Suprasubduction zone ophiolite from Agali hill: Petrology, zircon SHRIMP U–Pb geochronology, geochemistry and implications for Neoarchean plate tectonics in southern India

Abstract

The southern margin of the Dharwar Craton in Peninsular India preserves the records of an active convergent margin during the Neoarchean. Here we report the discovery of a relatively well-preserved suprasubduction zone ophiolite suite from the Agali hill in Attappadi, along the western extension of the Bhavani Shear Zone. In the Agali hill, from base to top, the rock sequence includes altered ultramafics with vestiges of dunite, thin layer of cumulate pyroxenite, a thick unit of metagabbro with the upper part grading into anorthositic gabbro and carrying thin layers of hornblendite, capped by metavolcanics (amphibolites) carrying veins and pools of trondhjemite. Fragments of metabasite (dolerite) dykes occur within the gabbroic horizon. Elongate bands of metamorphosed banded iron formation in association with amphibolite occur proximally. The lithological distribution in the area represents a typical ‘Ocean Plate Stratigraphy’ sequence with arc and exhumed sub-arc mantle material toward the north-west, followed by accreted remnants of suprasubduction zone ophiolites, large tracts of TTG gneisses, and amphibolites in association with BIF bands. The central domain is occupied by a granite batholith. Toward the south-east, the dominant lithology grades to a continental shelf sequence represented by metamorphosed psammitic and pelitic rocks (trench) and metacarbonates. The common occurrence of magnesite in association with ultramafic units in the area suggests CO2-induced metasomatism of peridotites in the mantle wedge through fluids released within the subduction zone.We present major, trace and REE data on the Agali Ophiolite Complex which clearly suggest magma derivation in a suprasubduction setting in the absence of any significant crustal contamination. The internal structure as imaged from CL images of zircons separated from metagabbro, trondhjemite and metagranite show features typical of magmatic crystallization, with the grains mantled by bright structureless thin rims developed during a dominantly dry metamorphic event. The U–Pb concordia ages of 2547±17Ma (MSWD 0.84) and 2547±7.4Ma (MSWD 2.4) obtained from zircons in the metagabbro and trondhjemite are indistinguishable; the zircons in the metagranite also show comparable magmatic age of 2532±8.6Ma (MSWD 2.5) with metamorphic overgrowth at ca. 2470Ma. These ages correlate well with similar age data reported recently from suprasubduction zone and arc-related rocks elsewhere along the southern margin of the Dharwar Craton. We propose a tectonic model that envisages accretion of oceanic arcs and micro-continents onto the margin of the Dharwar Craton during Neoarchean, marking an important event of continental growth, and broadly coinciding with the global crustal growth event at this time.