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Nepheline syenite and related rocks at Meruda Takkar hill, northern Kachchh: Neoproterozoic Malani basement or Mesozoic alkaline magmatism?

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Abstract

An extremely small but significant exposure of possibly Precambrian or Pre-Deccan Mesozoic plutonic rocks spanning 200 × 90 m in size with 15 m elevation, remotely located amidst vast salt flats of the Great Rann of Kachchh received attention when it was first reported by Biswas in 1968; however, systematic petrological and petrographical studies remained undone. Therefore, in the present study, we addressed complete geological accounts to establish its possible origin. Our detailed geological study indicates that the complex is made up of nepheline and aegirine bearing alkali feldspar syenite with numerous fine-to-medium grained felsic dykes. It lays two viewpoints: (1) it has affinity with Trans Aravalli Belt anorogenic felsic magmatism, i.e., Precambrian and (2) it is genetically related to the pre-Deccan Mesozoic plutonic intrusives like Nir Wandh in Pachham Island and Mundwara and Sarnu–Dandali complexes in Rajasthan. The nearest felsic magmatic suite is an exposure of gray and pink granites of Nagar Parkar of Neoproterozoic age. Presence of undersaturated minerals and xenoliths of diorites within syenite parent body may suggest partial melting of lower crust probably during Rodinia supercontinent rifting. However, presence of alkali-rich minerals, alkali feldspars, kaersutite, aegirine, apatite and rutile needles and the complex being part of the Kachchh rift basin suggests its genetic resemblance with Pre-Deccan Mesozoic plutonic events. The radiometric age will confirm the age of this plutonic massif.

Research highlights

Based on the field geological and petrographical studies of Meruda Takkar syenitic complex, two viewpoints have been raised:

  1. 1)

    The alkali feldspar syenite complex of Meruda has close affinity with the anorogenic felsic igneous suites contemporaneous with Malani Igneous Suite and slightly younger than post-Delhi Erinpura granites, i.e., Neoproterozoic intraplate magmatism chronologically equivalent to the splitting of Rodinia supercontinent,

  2. 2)

    The alkali feldspar syenites of Meruda Takkar have genetic and mineralogical resemblance with the pre-Deccan trap Mesozoic plutonic activities allied to what is prevailing at alkaline complexes of Mundwara and Sarnu–Dandali and in the northern Island belt alkaline intrusives of Nir Wandh, Kuran, Kaladungar and Sadhara sills and dykes.

Radiometric age determination and geochemical analysis of the Meruda syenite are needed to establish its age and origin.

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Acknowledgements

MGT acknowledges the Ministry of Earth Science, New Delhi project for the financial assistance (MoES/P.O.(Seismo)1/(270)/AFM/2015(Comp-V). We thank the BSF-DIG, Bhuj and Gandhinagar for the permission to move in restricted areas of the Great Rann of Kachchh. We also thank Anil Chavan, JRF, Department of Earth and Env. Sci.; Jilubha Sodha, Sarpanch of Dholavira village; and Ismail Nareja, a freelance bird watcher; and Khadir for their invaluable help in motorbike arrangement and locating Meruda Takkar Hill in the Rann. We are extremely grateful to Prof. Hetu Sheth for his valuable and critical reviews, and interest in getting this MS in acceptable form.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth and Environmental Science, KSKV Kachchh University, Bhuj, Kachchh, 370 001, India

    M G Thakkar, Gaurav Chauhan, Yash Shah, Chirag Jani, Bhavyata Chavada, Abhishek Lakhote, Suraj Bhosale & C P Mistry

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  1. M G Thakkar
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  2. Gaurav Chauhan
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Contributions

In the present paper, Dr. M G Thakkar and Dr. Gaurav Chauhan generated the core idea of the paper, basic write up as well as direction and compilation of entire field and laboratory data. Mr. Yash Shah, Bhavyata Chavada and Suraj Bhosale and C P Mistry contributed largely in petrographical observation, acquiring photomicrographs and interpretation. Chirag Jani contributed in joint pattern study – field data collection and interpretation. Mr. Abhishek Lakhote helped in preparation of figures and all authors joined the field studies.

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Correspondence to M G Thakkar.

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Communicated by N V Chalapathi Rao

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Thakkar, M.G., Chauhan, G., Shah, Y. et al. Nepheline syenite and related rocks at Meruda Takkar hill, northern Kachchh: Neoproterozoic Malani basement or Mesozoic alkaline magmatism?. J Earth Syst Sci 130, 4 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-020-01493-y

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