Geochemistry of the Archaean Greywackes from the Northwestern Part of the Chitradurga Schist Belt, Dharwar Craton, South India-Evidence for Granitoid Upper Crust in the Archaean

Abstract

Turbidite greywackes of the northwestern part of the Chitradurga Schist Belt constitute a part of >2.6 Ga Cbitradurga Group of Dharwar Supergroup. They consist of a detrital assemblage of mono- and poly-crystalline quartz, microcline and plagioclase feldspar. and volcanic rock fragments. Quartz content and Na₂O/K₂O ratios show their quartz intermediate character. In this respect and also in their high FeO(t)+ MgO content they are similar to other Archaean greywackes. The TiO₂ content. K₂O/Na₂O, Al₂O₃/CaO+Na₂O and Al₂O₃/SiO₂ ratios plotted against Fe₂O₃(t)+MgO, although assign an island arc environment for these greywackes, do not unequivocally discriminate between continental and oceanic island arc setting. The Chitradurga greywackes are highly enriched in Zr, Cr and Ni indicating a mixed felsic and mafic source. The contribution from contemporary volcanism in the basin could be significant. The QFL proportions indicate a dissected arc and/or recycled orogenic nature of the provenance. The chemical index of alteration varying from 58 to 63 and Al₂O₃/Na₂O ratio less than 6, indicate relatively unweathered nature of source rock and chemical immaturity of the sediment respectively. The REE patterns show wen-defined negative europium anomalies which reflect granitoid upper crust in the provenance during the Archaean.