Fluid inclusion study of the Higher Himalayan quartzitic pelites, Garhwal Himalaya, India: Implications for recrystallization history of metasediments

摘要

Quartzitic pelites forms a part of Higher Himalayan Crystalline of higher geotectonic zone in Garhwal Himalaya. Quartzitic pelites (locally known as Pandukeshwar Quartzite) in Garhwal Himalaya is sandwiched between high grade metamorphic rocks of Central Crystallines and Badrinath Formation. Fluid inclusion studies are carried out on the detrital, and recrystallized quartz grains of quartzitic pelites to know about the fluid phases present during recrystallization processes at the time of maximum depth of burial. The quartzitic pelite (Pandukeshwar Quartzite) essentially consists of recrystallised quartz with accessory minerals like mica and feldspar. Fluid microthermometry study reveals the presence of three types of fluids: (i) high-salinity brine, (ii) CO2-H2O and (iii) H2O-NaCl. These fluids were trapped during the development of grain and recrystallization processes. The high saline brine inclusions and CO2-H2O fluid with the density of 0.90 to 0.97 gm/cm3 are remnants of provenance area. CO2 density in detrital quartz grains characterise the protolith of the sandstone as granite or metamorphic rock. The H2O-NaCl fluids involved in the recrystallization processes at temperature-pressure of 430-350°C; 4.8 to 0.5 Kbars as constrained by fluid isochores of CO2-H2O and H2O-NaCl inclusions and bulging and subgrain development during recrystallization processes. The re-equilibration of the primary fluid due to elevated internal and confining pressure is evident from features like ‘C’ shaped cavities, stretching of the inclusions, their migration and decrepitation clusters. The observed inclusion morphology revealed that the rocks were exhumed along an isothermal decompression path.