Goiidwana Reseal-ch, V 8, No. 2, p p . 129-142.

02005 Intet-iiatioiial Association for Goiidwana Research, Japan. Gondwana

ISSN: 1342-937X Research

Geochronological Constraints on Evolution of Singhbhurn Mobile

Belt and Associated Basic Volcanics of Eastern Indian Shield
Saumitra Misral*and P. Thomas Johnson1t2
' Department of Geology and Geophysics, lndian lnstitute of Technology, Kharagpur - 721 302, India
Present address: Department of Inorganic Chemistry, College of Mainland, Texas, TX 77592-2499, U S A
* Corresponding author: E-mail: saumitm_misra03/ahoo.co. uk

(Manuscript received October 13,2003; accepted December 27,2004)

Abstract
The Singhbhum Mobile Belt (SMB) of the eastern Indian shield represents a roughly east-west-trending arcuate belt
E of folded supracrustals overlying the granite-greenstone basement of the Singhbhum-Orissa Craton along its northern,
eastern and westein margins and is bounded by the Chotanagpur Gneissic Complex to further north The iadioinetric
$
. ages of the basement Singhbhum and equivalent granites and the intrusive aiiorogenic Mayurbhanj granite pluton
constrain the time of evolution of this mobile belt between -3 12 and 3 09 Ga Hence, the SMB supracrustals also
known as Singhbhuin Group, IS late Mesoarchaean in age and not Proterozoic as thought earlier The evolution of the
SMB was followed by emplacement of some major basic igneous rocks within or adjacent to the supracrustals These
include Siinlipal volcanics at ->3 09 Ga oil the SMB, Mayurbhanj gabbro along with Mayurbhanj granite at -3 09 Ga
along the marginal part of the craton near the SMB, and the Dalma volcanics on the SMB along with the Dhanjorl
-
volcanics adjacent to SMB at -2 80 Ga The 2 80 Ga old basic volcanics is also associated wlth emplacement of some
small granite plutons occurring along the marginal part of the craton, one of them, the Tamperkola granite intrudes the
SMB The ->3 09 Ga onward igneous activities along the marginal part of Singhbhum-Orissa Craton took place
essentially under anorogenic tectonic setting before being affected by a major metamorphism at -2 50 Ga, which is
recorded on the Dalma volcanics and on some small granite pluton occurs along the marginal part of the cratoii The
Jagannathpur and stratigraphically equivalent Malangtoli volcanics, occurring within the Singhbhum-Orissa Craton at
the west, were erupted at -2 25 Ga The boundary between the SMB supracrustals and the Singhbhum-Orissa Craton
is demarked by a pioininent shear zone known as the Singlibhum Shear Zone, which shows multiple reactivation, the
oldest being at -3 09 Ga, followed by subsequent reactivation during Palaeo- and Mesoproterozoic periods at -2 2,
1 8 , 1 6-1 5, 1 4 and 1 0 Ga respectively The Singhbhuin Group and the adjacent Chotanagpur Gneissic Complex
appear to have evolved fioin a near shore syn-rift and a distal post rift stable shelf sedimentary assemblages respectively,
which were deposited without any stratigraphic break in a marine basin existed in the present north of the Siiighbhum-
Orissa Craton Both of these assemblages were deformed and metamorphosed together during Proterozoic at -2 5 to
>2 3 Ga, -1 6 Ga and -1 0 Ga
K e y words: Singlibhum-Orissa Craton, Singhbhum Mobile Belt, Singhbhum basic volcanics, Chotanagpur Gneissic
Complex, Late Archaean crustal growth

Introduction sequences like in other Archaean terrains (cf. Martin,

The Singhbhum-Orissa Craton (- 40,000 sq. km.) of
the eastern Indian shield (Fig. 1) is a Precambrian granite-
greenstone terrain forming a triangular crustal block
between latitudes 21" and 23O1.5' N and longitudes
84" 40' and 86O45'E (Saha, 1994). The U-Pb and Pb-Pb
age data of granitoids from different parts of the craton
shows that this crustal block grew between c. 3.6 to 3.09 Ga
(Ghosh et al., 1996; Misra et al., 1999; Moorbath et al.,
1986; Sengupta et al., 1991, 1996).
The granite-greenstone basement of the Singhbhum-
Orissa Craton is covered by extended supracrustal
1994). These supracrustal rocks surrounding the craton
on its eastern, northern and western margins are known
as the Singhbhum Mobile Belt (SMB) or North Singhbhum
Mobile Belt (Fig. 1) and are mostly composed of clastic
sediments (Saha, 1994). The boundary of the supracrustal
belt with the Singhbhum-Orissa Craton to the south is
marked by a prominent shear zone known as the
Singhbhum Shear Zone. The shear zone grades into a high-
angle fault towards west and continues further to the
western margin of the Bonai granite pluton (Saha, 1994;
Mukhopadhyay, 2001). The northern boundary of this
mobile belt is delimited by the Chotanagpur Gneissic
130 S. MISHRA AND PT. JOHNSON

Complex, though the nature of their contact is unclear.
There is also a shear zone sub-parallel to the northern
boundary of the SMB known as the Northern Shear Zone
which does not strictly follow the contact, but is situated
within the mobile belt. The SMB supracrustal rocks are
intruded by a number of younger granite plutons,
which from east to west are the Kuilapal granite,
Mayurbhanj granite, Soda granite, Arkasani granite,
Chakradharpur granite gneiss and Tamperkola granite
respectively. Besides, the SMB is also associated with three
major mafic-ultramafic volcanic sequences, which from
north to south are the Dalma, Dhanjori and Simlipal
volcanics.
Nelson et al. (1999, 2001) in their hypothesis on late
Archaean onward continental growth in global scale have
suggested that the supracrustal clastic sedimentation on
the granite-greenstone basements occurred in two
different time intervals between -3.12 and 3.10 Ga and
ca. 2.44 and 2.20 Ga respectively. For the Singhbhum-
Orissa Craton the proper geochronologic status of the
clastic supracrustal cover, however, is not clearly known.
The SMB though has been considered as Proterozoic in
age (cf, Bose, 1994; Mukhopadhyay, 1990; Saha, 1994),
no reliable radiometric ages on formation of these
supracrustals available at present. Different formation ages
for the SMB supracrustals have been inferred, e.g., 2.5 to
2.1 Ga (Eriksson et al., 1999), 2.4 to 2.3 Ga (Saha, 19941,
2.4 to 1.0 Ga (Gupta and Basu, 2000), <2.2 Ga (Acharyya,
2003; Sengupta and Mukhopadhyay, 2000) and 2.1 Ga
(Bose, 1994) and different crustal growth models of both
regional and continental-scales are also proposed
accordingly. Moreover, reliable radiometric ages for the

Legend

Chotanagpur Gneissic Complex (CGC)

a Younger granites MBG- Mayurbhanj Granite
KG- Kuilapal Granite, SG- Soda Granite, AG- Arkasani Granite
Gabbroic body (GB)
11 Kolhan Group of sediments and equivalents (KLG)
Basic volcanic rocks, DLV- Dalma Volcanics DNV- Dhanjori Volcanics,
SPLV- Simlipal volcano-sedimentary Complex JPV- Jagannathpur Volcanics,
MTV- Malangtoli Volcanics
Singhbhum Mobile Belt supracrustal rocks (SMB)
a
a
Iron Ore Group of metasediments and metavolcanic rocks (IOG)
Singhbhum Granite Basement (SBG) and equivalents
CG- Chakradharpur Granite Gneiss, BG Bonai Granite
NSZ Northern Shear Zone
SSZ Singhbhum Shear Zone

NSZ Simlipal Gabbroic

X

195 K.M.

Fig. 1. (a) A sketch map of India showing position of Singhbhum-Orissa Craton (after Naqvi and Rogers, 1987). (b) A generalised geological map
of Singhbhum-Orissa Craton and adjacent mobile belt to north (after Saha, 1994, Tamperkolla granite-acid volcanics occurring just northwest
of Bonai granite (BG) pluton is not shown in map). Solid pentagon at the southwest of Kuilapal granite in the eastern part of the SMB
indicates sample location of Roy et al. (2002b). Sector-wise location map of Dalma volcanics (BL, CL, OR, KI, HH and DL sectors) are also
shown. (c) Cross-section along the line XX' of figure I b (original length is reduced).

Gondwana Research, V. 8, No. 2, 2005

 GEOCHRONOLOGICAL CONSTRAINTS OF SINGHBHUM MOBILE BELT 131

Legend

D Younger granites
Dhanjori Volcanics

Dhanjori Sediments

0 Singhbhum Group Supracrustals

LY Iron Ore group

'* Singhbhum Shear Zone (SSZ)

1.1Present sample location

I.ISample location of Roy et al. (2002a)
Fig. 2. Generalised geological map of Dhanjori
group of rocks (after Dunn and Dey, 1942;
Banerjee, 1982; Saha, 1 9 9 4 ) . Solid
pentagon within Dhanjori metasediments
indicates sample location of Roy et al.
(2002a), Solid square within Dhanjori
metavolcanics are the sample locations for
present study.

1 Kolhan Group of sediments

'1
I
r
Jagannathpur Volcanics
lSinghbhum Granite
! Iron Ore Group
I Older Metamorphic Group
Fig. 3. Generalised geological map of Jagannathpur volcanics showing sample location for present study The location of sample JD-13 is not known
very precisely, but it is between the sample locations JD-12 and JD-14.

formation of the basic volcanic rocks occurring within and
adjacent to the SMB, i.e., Dalma, Dhanjori and Simlipal
volcanics, are also absent. Though the ages of -1.62 Ga
and -2.07 Ga of some isolated mafic rock bodies occurring
adjacent to the Dalma and Dhanjori volcanics (Fig. 1j are
presently considered as the ages of formation of these
twovolcanics respectively (Roy et al., 2002a, bj, the proper
stratigraphic position of these isolated mafic rock bodies
in relation to these major volcanics are not known. Saha
(1994) though has considered the Dalma, Dhanjori and

Gondwana Research, V . 8, No. 2, 2005

132 S. MISHM AND P.T. JOHNSON
Simlipalvolcanics of the SMB as contemporaneous or near-
contemporaneous to the Jagannathpur and Malangtoli
basic lavas of the Singhbhum-Orissa Craton (Fig. 1); no
reliable radiometric ages for this correlation exist.
The granitoid plutons occurring within this mobile belt
have more recently been dated by various radiometric
methods (Bandyopadhyay et al., 2001; Misra et al., 1999;
Sengupta et al., 1994), which indicate that the long-
standing Proterozoic status of the SMB needs review.
Therefore, the existing geochronological data on this
mobile belt have been reviewed and new ages of the
Dalma, Dhanjori and Jagannathpur volcanics are
presented in this paper to ascertain: (a) The duration of
evolution of the SMB supracrustals, (b) age(s) of
movement(s) along the Singhbhum Shear Zone, (c) ages
of formation of the Dalma, Dhanjori and Jagannathpur
volcanics, and (d) chronologic disposition of the basic
intrusives and volcanics occurring within and around the
Singhbhum-Orissa Craton.
Stratigraphy and Lithology of SMB and Basic
Volcanics
The SMB supracrustals overlie the Singhbhum granite
basement and its equivalents with an erosional
unconforinity (Table 1) (Saha, 1994). Among the three
phases of Singhbhum granite, phase 111 is the most
dominant and constitutes the basement of the SMB
supracrustals. The equivalent granites are the Bonai and
Nilgiri granites occurring at the western and southeastern
parts of the Singhbhum-Orissa Craton (Fig. 1). Though
Table 1. Generalised stratigraphic succession of the Singhbhum-Orissa
Craton adjacent to Singlibhum Mobile Belt supracrustals (after sillimanite grades and locally to andalusite grade.
Saha, 1994).
7. Emplacement of Newer dolerite dykes and sills
6. Emplaceinelit of Mayurbhanj granite pluton
5. Emplacement of gabbroic body
4. Deposition of Kolhan Group of sediments
_..___...___..______
~ ___._____.
~ ___.___ ~ ___. ~ ______
Ulicollforlnity_ ____.____..____.__________ schists and amphibolites. Though the Singhbhum Group
3. Formation of Dhanjori Group of rocks including niafic lava and
sediment, equivalent rocks are Simlipal volcano-sedimentary complex
and Dahlia volcanics.
2. Deposition and evolution of the Singlibhum Group supracrustals
constituting Singhbhum Mobile Belt
.___..____..____..__--.-----.-----.---- _____
Unconformity____.__________.__________________
1. Singlibhim granite basement with Iron Ore Group of sediments and
volcanics formed between Singhbhum granite-A' (older phase) and
Singlibhum granite-Bq (younger phase). Equivalent granites of
Singhbhum granite-A are Chakradharpur granite, Nilgiri granite and
that of Singhbhum granite-B is Bonai granite.
Based on his observations on geochemical similarities Saha (1994)
has grouped Singhbhuni granite, phase I and phase I1 as Singhbhum
granite-A and Singhbhum granite, phase I11 as Singhbhum granite-B.
at the northwestern and western parts of the craton, the
SMB supracrustals lie in direct contact with the
stratigraphically older Iron Ore Group supracrustals, the
contact is marked by a high-angle gravity fault, which
extends SW along the western boundary of the Iron Ore
Group basin and then along the western margin of the
Bonai granite pluton (Saha, 1994) (Fig. 1).Saha (1994)
considered this fault as the western extension of the
Singhbhum Shear Zone.
The SMB is divided into two parts by the DalmaVolcanic
Belt (Fig.1). The portion of the supracrustal belt between
the Singhbhum Shear Zone and the Dalma volcanics was
defined as the Singhbhum Group (Saha, 1994). There was
some confusion on the status of supracrustals lying
between the Dalma volcanics and the Chotanagpur
Gneissic Complex. Dunn and Dey (1942) and Sarkar and
Saha (1962) believed that the northern supracrustals are
the continuation of those south of the Dalma volcanics.
Sarkar (1988) considered the Dalma volcanics as a suture
zone and the supracrustals to the north and south of this
volcanic belt belong to different provenances. Reviewing
all the geological and geophysical data, Saha (1994),
however, suggested that the Dalma Volcanic Belt
represents a n intracratonic rift zone where the
supracrustals on either side of this belt were deposited in
a continuous marine basin and belong to the Singhbhum
Group. The Singhbhum Group has been divided into two
Formations (Saha, 1994): a lower Chaibasa Formation
and an upper Dhalbhum Formation.
The Singhbhum Group supracrustals consist of
following litho-units (cf. Saha, 1994): (a) Pelitic and
semipelitic schists, which is the dominant member of the
Singhbhum Group and metamorphosed to chlorite to
(b) Arenaceous members, locally grading to orthoquartzite,
present as bands within the metapelites. (c) Local bands
of impure calcareousmetasediments, mostly metamorphosed
to para-amphibolites. (d) Acid to intermediate tuffs, and
(e) Sills of mafic rocks, metamorphosed to hornblende
is mainly confined to the north of the Singhbhum Shear
Zone, it also occurs across the thrust zone in the east near
Bangriposi (Fig. 1) (Saha, 1994).
Bose (1994) estimated the maximum thickness of
-3 km for the SMB supracrustals (inferred from gravity
data of Verma et al., 1984), which is deposited on the
Singhbhum granite basement with a discontinuous
basal conglomerate horizon, associated with carbon
shale/phyllite at the base. He also reported greater
proportion of mafic volcanics and tuffs within Singhbhum
Group supracrustals north of Dalma volcanics. The
conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone, as well as mafic and
feisic volcanic association of the SMB is suggested to have
Gondwniin Research, V. 8, No. 2,2005
 GEOCHRONOLOGICAL CONSTRAINTS OF SINGHBHUM MOBILE BELT
formed under syn-rift tectonic setting (Bose, 1994; cf.
Eriksson and Fedo, 1994). A brief description of the major
mafic volcanics occurring within the SMB and Singhbhum-
Orissa Craton (Fig. 1) is as follows:
The Dalma volcanics occur as a linear belt within the
SMB supracrustals having a length of -200 km and width
of -3-7 km with an east-west arcuate trend convex
towards north (Fig. 1).They unconformably overlie the
Dhalbhum Formation of the Singhbhum Group (cf. Sarkar
and Saha, 1986) (Table 1) and consist of a lower unit of
highly magnesian ultrabasic lava, followed upward by
another unit of mafic lava separated by a conspicuous
horizon of feebly reworked pyroclastic rocks (Bose, 1994;
Saha, 1994). Recent studies have shown that the earlier
mapped chert beds present north of the Dalma range are
actually a fine rhyolitic tuff (Singh, 1997; Singh et al.,
2001). Therefore, the Dalma volcanics represent a bimodal
mafic-felsic volcanic association.
The Dhanjori Group of rocks occurs at the northeastern
part of the Singhbhum-Orissa Craton to the north of the
Mayurbhanj granite and its boundary with the SMB
supracrustals is marked by the Singhbhum Shear Zone
(Figs. 1, 2). The Dhanjori Group rests unconformably on
the Singhbhum granite basement and is suggested
younger than the lower Chaibasa Formation of the
Singhbhum Group but older than the Mayurbhanj granite
(Sarkar and Saha, 1962,1963; Sarkar et al., 1977; Saha,
1994) (Table 1). It consists of a basal quartzite and
metapelite horizon overlain by a lower member of mafic
and ultramafic tuffs and intrusives and an upper member
of tholeiitic basalt (Gupta et al., 1985). Basu (2001),
however, reported minor rhyolitic rocks within the
Dhanjori volcanics.
The oval-shaped Simlipal complex is situated at the
eastern margin of the Singhbhum-Orissa Craton in close
association with the Mayurbhanj granite and the SMB
supracrustals (Fig. 1).The rocks of this complex overlie
the Singhbhum and Nilgiri granites, Iron Ore Group (older
supracrustals) and Singhbhum Group of metasediments,
and are intruded by the Mayurbhanj granite (Table 1).
The evolution of this basin began with the deposition of a
basal quartz arenite (locally conglomeratic) bed, followed
by spilitic lava and tuffs in three successive sequences
separated by two prominent, thick, intertrappean quartz
arenite beds (Iyengar and Banerjee, 1964; Saha, 1994).
Besides these volcanic rocks within and adjacent to the
SMB, two more undeformed basic volcanic units are
present at the western and southwestern parts of the
Singhbhum-Orissa Craton, namely the Jagannathpur and
the Malangtoli lavas (Saha, 1994) (Figs. 1, 3). Both the
lavas are post-Singhbhum granite in age and overlain by
undeformed Kolhan Group or equivalent sediments and
show low-grade metamorphism (Saha, 1994). The
Gondwana Rmarch, V . 8, No. 2,2005
133
Jagannathpur and Malangtoli volcanics are mostly basaltic
andesite in composition (Bose, 2000).
Brief Description of Granitoid Plutons in
SMB
The radiometric ages of the various granitoid plutons
occurring within the mobile belt (Fig. 1) are used here
t o constrain the evolutionary period of the SMB
supracrustals. This mobile belt supracrustals has recorded
four phases of folding (Bhattacharyya, 1992; Saha, 1994)
and the granitoid plutons show different times of
emplacement in relation to the deformation phases of
these supracrustals.
The intrusive Mayurbhanj granite pluton (MBG,
-1000 sq. km.) (Fig. 1)post-dates F, and F, folding of the
SMB supracrustals, but is affected by a north-south shear
zone and a major fault, which have sheared the eastern
part of this pluton (Saha et al., 1977; Misra, 1999). This
fault and associated shear zone are considered as the
southern most extension of the Singhbhum Shear Zone
in this area (Naha, 1960). Among the three phases of the
Mayurbhanj granite, the second phase bears the imprints
of shearing and faulting occurred along the shear zone,
which is absent on the third phase of the pluton (Saha et
al., 1977; Vohra et al., 1991; Misra, 1993, 1999). The
sheet-like discontinuous Soda granite (SG) plutons
occurring along the Singhbhum Shear Zone (Fig. 1) in
association with some feldspathic schists (Dunn, 1937;
Dunn and Dey, 1942; Dasgupta et al., 1993) bear the
imprints of shearing (F,) along the shear zone, which
suggests the emplacement of these plutons into the host
supracrustals took place at a very early stage of shearing
when both of these two were deformed together. The
Chakradharpur granite gneiss (CG, -225 sq. km.)
(Fig. 1) has two distinct lithologic units (Bandopadhyay
and Sengupta, 1984). The older grey gneiss unit
(equivalent to Singhbhum granite) forms the basement
of the supracrustals, while the younger pegmatitic unit
intruding the grey gneiss suite as well as enveloping
supracrustals, is either syn- or post-tectonic to the second
phase (F,) of folding of the SMB. The intrusive Arkasani
granites (AG, Chattopadhyay and Banerji, 1984) including
a group of small lensoid bodies (Fig. l),are thought to be
syn- to post-tectonic to the second phase of folding (F,)
of the SMB supracrustals and equivalent to the late
pegmatoid phase of the Chakradharpur granite gneiss
(Sengupta e t al., 1 9 8 4 ) . The undeformed and
unmetamorphosed Tamperkola granite (TG) , occurring
at northwest of the Bonai granite pluton (Fig. l), is
intrusive into the deformed Darjing Group of
metasediments, which is considered within the SMB
supracrustals at present (Prasada Rao et al., 1964;
134 S . MISHRA AND P.T. JONNSON
Mahalik, 1987; Saha, 1994; Mukhopadhyay, 2001;
Bandyopadhyay et al., 2001). The emplacement of oval
migmatitic Kuilapal granite gneiss (KG, -80 sq. km.,
Ghosh, 1963) (Fig. 1) was broadly synchronous with F,
folding of the SMB supracrustals.
The granitoid plutons occurring within the SMB,
therefore, have different time relations of emplacement
with the deformation of surrounding supracrustals. The
older grey gneiss phase of the Chakradharpur granite
gneiss (phase I) forms the basement for the deposition of
these supracrustals. The Kuilapal granite gneiss is found
to be syn-tectonic with the second phase of folding (F,)
of the metasediments. The Arkasani granite and the
younger pegmatitic phase of the Chakradharpur granite
gneiss (phase 11) are syn- to post-tectonic to the second
phase of folding (F,) of the supracrustals. The Soda granite
is pre-tectonic to shearing along the Singhbhum Shear
Zone, which represents third phase (F,) of deformation
in the SMB. The Mayurbhanj granite is syn- to post-tectonic
to this shearing (FJ. Finally Tamperkola granite pluton post-
dates the second (F,) deformational phases of the
supracrustals. Recent studies have also shown that the
Mayurbhanj and Tamperkola granite plutons were
emplaced under anorogenic setting and the former pluton
is bimodally associated with a voluminous gabbro-norite-
anorthosite-ultramafic body, described as Mayurbhanj
gabbro in this text, which were emplaced together (Misra,
1999; Bandyopadhyay et al., 2001; Misra et al., 2002).
Geochronologic Constraints on SMB in
Relation to Granitoid bodies
The radiometric ages of the granitoid rocks occurring
within the SMB have been summarized in table 6 along
with other age data. Among the Singhbhum and
equivalent granitoid basements, the radiometric age of
the Chakradharpur granite gneiss (Fig. 1) is not known.
The Singhbhum granite phase 111, representing the
youngest phase of the Singhbhum batholith, yields whole-
rock Sm-Nd isochron age of 3.12k0.01 Ga (cf. Ghosh
et al., 1996). The whole-rock Pb-Pb eleven point isochron
age of the Bonai granite basement is 3163k126 Ma
(Sengupta et al., 1991). Therefore, the crystallisation age
of the younger Singhbhum granite, phase I11 basement at
c. 3.12 Ga can be considered as the older age limit of
deposition of the SMB supracrustals.
The in situ Pb-Pb zircon dating of intrusive Tamperkola
granite (Fig. 1) has yielded its minimum crystallisation
ages of 2809+12 Ma and 2822?67 Ma (Bandyopadhyay
et al., 2001). Therefore, the deposition and major folding
(F1 and F,deformation) of the Singhbhum Group
supracrustals cannot be younger than -2.8 Ga.
The second and third phases of the Mayurbhanj granite
pluton (Fig. 1) have yielded in situ Pb-Pb zircon ages of
308058 Ma and 3 0 9 2 r 5 Ma respectively (Misra et al.,
1999). As the second phase of the MBG has only been
affected by shearing along the Singhbhum Shear Zone,
which is absent on the third phase of this pluton, similar
ages of these two phases of -3.09 Ga, therefore, suggest
that the oldest record of movement along the Singhbhum
Shear Zone took place at -3.09 Ga. The intrusive nature
of the Mayurbhanj granite into the SMB supracrustals also
constrains the younger age limit of deformation of this
metasedimentary sequence at -3.09 Ga.
The precise Pb-Pb whole-rock four point isochron age
of the Soda granite pluton (Fig. 1)is 22202 54 Ma (Sarkar
et al., 1985, recalculated after Ludwig, 2001). Two sets
of whole-rock Rb-Sr isochron ages of this pluton are also
available (Sarkar et al., 1985). One five point isochron
gives an age of 1677111 Ma, whereas another five point
isochron age is 1633+6 Ma. The 2.22 Ga age is interpreted
as the age of emplacement/ crystallisation of the Soda
granite, whereas the 1.68-1.63 Ga age, on the other hand,
is considered as the reset age of the Soda granite pluton
due to shearing along the Singhbhum Shear Zone and
associated metamorphism (Sarkar et al., 1985). Pandey
et al. (1986), however, also reported another six point
Rb-Sr whole-rock isochron age of Soda granite of
1420+ 17 Ma. Though this date has been considered by
Pandey et al. (1986) as the formation age of the Soda
granite, the present authors believe that this age represents
a younger metamorphic event.
The Kuilapal granite gneiss (Fig. 1) has yielded a six-
point whole-rock Rb-Sr isochron age of 1638+38 Ma,
which has been considered as the minimum age of
emplacement of this granite body (Sengupta et al., 1994).
The Arkasani granite (Fig. l), gives a six point whole-
rock Rb-Sr isochron age of 1052+-84Ma (Sengupta et al.,
1994). As this granite body bears the imprints of intense
shearing and mylonitisation on local scale, the 1.O Ga age
is, therefore, interpreted as the age of the late shearing
which is possibly related to a fresh movement along the
Singhbhum Shear Zone.
Radiometric A g e s of Basic Volcanics: New
Results
Sample description
Selected samples of the Dalma, Dhanjori and
Jagannathpur volcanics have been chosen for whole-rock
Sm-Nd, Rb-Sr and Pb-Pb isotopic analyses for radiometric
dating in the present study. It was possible for us to
successfullydate samples of Dalma volcanics by whole- rock
Rb-Sr method, Dhanjori volcanics by whole-rock Sm-Nd
Gondsvana Research, V . 8, No. 2,2005
 GEOCHRONOLOGICAL CONSTRAINTS OF SINGHBHUM MOBILE BELT
and Pb-Pb methods and Jagannathpur volcanics by whole-
rock Pb-Pb method. The samples of the Dalma volcanics
were collected by late Prof. D. Dasgupta and presented to
one of us (P.T.J.) for analysis. For these samples we are
unable to provide detailed locations because of the sudden
demise of Prof. Dasgupta during the progress of this work.
However, a sector-wise location map is shown in figure 1.
The sample locations of the Dhanjori and Jagannathpur
volcanics are shown in figures 2 and 3 respectively.
The samples of Dalma volcanics are, in general, fine- to
medium- grained massive homogeneous rocks, having dark
greenish grey colour, mainly consist of amphiboles
(hornblende and actinolite) and plagioclase (labradorite
to bytownite) with epidote/ clinozoisite, chlorite, titanite
and calcite as accessories.Small amounts of relict clinopyroxene
(augite) and rarely quartz and biotite are also present. In
few sections the plagioclase laths show albitization. The
rocks show interstitial/intergranular texture, which
indicates primary basaltic texture. Other textural varieties
observed are schistose and granulose textures.
The light green schistose Dhanjori volcanics, consist
mainly of amphibole (hornblende and actinolite) and
plagioclase (andesine to labradorite) with accessory
minerals such as chlorite, epidote/clinozoisite, calcite,
titanite, quartz and magnetite. The plagioclase is highly
albitised. Rarely relict augite occurs as phenocrysts with
marginal transformation to actinolite. Intergranular
texture is noticed where actinolite and hornblende occur
in a mosaic of feldspar laths. Prominent schistosity is
observed in the volcanics near the shear zone areas.
The Jagannathpur volcanics are massive, fine- grained,
greenish coloured rocks and consist of albitised plagioclase,
amphibole (actinolite) and clinopyroxene (augite) with
chlorite, clinozoisite, calcite, quartz and titanite as
accessories. Clinopyroxene occurs as relict grain within
actinolite rim. Rare actinolite phenocrysts sometimes
contain hornblende core.
Analytical methods
The Rb-Sr isotopic analyses of present samples (Table 2)
were done at the University of California, Los Angeles,
U.S.A. The Pb- and Sm-Nd isotopic analyses (Tables 3,4,5)
were carried out at the University of Alberta, Canada.
For separation of Rb and Sr, samples were carefully
weighted into Teflon beakers and dissolved in a HNO,
and HF (1:3) solution overnight on a hot plate. The
contents were then dried down to a moist paste, HNO,
was added and the mixture was left overnight on a hot
plate. The contents were dried to a moist paste, cooled,
and 6N HC1 was added. This was left overnight on a
hotplate to dissolve and homogenize. After cooling Rb-Sr
spike solution was added to the dissolve sample and
weights were carefully noted. The mixture was dried
Gondwana Research, V . 8, No.2,2005
135
down, taken up in 1ml HCl, and centrifuged at 3500 rpm
for 10 minutes. The solution was pipetted into glass
columns containing Biorad AG50X cation exchange resin
and an elution medium of 2.5N HC1 for chromatography.
The Rb and Sr cuts were collected in Teflon beakers and
dried to a moist paste. The Sr and Rb samples were loaded
in HNO, with 1ml of Ta,O, suspended in 5% H,PO, onto
Re single filament cathodian beads.
The Sr isotopic compositions were analysed in
multidynamic (peak hopping) mode using four collectors
on a VG Sector mass spectrometer. Total process Sr blanks
were c. 300 pg, and the NBS 987 standard measured
during the same period gave a n average value of
87Sr/86Sr= 0.71022213 (N = 15).
For Sm-Nd isotopic determination 0.5 gm sample
dissolved in 25M HF/16M HNO, was evaporated to
dryness and the residue was treated twice with 16m HNO,,
once with 6.2N HCI to remove fluorides, which was then
dissolved in 6.2M HCl and split into two aliquots for
*43Nd/144Nd and Sm/Nd ratio determination. 145Nd-149Sm
spike aliquot was added to latter portion. Both aliquots
had been taken to dryness and re-dissolved in 1.5M HC1,
which was loaded onto 3 cm column of AG50-X8 cation
resin equilibrated with 1 M HC1-0.5M oxalic acid mixture.
12 ml HCl/oxalic acid and 8 ml2M HNO, had been added
to remove iron, alkalies and alkaline earths. Then 6.2M
HC1 was used to strip REE from the column and evaporated
to dryness. The above extract was re-dissolved in 0.125M
HC1 and loaded onto Teflon-HDEHP column equilibrated
with water. 0.125M HC1 has been used to remove Ce,
0.25M HC1 for Nd and 0.4M HC1 for Sm. The above
extracts were evaporated to dryness and loaded onto mass
spectrometer filaments (double Re assembly) in dilute
HNO,. Pb was extracted using HBr-HCl anion exchange
chemistry and was loaded in H,PO,-silica gel mixture onto
single Re filament for mass spectrometry.
The Sm-Nd isotopic analyses were performed on a
VG 354 Mass Spectrometer. Nd isotope data have been
normalised to 143Nd/144Nd = 0.511860 for the La Jolla
standard. The Pb isotopic analyses were performed on
Micromass MM30 mass spectrometer by using the
standard SRM 981, which gave results as follows:
206Pb/204Pb = 16.936i:0.004, zo7Pb/204Pb= 15.495 5 0.004
and 208Pb/204Pb=36.729+0.012.For computation of the
radiometric ages we used the software developed by
Berkeley Geochronology Center, U.S.A. (Ludwig, 2001).
Results
The whole-rocks as well as mineral Rb-Sr isotopic data
of the Dalma volcanics are given in table 2. An eight-
point isochron of this metavolcanics gives a date of
24872270 Ma with MSWD = 106 and initial 87Sr/86Sr
ratio of 0.70358+0.00092. A much improved isochron is
136 S. MISHRA AND P.T. JOHNSON
Table 2. Whole-rock and mineral Rb-Sr isotoDic data of Dalma volcanics.
Sample Rb Sr Rb/Sr 87Rb/86Sr 20 87Sr/86Sr
no (ppm) (ppm) error
OR-3 5.70 183.10 0.0311 0.0898 0.004 0.706519 0.00001
DL-12 6.40 150.20 0.0426 0.1238 0.004 0.708035 0.00003
KI-35 0.89 93.32 0.0095 0.0277 0.004 0.705252 0.00001
CL-113 0.77 60.60 0.0127 0.0366 0.004 0.705128 0.00001
BL-4 11.00 61.40 0.1791 0.5208 0.004 0.721722 0.00001
HBL 1.74 12.70 0.1370 0.3961 0.004 0.717618 0.00013
PLAG 1.43 127.80 0.0112 0.0324 0.004 0.704849 0.00012
HH-70 3.40 63.90 0.0532 0.1552 0.004 0.707303 0.00001
For sample location see figure 1. HBL-Hornblende, PLAG-Plagioclase,
these two minerals are separated from sample HH-70.
obtained if samples OR-3, KI-35 and HH-70 are excluded
from isochron diagram (Fig. 4). A radiometric date of
23965110 Ma is obtained with MSWD = 5.3 and initial
87Sr/86Srratio of 0.70379-+0.00015.Assuming the present
day mantle a7Sr/86Srratio of 0.704+0.002 relative to BABI
of 0 . 0 2 7 ~ 0 . 0 1 1at 4.5 Ga, the initial 87Sr/86Srratio of
mantle at -2.50 Ga can be estimated from Sr isotopic
growth curve of mantle to be of -0.7033 (cf. Faure, 1986).
As this value is very close to the initial 87Sr/86Srratio of
Dalma volcanics (Fig. 4), the isochron plot for this
volcanics, therefore, does not represent any mixing line
for this basic magma with the sialic crust into which it
was emplaced. As the Rb-Sr isotopic systematics of any
rock is profoundly affected by even modest increase in
temperature (-100-200°C) during metamorphism (Faure,
1986), the present Rb-Sr age, therefore, most likely
suggests that a major metamorphic event at -2.5-2.4 Ga
which affected the Dalma volcanics.
The whole-rock Pb-Pb isotopic data of the Dhanjori
volcanics are produced in table 3. A five-point isochron
gives a date of 2794+210 Ma with MSWD = 98.
The p values of the samples are lying between 14.593 and
21.678. A much improved isochron is obtained if
samples DN-65, DN-120 and DN-125 (Table 3) are only
0.724 I ,I
0 720
G o 71 6
co
0 71 2 Age = 2396 +- 110 Ma
a
S O 708
0 704
0 700 I I
I
I I
I
I I i Sample no
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6
87Rb/%r
Fig. 4. Whole-rock Rb-Sr isochron diagram of Dalma metavolcanics
(excluding sample no. OR-3, KI-35 and HH-70). For data see
table 2.
considered for this isochron (Fig. 5a). A radiometric date
20 of 2858+-17Ma is obtained with MSWD= 0.47. Three of
error these samples together with two other samples of the
Dhanjori volcanics have also been analysed for whole-rock
Sm-Nd isotopic composition (Table 4). TCHUR model ages
of the samples vary between a narrow range -3.2 to 3.0 Ga,
which signifies that they were separated from the mantle
approximately at the same time and can be considered
for an isochron. A five-point isochron gives a Sm-Nd age
of 2787k270 Ma with MSWD=3 with initial 143Nd/144Nd =
0.50891+-0.00025 and epsilon (CHUR) Nd value of
-2.1 (Fig. 5b). Therefore, a radiometric age -2.8 Ga
indicated by both these methods could be considered as
the formation age of the Dhanjori volcanics. This is
because whole-rock Pb-Pb and Sm-Nd isochron dates are
considered to represent the formation ages of mafic
igneous rocks (cf. Faure, 1986).
The whole-rock Pb-Pb isotopic data of Jagannathpur
volcanics are presented in table 5. A four-point isochron
defines an age of this volcanics as 2250-+81 Ma with
MSWD= 5.8 (Fig. 6). The samples of these volcanics have
p values between 4.057 and 8.475. As the Jagannathpur
volcanics are nearly unmetamorphosed, this age can be
considered as the formation age for these volcanics and
stratigraphically equivalent Malangtoli volcanics.
Discussion
The late Mesoarchaean to Mesoproterozoic
chronostratigraphic growths of the Singhbhum Mobile Belt
supracrustals along with those of the Singhbhum-Orissa
Craton and the Chotanagpur Gneissic Complex are
summarized in table 6. The radiometric ages of the
basement Singhbhum granite, phase 111, equivalent Bonai
granite and the intrusive Mayurbhanj granite pluton
suggest that the Singhbhum Group supracrustals were
formed and deformed between -3.12 and 3.09 Ga. Hence
these supracrustal cover evolved during late Mesoarchaean
period and not in Proterozoic as thought earlier. As the
intrusive Mayurbhanj granite has an age of -3.09 Ga
(Misra et al., 1999), the four-point whole-rock Rb-Sr age
of 3042k39 Ma of Singhbhum granite, phase I1 and the
five point whole-rock Pb-Pb isochron age of 3050+-37Ma
of Singhbhumgranite, phase I11 (Ghosh et al., 1996) cannot
Table 3. Whole-rock Pb-Pb isotopic data of Dhanjori volcanics.
206 PbPw Pb 20 error 207 Pb/2w Pb 20 error
DN-65 18.249 0.004 15.713 0.006
DN-106 18.180 0.004 15.733 0.004
DN-120 19.340 0.016 15.942 0.018
DN-125 21.592 0.006 16.395 0.004
DN-212 19.252 0.010 15.971 0.004
For sample location see figure 2.
Gondzaana Rescnrch, V . 8, No. 2, 2005
 GEOCHRONOLOGICAL CONSTRAINTS OF SINGHBHUM MOBILE BELT 137

16.5 Table 5. Whole-rock Pb-Pb isotopic data of Janannathwr volcanics.

n 16.3 Sample no. PbZoG/PbZ" 20 error PbZo7/PbZ" 20 error

a JD-9 17.955 0.014 15.593 0.016
B 16.1 JD-13 25.361 0.008 16.638 0.008
.N
n JD-22 22.086 0.004 16.161 0.004
a 15.9 JD-27 18.177 0.004 15.612 0.006
t-
N
0 MSWD = 0.47
15.7 For sample location see figure 3.
15.5
17.5 18.5 19.5 20.5 21.5 22.5 emplacement of anorogenic Mayrubhanj granite pluton
also indicates stabilization of the Singhbhum-Orissa
'06P bI2O4Pb Craton at -3.09 Ga (Misra et al., 1999; Saha, 1994).
The evolution of the Simlipal complex was followed
0.5120 by the eruption of the Dhanjori volcanics, which is
b
considered younger in stratigraphic sequence to the
T?0.5116 Chaibasa Formation of the Singhbhum Group, but older
-
V

z
. U
than the intrusive -2.22 Ga old Soda granite pluton (Saha,
1994; Sarkar et al., 1985). Its whole-rock Sm-Nd and
- 05112
F:
Pb-Pb isotopic ages of -2.80 Ga can be considered as its
formation age. In the present study though we are unable
0 5108
to present any reliable radiometric age of formation of
0.10 0.12 0.14 0.16 the riftogenic Dalma volcanics (Bose, 1994; Saha, 1994),
Nd
147Sm/'44 its major metamorphism can be constrained by its
whole-rock Rb-Sr age at -2.50 Ga. As this volcanic rock
Fig. 5. (a) Whole-rockPb-Pbisochron diagram for Dhanjori metavolcanics.
For data see table 3. (b) Whole-rock Sm-Nd isochron diagram is stratigraphically younger than the Singhbhum Group
for Dhanjori metavolcanics. For data see table 4. (-3.12-3.09 Ga) (Table l),it should have formed between
-3.09 and 2.50 Ga. Saha (1994) using stratigraphic and
petrochemical similarities suggested that the Dalma and
be considered as the formation ages of this basement
Dhanjori volcanics are near contemporaneous. Bose
granite. It appears that the emplacement of the voluminous
(2000),however, has shown that though these two basic
Mayurbhanj gabbro into the Singhbhum granite
volcanic suites are not petrochemically similar, they
contemporaneously with the Mayurbhanj granite pluton
are stratigraphically equivalent (Bose, 1994). Hence the
(Misra et al., 2002) has thermally reset the whole-rock
-2.8 Ga age of the Dhanjori volcanics can tentatively be
Pb-Pb as well as Rb-Sr isotopic systematics of the basement
considered as the formation age of the Dalma volcanics.
granite and hence the ages of -3.05-3.04 Ga of Singhbhum
Dalma volcanics, however, also recorded younger
granite indicate the age of a late thermal metamorphim.
metamorphic events. Sarkar et al. (1969) determined
The Simlipal complex, which unconformably overlies
whole-rock K-Ar metamorphic ages of epidiorite samples
the Singhbhum granite, phase 111 (-3.12 Ga), Nilgiri
of these volcanics as 1 5 4 7 t 2 0 Ma and 797+20 Ma, which
granite (-3.29 Ga) and the Singhbhum Group and
are the records of metamorphic events.
intruded by Mayurbhanj gabbro along with the
Mayurbhanj granite (-3.09 Ga) (Saha, 1994), therefore,
post-dates the deformations of the Singhbhum Group
supracrustals, but emplaced before -3.09 Ga. The

Table 4. Whole-rock Sm-Nd isotope data of Dhanjori volcanics.

Sample Sm/Nd 147Sm/'44Nd 20 143Nd/'%Nd 20 T,,,,"
no error error
DN-65 0.2349 0.1421 0.0004 0.511507 0.000025 3.13
DN-120 0.1884 0.1140 0.0004 0.511003 0.000022 2.99 15.3
DN-212 0.2266 0.1371 0.0004 0.511458 0.000020 2.99
DN-159 0.2398 0.1451 0.0004 0.511589 0.000011 3.08 16 18 20 22 24 26
DN-95 0.2602 0.1574 0.0004 0.511803 0.000010 3.21 ~~~~~~~~4~~
For sample locations see figure 2.
a Model age of the rock calculated using present day CHUR values of Fig 6 Whole-rock Pb-Pb isochron diagram for Jagannathpur volcanics.
143Nd/144Nd=0.512638 and 147Sm/144Nd= 0.1967. For data see table 5.

Gondivana Research, V . 8, No. 2,2005

138
Table 6. Summary of geochronological evolution of the Singhbhum Mobile Belt and adjacent crustal blocks during late mid-Archaean to mid
Proterozoic period.
Age (Ga) SMB'
0.80
1.2- Shearing of Arkasani granites and
1.0 reactivation of Singhbhum Shear Zone
(-1.05 Ga).
1.5
1.6 *Uranium mineralisation along
Singhbhum Shear Zone (-1.58-1.48 Ga).
"Emplacement of mafic intrusive north
of DaIma volcanics (-1.62 Ga).
"Emplacement of Kuilapal granite pluton
(-1.64 Ga),
"Shearing and metamorphism of Soda
granite (- 1.68-1.63Ga).
1.8 Sulphide mineralisation along
Singhbhum Shear Zone (-1.76 Ga).
2.0 Emplacement of mafic rock body
north of Dhanjori (-2.07 Ga).
2.22 Emplacement of Soda granite pluton
along with reactivation of Singhbhum
Shear Zone.
2.5- Major metamorphism of Dalma and
2.4 Dhanjori basic volcanics.
2.8 "Major eruption of riftogenic Dhanjori
and Dalma basic Volcanics
"Emplacement of anorogenic
Tamperkola granite
3.09 "Lower age limit of deformation of the
SMB supracrustals and formation of
overlying undeformed Simlipal complex.
"Oldest record of shearing along
Singhbhum Shear Zone
3.12 Upper age limit of deposition of SMB
supracrustals
Present study, Royet al. (2002a, b) Ghosh et al. (1996); Mkra et al. (1999,2000, 2002); Saha (1994) Acharyya (2001,2003); Mallick (1993, 1998);
MalIick et al. (1992); Mazumder (1996, 1998); Misra and Dey (2002); Saha et al. (1987); Sarkar (2000) a K-Ar ages: Sarkar et al. (1969, 1977)
Other evidences of -2.8 Ga old magmatism along the
margin of the Singhbhum-Orissa Craton are as follows:
(a) intrusion of the anorogenic Tamperkola granite pluton
into the SMB supracrustals (2809212 Ma, 2822267 Ma,
Pb-Pb zircon age, Bandopadhyay et al., 2001) and
(b) intrusion of a group of anorogenic plutons (not shown
in map) along the southwestern boundary of this crustal
block ( 2 8 0 3 2 4 Ma, 2 8 1 1 2 3 Ma, Pb-Pb zircon age,
Misra et al., 2000). These small plutons occurring along
the southern margin of the craton also have recorded
metamorphism at -2.50 Ga (24812 7 Ma, Pb-Pb zircon
age, Misra et al., 2000). Therefore, it can be concluded
that the evolution of the Singhbhum-Orissa Craton
-
between >3.09 and >2.50 Ga has occurred essentially
under anorogenic setting along the marginal part of
the craton, followed by a major metamorphism at
-2.50 Ga.
S. MISHRA AND P.T. JOHNSON
Singhbhumz Chotanagpur3
Youngest event of tectonism
Emplacement of third phase of Newer Pluton emplacement and metamorphism,
dolerite dyke (1.2-1.0 Ga). migmatisation (1.18-1.07 Ga)
Emplacement of second phase of Pluton emplacement, metamorphism,
Newer dolerite dyke (1.54-1.45 Ga)" charnockite formation (1.58-1.43 Ga)
Emplacement of granite plutons
Emplacement of first phase of
Newer dolerite dyke (1.96 Ga)a
Eruption of Jagannathpur lava
(-2.25 Ga) and deposition of
overlying Kolhan sediments.
Metamorphism of younger plutons Oldest granitoid pluton (> 2.3 Ga)
occurring along southern margin of occurring within gneissic complex
craton.
Emplacement of a group of small
anorogenic granitoid plutons along
the southern margins of craton.
Emplacement of Mayurbhanj granite and
associated gabbroic body.
Formation of Singhbhum granite
basement
The Jagannathpur and the stratigraphically equivalent
Malangtoli basic lavas occurring within the Singhbhum-
Orissa Craton at west were erupted at -2.25 Ga (Fig. 6).
Undeformed nature of these volcanics suggest that they
were erupted under anorogenic setting. Therefore, new
radiometric ages suggest that the Simlipal volcanics
(- >3.09 Ga), Mayrubhnaj gabbro contemporaneous with
Mayurbhanj granite (-3.09 Ga), Dalma and Dhanjori
volcanics (-2.80 Ga), and the Jagannathpur and
Malangtoli volcanics (-2.25 Ga) are time-separated basic
volcanics/intrusive in the Singhbhum-Orissa Craton, and
not time-equivalent magmatisms as thought earlier. The
undeformed Kolhan Group of sediments, which overlie
the Jagannathpur lavas (Saha, 1994), therefore, was
-
deposited < 2.25 Ga.
The following summary of available radiometric ages
suggests multiple reactivation along the Singhbhum Shear
Gondwana Research, V . 8, No. 2,2005
 GEOCHRONOLOGICAL CONSTRAINTS OF SINGHBHUM MOBILE BELT
~
Zone. The shearing along the Singhbhum Shear Zone has
affected the second phase of the Mayurbhanj granite, but
have no imprints on its third phase. As both the phases
have radiometric ages of -3.09 Ga (Misra et al., 1999),
this shear zone must have been reactivated during this
age, which is possibly the oldest record of movement along
this tectonic zone. The next phases of tectono-magmatic
activities along the shear zone occurred in Proterozoic in
the following sequence:
(a) Emplacement of the Soda granite pluton along the
shear zone at -2.22 Ga (Sarkar et al., 1985),
(b) Copper sulphide mineralisation a t - 1.77 Ga
(1766t82 Ma, whole-rock Pb-Pb age, after Johnson et al.,
1993).
(c) Shearing and metamorphism of the Soda granite
pluton at -1.6 or 1.4 Ga (Sarkar et al., 1985; Pandey
et al., 1986),
(d) Uranium mineralisation along the Singhbhum Shear
Zone between -1.58-1.48 Ga (1583 Ma, 1478214 Ma,
Pb-Pb uraninite ages, Rao et al., 1979), and
(e) Shearing of the Arkasani granite plutons at - 1.O Ga
(Sengupta et al., 1994).
Beside this multiple reactivation of the Singhbhum
Shear Zone, the Singhbhum Group also shows strong
evidences of contemporaneous metamorphism along
with/without granite plutonism at
(i) -1.6 Ga (1546246 Ma, K-Ar hornblende age from
amphibolite dyke, Sarkar et al., 1969; 1638t38 Ma, age
of KuiIapal granite, Sengupta et al., 1994), and
(ii) between -1.18 and 0.84 Ga (1177+31 Ma,
1163k22 Ma, 1091t26Ma, 1057t20 Ma, 1050t19 Ma,
1007241 Ma, 9 4 2 t 3 6 Ma, 8 5 2 t 2 5 Ma, 8 4 6 t 1 8 Ma,
8 3 8 t 3 1 Ma, K-Ar ages of muscovites and biotites from
schists, Sarkar et al., 1969).
Though the relationship between the Singhbhum Group
and the Chotanagpur Gneissic Complex (Fig. 1) is not very
clear, most of the workers believe that the latter is younger
than the former, because some granitic members of
the gneissic complex have intruded the Singhbhum Group
(cf. Saha, 1994). Sarkar (1988), observing common
occurrence of metasedimentary enclaves within the
gneissic basement all over the craton, suggested that the
Chotanagpur Gneissic Complex was evolved from a thick
sequence of argillites, arenites, and impure carbonate
sediments with mafic igneous rocks through repeated
metamorphism, migmatisation and profused granitic
activity. Observing the similarity of major oxides of the
gneisses and the sedimentary rocks Ghosh (1983) also
favoured derivation of this gneissic basement largely from
semipelitic rocks with admixture of greywacke.
Occurrences of aluminosilicates like garnet, muscovite,
sillimanite, cordierite and staurolite as accessory minerals
within the basement gneisses (Ghosh, 1983), also confirm
Gondiuana Research, V . 8, No.2,2005
139
metasedimentary source for these gneisses (cf. Chappell
and White, 1974).
The protolith of the Singhbhum Group was deposited
over a continental basement (Verma et al., 1984) under
syn-rift setting (Bose, 1994). A detailed study on the
stratigraphy of the Chotanagpur Gneissic Complex (Singh,
2001) shows that the oldest enclave suite within the
gneissic basement consists of granulite facies metapelites
and mafic igneous rocks, metapelitic schists, quartzite,
BIF and equivalent iron bearing rocks, calc-silicates and
metabasic rocks. These metamorphics should have derived
from a sandstone-siltstone-iron formation-limestone
bearing sedimentary precursor with mafic igneous rocks,
which were supposed to have formed in post-rift stable
shelf setting (cf. Eriksson and Fedo, 1994). These
sediments were deposited in a marine basin existed to
the present north of the Singhbhum-Orissa Craton (Sarkar
and Saha, 1977,1983). Though the probable relationship
between these two sedimentary precursors is unknown,
limited observations on their boundary reveals neither a
sharp litho-boundary nor a stratigraphic break, but a
continuation of deformation structures and metamorphism
(Bhattacharyya et al., 1990). Therefore, there is a
probability that these two sedimentary precursors may
be continuous and deposited in the same time.
Present radiometric datings of the Chotanagpur
Gneissic Complex by various methods (Acharyya, 2001,
2003; Krishna et al., 2003; Mallick, 1993, 1998; Mallick
et al., 1992; Mazumder, 1996, 1998; Ray Burman et al.,
1994; Saha et al., 1987) show that the important
magmato-metamorphic events in this crustal block took
place in the following sequence:
(i) - >2.3 Ga (> 2300 Ma),
(ii) -1.6-1.5 Ga (1717,102 Ma, 1 6 2 4 2 5 Ma,
1593rt52 Ma, 1580t33 Ma, 1522+71 Ma, 151525 Ma,
1 4 8 9 t 6 7 Ma, 1 4 3 3 t 5 6 Ma),
(iii) -1.2-1.0 Ga (1285t108 Ma, 12381-33 Ma, 1246-
1416 Ma, 1020t45 Ma, 1086-893 Ma), and
(iv) -0.9 Ga (980 Ma, 970 Ma, 960250 Ma, 965,
9 5 5 t 4 0 Ma, 910519 Ma, 890 Ma, 800-878 Ma.
These ages definitely suggest contemporaneous
deformation and metamorphism of the protoliths of the
SMB and the Chotanagpur Gneissic Complex during
Proterozoic at -2.5 to > 2.3 Ga, -1.6 Ga and -1.0 Ga.
Nelson et al. (1999,2001) on the basis of their comparative
study on the Pilbara Craton, western Australia, and the
Kaapvaal Craton, South Africa, suggested a generalized
model on the late Archaean onward continental growth
in global scale. These are (a) completion of formation of
granite-greenstone basement at -3.10 Ga; (b) onset of
craton-wise erosion and gradual transition from granite-
greenstone style crust formation to supracrustal clastic
140 S. MISHRA AND P.T. JOHNSON
sedimentation within the interval of -3.12 to 3.03 Ga,
(c) major episode of flood volcanism between -2.76 and
2.68 Ga, (d) the predominance of chemical (carbonate
and BIF) sedimentation between ca. 2.63 and 2.44 Ga,
and finally (e) transition to widespread clastic
sedimentation within the interval of ca. 2.44 to 2.20 Ga.
Though the sequence of late Archaean chronostratigraphic
growth of the Singhbhum-Orissa Craton is very similar to
this model, some exceptions are there. This cratonic block
did not experience any chemical sedimentation between
ca. 2.63 and 2.44 Ga. There was a major episode of
intracratonic flood volcanism at -2.25 Ga and the
youngest widespread clastic sedimentation on this cratonic
-
basement occurred in little late at < 2.25 Ga.
Conclusions
(1) The SMB supracrustals (Singhbhum Group) was
deposited on the Singhbhum Granite basement and
subjected to major folding in Late Mesoarchaean period
between -3.12 and 3.09 Ga and not in Proterozoic as
thought earlier. The younger age limit of formation of
the SMB supracrustals was marked by emplacement of
the intrusive anorogenic Mayurbhanj granite pluton along
the margin of the Singhbhum-Orissa Craton at -3.09 Ga,
which also indicates stabilization of this craton.
(2) The evolution of this supracrustal sequence was
followed by formation of undeformed Simlipal volcanics
at - >3.09 Ga, emplacement of Mayurbhanj gabbro at
-3.09 Ga, major basic riftogenic Dalma and Dhanjori
volcanics along with emplacement of anorogenic granite
plutons at -2.80 Ga. The Dalma volcanics and the
anorogenic granite plutons experienced a subsequent
major metamorphism at -2.50 Ga. All of these igneous
activities took place within and adjacent the SMB at the
marginal part of the Singhbhum-Orissa Craton under
anorogenic tectonic setting. A major anorogenic basic
volcanism, the Jagannathpur and Malangtoli lavas,
however, took place within the Singhbhum-Orissa Craton
at -2.25 Ga. Therefore all these basic volcanism/
plutonism are not time-equivalent as thought earlier.
(3) The precursors of the SMB supracrustals and
the adjacent Chotanagpur Gnessic Complex to north
were evolved from a near-shore syn-rift type and a distal
post-rift stable shelf type sedimentary assemblage
respectively without any sedimentary break. Both of these
protoliths were subjected major magmato-metamorphic
activities during Proterozoic at -2.5 to >2.3 Ga, -1.6 Ga
and 1.0 Ga.
(4) The Singhbhum Shear Zone shows multiple
reactivation, the oldest being at -3.09 Ga, which is
contemporaneous with the emplacement of the
Mayurbhanj granite. The next phases of granite plutonism
and /or shearing and mineralisation along this shear zone
occurred in Palaeo- to Mesoproterozoic period at -2.22,
-1.8, -1.6-1.5, -1.4 and -1.0 Ga respectively.
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to Dr. Alan Smith, University of
Alberta, Canada, and Dr. Jon Davidson, University of
California, LA, U.S.A. for kindly supervising the second
author (P.T.J.) for isotopic analysis of samples. We wish
to thank Prof. A.R. Basu, Mr. R. Chakraborti (Rochester,
U.S.A.), Mr, T. Ray Burman and J. Ghosh (GSI, Calcutta),
Mr. R. Jana and A. Mukherjee (IIT, Kharagpur) for
various help during this research. We are indebted to
Profs. H.C. Dasgupta, D. Sengupta (IIT, Kharagpur),
M. Jayananda (Bangalore University, Bangalore),
Mr. S. Ghosh (GSI, Kolkata) and two anonymous reviewers
for their valuable comments on the early versions of the
manuscript. Valuable suggestions of Prof. S. Moorbath
(University of Oxford, U.K.) on presentation of isotopic
data has greatly improved the text. The first author-wishes
to acknowledge the financial assistance in the form of a
Senior Research Associateship of CSIR, New Delhi (Grant
no. B-10220), for this work.
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