Geochemistry and Sm-Nd isotopic characteristics of the Paleoarchean Komatiites from Singhbhum Craton, Eastern India and their implications

Abstract

Komatiites near Kapili village, located in Palaeo-Mesoachean Gorumahishani-Badampahar greenstone belt of Singhbhum Craton, Eastern India preserve excellent igneous textures and exhibit co-association of Al-depleted (ADK) and Al-undepleted komatiites (AUK). The Kapili komatiites exhibit repeated spinifex textured flows (cooling units) overlying massive cumulate zone. The basal cumulate part of Kapili komatiite is chemically similar to ADK which is characterized by subchondritic Al2O3/TiO2 (9.38–10.5) and HREE depleted nature (average (Gd/Yb)PM∼1.35) elucidating presence of majorite in residuum whereas compound upper spinifex lava typically display superchondritic Al2O3/TiO2 (∼22–28.5) and HREE enriched nature (average (Gd/Yb)PM∼0.81) demonstrating majorite free residuum.Calculated primary magma compositions of Kapili ADK and AUK reveal that generation of primary liquid of Kapili ADK or basal cumulate took place at greater depth (>300km) or at higher pressure (∼9GPa) at around 30% melting of source in contrast with primary liquid of AUK (spinifex lava), which was generated at shallower depth (∼150km) or at lower pressure (∼6GPa) beyond majorite stability and at higher degree of melting (∼30–40%). ‘Hump-shaped’ pattern of primitive mantle (PM) normalized REE spectra of Kapili ADKs and their primary liquid is caused by depletion of both LREE and HREE with respect to MREEs. Depletion in LREE and HREE is explained by depletion of source prior melting and sequestration of HREE in residual majorite respectively. However, Kapili AUK or spinifex lava samples show flat, near primitive mantle (REE/PM∼1) pattern exclusive of any significant depletion and implying higher degree of melting (between 30 and 40%) of a PM like source.Sm-Nd isotopic studies of Kapili ADK and AUK reveal that they both were derived from a mantle source with long term depletion (εNd∼+2 to +4). Except differences in LREE/HREE ratio featured due to differences in melting conditions, similarity in overall immobile HREE and high field strength element (HFSE) concentrations of both the types and their corresponding primary magmas suggest a single plume source rather than multiple sources, whose composition was closer to primitive mantle and eventually segregated chemically different komatiitic melts (Al-depleted and undepleted) at different depths. Whole rock Th/Yb, Th/Nb, Zr/Nb, Nb/Y, (La/Nb)PM ratios of both Kapili AUK and AUKs are comparable to oceanic island basalt (OIB) and mid oceanic ridge basalt (MORB) similar to typical greenstone belt volcanics from oceanic provenance. In addition, presence of copious pillow basalt and oceanic chert associated with komatiites, absence of negative δNb values recommend emplacement of komatiitic lava in oceanic rather than continental or arc setting.