Abstract This study reports on two lamprophyre dykes from the Rapuru area along the margin of the Eastern Dharwar Craton (EDC) and the Nellore Schist Belt (NSB). The Rapuru lamprophyre (RL) dykes are situated along the southern extension of the Prakassam Alkaline Province (PAP). The RL dykes are deformed, yet still preserve a porphyritic–panidiomorphic texture, with mica phenocrysts, and amphibole and feldspars in the groundmass. Geochemically, the RL dykes have a low Mg# (0.28–0.37), and Ni (30–60 ppm) and Cr (119–228 ppm) concentrations that indicate their evolved nature, such as for other reported lamprophyres from the PAP and EDC. This is further supported by Sr–Nd isotopic ratios that show an affinity towards a mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB)–ocean island basalt (OIB)-like signature and a juvenile magmatic nature. The RL seems to have been affected by two major influences, namely, the primary source region, which is geochemically juvenile similar to the compositional field of enriched-MORB, and the continental lithosphere. Such magmas are known to have formed in a back-arc-basin environment. The initial 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratio ( c. 0.7012–0.7045) and initial ε Nd ratios (3.13–7.93) are in line with back-arc basin basalts recorded in other parts of the world. The field observations and bulk-rock Sr–Nd radiogenic isotope values in the present study support the Paleoproterozoic nature of the RL. This concurrence of juvenile radiogenic isotopes and fluid-related trace element compositions apparently suggest dehydration of a subducted-slab-triggered metasomatism of the overlying mantle wedge in a subduction-related geodynamic setting. Such intrusive lamprophyre rocks of older ages are limited in India as well as other parts of the world. The 2.1 and 1.8 Ga rocks are widely considered to represent the initial accretion and final break-up of an erstwhile Columbia supercontinent assembly. We argue that the RL were formed in the Paleoproterozoic during the waxing stages of the Columbia supercontinent assembly in a back-arc basin environment, most probably due to the low degree of partial melting of the asthenosphere–lithospheric interaction caused by the introduction of an influx of subduction components into the arc–back-arc basin system.

Abstract The lamproites and kimberlites are well known from the Eastern Bastar Craton, Central India. However, a Proterozoic lamprophyre dyke is discussed here, from the Western Bastar Craton (WBC). The field geology, petrographic, mineralogical and whole-rock and in-situ trace element geochemistry of biotite are described to understand the petrogenesis and lithospheric evolution in the WBC. The Thanewasna lamprophyre (TL) is undeformed and unmetamorphosed, intruded into c. 2.5 Ga charnockite and metagabbro but closely associated with c. 1.62 Ga undeformed Mul granite. The TL has a characteristic porphyritic texture, dominated by phenocrysts of biotite, microphenocryst of amphibole, clinopyroxene and a groundmass controlled by feldspar. Mineral chemistry of biotite and amphibole suggest a calc-alkaline (CAL) type, and pyroxene chemistry reveals an orogenic setting. The TL is characterized by high SiO 2 and low TiO 2, MgO, Ni and Cr, consistent with its subcontinental lithospheric origin. The presence of crustal xenolith and ocelli texture followed by observed variations in Th/Yb, Hf/Sm, La/Nb, Ta/La, Nb/Yb, Ba/Nb indicate substantial crustal contamination. Whole-rock and in-situ biotite analysis by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry show low concentrations of Ni (30–50 ppm) and Cr (70–150 ppm), pointing to the parental magma evolved nature. Enrichment in H 2 O, reflected in magmatic mica dominance, combined with high large ion lithophile element, Th/Yb ratios, and striking negative Nb–Ta anomalies in trace element patterns, is consistent with a source that was metasomatized by hydrous fluids corresponding to those generated by subduction-related processes. Significant Zr–Hf and Ti anomalies in the primitive mantle normalized multi-element plots and the rare earth element pattern of the TL, similar to the global CAL average trend, including Eastern Dharwar Craton lamprophyres. Our findings provide substantial petrological and geochemical constraints on petrogenesis and geodynamics. However, the geodynamic trigger that generated CAL magmatism and its role in Cu–Au metallogeny in the WBC, Central India, is presently indistinct in the absence of isotopic studies. Nevertheless, the lamprophyre dyke is emplaced close to the Cu–(Au) deposit at Thanewasna.

Abstract Among the basaltic large igneous provinces (LIPs) world over, the Deccan Large Igneous Province (DLIP) is considered barren of metalliferous sulfide deposits, and especially platinum group minerals (PGMs). The tholeiitic basaltic magmas of the DLIP were found to lack sulfur saturation at all stages of its evolution. However, we found some incidences of Fe–Ni–platinum group element (PGE) mineralization in the cumulate gabbros of the Phenai Mata Igneous Complex (PMIC), as well as intrusive dykes of lamprophyre, picrobasalt and basalt in adjoining areas. To examine the metal potential of the gabbros, we adopted the following approach: (a) whole-rock PGE analysis of selected rocks; (b) preconcentration of the samples by communition, sieving and gravity-magnetic separation, followed by froth floatation, Ni-sulfide fire assay and geochemical analysis of the concentrates; and (c) direct scanning of samples using an electron probe microanalyser (EPMA). The geochemical proxies – namely, Pd/Ir, Cu/Ir, Ni/Pd and Ni/Cu – indicate that PMIC has distinct geochemical signatures compared to other parts of the DLIP. The results have further indicated an interesting suite of minerals comprising metal sulfides of Fe–Cu–Zn–Pb–Co–Ni. This metal-rich suite in the otherwise ‘barren’ Deccan Trap tholeiites is a result of accidental fertilization of metals into their sulfides due to the mixing of crustal sulfur.