Journal of Geological Society of India (Online archive from Vol 1 to Vol 78)

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Geochemistry and Tectonic Setting of Tuting Metavolcanic Rocks of Possible Ophiolitic Affinity from Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis


Affiliations
1 Department of Geology, ETL, University of Calcutta, 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata - 700 019, India
2 Department of Geological Sciences, Jadavpur University, Kolkata - 700 032, India
3 Geochemistry Division, CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, Uppal Road, Hyderabad - 500 007, India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


Geochemistry of Tuting metavolcanic rocks is being reported for the first time. Narrow slivers of mafic volcanic rocks, as those at Tuting, also occur in close association with slivers of more complete sections of ophiolites at the Tsangpo river section upstream of Tuting and skirt round the Namche Barwa antiform. These detached slivers of the mafic volcanic rocks and the ophiolites represent the easternmost components of the Yarlung Tsangpo Ophiolite, and also define the arcuate shape of the Eastern Himalayan syntaxis. The metavolcanic rocks exposed at the apex of the Siang river dome at Tuting (Tsangpo River named Siang down stream of Tuting) is the only exposure of such rocks from the Himalayan syntaxial area in India.

The Tuting metavolcanic rocks correspond to andesite and basaltic andesite as per TAS diagram. The mobility of major elements possibly has affected their classification. As per Zr/TiO2 - Nb/Y diagram of Winchester and Floyd (1977), proposed for classification of altered igneous rocks, the Tuting samples mainly correspond to 'sub-akaline basalt' and one sample plot as 'andesite/basalt'. These have a flat chrondrite-normalised REE pattern. MORB-normalized multi-elemental plot shows enrichment in large ion lithophile (LIL) and the light rare earth elements (LREE), and depletion in several high field strength elements (HFSE). Based on these trace element patterns and a few discrimination plots, the Tuting metavolcanic rocks are inferred to have generated in supra-subduction zone environment in an intra-oceanic arc, back arc setting, or in a mid-ocean ridge process that resembles the Chile Ridge spreading centre.


Keywords

Tuting Metavolcanics, Ophiolite, Geochemistry, Siang Dome, Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis.
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size

  • ACHARYYA, S.K. (1994) The Cenozoic foreland basin and tectonics of the Eastern Sub-Himalaya: problems and prospects. Himalayan Geol., v.15, pp.3-21.

  • ACHARYYA, S.K. (2007) Evolution of the Himalayan Paleogene foreland basin, influence of its litho-packet on the formation of thrust-related domes and windows in the Eastern Himalayas – A review. Jour. Asian Earth Sci., v.31, pp.1-17.

  • ACHARYYA, S.K. and SAHA, P. (2008) Geological setting of the Siang Dome located at the Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis. Extended abstracts: 23rd Himalayan-Karakoram-Tibet Workshop, India. Himalayan Jour. Sci., v. 5, pp. 16-17.

  • AITCHISON, J.C., DAVIS, A.M., ABRAJEVITCH, A.V., ALI, J.R., BADENGZHU, LIU, J., LUO, H., ISABELLA, R.C., MCDERMID, I.R.C. and ZIABREV, S.V. (2003) Stratigraphic and sedimentological constraints on the age and tectonic evolution of the Neotethyan ophiolites along the Yarlung Tsangpo suture zone, Tibet. In: Y. Dilek and P.T. Robinson, (Eds.), Ophiolites in Earth History. Geol. Soc. London, Spec. Publ., v.218, pp.147-164.

  • AITCHISON, J.C. and DAVIS, A. (2004) Evidence for the multiphase nature of the India-Asia collision from Yarlung Tsangpo suture zone, Tibet. Geol. Soc. London Spec. Publ., v. 226, pp. 217-233.

  • BASALTIC VOLCANISM STUDY PROJECT. (1981) Basaltic volcanism on the terrestrial planets. Pergamon Press, New York, 1286 p.

  • BURG, J.P., NIEVERGELT, P., OBRELI, F., SEWARD, D., DAVY, P., MAURIN, J.C., DIAO, Z.Z. and MEIER, M. (1998) The Namche-Barwa syntaxis: evidence for exhumation related to compressional crustal folding. Jour. Asian. Earth. Sci., v.16, pp.239-252.

  • CONDIE, K.C. (1999) Mafic crustal xenoliths and the origin of the lower continental crust. Lithos., v. 46, pp.95-101.

  • DEWEY, J.F., PITMAN, W.C., RYAN, W.B.F. and BONNIN, J. (1973) Plate tectonics and the evolution of the Alpine System. Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull., v.84, pp.3137-3180.

  • DILEK, Y. and ROBINSON, P.T. (2003) Ophiolites in Earth History. Geol. Soc. London, Spec. Publ., v.218, 700p.

  • DILEK, Y., FURNES, H. and SHALLO, M. (2007). Suprasubduction zone ophiolite formation along the periphery of Mesozoic Gondwana. Gondwana Res., v.11, pp.453-475.

  • DING, L., ZHONG, D., YIN, A., KAPP, P. and Harrison, T.M. (2001) Cenozoic structural and metamorphic evolution of the eastern Himalayan syntaxis (Namche Barwa). Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., v. 192, pp. 423-438.

  • GIRARDEAU, J., MERCIER, J.C. and XIBIN, W. (1985) Petrology of the mafic rocks of the Xigaze ophiolite, Tibet; implications for the genesis of the oceanic lithosphere. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol., v.90(4), pp.309-321.

  • GOVINDARAJU, K. (1994) Compilation of Working Values and sample description for 383 geostandards. Geostandards Newsletter., v.18, Spec. Issue, 158p.

  • HAWKESWORTH, C.J., O’NIONS, R.K., PANKHURST, R.L., HAMILTON, P.J. and EVENSEN, N.M. (1977) A geochemical study of island arc and back arc tholeiites from the Scotia sea. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., v.36, pp.253-262.

  • HAWKESWORTH, C.J., HERGT, J.M., ELLAM, R.M. and MCDERMOTT, F. (1991) Element fluxes associated with subduction related magmatism. Phil. Trans. Royal Soc. London, v. 335, pp.393-405.

  • HUMPHRIS, S.E. (1984) The mobility of rare-earth elements in the crust. In: P. Henderson (Ed.), Rare earth element geochemistry. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp.312-342.

  • JAKES, P. and WHITE, A.J.R. (1972) Major and trace element abundances in volcanic rocks of Orogenic areas. Bull. Geol. Soc. Amer., v. 83, pp.29-40.

  • LE BAS, M.J., LE MAITRE, R.W., STREKEISEN, A. and ZANETHIN, B. (1986) Classification of volcanic rocks based on Total Alkali-Silica diagram. Jour. Petrol., v.271, pp.745-750.

  • MALPAS, J., ZHOU, M-F, ROBINSON, P.T. and REYNOLDS, P.H. (2003) Geochemical and geochronological constraints on the origin and emplacement of the Yarlung Zangbo ophiolites, Southern Tibet. In: R.J. Pankhurst and 10 others (Eds.), Ophiolite in Earth history. Geol. Soc. London, Spec. Publ., v.218, pp.191-206.

  • MCCULLOCH, M.T. and GAMBLE, J.A. (1991) Geochemical and geodynamical constraints on subduction zone magmatism. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., v.102, pp.358-374.

  • MIYASHIRO, A. (1974) Volcanic rock series in island arcs and active continental margins. Amer. Jour. Sci., v.274, pp.321-355.

  • MOORES, E.M., KELLOGG, L.H. and DILEK, Y. (2000) Tethyan ophiolites, mantle convection and tectonic “historical contingency”: A resolution of the “ophiolite conundrum”. In: Y. Dilek, E.M. Moores, D. Elthon and A. Nicolas (Eds.), Ophiolites and Oceanic crust: New Insights from field studies and Ocean Drilling program. Geol. Soc. Amer. Spec. Paper, v.349, pp.3-12.

  • MULLEN, E.D. (1983) MnO/TiO2/P2O5: A minor element discrimination for basaltic rocks of oceanic environments and its implication for petrogenesis. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., v.62, pp.53-62.

  • PEARCE, J.A. (1975) Basalt geochemistry used to investigate past tectonic environments on Cyprus. Tectonophysics, v.25, pp.41-67.

  • PEARCE, J.A. (1983) Role of the sub-continental lithosphere in magma genesis at active continental margins. In: C.J Hawkesworth and M.J. Norry (Eds.), Continental basalts and mantle xenoliths, pp. 230-249. Shiva, Orpington (London), and Birkhauser Boston, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

  • PEARCE, J.A. and PEATE, D.W. (1995) Tectonic implications of the composition of volcanic arc magmas. Annual Rev. Earth Planet. Sci., v.23, pp.251-285.

  • QUANRU, G., GUITANG, P., ZHENG, L., CHEN, Z., FISHER, R.D., SUN, Z., OU, C., DONG, H., WANG, X., LI, S., LOU, X. and FU, H. (2006) The Eastern Himalayan syntaxis: major tectonic domains, ophiolitic mélanges and geologic evolution. Jour. Asian Earth Sci., v.27, pp.265-285.

  • REAGAN, M.K. and ROWE, M.C. (2009) Nb in basalts from Turrialba Volcano, Costa Rica revisited. Goldschmidt Conference Abstracts, A1078.

  • ROY, P., BALARAM, V., KUMAR, A., SATYANARAYANAN, M. and RAO, G.T. (2007) New REE and Trace Element Data on Two kimberlitic Reference Materials by ICP-MS. Geostandard Geoanalytical Res., v. 31, pp. 261-273.

  • ROY, P., BALARAM, V., KRISHNA, A.K., SINGH, R.S., CHAVAN, C.D., CHARAN, S.N. and MURTHY, N.N. (2009) A Simplified and Rapid Method for the Determination of Sulphur in kimberlites and other Geological Samples by Wavelength-Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry. Atomic Spectroscopy, v.30(5), pp.178-183.

  • SCHILLING, J.G., ZAJAC, M., EVANS, R., JOHUSTON, T., WHITE, W., DEVINE, J.D. and KINGSLEY, R. (1983) Petrologic and geochemical variations along the Mid Atlantic ridge from 27° N to 73° N. Amer. Jour. Sci., v.283, pp.510-586.

  • SHERVAIS, J.W. (1982) Ti-V plots and the petrogenesis of modern and ophiolitic lavas. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., v.59, pp.101-108.

  • SINGH, S. (1993) Geology and tectonics of the eastern syntaxial bend, Arunachal Himalaya. Jour. Him. Geol., v.4, pp.149-163.

  • STURN, M.E., KLEIN, E.M., KARSTEN, J.L. and KARSON, J.A. (2000) Evidence for subduction-related contamination of the mantle beneath the southern Chile Ridge: Implications for ambiguous ophiolite compositions. In: Y. Dilek, E.M. Moores, D. Elthon and A. Nicolas (Eds.), Ophiolites and Oceanic crust: New Insights from field studies and Ocean Drilling program. Geol. Soc. Amer., Spec. Paper, v.349, pp.13-20.

  • SUN, S.S. (1980) Lead isotopic study of young volcanic rocks from mid-ocean ridges, ocean islands and island arcs. Phil. Trans. Royal Soc. London, v.A297, pp.409-445.

  • SUN, S.S. and MCDONOUGH, W.F. (1989) Chemical and isotopic systematics of oceanic basalts: implications for mantle composition and processes. In: A.D. Saunders, and M.J. Norry (Eds.), Magmatism in the Ocean Basin. Geol. Soc. London Spec. Publ., v.42, pp.313-345.

  • WINCHESTER J.A. and FLOYD, P.A. (1977) Geochemical discrimination of different magma series and their differentiation products using immobile elements. Chem. Geol., v.20, pp.325-345.

  • WOOD, D.A. (1980) The application of a Th-Hf-Ta diagram to problems of tectonomagmatic classification and to establishing the nature of crustal contamination of basaltic lavas of the British Tertiary volcanic province. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., v.50, pp.11-30.

  • XIA, B., CHEN, G-W., WANG, R. and WANG, Q. (2008) Seamount volcanism associated with the Xigaze ophiolite, Southern Tibet. Jour. Asian Earth Sci., v.32, pp.396-405.

  • ZHANG, Q., WANG, C.Y., Y.W., LIU, D., JIAN, P., QIAN, Q., ZHOU, G. and ROBINSON, P.T. (2008) A brief review of ophiolites in China. Jour. Asian Earth Sci., v.32, pp.308-324.

  • ZHOU, J. and LI, X. (2006) GeoPlot: An Excel VBA program for geochemical data plotting, Comp. Geosci., v.32(4), pp.554-560.


Abstract Views: 211

PDF Views: 0




  • Geochemistry and Tectonic Setting of Tuting Metavolcanic Rocks of Possible Ophiolitic Affinity from Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis

Abstract Views: 211  |  PDF Views: 0

Authors

Puspendu Saha
Department of Geology, ETL, University of Calcutta, 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata - 700 019, India
S. K. Acharyya
Department of Geological Sciences, Jadavpur University, Kolkata - 700 032, India
V. Balaram
Geochemistry Division, CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, Uppal Road, Hyderabad - 500 007, India
Parijat Roy
Geochemistry Division, CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, Uppal Road, Hyderabad - 500 007, India

Abstract


Geochemistry of Tuting metavolcanic rocks is being reported for the first time. Narrow slivers of mafic volcanic rocks, as those at Tuting, also occur in close association with slivers of more complete sections of ophiolites at the Tsangpo river section upstream of Tuting and skirt round the Namche Barwa antiform. These detached slivers of the mafic volcanic rocks and the ophiolites represent the easternmost components of the Yarlung Tsangpo Ophiolite, and also define the arcuate shape of the Eastern Himalayan syntaxis. The metavolcanic rocks exposed at the apex of the Siang river dome at Tuting (Tsangpo River named Siang down stream of Tuting) is the only exposure of such rocks from the Himalayan syntaxial area in India.

The Tuting metavolcanic rocks correspond to andesite and basaltic andesite as per TAS diagram. The mobility of major elements possibly has affected their classification. As per Zr/TiO2 - Nb/Y diagram of Winchester and Floyd (1977), proposed for classification of altered igneous rocks, the Tuting samples mainly correspond to 'sub-akaline basalt' and one sample plot as 'andesite/basalt'. These have a flat chrondrite-normalised REE pattern. MORB-normalized multi-elemental plot shows enrichment in large ion lithophile (LIL) and the light rare earth elements (LREE), and depletion in several high field strength elements (HFSE). Based on these trace element patterns and a few discrimination plots, the Tuting metavolcanic rocks are inferred to have generated in supra-subduction zone environment in an intra-oceanic arc, back arc setting, or in a mid-ocean ridge process that resembles the Chile Ridge spreading centre.


Keywords


Tuting Metavolcanics, Ophiolite, Geochemistry, Siang Dome, Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis.

References