Neoarchaean and Proterozoic crustal growth and reworking in the Western Bastar Craton, Central India: Constraints from zircon, monazite geochronology and whole-rock geochemistry

The Bastar Craton is one of the oldest cratonic nuclei of the Indian shield, comprising Paleoarchean to Mesoproterozoic crust that preserves the record of protracted crustal evolution and metallogeny. This study describes whole-rock geochemistry, U-Th-Pb ages of zircon and monazite from Neoarchean TTGs, sanukitoids, and Paleoto Mesoproterozoic granites, and Sm-Nd isotope data from mafic enclave within TTGs of the Western Bastar Craton (WBC). The TTGs and sanukitoids represent Neoarchean crust formed by collision-accretion processes. The TTGs are of two types: low-HREE and high-HREE with both groups derived from low-K mafic sources. The sanukitoids have moderate SiO2 (55.1-65.1 wt%, average = 61.7 wt%), Mg# (20-36, average = 24.7), Ni (10-40 ppm; average = 14 ppm), Sr (339-528; average = 418 ppm) and moderate to high concentrations of incompatible elements like Rb (26-112 ppm, average = 48), Ba (482-2300 ppm, average = 1542), Zr (69-593 ppm, average = 334 ppm), Nb (3.8-14.8 ppm, average = 8.7 ppm), Y (13.2-24.5 ppm, average = 19.5 ppm), and REE (91-301 ppm, average = 212)]. They post-date TTG emplacement and formed by mixing between metabasalt-derived and mantle wedge-derived melts in an arc environment. The Mul granite represents a younger Paleo- to Mesoproterozoic suite of granites that was derived by reworking of pre-existing crust. U-Pb ages of zircon constraints the TTG magmatism to 2544-2496 Ma, while Nd-model ages (3259-3142 Ma) of mafic enclaves within the TTG suggest the presence of Paleoarchean crust in the WBC. Zircon and monazite ages indicate that the emplacement of the Mul granite was synchronous with 1666-1547 Ma regional tectonothermal event. These granites were produced by reworking of older granitoid crust. The Neoarchean TTGs/sanukitoids were affected by 1666-1547 Ma tectonothermal event which constitutes a widely documented Paleo- to Mesoproterozoic orogeny in the Central Indian Tectonic Zone and Bhopalpatnam granulite belt to the south of the WBC. Copper and gold mineralization in the Thanewasna belt along the craton's western margin is linked to this tectono-magmatic event. In the global supercontinent outlook, the WBC preserves the imprints of Neoarchean events related to the Ur supercontinent as well as Paleo-Mesoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic (Grenville-age) events associated with the Columbia and Rodinia supercontinent

Automated summary

The Bastar Craton in the Indian shield is one of the oldest cratonic nuclei, preserving the record of protracted crustal evolution and metallogeny from Paleoarchean to Mesoproterozoic times. This study reveals the presence of Neoarchean crust formed by collision-accretion processes, as well as younger granites derived by reworking of pre-existing crust. The study also indicates that the tectono-magmatic events in the region were linked to copper and gold mineralization along the craton's western margin.