomalies on primitive mantle‐normalized diagrams, suggest formation in a continental magmatic arc tectonic setting. Whereas the intermediate rocks may have been derived from mantle‐source parental arc magmas by fractionation and crustal contamination, the rhyolitic rocks had crustal parental magmas. The Vinjamuru Palaeoproterozoic volcanic eruption implies an event of convergent tectonism at the southeastern margin of the Eastern Dharwar Craton at ~1.78 Ga forming one of the major crustal domains of the Krishna Province. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Crustal Source for a Syenite Complex in the High-grade Eastern Ghats Belt, India: Sm-Nd Isotopic Evidence

Several plutonic alkaline complexes have been reported from the high-grade Eastern Ghats belt, India and these are thought to have been derived from the mantle. The field features of the syenite complex around Rairakhol in Orissa indicate progressive deformation during emplacement and could be related to the latest deformation/folding in the host granulitic country rocks. Presence of some mafic granulite xenoliths could suggest a crustal source for this syenite complex.Negative epsilon value is a strong indication of crustal source. The long crustal residence ages and ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd values less than 0.5120, definitely indicate a crustal source.