Abstract
Hitherto unknown rare orbicular carbonatites and associated nodular structures occur in the southeastern parts of the Cretaceous Sung valley ultramafic-alkaline-carbonatite complex (SUACC), Shillong plateau, Meghalaya, northeast India. The orbicular structures are formed around fragmented pyroxenite xenoliths and uralitized sodium-richterite nodular patches during emplacement of a calcium-carbonatite plug. The orbicular structures surrounding the xenoliths were formed in at least three stages of chemical disequilibrium represented by three distinct sectors. They are: (i) an innermost shell of sodium-richterite developed around the core of xenoliths. These shells are associated with radial forsterite and/or fine to medium grained granular forsterites. The xenoliths are partially and at times completely metasomatized, due to the metasomatic interaction of the xenolith and the carbonatite melt (antiskarn); (ii) an intermediate zone resembling a “zebra” striped pattern comprising of alternating white calcite-rich and black forsterite-rich bands. These are formed through recrystallization of contaminated carbonatite melt after complex partial resorbtion and assimilation of the pyroxenite xenolith rims; and (iii) an outermost relatively thicker carbonate rich olivine layer formed by late phase intrusion of an ultramafic melt. This is followed by the development of sodium-richterite porphyroblastic grains representing post crystallization sodium metasomatism. Further, proto-orbicules in carbonatite with associated nodular minerals are present adjacent to the orbicular carbonatite suggesting local instability during intrusion at the contact of the pyroxenite xenolith with the calcium-carbonatite host. Apart from reporting the first occurrence of the orbicular carbonatites from the SUACC, petrogenetic implications involving antiskarn due to metasomatic processes induced by carbonatite magmatism is also presented.
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Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to Shri. David D. Sangma (MCS), Director, Directorate of Mineral Resources, Government of Meghalaya, Shillong; The Deputy Director General and HOD, GSI, NER, Shillong; The Director, Petrology Division, GSI, NER, Shillong and The Director, EPMA and Central Petrology Laboratory Division, GSI, CHQ, Kolkata, for all the logistic support in the field and laboratory studies, and their constant encouragement during the course of work. Michael Anenburg, Roger H. Mitchell, Prof.M.Faruque Hussain and Dr.Arundhuti Ghatak are deeply appreciated for their valuable scientific comments. The first author is sincerely thankful to Shri. M.S. Lyngdoh, Joint Director of Mineral Resources, Government of Meghalaya, and his colleagues Shri. (Late) B. Lamare, Smt. E. Nongbri and Smt. E.A.N. Pyrtuh for their constant support and guidance. Last but not least, the author also wants to express his gratitude to Smt. Sangita Marak and all project field assistants namely Shri/s. Unesroi Shanpru, Marconi Nongspung, Columbus Sangma, Ali R.Kharngi, Richard Surong, Sonu Nongrum, Sharstar R.Lyngdoh, Kyrshan Suting, Kyntu Wanniang, Batjubanlang Hujon and Bynrap K.War. The suggestions of an anonymous reviewer greatly improved the manuscript and is deeply appreciated.
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Pdah, D.S.M., Khonglah, M.A. Orbicular and Nodular Structures in Carbonatite of the Sung Valley Ultramafic-Alkaline-Carbonatite Complex, Shillong Plateau, Meghalaya, NE India: Their Petrogenetic Implications. J Geol Soc India 98, 635–640 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-022-2038-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-022-2038-6