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Modification of fabric in pre-Himalayan granitic rocks by post-emplacement ductile deformation: insights from microstructures, AMS, and U–Pb geochronology of the Paleozoic Kinnaur Kailash Granite and associated Cenozoic leucogranites of the South Tibetan Detachment zone, Himachal High Himalaya

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Abstract

The present day South Tibetan Detachment (STD) of Higher Himalaya is a system of low-angle normal faults. In the Himachal High Himalaya, the STD hanging wall is characterized by the presence of S-type per-aluminous Paleozoic (~475 Ma) granite called the Kinnaur Kailash Granite (KKG). This granite is later intruded by Cenozoic leucogranites (~18 Ma) in vicinity of the STD zone. In this work, microstructures, anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS), and U–Pb geochronology were carried out on the KKG and the leucogranites with an aim to (a) understand the conditions of fabric development and (b) decipher the tectonic relationship between deformation along the STD and the evolution of these granites. Microstructural features and magnetic anisotropy indicate that the granites are intensely deformed in vicinity of the STD and preserve their emplacement-related fabric in the interior parts. It is inferred that close to the STD zone, fabrics of both the KKG and the leucogranite are tectonic and are modified by the Cenozoic (~20 Ma) right-lateral slip and extensional tectonics. Magnetic fabric in the interior parts of the KKG is related to its emplacement indicating that original fabric was preserved. U–Pb geochronology of zircons from two samples of the KKG yields crystallization age of 477.6 ± 3.4 and 472 ± 4 Ma. The leucogranite gives a crystallization age of 18.5 ± 0.6 Ma. Zircons from the KKG also reveal signatures of a deformation event (20.6 ± 2.3 Ma) at its rim. It is inferred that deformation of the external rim of the KKG and crystallization of the leucogranites are synchronous and triggered by ductile deformation along the STD.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr S. S. Thakur for his help during the fieldwork. Prof. Alan Collins and his associates from the School of Earth & Environment Sciences, University of Adelaide, Australia are gratefully acknowledged for carrying out the LA-ICPMS U–Pb geochronology of our samples. However, the authors take full responsibility for the data interpretation. We are grateful to Jean-Louis Vigneresse and an anonymous reviewer for their thorough and constructive reviews. M. A. Mamtani is thanked for his suggestions and editorial handling.

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  1. Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, 33 GMS Road, Dehradun, 248001, India

    Kavita Tripathi, Koushik Sen & A. K. Dubey

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  1. Kavita Tripathi
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Tripathi, K., Sen, K. & Dubey, A.K. Modification of fabric in pre-Himalayan granitic rocks by post-emplacement ductile deformation: insights from microstructures, AMS, and U–Pb geochronology of the Paleozoic Kinnaur Kailash Granite and associated Cenozoic leucogranites of the South Tibetan Detachment zone, Himachal High Himalaya. Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 101, 761–772 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-011-0657-z

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