ABSTRACT

Trace, Rare Earth Element (REE), Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd isotope analyses have been carried out on selected basic-ultrabasic rocks of Dhanjori volcanic belt from the Eastern Indian Craton (EIC). The Sm-Nd isotopic data of these rocks yield an isochron age of 2072 ± 106 Ma (MSWD = 1.56). Chondrite normalized REE plots display shallow fractionated REE pattern with LREE enrichment. In primitive mantle normalized plots also these rocks show shallow fractionated pattern with depletion of Nb and Ba and enrichment of LILE like Rb, Th and U. Depletion of Nb, Ba and Zr and enrichment of Rb, Th and U are found in N-MORB normalized plots as well. Compatible elements like Tb, Y and Yb on the other hand, show a flat pattern. Isotope, trace and REE modelling indicate that these were produced by 3–5% partial melting of a spinel lherzolite source. The Nd isotopic data suggest that an enriched (ε_Nd = −2.4) mantle existed below the Dhanjori basin during ∼2.1 Ga. The enrichment was possibly caused by continuous recycling of the earlier crust into the mantle whereby subducted slab derived fluid modified the surrounding mantle. The process also affected the more easily susceptible Rb-Sr systematics producing variable Sr_i (0.702–0.717). The enriched mantle material, part of a thermal plume, pierced through the deep fractures produced due to the cooling and readjustment of the Archaean continental crust and ultimately outpoured within the Dhanjori basin. The plume magmatism was manifested by the extrusion of komatiitic/basaltic flows and basic/ultrabasic intrusives. The residence time of the plume within the upper mantle was possibly very small as no depleted signature (even in Nd isotope) has been obtained. This means a deep plume was fed by a recycled oceanic crust via globally extensive subduction process, already initiated by the end-Archaean period.