Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Geochronological study of metasediments and carbon isotopes in associated graphites from the Sargur area, Dharwar craton: Constraints on the age and nature of the protoliths

  • Research Articles
  • Published:
Journal of the Geological Society of India

Abstract

207Pb/206Pb ages of detrital zircons from the graphite bearing metasediments of the Sargur area are determined using ion microprobe to constrain the probable depositional age. Zircon ages of the samples range from 2.3 to 2.8 Ga which are close to the reported metamorphic ages in the vicinity. Absence of older age (Mesoarchaean >3.0 Ga) in these samples suggest that detrital zircons from the Sargur supracrustal unit has been reset by younger post-depositional metamorphic processes and probably reflect a craton-wide Paleoproterozoic event. The graphites from these samples vary in concentration of carbon as well as in 13C/12C isotopic ratio. The range of δ13C values of graphites indicates organic origin suggesting the existence of bio-organisms in the Sargur area during the Paleoproterozoic period.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Beckinsale, R., Drury, S.A. and Holt, R.W. (1980) 3360 My old gneisses from the South Indian craton. Nature, v.283, pp.469–470.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhaskar Rao, Y.J., Naha, K., Srinivasan, R. and Gopalan, K. (1991) Geology, geochemistry and geochronology of the Archaean Peninsular Gneiss around Gorur, Hassan District, Karnataka, India. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. (Earth Planet. Sci.), v.100, pp.399–412.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhaskar Rao, Y.J., Sivaraman, T.V., Pantulu, G.V.C., Gopalan, K. and Naqvi, S.M. (1992) Rb-Sr ages of late Archaean metavolcanics and granites, Dharwar craton, southern India and evidence for early Proterozoic thermotectonic event(s). Precambrian Res., v.59, pp.145–170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhusan, R., Dutta, K. and Somayajulu, B.L.K. (2001) Concentrations and burial fluxes of organic and inorganic carbon on the eastern margins of the Arabian Sea. Mar. Geol., v.178, pp.95–113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bidyananda, M., Deomurari, M.P. and Goswami, J.N. (2003) 207Pb–206Pb ages of zircons from the Nuggihalli schist belt, Dharwar craton, southern India. Curr. Sci., v.85(10), pp.1482–1485.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bidyananda, M. and Mitra, S. (2005) Chromitites of komatiitic affinity from Archaean Nuggihalli greenstone belt of south India. Mineral. Petrol., v.84, pp.169–187.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brasier, M.D., Green, O.R., Jephcoat, A.P., Kleppe, A.K., van Kranendonk, M., Lindsay, J.F., Steele, A. and Grassineau, N.V. (2002). Questioning the evidence for Earth’s oldest fossils. Nature, v.416, pp.76–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buhl, D., Grauert, B. and Raith, M. (1983) U–Pb zircon dating of Archaean rocks from south Indian craton: results from amphibolite-granulite facies transition zone at Kabal quarry, southern Karnataka. Forthsch. Mineral., v.61, pp.43–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chardon, D., Jayananda, M., Chetty, T.R.K. and Peucat, J.J. (2008) Precambrian continental strain and shear zone patterns: South Indian case. Jour. Geophys. Res., v.113, B08402, pp. 1–16 doi: 10.1029/2007JB005299.

    Google Scholar 

  • Charlou, J.L., Fouquet, Y., Bougault, H., Donval, J.P., Etoubleau, J. and Jean-Baptiste, P. (1998) Intense CH4 plumes generated by serpentinization of ultramafic rocks at the intersection of the 15°20¢ N fracture zone and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, v.62, pp.2323–2333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Collins, A.S., Kröner, A., Fitzsimons, I.C.W. and Razakamanana, T. (2003). Detrital footprint of the Mozambique Ocean: U-Pb SHRIMP and Pb evaporation zircon geochronology of metasedimentary gneisses in Eastern Madagascar. Tectonophysics, v.375, pp.77–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cumming, G.L. and Richards, J.R. (1975) Ore lead isotope ratios in a continuously changing Earth. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., v.28, pp.155–171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dissanayake, C.B., Chandrajith, R. and Boudou, J.P. (2000) Biogenic Graphite as a Potential Geomarker — Application to Continental Reconstructions of Pan — African Gondwana Terrains. Gondwana Res., v.3, pp.405–413.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gerdes, A. and Zeh, A. (2009) Zircon formation versus zircon alteration — New insights from combined U–Pb and Lu–Hf in-situ LA-ICP-MS analyses, and consequences for the interpretation of Archean zircon from the Central Zone of the Limpopo Belt. Chem. Geol., v.261(3–4), pp.230–243.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halls, H.C., Kumar, A., Srinivasan, R. and Hamilton, M.A. (2007) Paleomagnetism and U–Pb geochronology of easterly trending dykes in the Dharwar craton, India: feldspar clouding, radiating dyke swarms and the position of India at 2.37 Ga. Precambrian Res., v.155(1–2), pp.47–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holm, N.G. and Charlou, J.L. (2001) Initial indications of abiotic formation of hydrocarbons in the Rainbow ultramafic hydrothermal system, Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., v.191, pp.1–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ikramuddin, M. and Stueber, A.M. (1976) Rb-Sr ages of Precambrian dolerite and alkaline dykes, south-east Mysore Sate, India. Lithos, v.9, pp.235–241.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jayananda, M., Chardon, D., Peucat, J.-J. and Capdevilla, R. (2006) 2.61 Ga potassic granites and crustal reworking in the western Dharwar craton, southern India: tectonic, geochronologic and geochemical constraints. Precambrian Res., v.150, pp.1–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jayananda, M., Kano, T., Peucat, J.-J. and Channabasappa, S. (2008) 3.35 Ga komatiite volcanism in the western Dharwarcraton, southern India: Constraints from Nd isotopes and whole-rock geochemistry. Precambrian Res., v.162, pp.160–179.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, B. and Das Sharma, S. (1998) Carbon isotope systematics of graphites from Dharwar craton, southern India: Implications to their source and post-depositional alterations. Curr. Sci., v. 75(4), pp. 396–399.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maibam, B., Goswami, J.N. and Srinivasan, R. (2011) Pb-Pb zircon ages of Archaean metasediments and gneisses from the southern part of the Dharwar craton, southern India: Implications for the antiquity of the Eastern Dharwar craton. Jour. Earth System Sci., v.120(4), pp.643–661.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meen, J.K., Rogers, J.J.W. and Fullagar, P.D. (1992) Lead isotopic compositions of the western Dharwar craton, southern India: evidence for distinct middle Archaean terranes in late Archaean craton. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, v.56, pp.2455–2470.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meißner, B., Deters, P., Srikantappa, C. and Köhler, H. (2002) Geochronological evolution of the Moyar, Bhavani and Palghat shear zones of southern India: implications for east Gondwana correlations. Precambrian Res., v.114, pp.149–175.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naha, K., Srinivasan, R., Gopalan, K., Pantulu, G.V.C., Subba Rao, M.V., Vrevsky, A.B. and Bogomolov, Y.S. (1993) The nature of the basement in the Archaean Dharwar craton of southern India and the age of the Peninsular Gneiss. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci., v.102(4), pp.547–565.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nutman, A.P., Chadwick, B., Ramakrishnan, M. and Viswanatha, M.N. (1992) SHRIMP U–Pb ages of detrital zircons in Sargur supracrustal rocks in western Karnataka, Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.39, pp.367–374.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nutman, A.P., Chadwick, B., Krishna Rao, B. and Vasudev, V.N. (1996) SHRIMP U/Pb zircon ages of acid volcanic rocks in the Chitradurga and Sandur groups and granites adjacent to the Sandur schist belt, Karnataka. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.47, pp.153–164.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peucat, J.-J., Mahabaleshwar, B. and Jayananda, M. (1993) Age of younger tonalitic magmatism and granulitic metamorphism in the South India transition zone (Krishnagiri area); comparison with older Peninsular gneisses from the Gorur-Hassan area. Jour. Metam. Geol., v.11, pp. 879–888.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Radhakrishna, B.P. (1989) Suspect tectono-stratigraphic terrane elements in the Indian subcontinent. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.34, pp.1–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raith, M., Srikantappa, C., Ashamanjeri, K.G. and Spiering, B. (1990) The granulite terrain of the Nilgiri Hills (Southern India): characterisation of high-grade metamorphism. In: D. Vielzeuf and P. Vidal (Eds.), Granulites and Crustal Evolution. NATO, ASI, Series C, v.311, pp.339–365.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raith, M.M., Srikantappa, C., Buhl, D.K. and Köhler, H. (1999) The Nilgiri Enderbites, South India: nature and age constraints on protolith formation, high-grade metamorphism and cooling history. Precambrian Res., v.98, pp.129–150.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramakrishnan, M., Venkata Dasu, S.P. and Kröner, A. (1994) Middle Archaean age of Sargur Group by single grain zircon dating and geochemical evidence for clastic origin of metaquartzite from J.C. Pura greenstone belt, Karnataka. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.44, pp.605–616.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ray, J.S. (2009) Carbon isotopic variations in fluid-deposited graphite: evidence for multicomponent Rayleigh isotopic fractionation. Int. Geol. Rev., v.51(1), pp.45–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Russel, J., Chadwick, B., Krishna Rao, B. and Vasudev, V.N. (1996) Whole-rock Pb/Pb ages of Late Archaean limestones, Karnataka, India. Precambrian Res., v.78, pp.261–272.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanyal, P., Acharya, B.C., Bhattacharya, S.K., Sarkar, A., Agrawal, S. and Bera, M.K. (2009) Origin of graphite, and temperature of metamorphism in Precambrian Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt, Orissa, India: A carbon isotope approach. Jour. Asian Earth Sci., v.36, pp.252–260.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarangi, S., Gopalan, K. and Srinivasan, R. (2007) Small scale sampling for Pb–Pb dating of marbles: Example from the Sargur supracrustal rocks, Dharwar Craton, South India. Precambrian Res., v.152, pp.83–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Santosh, M., Collins, A.S., Morimoto, T. and Yokoyama, K. (2005) Depositional constraints and age of metamorphism in southern India: U–Pb chemical (EPMA) and isotopic (SIMS) ages from the Trivandrum Block. Geol. Mag., v.142(3), pp.255–268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schidlowski, M. (1995) Early terrestrial life: problems of the oldest record. In: Chela-Flones (Ed.), Chemical Evolution; selforganization of the macromolecules of life. A Deepak Publishing Co. Hampton Va, USA, pp.65–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Srikantappa, C., Raith, M. and Ackermand, D. (1985) High-grade regional metamorphism of ultramafic and mafic rocks from the Archean Sargur terrane, Karnataka, south India. Precambrian Res., v.30, pp.189–219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swami Nath, J., Ramakrishnan, M. and Viswanatha, M.N. (1976) Dharwar stratigraphic model and Karnataka craton evolution. Rec. Geol. Surv. India, v.107, pp.149–175.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, P.N., Chadwick, B., Moorbath, S., Ramakrishnan, M. and Viswanatha, M.N. (1984) Petrography, chemistry, and isotopic ages of Peninsular Gneiss, Dharwar acid volcanic rocks and the Chitradurga granite with special reference to the late Archaean evolution of the Karnataka craton. Precambrian Res., v.23, pp.349–375.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trendall, A.F., De Laeter, J.R., Nelson, D.R. and Bhaskar Rao, Y.J. (1997) Further zircon U-Pb age of the Daginkatte Formation, Dharwar Supergroup, Karnataka craton. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.50, pp.25–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Viswanatha, M.N. and Ramakrishnan, M. (1981) Sargur and allied belts. Mem. Geol. Surv. India, v.112, pp.41–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiedenback, M. and Goswami, J.N. (1994) High precision 207Pb/ 206Pb zircon geochronology using a small ion microprobe. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, v.58, pp.2135–2141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiedenback, M., Goswami, J.N. and Roy, A.B. (1996) Stabilization of the Aravalli craton of the northwestern India at 2.5 Ga: an ion microprobe zircon study. Chem. Geol., v.129, pp.155–171.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoshida, M. (2007) Geochronological data evaluation: Implications for the Proterozoic tectonics of East Gondwana. Gondwana Res., v.12(3), pp.228–241

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, Manipur University, Canchipur, Imphal, 795003, Manipur, India

    B. Maibam

  2. Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, Mohanpur Campus, Nadia, 741 252, West Bengal, India

    P. Sanyal

  3. Research Center for Environmental Changes, Academia Sinica, Taiwan

    S. Bhattacharya

  4. Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, 380 009, India

    B. Maibam, P. Sanyal & S. Bhattacharya

Authors
  1. B. Maibam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P. Sanyal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. Bhattacharya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to B. Maibam.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Maibam, B., Sanyal, P. & Bhattacharya, S. Geochronological study of metasediments and carbon isotopes in associated graphites from the Sargur area, Dharwar craton: Constraints on the age and nature of the protoliths. J Geol Soc India 85, 577–585 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-015-0252-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-015-0252-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation