Two cases of continental collisions and related tectonics during the Proterozoic period in India — insights from gravity modelling constrained by seismic and magnetotelluric studies

Abstract

The Aravalli Delhi Mobile Belt (ADMB) in NW India includes the Proterozoic Aravalli and Delhi rifts and fold belts. A seismic profile and gravity modelling across the ADMB shows several dipping reflections and suggests a thick crust (45–46 km) and a high density (3.04 g cm−3) dome-shaped body in the lower crust. This high density body in the lower crust may represent underplated lower crust caused by extension during evolution of the Proterozoic rifts. Part of the gravity high observed over the ADMB is attributed to the upthrust blocks of high density lower crustal granulite rocks. The gravity low along the eastern margin of the ADMB is modelled as being due to a westerly dipping (45°) low density body in the crust, in accordance with seismic reflectors which may represent remanents of the subducted crustal rocks. The Hindoli group of rocks above this body is characterized by high conductivity, indicating a high fluid content and a fractured nature which may be related to the collisional tectonism of this region. A sharp gravity high along the western margin of the ADMB is attributed to the basic rocks of an ophiolite melange. The gravity low and high west of the ADMB are attributed to plutonic activity and bimodal calc-alkaline volcanics in linear basins and are related to arc and back-arc rift magmatism, respectively. The ADMB, therefore, represents a Proterozoic collision zone between the Bundelkhand craton towards the east and the Rajasthan craton towards the west with a plausible subduction towards the west along the eastern margin of the ADMB. The thrusting is mainly confined to the obducted block towards the west, although some thrusting is inferred even in the subducted block. The central Indian Suture (CIS) is located at the southern margin of the Satpura Mobile Belt (SMB) in central India and separates high grade metasediments and granulite towards the north from low grade Proterozoic volcanogenic successions towards the south. A seismic profile and gravity modelling across the CIS show a thick crust with a thicker crust north of the CIS compared to the south and a contact in the lower crust whose projection on the surface coincides with the CIS. The CIS at the surface coincides with a low density (2.65 g cm−3) and conductive body that is interpreted to be fluid-filled and fractured in nature. The high density (2.81 g cm−3) body modelled in the upper crust north of the CIS coinciding approximately with a highly conductive body and dome-shaped seismic reflectors may represent an upthrust block from the lower crust as high density granulite rocks are exposed in this region. Short wavelength gravity highs and lows south of the CIS represent exposed metavolcanics and granite intrusions which represent tholeiitic series rocks to calc-alkaline series rocks associated with island arcs and back arc magmatism. Therefore, the large wavelength gravity low south of the CIS is modelled as a low density body below the Moho, which conforms with seismic reflectors and may represent crustal rocks subducted towards the south. Thrusting in this case is indicated in the subducted block towards the north of the CIS. The bipolar gravity anomaly across the CIS, therefore, indicates a collision zone between the Bundelkhand craton towards the north and Bhandara–Deccan cratons towards the south.