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• Calc-alkaline shoshonitic lamprophyre at Dharwar craton-Southern Granulite terrane boundary. • U-Pb titanite SHRIMP-II dating yielded a Tonian age of 820 ± 15 Ma. • Sr and Nd isotopes suggest the derivation from an enriched lithospheric mantle source. • Involvement of large-scale rifting, associated with the break-up of Rodinia, • Implications for India-South China Block paleoposition during Neoproterozoic. We present petrology, U-Pb titanite geochronology, bulk-rock and Sr-Nd geochemistry of an undeformed and unmetamorphosed shoshonitic lamprophyre (spessartite) from the Mysuru area (Halaguru- Harohalli alkaline province) located approximately 80 km north of the tectonic contact between the Western Dharwar Craton and the Southern Granulite Terrane, southern India, to understand its origin and to evaluate its geodynamic significance. The lamprophyre shows a typical porphyritic-panidiomorphic texture with amphibole phenocrysts. Clinopyroxene occurs only as xenocrysts with feldspar, apatite, titanite and titano-magnetite confined to the groundmass. Amphibole mineral composition classifies them as pargasite and tremolite, and the groundmass is essentially constituted of alkali feldspar. High whole-rock Mg# (56–65), Ni + Cr (245 to 730 ppm), a lack of correlation between SiO 2 and Rb/Sr as well as ɛNd (i) indicates that crustal contamination experienced by the lamprophyre magma is limited. U-Pb titanite (n = 18) SHRIMP-II dating yielded a Neoproterozoic Tera-Wasserburg concordia age of 820 ± 15 Ma (MSWD = 5.9). Whole-rock derived 87Sr/86Sr (i) (0.70425–0.70530) and ɛNd (i) (-6.3 to −4.3) suggest origin of the lamprophyre from an enriched lithospheric mantle source. Paleoproterozoic depleted-mantle model ages of ca. 1.8 Ga suggest the existence of a long-lived enriched mantle which correspond to the timing (ca.1.9–1.7 Ga) of widespread mafic dyke swarms' emplacement in the Dharmapuri-Agali-Tiruvannamalai domain in the Salem block at the northernmost portion of the Southern Granulite Terrane. The Tonian emplacement age of the studied lamprophyre is synchronous with several co-spatial Neoproterozoic (i) alkaline complexes ± carbonatite ± lamprophyre from the northern part of the Southern Granulite Terrane, and (ii) other mafic alkaline dykes of the Halaguru-Harohalli alkaline province from the southern part of the Eastern Dharwar Craton. Our results highlight the importance of this lamprophyre dyke, present close to the'Fermor Line' as well as near the boundary between Eastern and Western Dharwar Cratons, which provides a rare opportunity to understand its spatio-temporal link with alkaline dykes of the Southern Granulite Terrain. Our findings also help understand the role of repeated large-scale rifting, associated with the Rodinia break-up, leading to the generation of a wide spectrum of Tonian-Cryogenian alkaline magmas in southern Indian Shield. The new age data also have implications for the configuration of India's paleoposition during the Neoproterozoic and support the idea that South China Block-India were located on the periphery of Rodinia or were already detached from the supercontinent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The Sandmata Complex preserves Neoarchaean protolith ages of 2.68–2.42 Ga. • Zircon-monazite ages indicate peak granulite facies metamorphism at 1.90–1.78 Ga. • Sandmata quartzofeldspathic gneisses record an isobaric cooling P–T path. • The complex was tectonically active up to the Neoproterozoic (∼0.90–0.78 Ga). The Sandmata Complex in the Aravalli Craton of northwestern India experienced syn- to post-collisional high-grade metamorphism and migmatization related to the 1.9–1.7 Ga Aravalli orogeny. Garnet-bearing quartzofeldspathic gneisses are an important rock type in the Sandmata Complex. Their prograde assemblage is represented by garnet cores and inclusion minerals Bt + Pl + Qz, whereas the assemblage Pl + Kfs + Qz + Bt matrix + Sil + Ilm, along with chemically homogeneous garnet porphyroblasts, represents peak metamorphism. Post-peak retrograde metamorphism is reflected in the growth of muscovite, chlorite and biotite, and diffusion adjustments in garnet rims. Mineral paragenesis, mineral chemistry, conventional thermobarometry, and phase equilibrium modelling indicate P–T conditions of 6.7–10.2 kbar at 725–830 °C for peak metamorphism, and 4.8–6.9 kbar at 450–610 °C for post-peak retrogression. The P–T conditions determined from the quartzofeldspathic gneisses define a near-isobaric cooling P–T path. In contrast, previously studied high-grade pelitic gneisses and metagranitoids from the Sandmata Complex define an isothermal decompression P–T path. U–Pb dating of magmatic zircon cores in the quartzofeldspathic gneisses provides the crystallization age of their felsic protoliths as ∼ 2.52 Ga. Zircon and monazite geochronology show that peak metamorphism occurred at ∼ 1.90–1.78 Ga and thus shortly preceded the emplacement of the Gyangarh-Asind igneous suite and Anjana granite, previously dated at ∼ 1.72–1.64 Ga. A model of oceanic crust subduction followed by continent–continent collision during the Aravalli orogeny can explain granulite facies metamorphism in the Sandmata Complex. The combined results of this and previous studies support the operation of modern-style plate tectonic processes involving subduction and continental collision during Palaeoproterozoic time. We also identify a younger (∼0.90–0.78 Ga) metamorphic episode, preserved mostly in recrystallized monazite grains elongated parallel to the final deformation fabric, likely related to the South Delhi orogeny. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Two-stage clock wise P-T evolution of UHT sapphirine granulites in Madurai block. • U-Pb zircon-monazite-rutile-apatite geochronology record heating/cooling episodes. • Evidence for long-lived Neoproterozoic UHT orogeny and subsequent slow cooling. • Identification of Kambam UHT belt as an important tectonic boundary within SGT. The Precambrian granulite terrane of south India is known for the preservation of regional-scale high to ultrahigh-temperature (HT-UHT) metamorphic rocks. In the Madurai block, the largest crustal block in the terrane, a significant proportion of these HT-UHT rocks occur along a narrow belt referred to as the Kambam ultrahigh-temperature belt. Understanding the P-T-t evolution of these HT-UHT granulites is vital in decoding the spatial and temporal evolution of the Madurai block in relation to other crustal blocks. Here we present the petrology, mineral chemistry, phase equilibrium modelling, and accessory mineral (zircon, monazite, rutile and apatite) geochronological and geochemical data for a hitherto unreported sapphirine granulite from the Kambam ultrahigh-temperature belt. Combined mineral reaction and phase equilibrium modelling indicate extreme P-T conditions up to 1130 °C at 11 kbar. The geometry of the P-T path is clockwise with initial isothermal decompression followed by near isobaric cooling. LA-ICPMS U-Pb geochronological studies on accessory phases report two distinct thermal events: (i) Paleoproterozoic high-T event and associated crustal anatexis at ∼2.5 Ga from zircons and (ii) Neoproterozoic UHT event at ∼550 Ma from monazites. The monazite ages suggest a 50–60 Ma prolonged thermal event, attributed to Ediacaran-Cambrian collisional orogenesis. Additional metamorphic pulses are also identified, demonstrating the polydeformed crustal evolution history of the terrane. U-Pb age dating of rutile and apatite in the sample provide ages of ∼458 Ma and ∼392 Ma and cooling rates of ∼6 °C/Ma and ∼0.3–2 °C/Ma respectively. This suggests a complex history of slow cooling followed by ultraslow cooling. The results bring forth the significance of the Kambam ultrahigh-temperature belt in understanding the tectonothermal evolution of Madurai block and provide additional evidence for long-lived Neoproterozoic UHT orogenesis in south India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Mafic dykes in the central Indian Bundelkhand and eastern Indian Bastar cratons are potential sources for tracing the location of the Indian shield within Palaeoproterozoic supercontinent reconstructions. A total of 610 oriented core samples were collected from 27 mafic dykes (342 samples) in Bundelkhand craton and 20 dykes (268 samples) in Bastar craton. The characteristic magnetisations identify distinct groups of directions. The derived palaeopoles are integrated with recently reported U–Pb isotopic ages from the Bundelkhand and Bastar cratons and correlated with palaeopoles from the mafic dykes in the Dharwar craton, South India. Characteristic remanence (ChRM) identified in these dykes are classified into (i) steep upward/downward components further sub-grouped as ca. 2.37Ga steep 1 (λ =10.2°S; Ф =75.0°E; A 95 =18.1° in Bundelkhand and λ =22.3°N; Ф =71.4°E; A 95 =21.6° in Bastar), component comparable with ca. 2.4–2.45Ga steep 2 group from one dyke in Bundelkhand (λ =14°S; Ф =101°E; A 95 =26.1°) and one dyke in Bastar (λ =6°N; Ф =113°E; A 95 =26.5°). A steep component (λ =60.4°N; Ф =45.3°E; A 95 =9.7° in Bundelkhand and a comparable component λ =49°N; Ф =129°E; A 95 =15.1° from one dyke in Bastar) is not assigned an age at present. (ii) ca. 2.18Ga shallow easterly and antipodal shallow westerly components (λ =0.4°S; Ф =347°E; A 95 =21.6° in Bundelkhand and λ =18.0°N; Ф =344.0°E; A 95 =8.1° in Bastar) and (iii) 1.99Ga shallow northwest and antipodal shallow southeast (λ =57.5°N; Ф =309.0°E; A 95 =4.7° in Bundelkhand and λ =39°N; Ф =321°E; A 95 =28° in Bastar). A group (iv) of ∼2.2Ga northeast shallow components (λ =36.0°S; Ф =357.0°E; A 95 =9.4°) is found only in the Bundelkhand craton. The distinct groups of palaeomagnetic pole determinations from dykes of the Bundelkhand and Bastar craton exhibit a remarkable match with palaeomagnetic poles determined from Precambrian mafic dykes in the Dharwar craton. The close comparison of mafic dyke magnetisations between the cratons suggests close proximity since 2.45–2.5Ga. Models suggesting amalgamation of crustal blocks along the Central Indian Tectonic Zone at 1.8Ga or a 1.0Ga collision along this zone to form Rodinia are untenable. Testing of proposed NeoArchaean-Palaeoproterozoic supercontinent reconstructions showing a north China–India linkage or India''s close proximity to Slave craton to form a supercraton ‘Sclavia’ are not supported. Instead, the data are compatible placing India in close proximity to the Yilgarn block of Western Australia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• The metamafic volcanics and metasediments from the Sargur Greenstone Belt recorded the 2.50–2.44 Ga regional metamorphism. • The garnet-bearing amphibolite and garnet-staurolite-kyanite mica schist yield an amphibolite-facies metamorphism with peak P–T conditions of 681–769 °C and 7.5–9.3 kbar. • The ca. 2.50–2.44 Ga regional metamorphism was possibly resulted from accretion-collision of different Archean blocks in the WDC. We report petrological and geochronological data for metamafic volcanics and metasediments from the Sargur Greenstone Belt, Western Dharwar Craton (WDC), southern India and discuss the end-Archean metamorphic P–T conditions of the Sargur Greenstone Belt, as well as geotectonic implications of the end-Archean metamorphism in the WDC. The LA-ICP MS zircon U-Pb dating yields a metamorphic age of 2500 ± 20 Ma for the garnet-bearing amphibolite. The garnet-staurolite-kyanite mica schist sample has metamorphic zircon and monazite U-Pb ages of 2443 ± 7 Ma and 2468 ± 10 Ma, respectively, consistent with metamorphic zircon U-Pb ages of 2459 ± 17 Ma and 2455 ± 18 Ma yield by the amphibole-garnet schist samples. The peak mineral assemblage of the garnet-bearing amphibolite is garnet + clinopyroxene + amphibole + plagioclase + quartz + rutile + ilmenite, and that of the metapelitic schist is garnet + staurolite + kyanite + biotite + muscovite + quartz + plagioclase. Phase equilibrium modelling, together with geothermobarometers yield P–T conditions of 7.9–8.9 kbar/681–769 °C and 7.5–9.3 kbar/683–694 °C for the garnet-bearing amphibolite and garnet-staurolite-kyanite mica schist, respectively, corresponding to a medium geothermal gradient of 20–25 °C/km. These data indicate that the Sargur Greenstone Belt has experienced a typical Barrovian-type (amphibolite-facies) metamorphism at ca. 2.50–2.44 Ga. Combined with the previous studies, it is suggested that the Sargur Greenstone Belt was most likely to be formed during 3.35–3.12 Ga and was reworked through four episodes of magmatic-metamorphic events occurred at ca. 3.1 Ga, ca. 3.0 Ga, ca. 2.8–2.6 Ga and ca. 2.5–2.4 Ga. The prominent ca. 2.5–2.4 Ga regional metamorphism is the last stage of the Neoarchean tectono-thermal event in the WDC and thus most possibly indicate accretion-collision of different Archean blocks at ca. 2.5–2.4 Ga and lead to the final cratonization (stabilization) of the whole Dharwar Craton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• SIMS U-Pb zircon age of 2522 ± 12 Ma for anorthosite from the Sittampundi Complex. • Plagioclase 87Sr/86Sr ratios and chromite γ Os values argue for depleted mantle source. • Parental magma of anorthosite was contaminated by ancient mafic lower crust. • Anorthositic-gabbroic intrusions likely represent the lowermost crust of the Dharwar Craton. • Magmas underplating facilitated the Dharwar cratonization. Mantle-derived magmas at the base of the lower crust exerted a key control on late Archean cratonization in many continents. Since well-preserved, complete lower crustal section is rarely exposed, direct studies on the genetic link between mantle-derived magmas and cratonic lower crustal stabilization are inadequate. Cratonic lower crustal section is well-preserved in the southern margin of the Dharwar Craton (southern India), with a number of late Archean anorthositic-gabbroic complexes. Among these complexes, the Sittampundi anorthosite complex (SAC) consists of white- and dark-anorthosite (>60 vol%), gabbros, and ultramafic rocks. In this study, SIMS zircon U-Pb dating of the anorthosite revealed a minimum emplacement age of 2522 ± 12 Ma, similar to the chromite Os model ages (2528–2563 Ma) of the anorthosite-hosted chromitite. In-situ plagioclase (87Sr/86Sr) i ratios (0.70079–0.70100) of the dark anorthosite and the chromite γ Os (T) values (−0.2 to −0.4) of the chromitite suggest that the SAC was derived from a depleted mantle source. From the dark to white anorthosite, the (87Sr/86Sr) i ratios increase while the An contents decrease, suggesting crustal assimilation occurred during fractionation. Similarly, the mantle-like zircon δ18O values and relatively-wide ε Hf (T) (−2.1 to +8.4) range of the SAC anorthosite suggest that the parental magma had assimilated the ancient mafic lower crust. Emplacement ages of the SAC and published ages of the mafic/felsic granulites and charnockites altogether indicate that the anorthosites were formed during the Dharwar cratonization, and that the mantle-derived magma underplating may have led to extensive lower crustal melting. We argued that during underplating, high-density olivine-pyroxene cumulates (from fractionation of the mantle-derived magma) and partial-melting residues (in the overlying lower crust) mostly sank back to the underlying mantle. In contrast, the lower-density plagioclase and minor amphibole remained in the lower crust to form anorthositic-gabbroic sills. The magmas underplating and subsequent lower-crustal melting have likely made the cratonic lower crust more refractory and buoyant, which facilitated cratonization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Hercynite-quartz-bearing granulites occur on the southern tip of the South Delhi Terrane, India. • Preserved metamorphic reaction microstructures are indicative of a decompression event. • New SHRIMP data provide evidence for a Neoproterozoic age as a time of metamorphic overprint. • South Delhi basin would have been a remnant of the proto-Mozambique Ocean in NW India. Diwani Hill granulites occurring on the southern tip of the South Delhi Terrane (SDT) of Aravalli Mobile Belt (AMB), comprises rocks of granulite facies and represent the deeper level of the crust. The SDT represents an admixture of charnockites, granites, calc-granulites and hercynite-quartz-bearing pelitic granulites. The symplectite and corona textures recorded in the hercynite-quartz-bearing granulites from a part of SDT provides a wide spectrum of P-T sensors in support of the petrological evolution. P-T evolution of these hercynite-quartz-bearing granulites has been constrained through the use of THERMOCALC program, conventional thermobarometry, and pseudosection modelling in the NCKFMASHTO model system using Perple_X software. The unification of these three calculations, demonstrates that the hercynite-quartz-bearing granulites experienced peak pressure and temperature at 6.7 kbar and 750 °C, respectively. The textural imprints, multistage reaction textures, P-T pseudosections as well as the application of multi-equilibrium calculation give evidence for decompressive history related to their exhumation. SHRIMP U-Pb chronological results yield ages between 780 and 680 Ma as a time of metamorphic overprint, and the ages between 1591 and 1216 Ma corresponding with detritus derived from magmatic source for hercynite-quartz-bearing granulites. Zircon ages reflect that continental crust in the SDT resulted from the Mesoproterozoic protolith of an igneous origin whereas sedimentary succession was deposited between 1216 and 780 Ma. The present study envisages that the South Delhi basin would have been a remnant of the proto-Mozambique Ocean in NW India which was closed due to subduction. This subduction metamorphosed the sediments of the basin to granulite facies and the rocks were subsequently, uplifted because of the thrust sheet tectonics during the Neoproterozoic times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Two diamictites units are recognized on the western margin of Cathaysia Block, and correlate with the global Sturtian and Marinoan glaciations. • Late Tonian, middle Cryogenian and early Ediacaran siliciclastic rocks overlying the Cathaysia Block were derived from sources external to South China. • The Cathaysia Block was linked to North India before 720 Ma. Neoproterozoic paleogeography of the Cathaysia Block of South China is directly linked to the formation of Rodinia, its break-up, and the subsequent amalgamation of Gondwana. Two diamictite units occur in the Neoproterozoic sedimentary successions on the western margin of Cathaysia Block. In combination with our detrital zircon U-Pb dating results and corrected chemical weathering index data (CIA corr), these units coincide with the global Sturtian and Marinoan glaciations. Late Tonian to early Ediacaran sedimentary rocks from western Cathaysia contain abundant late Mesoproterozoic to early Neoproterozoic (1150–870 Ma) and some mid-Neoproterozoic (800–720) detrital zircons. Paleocurrent data indicate sediment transport to the northwest. The timing and character of the ages of detrital zircons match the records of North India and East Antarctica, indicating that the Cathaysia Block received detritus from Gondwana. Thus, South China lay adjacent to northern Gondwana since at least 720 Ma, and possibly considerably earlier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]