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Granulites in and around the Bengal anorthosite, eastern India; genesis of coronal garnet, and evolution of the granulite-anorthosite complex

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 May 2009

P. K. Bhattacharyya  and
Subimal Mukherjee
P. K. Bhattacharyya
Affiliation:
Department of Geological Sciences, Jadavpur University, Calcutta-700 032, India
Subimal Mukherjee
Affiliation:
Department of Geological Sciences, Jadavpur University, Calcutta-700 032, India
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Abstract

Granulites occur in and around an anorthosite massif (commonly referred to as the Bengal anorthosite) in eastern India. The central part of the anorthosite is massive in nature with locally developed ‘fluxion structure’ in isolated blocks. Banding in the peripheral part is typical of that of the massif anorthosites of Anderson & Morin. The granulites bear imprints of polyphase deformation, and the xenoliths of granulites within the anorthositic massif maintain their regional structural alignment. The Anorthosite, syntectonic with the second fold movement in the terrane, has developed second generation structures.

Hornblende, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, plagioclase and quartz with or without garnet and other minor phases consitute the granulites. In the anorthosites, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, hornblende, and magnetite with or without garnet may constitute more than 15% of the mode. Garnet, when present in the rocks, is a late overprint. Symplectitic growth of garnet with one or more of the phases such as ilmenite, quartz, clinopyroxene and sodic plagioclase indicates genesis of garnet through decomposition of orthopyroxene and/or prograde hornblende in the presence of calcic plagioclase. The garnet formed during prograde dehydration reactions, rather than cooling of the complex.

Chemical characteristics of the mafic phases in the rocks indicate attainment of exchange equilibrium with respect to the major cations in closely associated hornblende, clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene and garnet. Estimated physical conditions of metamorphism from contrasted assemblages suggest a final equilibration of different granulitic assemblages as well as of the anorthositic assemblages under similar conditions. There was, however, belated building up of water pressure in the anorthositic domains stabilizing a late hornblende during cooling of the complex. Absence of chilled margins in the anorthosite as well as absence of contact aureoles in the enveloping and enclosed granulites indicate emplacement of the anorthosite in a hot environment, prior to cooling of the complex.

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Articles
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Geological Magazine , Volume 124 , Issue 1 , January 1987 , pp. 21 - 32
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

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