The Precambrian geochronology of Rajasthan and Bundelkhand, northern India

Abstract

Many new age determinations are reported for the Precambrian of Rajasthan and Bundelkhand in northern peninsular India. All are by Rb–Sr and mostly from total-rock analyses. They show that the oldest rocks in the area are undated sediments intruded by the Bundelkhand and Berach Granites, dated at about 2550 m.y. The overlying Aravalli System was intruded by granites dated at between 1900 and 2100 m.y., and is succeeded by the Delhi System, which was intruded by granite dated at 1650 m.y. Other granitic intrusion at 950–1000 m.y. was followed by repeated pegmatitic intrusion. The Banded Gneiss Complex of Rajasthan contains components of ages varying from at least 2000 m.y. to less than 1000 m.y. Nepheline-syenites at Kishangarh have an age of 1490 ± 150 m.y., but a biotite in an inclusion gives 970 m.y., which is the age of the Newania carbonatite.These determinations show that the Precambrian sequence in Rajasthan is much older than previously suggested. They confirm the antiquity of the Bundelkhand–Berach craton suggested by field studies, denying its derivation from Aravalli System rocks by granitization.