Geochemistry of tourmaline of elbaite-dravite series from sapphire bearing pegmatites, proterozoic higher Himalayan Crystalline Complex Jammu and Kashmir, India: Implication for evolution of pegmatite melt

Abstract

Tourmaline of rare elbaite-dravite series has been reported for the first time from the sapphire bearing pegmatite from the Paddar area, Kishtwar District (Jammu and Kashmir), India. The sapphire-bearing pegmatites are hosted by ultramafic rocks of the Higher Himalayan Crystalline metamorphic complex. These pegmatites are dominantly composed of sodic-plagioclase, perthite, tourmaline, and sapphire, whereas microcline, biotite, and muscovite make up the minor phases. The tourmaline from these pegmatites contains high Mg, Ca, Na, and F content as well as low K, Fe, and Cr content. They are classified as alkali tourmaline, characterized by higher Mg/Mg + Fe and Na/Na + Ca ratios. They display complex substitution mechanisms during the crystallization (Li + Al↔Mg, Fe↔Mg, Na↔Ca, B + Al↔Si) and post crystallization alteration by the hydrothermal fluids. The geochemistry of tourmaline suggests that the tourmaline is crystallized from peraluminous, silicious pegmatitic melt (enriched in Al, Li, B, and H2O). This melt was most likely formed through partial melting of the metasediments of Higher Himalaya Crystalline during the M2 phase of regional metamorphism. The pegmatitic melt was injected in the ultramafics, resulting in bimtasomatism reaction evidenced by the development of systematic alteration zones next to the contact. Bimetasomatism results in the diffusion of the Ca and Mg from host rock to pegmatitic melt, and removal of silica from the pegmatitic melt, which leads to the increase of Al in pegmatitic melt. Finally, a saturation of the Al in the melt with a high Mg influx from host rock results in the favourable environment for crystallization of Mg-rich tourmaline and sapphire.