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Origin of silicic breccio-conglomerate within the ~2.5 Ga LIP rhyolites, Bastar craton (India) and its volcanological and stratigraphic implications

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Abstract

Recognition of ancient pyroclastic rocks made up of particles of explosive volcanic origin and deposited by primary volcanic processes and/or rapid sedimentation of freshly erupted, texturally unmodified particles vis-a-vis secondary volcaniclastic deposits derived by significant reworking during transport of primary volcanic particles prior to deposition, but long after volcanism (epiclastic) remains a major challenge. A volcanic conglomerate having both rhyolitic clasts and matrix within the ~2.5 Ga Bijli Rhyolite in the Dongargarh large igneous province in the Bastar craton, is earlier interpreted to be of epiclastic origin, primarily because of the presence of large rounded rhyolite clasts imparting conglomeratic appearance to the deposit, and thereby considered representing a significant time break (unconformity) between explosive Bijli volcanism and the deposit. Based on new field and petrography studies, we identified the ~125 m thick volcanic conglomerate as rapidly sedimented texturally unmodified rhyolitic breccia-conglomerate linked to coeval incipiently welded pyroclastic flow that occurred during caldera collapse related to mafic-recharge-mediated Bijli volcanism, without significant time break. We ascribed the rounding of rhyolite clasts to surface tension of hot crystallising molten magma in plastic state and partly to mechanical interactions of particles on steep slopes in such volcanic settings. This study may help clarify origin of similar deposits in deformed metamorphosed provinces elsewhere.

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Acknowledgements

Authors acknowledge Prof Dhruba Mukhopadhyay (formerly of the University of Calcutta), for introducing SS to the fascinating geology of the Dongargarh province long back, Prof N V Chalapathi Rao and Prof J S Ray (the guest editors) for the invitation to contribute to this special volume in memory of late Prof Gautam Sen, an acclaimed petrologist of our time, Department of Geology, University of Lucknow for support. The paper is benefitted from the comments of two anonymous reviewers.

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  1. Department of Geology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, 226 007, India

    Sarajit Sensarma & Ruchi Gaur

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  1. Sarajit Sensarma
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First author: Fieldwork; formulation of the idea, overall technical supervision. Both authors: Participated in thin-section petrography study, interpretation, writing and preparation of the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Sarajit Sensarma.

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Communicated by Jyotisankar Ray

This article is part of the Topical Collection: Deccan Traps and other Flood Basalt Provinces – Recent Research Trends.

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Sensarma, S., Gaur, R. Origin of silicic breccio-conglomerate within the ~2.5 Ga LIP rhyolites, Bastar craton (India) and its volcanological and stratigraphic implications. J Earth Syst Sci 131, 105 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-022-01840-1

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