Geochemistry and petrogenesis of granitoids of Lesser Himalayan crystallines, Western Arunachal Himalaya

Abstract

Low to medium grade crystalline rocks locally known as Bomdila Group extensively covers the Lesser Himalayan region in Western Arunachal Himalaya. This Group consists dominantly of mylonitic gneisses of granitic composition of Palaeoproterozoic age, named as Bomdila mylonitic gneiss (BMG) and a small body of hornblende bearing granite of Mesoproterozoic age known as Salari granite (SG). The BMG is affinity to peraluminous (A/CNK > 1.1) with high content of SiO2, K2O/Na2O ratio, normative corundum, high ratio of FeOt/MgO in biotite (3.21–5.11) that shows characteristics of S-type granite whereas SG has granodiorite composition with high Na2O, low K2O, presence of hornblende, normative diopside, low A/CNK ratio (<1.1) and low FeOt/MgO ratio in biotite (1.58–1.60) indicates metaluminous I-type granite affinity. The SG has more fractionated nature of REE [(Ce/Yb)N = 9.06–18.53] and minor negative Eu anomalies [EuN/Eu* = 0.69–0.94] as compared to BMG which has less fractionation of REE [(Ce/Yb)N = 5.95–9.16] and strong negative Eu anomalies [EuN/Eu* = 0.37–0.43]. Geochemical and petrological studies suggest that the SG and BMG are not genetically related; SG appears to have derived from igneous source whereas the BMG have been derived from sedimentary source, however these granitoids might have produced during the same thermal event.