Hot-fluid driven metasomatism of samalpatti carbonatites, South India: evidence from petrology, mineral chemistry, trace elements and stable isotope compositions

Abstract

The magmatic heritage of carbonatites can be identified on the basis of a combination of geological criteria such as, their mode of occurrence, the nature of associated igneous rocks, the presence of minerals of igneous origin, fenitization, characteristic trace element contents and isotopic composition. Late Proterozoic Samalpatti carbonatites were studied in view of these criteria, and were found to contain metamorphic minerals that normally form under thermal metamorphic conditions and which have unusual chemical compositions. A combination of criteria points clearly to a magmatic origin for these carbonatites. Field relations indicate that the dominant modes of intrusion of carbonatite into the encompassing pyroxenites and syenites include small dykes, veins, or lenses. The igneous nature of these carbonatites has been described elsewhere and chemically they are classified as calico-carbonatites. Currently, very little is known about the metamorphic textures and mineralogy observed in the Samalpatti carbonatites. In this study, several metamorphic minerals are reported including diopside, grossularite, vesuvianite, K-feldspar and wollastonite, and a hornfelsic texture is described. These mineral phases and texture characterize thermal metamorphism under low pressure and high temperature (LP-HT) metamorphic conditions (650°_750°C) or metasomatism aided by hot-fluid advection. The metamorphic nature of minerals reported is also confirmed by electron microprobe study. The Samalpatti carbonatite samples show much lower values of characteristic trace elements (P, Sr, Ba, Zr, Nb, Th, Y and REEs) than average concentrations for magmatic carbonatite. Stable isotopic (d¹³C and d¹⁸O) compositions of Samalpatti carbonatites do not fall in the primary igneous carbonatite (PIC) domain. The petrological and chemical signatures of these carbonatites suggest metasomatism in conjunction with fluid advection. Such a metasomatic process may drastically change the chemistry of the rocks in addition to enrichment of heavier stable isotopes. During this metasomatic process, characteristic elements would be dissolved in the high d18O fluid, and together with Rayleigh fractionation would contribute to enhanced concentrations of ¹³C and ¹⁸O in Samalpatti carbonatites.