Contrasting crustal evolution processes in the Dharwar craton: Insights from detrital zircon U-Pb and Hf isotopes

New in situ U-Pb-Hf analyses of detrital zircons from across the Archaean Dharwar craton indicate significant juvenile crustal extraction events at similar to 33 and 2.7 Ga, and continuous extraction from 3.7 to 33 Ga. Reworking in the older western block at similar to 3.0 Ga marks the onset of cratonisation, most likely due to 'modern' plate tectonic processes, whilst reworking in both the western and younger eastern block at 2.55-2.50 Ga indicates accretion of the two terranes and final cratonisation much later than in most other Archaean terranes (similar to 2.7 Ga). Different patterns of disturbance to the zircon U-Pb systematics reflect variations in both the U content of parent rocks and later metamorphic conditions. Tectonic links are observed between the Kaapvaal and western Dharwar cratons, and between the north China and eastern Dharwar cratons, though none of these links necessarily requires a consanguineous origin. (C) 2014 International Association for Gondwana Research. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.