Petrogenesis of end-Cretaceous/Early Eocene lamprophyres from the Deccan Large Igneous Province: Constraints on plume-lithosphere interaction and the post-Deccan lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary (LAB) beneath NW India

Abstract

We present petrology, geochemistry and radiogenic isotope (Sr and Nd) data of thirteen post-Deccan lamprophyre dykes in the Narmada rift zone from the Chhotaudepur alkaline province of the Deccan Large Igneous Province (DLIP). Mineralogically, these dykes show affinity towards alkaline (sannaite and camptonite) as well as ultramafic (damtjernite) varieties of lamprophyres. Their major oxides and certain trace element ratios increase with increasing silica content highlighting the strong influence of fractionation processes. Their Nb/U and Ce/Pb ratios are similar to the mantle array defined by MORBs and OIBs and suggests an uncontaminated nature. Major oxide (K2O, Na2O, SiO2 and TiO2) contents show geochemical similarity towards shoshonitic volcanic series, whereas elevated Zr/Hf and Nb/La coupled with suppressed Rb/Nb and Zr/b display their affinity towards HIMU-type intraplate basalts. Their radiogenic initial 87Sr/86Sr (0.706034–0.710582) and sub-chondritic initial ɛNd (−8.6 to 2.1) are akin to those of the (i) ca. 65 Ma Ambadongar carbonatite, NW India, and (ii) ca. 65 Ma orangeites from Bastar Craton, central India, highlighting an enriched lithospheric mantle source. REE inversion modeling suggests ~3% enrichment of an undepleted mantle followed by small degrees of melting of this enriched mantle source are sufficient- as in the case of ocean island basalts (OIB)- to reproduce their observed REE concentrations. Their TDM Nd model ages (564–961 Ma) are consistent with widespread convergent margin-related magmatism during the amalgamation of the Rodinia supercontinent. We propose that enriched lithospheric mantle developed during the Neoproterozoic was metasomatized by small-volume CO2-rich melts imparting a HIMU-type geochemical character during Late Cretaceous, when the mantle plume (viz., Réunion) responsible for the flood basalt eruption, impinged at the base of the NW Indian lithosphere. From the presence of F-rich apatite and high K/Rb in mica, we infer the (i) presence of F-phlogopite in their source regions, and (ii) that the depth of post-Deccan lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary (LAB) beneath NW India was at least ~100 km at ca. 65 Ma.