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Monazite dating of granitic gneisses and leucogranites from the Kerala Khondalite Belt, southern India: implications for Late Proterozoic crustal evolution in East Gondwana

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Abstract

Two stages of granitic magmatism occurred during the Pan-African evolution of the Kerala Khondalite Belt (KKB) in southern India. Granitic gneisses were derived from porphyritic granites, which intruded prior to the main stage of deformation and peak-metamorphism. Subsequently, leucogranites and leucotonalites formed during fluid-absent melting and intruded the gneiss sequences. Monazites from granitic gneisses, leucogranites and a leucotonalite were investigated by conventional U-Pb and electron microprobe dating in order to distinguish the different stages of magma emplacement. U-Pb monazite dating yielded a wide range of ages between 590–520 Ma which are interpreted to date high-grade metamorphism rather than magma emplacement. The results of this study indicate that the KKB experienced protracted heating (>50 Ma) at temperatures above 750–800 °C during the Pan-African orogeny. The tectonometamorphic evolution of the study area is comparable to southern Madagascar which underwent a similar sequence of events earlier than the KKB. The results of this study further substantiate previous assertions that the timing of high-grade metamorphism in East Gondwana shifted from west to east during the Late Proterozoic.

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Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to H. Baier (Münster) for laboratory assistance. Financial support from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Br1909/1-1) is greatly acknowledged. The careful and constructive reviews of Anne Nédélec and Jean-Louis Paquette provided valuable help in clarifying our views and are greatly acknowledged.

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  1. Mineralogisch-Petrologisches Institut, Universität Bonn, Poppelsdorfer Schloß, 53115, Bonn, Germany

    Ingo Braun

  2. Institut für Mineralogie, Zentrallabor für Geochronologie, Universität Münster, Corrensstr. 24, 48149, Münster, Germany

    Michael Bröcker

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Correspondence to Ingo Braun.

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Braun, I., Bröcker, M. Monazite dating of granitic gneisses and leucogranites from the Kerala Khondalite Belt, southern India: implications for Late Proterozoic crustal evolution in East Gondwana. Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 93, 13–22 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-003-0376-1

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