Evolution of continental crust of the Aravalli craton, NW India, during the Neoarchaean–Palaeoproterozoic: evidence from geochemistry of granitoids

Abstract

Neoarchaean–Palaeoproterozoic granitoids of the Aravalli craton, represented by four plutons with different ages, viz. Gingla (2.6–2.4 Ga), Ahar River (2562 Ma), Untala (2505 Ma), and Berach (2440 Ma) granitoids, are classified into three suites: TTG-like, Sanukitoid, and High-K Granitoid suite, all exhibiting negative Nb and Ti anomalies. The TTG-like suite is characterized by high contents of SiO₂, Na₂O, and LREEs, high (La/Yb)_N, low contents of K₂O, MgO, Cr, and Ni, and low (Dy/Yb)_N, suggesting that this suite formed by partial melting of a subducted basaltic slab without interacting with a mantle wedge. In contrast, the calc-alkaline Sanukitoid suite is marked by a high content of LILEs and mantle-compatible elements, which indicate that this suite formed by partial melting of a slab-fluid metasomatized mantle wedge in a subduction-related arc environment. On the other hand, the High-K Granitoid suite is characterized by high contents of SiO₂ and K₂O, and low contents of Na₂O, MgO, Cr, and Ni with variable Eu anomaly, along with high (La/Sm)_N and (La/Yb)_N, and low (Dy/Yb)_N and Nb/Th. Some high-K granitoids also exhibit A-type characteristics. These features indicate that the High-K Granitoid suite formed by melting of crustal rocks. Early Neoarchaean continental crust formation reflected a slab-melting-dominated magmatic process as evidenced by the TTG-like suite, whereas Palaeoproterozoic petrogenesis was governed by the interaction of slab melt with mantle wedge as demonstrated by the Sanukitoid suite. The High-K Granitoid suite formed during the waning stages of subduction. This study reveals that granitic rocks of the Aravalli craton evolved from slab melting in the Neoarchaean to melting of mantle wedge in the Palaeoproterozoic. Melting of older crust led to the formation of the High-K Granitoid suite.

Keywords:

• geochemistry
• Aravalli craton
• Neoarchaean–Palaeoproterozoic granitoids
• petrogenesis
• crustal evolution

Acknowledgements

The authors are very thankful to the Editor-in-Chief, Robert J. Stern, Dr Vinod K. Singh, Guest Editor, and two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments, which have significantly improved the manuscript. The authors are also thankful to the Chairman, Department of Geology, A.M.U., Aligarh, for providing research facilities. Dr P.P. Khanna of WIHG, Dehradun, and Dr A. Mudholkar of NIO, Goa, are thanked for providing facilities during geochemical analysis of the samples. Professor S.P. Verma is thanked for providing the IgRoCS computer program.

Additional information

Funding

This research work was financially supported by the University Grant Commission (UGC), New Delhi, under a Major Research Project 39-149/2010(SR).