Abstract
The Nagercoil block, which is situated at the southernmost part of the Southern Granulite Terrane of south India, is dominantly comprised of garnet-bearing I-type massive charnockites. These charnockites preserve imprints of two major thermal events timed at Palaeoproterozoic (∼2.0–1.9 Ga) and Neoproterozoic (∼550 Ma). However, there is a lack of understanding on correlating the growth and stabilization of garnets within these charnockites, corresponding to these events. In the present study, rare earth element-based partition modeling between garnet and age-constrained accessory phases such as zircon and monazite is carried out to identify the exact timing of garnet formation in a representative sample from the area. U-Pb dating of zircon cores constrains the timing of protolith emplacement at ∼2.0 Ga and metamorphism at ∼550 Ma from zircon rims and monazites. REE modeling of zircon and monazite from these age domains suggests an equilibrium relation between the Neoproterozoic zircon rims and monazites, while the Palaeoproterozoic zircon cores are not in equilibrium with garnet. These results suggest that the formation of garnets in the Nagercoil charnockites is in response to the Neoproterozoic metamorphism recorded in the terrane associated with the final stage of the Gondwana supercontinent assembly.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this article
We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.
Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anders, E. and Grevesse, N. (1989) Abundances of the elements: Meteoritic and solar. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, v.53(1), pp.197–214.
Buick, I. S., Clark, C., Rubatto, D., Hermann, J., Pandit, M. and Hand, M. (2010). Constraints on the Proterozoic evolution of the Aravalli–Delhi Orogenic belt (NW India) from monazite geochronology and mineral trace element geochemistry. Lithos, v.120(3–4), pp.511–528.
Cenki, B., Braun, I. and Bröcker, M. (2004). Evolution of the continental crust in the Kerala Khondalite Belt, southernmost India: evidence from Nd isotope mapping, U–Pb and Rb–Sr geochronology. Precambrian Res., v. 134(3–4), pp.275–292.
Clark, C., Collins, A.S., Santosh, M., Taylor, R. and Wade, B.P. (2009). The P-T-t architecture of a Gondwanan suture: REE, U-Pb, and Ti-in-zircon thermometric constraints from the Palghat Cauvery shear system, South India. Precambrian Res., v.174, pp.129–144.
Clark, C., Collins, A.S., Taylor, R.J. and Hand, M. (2020) Isotopic systematics of zircon indicate an African affinity for the rocks of southernmost India. Scientific Reports, v.10(1), pp.1–12.
Clark, C., Taylor, R.J., Kylander Clark, A.R. and Hacker, B.R. (2018). Prolonged (> 100 Ma) ultrahigh temperature metamorphism in the Napier Complex, East Antarctica: A petrochronological investigation of Earth’s hottest crust. Jour. Metamorp. Geol., v.36(9), pp.1117–1139.
Collins, A.S., Clark, C. and Plavsa, D. (2014) Peninsular India in Gondwana: The tectonothermal evolution of the Southern Granulite Terrain and its Gondwanan counterparts. Gondwana Res., Internat. Assoc. Gondwana Res., v.25, pp.190–203.
Dev, J. A., Sorcar, N., Mukherjee, S., & Tomson, J. K. (2022) Phase equilibrium modelling and zircon-monazite geochronology of HT-UHT granulites from Kambam ultrahigh-temperature belt, south India. Internat. Geol. Rev., pp.1–19.
Dev, J.A., Tomson, J.K., Sorcar, N. and Francis, K.A. (2022) Timing of UHT metamorphism and cooling in south Indian granulites: New P-T-t results from a sapphirine granulite. Precambrian Res., 106582.
Dev, J.A., Tomson, J.K., Sorcar, N. and Nandakumar, V. (2021) Combined U-Pb/Hf isotopic studies and phase equilibrium modelling of HT-UHT metapelites from Kambam ultrahigh-temperature belt, south India: Constraints on tectonothermal history of the terrane. Lithos, v.406–407(3–4), 106531. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2021.106531.
Fraser, G., Ellis, D. and Eggins, S. (1997) Zirconium abundance in granulite-facies minerals, with implications for zircon geochronology in high-grade rocks. Geology, v.25(7), pp.607–610.
Gao, P., Santosh, M., Yang, C. X., Kwon, S., & Ramkumar, M. (2021) High Ba-Sr adakitic charnockite suite from the Nagercoil Block, southern India: Vestiges of Paleoproterozoic arc and implications for Columbia to Gondwana. Geosci. Front., v.12(3), 101126.
Ghosh, J.G., de Wit, M.J. and Zartman, R.E., (2004) Age and tectonic evolution of Neoproterozoic ductile shear zones in the Southern Granulite Terrain of India, with implications for Gondwana studies. Tectonics, v.23(3).
Godet, A., Guilmette, C., Labrousse, L., Davis, D.W., Smit, M. A., Cutts, J.A. and Charette, B. (2020). Complete metamorphic cycle and long lived anatexis in the c. 2.1 Ga Mistinibi Complex, Canada. Jour. Metamorp. Geol., v.38(3), pp.235–264.
Harley, S.L. and Nandakumar, V. (2016) New evidence for Palaeoproterozoic high grade metamorphism in the Trivandrum Block, Southern India. Precambrian Res., v.280, pp.120–138.
Hermann, J. and Rubatto, D. (2003) Relating zircon and monazite domains to garnet growth zones: age and duration of granulite facies metamorphism in the Val Malenco lower crust. Jour. Metamorp. Geol., v.21(9), pp.833–852.
Jiao, S., Evans, N.J., Mitchell, R.N., Fitzsimons, I.C. and Guo, J. (2021) Heavy rare-earth element and Y partitioning between monazite and garnet in aluminous granulites. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol., v.176(7), pp.1–20.
Johnson, T.E., Clark, C., Taylor, R.J., Santosh, M. and Collins, A.S. (2015) Prograde and retrograde growth of monazite in migmatites: An example from the Nagercoil Block, southern India. Geosci. Front., v.6(3), pp.373–387.
Kelly, N.M. and Harley, S.L. (2005). An integrated microtextural and chemical approach to zircon geochronology: refining the Archaean history of the Napier Complex, east Antarctica. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol., v.149(1), pp.57–84.
Kröner, A., Santosh, M., Hegner, E., Shaji, E., Geng, H., Wong, J., & and Nanda-Kumar, V. (2015) Palaeoproterozoic ancestry of Pan-African highgrade granitoids in southernmost India: Implications for Gondwana reconstructions. Gondwana Res., v.27(1), pp.1–37.
Kumar, T.V., Rao, Y.B., Plavsa, D., Collins, A.S., Tomson, J.K., Gopal, B.V. and Babu, E.V.S.S.K. (2017) Zircon U-Pb ages and Hf isotopic systematics of charnockite gneisses from the Ediacaran-Cambrian high-grade metamorphic terranes, southern India: Constraints on crust formation, recycling, and Gondwana correlations. Bull., v.129(5–6), pp.625–648.
Ludwig, K.R. (2008) Isoplot ver. 4.15: Berkeley Geochronology Center (BGC). Paton, C., Hellstrom, J., Paul, B., Woodhead, J., & Hergt, J. (2011). Iolite: Freeware for the visualisation and processing of mass spectrometric data. Jour. Analyt. Atomic Spectro., v.26(12), pp.2508–2518.
Rajesh, H.M., Santosh, M. and Yoshikura, S. (2011) The Nagercoil charnockite: a magnesian, calcic to calc-alkalic granitoid dehydrated during a granulite-facies metamorphic event. Jour. Petrol., v.52(2), pp.375–400.
Rubatto, D. (2002). Zircon trace element geochemistry: Partitioning with garnet and the link between U-Pb ages and metamorphism. Chem. Geol., v. 184, pp.123–138.
Rubatto, D. and Hermann, J. (2003) Zircon formation during fluid circulation in eclogites (Monviso, Western Alps): implications for Zr and Hf budget in subduction zones. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, v.67(12), pp.2173–2187.
Rubatto, D. and Hermann, J. (2007) Experimental zircon/melt and zircon/garnet trace element partitioning and implications for the geochronology of crustal rocks. Chem. Geol., v.241(1–2), pp.38–61.
Rubatto, D., Hermann, J. and Buick, I.S. (2006) Temperature and bulk composition control on the growth of monazite and zircon during low-pressure anatexis (Mount Stafford, central Australia). Jour. Petrol., v.47(10), pp.1973–1996.
Sajna, S., Tomson, J.K., Dev, J.A., Sorcar, N. and Kumar, T.V. (2022) Neoproterozoic Mafic Magmatism in Nagercoil Block, Southern India and Its Implications on the Gondwana Collisional Orogeny. Minerals, v. 12(12), 1509.
Santosh, M., Maruyama, S. and Sato, K. (2009) Anatomy of a Cambrian suture in Gondwana: Pacific-type orogeny in southern India?. Gondwana Res., v.16(2), pp.321–341.
Santosh, M., Tagawa, M., Yokoyama, K. and Collins, A.S. (2006) U–Pb electron probe geochronology of the Nagercoil granulites, Southern India: implications for Gondwana amalgamation. Jour. Asian Earth Sci., v.28(1), pp.63–80.
Santosh, M., Yokoyama, K., Biju-Sekhar, S. and Rogers, J.J.W. (2003) Multiple tectonothermal events in the granulite blocks of southern India revealed from EPMA dating: implications on the history of supercontinents. Gondwana Res., v.6(1), pp.29–63.
Talukdar, M., Sarkar, T., Sengupta, P., & Mukhopadhyay, D. (2022). The Southern Granulite Terrane, India: The saga of over 2 billion years of Earth’s history. Earth-Sci. Rev., 104157.
Taylor, R.J., Clark, C., Fitzsimons, I.C., Santosh, M., Hand, M., Evans, N. and McDonald, B. (2014) Post-peak, fluid-mediated modification of granulite facies zircon and monazite in the Trivandrum Block, southern India. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol., v. 168, pp.1–17.
Taylor, R.J.M., Harley, S.L., Hinton, R.W., Elphick, S., Clark, C., and Kelly, N.M. (2015) Experimental determination of REE partition coefficients between zircon, garnet and melt: A key to understanding high T crustal processes. Jour. Metamorp. Geol., v.33(3), pp.231–248.
Tomson, J.K. and Dev, J.A. (2023) Tracing the crustal evolution of Precambrian Southern Granulite Terrane in East Gondwana: New insights from zircon U-Pb/Hf geochronology. Bull. (Accepted).
Tomson, J.K., Rao, Y.B., Kumar, T.V. and Choudhary, A.K. (2013). Geochemistry and neodymium model ages of Precambrian charnockites, Southern Granulite Terrain, India: Constraints on terrain assembly. Precambrian Res., v.227, pp.295–315.
Warren, C.J., Greenwood, L.V., Argles, T.W., Roberts, N.M., Parrish, R.R. and Harris, N.B. (2019) Garnet-monazite rare earth element relationships in sub-solidus metapelites: a case study from Bhutan. Geol. Soc. London, Spec. Publ., v.478(1), pp.145–166.
Whitehouse, M.J. and Platt, J.P. (2003) Dating high-grade metamorphism-constraints from rare-earth elements in zircon and garnet. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol., v.145(1), pp.61–74.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the Director, NCESS, for encouragement and support. Mr. K Eldhose, Mr. N Nishanth, Mr. Sarath Kumar S, and Mr. Sribin C are acknowledged for their support during fieldwork, sample preparation, and analysis. Sajna S gratefully acknowledges Ph.D. research funding through the CSIR research fellowship program. The authors also wish to thank two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Sajna, S. was a CSIR-UGC fellow at NCESS and presently, Assistant Geologist at the Department of Mining and Geology, Government of Kerala. This contribution forms part of her PhD and involves sample collection, formal analysis, interpretation and manuscript writing.
Amal Dev, J. is PhD in Geology and presently, Project Scientist at SERG, NCESS, ADJ is involved in setting up protocols for in-situ U-Pb dating of accessories using LA-ICPMS and contributed to formal analysis, data curation and editing.
Tomson, J.K. is PhD in Geology and Head of Solid Earth Research Group (SERG), NCESS. The present project is a component of the broad theme of granulite research in SERG. TJK is involved in conceptualization, formal analysis, interpretation and manuscript editing.
Nilanjana Sorcar is PhD in Metamorphic Petrology and is currently Scientist at SERG, NCESS. NS is in charge of the EPMA Facility at NCESS and is involved in the granulite programs of SERG. She has contributed to formal analysis and manuscript editing.
Electronic Supplementary Material
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sajna, S., Tomson, J.K., Dev, J.A. et al. Timing of Garnet Growth in Granulites from Southern India: Insights from Zircon-monazite-garnet REE Partition Modeling. J Geol Soc India 99, 1241–1246 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-023-2457-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-023-2457-z