Geochemistry and petrogenesis of Neoproterozoic A-type granites at Nakora in the Malani Igneous Suite, Western Rajasthan, India

Abstract

The Nakora Ring Complex (NRC) (732 Ma) occurs as a part of Malani Igneous Suite (MIS) in the Western Rajasthan, India. This complex consists of three phases (volcanic, plutonic and dyke). Geochemically, the Nakora granites are peralkaline, metaluminous and slightly peraluminous. They display geochemical characteristics of A-type granites and distinct variation trends with increasing silica content. The peralkaline granites show higher concentrations of SiO2, total alkalies, TiO2, MgO, Ni, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Th, U, La, Ce, Nd, Eu and Yb and lower concentrations of Al2O3, total iron, Cu and Zn than metaluminous granites. AI content is ≥1 for peralkaline granites and <1 for peraluminous and metaluminous granites. Nakora peralkaline granites are plotted between 4 to 7 kb in pressure and are emplaced at greater depths (16–28 km and 480–840°C) as compared to metaluminous granites which indicate the high fluorine content in peralkaline granites. The primitive mantle normalized multi-element profiles suggest that Nakora granites (peralkaline, metaluminous and peraluminous) are characterized by low La, Sr and Eu and relatively less minima of Ba, Nb and Ti which suggests the aspects related to crustal origin for Nakora magma. The Nakora granites are characterized as A-type granites (Whalen et al., 1987) and correspond to the field of “Within Plate Granite” (Pearce et al., 1984). Geochemical, field and petrological data suggest that Nakora granites are the product of partial melting of rocks similar to Banded Gneiss from Kolar Schist Belt of India.