Proterozoic orogenic belts and rifting of Indian cratons: Geophysical constraints

摘要

The AravallieDelhi and Satpura Mobile Belts(ADMB and SMB)and the Eastern Ghat Mobile Belt(EGMB)in India form major Proterozoic mobile belts with adjoining cratons and contemporary basins.The most convincing features of the ADMB and the SMB have been the crustal layers dipping from both sides in opposite directions,crustal thickening(w45 km)and high density and high conductivity rocks in upper/lower crust associated with faults/thrusts.These observations indicate convergence while domal type refectors in the lower crust suggest an extensional rifting phase.In case of the SMB,even the remnant of the subducting slab characterized by high conductive and low density slab in lithospheric mantle up to w120 km across the PurnaeGodavari river faults has been traced which may be caused by fuids due to metamorphism.Subduction related intrusives of the SMB south of it and the ADMB west of it suggest NeS and EeW directed convergence and subduction during MesoeNeoproterozoic convergence.The simultaneous EeW convergence between the Bundelkhand craton and Marwar craton(Western Rajasthan)across the ADMB and the NeS convergence between the Bundelkhand craton and the Bhandara and Dharwar cratons across the SMB suggest that the forces of convergence might have been in a NEeSW direction with EeW and NeS components in the two cases,respectively.This explains the arcuate shaped collision zone of the ADMB and the SMB which are connected in their western part.The Eastern Ghat Mobile Belt(EGMB)also shows signatures of E eW directed MesoeNeoproterozoic convergence with East Antarctica similar to ADMB in north India.Foreland basins such as Vindhyan(ADMBeSMB),and Kurnool(EGMB)Supergroups of rocks were formed during this convergence.Older rocks such as Aravalli(ADMB),MahakoshaleBijawar(SMB),and Cuddapah(EGMB)Supergroups of rocks with several basic/ultrabasic intrusives along these mobile belts,plausibly formed during an earlier episode of rifting during PaleoeMesoproterozoic period.They are highly disturbed and deformed due to subsequent MesoeNeoproterozoic convergence.As these Paleoproterozoic basins are characterized by large scale basic/ultrabasic intrusives that are considerably wide spread,it is suggested that a plume/superplume might have existed under the Indian cratons at that time which was responsible for the breakup of these cratons.Further,the presence of older intrusives in these mobile belts suggests that there might have been some form of convergence also during Paleoproterozoic period.