Continental arc magmatism in a Mesoproterozoic convergent margin: Petrological and geochemical constraints from the magmatic suite of Kondapalle along the eastern margin of the Indian plate

Abstract

The magmatic suite at Kondapalle represents a Mesoproterozoic (~ ca. 1634 Ma) magmatic arc emplaced in the southern sector of the Eastern Ghats Belt (EGB). Here we present new geological, mineralogical and geochemical data on the various lithological units in this complex including anorthosites, gabbronorites and pyroxenites. The major mineral constituents in these rocks are plagioclase (An 98–57), amphibole (X Mg 0.93–0.52), orthopyroxene (X Mg 0.94–0.51), clinopyroxene (X Mg 0.93–0.63) and chromite (X Mg 0.20–50). The near-absence of plagioclase in the orthopyroxenites, early and abundant crystallization of orthopyroxene, and formation of gabbronorites rather than gabbro or olivine gabbro in the Kondapalle suite are correlated with the features of arc cumulates. The chemistry of chromian spinel and clinopyroxene also displays the trend for arc cumulates. The variations in the anorthite content of plagioclase vs. the Mg# of olivine attest to an arc-related magma source. The rocks display low abundance of incompatible trace elements (Ba, Rb, K and Zr) comparable to the values typically observed in subduction-related magmatic arcs. In trace element N-MORB normalized diagrams, all the rock units show Nb–Ta–Ti–Zr troughs reflecting the features characteristic of arc magmas. We interpret the Kondapalle rocks to represent the root zone of a deeply eroded magmatic arc built during the Mesoproterozoic associated with the subduction of an oceanic lithosphere in a long-lived convergent margin. We identify that the Mesoproterozoic subduction along the eastern margin of the Indian plate generated a wide arc-accretionary complex with an extruded high P–T metamorphic orogen during the final stage of collision. The subduction–accretion process is also supported by recent findings of Mesoproterozoic ophiolite mélanges from this zone, marking the history from the break-up of the Paleoproterozoic Columbia supercontinent to the assembly of the Neoproterozoic Rodinia supercontinent.