Geochemical Constraints on the Petrogenesis and Tectonic Environment of Gabbroic Intrusives in the Siang Window of Eastern Himalaya, Northeast India

Abstract

Abstract Carbonate and calcareous-quartzite of Miri-Buxa Group in the Siang Window of Eastern Himalaya intruded by mafic rocks of gabbroic affinity. These intrusive rocks are low-Ti tholeiites (Ti/Y = 379-478; Nb/La = 0.99-1.88) and characterized by enriched LILE-LREE, depleted in HFSE with minor REE fractionation [(La/Yb)N = 2.72-3.35)]. Geochemical behaviour of the incompatible trace elements with the rare earth elements abundances indicates their cogenetic nature and their emplacement in a continental rift tectonic environment. The liquidus olivine temperature of these mafic rocks ranges from 1262°C to 1380°C showing a gentle decrease of [Mg] with a steep increase of [Fe]. These charters thus imply that the rocks are either related to the extent of common source or fractionational crystallization of plagioclase and clinopyroxene from a single batch parental magma. Petrogenetic modeling of [Mg]-[Fe] and REE indicates that these mafic intrusives probably derived from a mantle source similar to komatiitic composition at moderate to high degree (8%-20%) of partial melting.