Geochemistry and petrogenesis of Paleo–Mesoproterozoic mafic dyke swarms from northern Bastar craton, central India: Geodynamic implications in reference to Columbia supercontinent

•Four distinct Proterozoic mafic dyke swarms are identified in northern Bastar craton.•They are emplaced in a stable continental rift setting.•Paleoproterozoic dykes are derived from melts generated within spinel stability field.•Mesoproterozoic dykes are derived from melts generated within garnet stability field.•These dykes may be related to the assembly and break-up of Columbia supercontinent.

Field setting, petrography, geochemistry and available radiometric ages of Proterozoic mafic dykes from the northern Bastar craton have helped to identify four sets of mafic dykes; two Paleoproterozoic [viz. NW–SE North Bastar dykes (NBD) and ENE–WSW Dongargarh-Chhura dykes (DCD)] and two Mesoproterozoic [viz. 1.42 Ga ENE–WSW Bandalimal dykes (BDD) and 1.44 Ga N–S Lakhna dykes (LKD)]. Their petrographic and geochemical characteristics are very distinct and suggest their derivation from different mantle melts. Chemistry of all the four sets suggests different petrogenetic histories and samples of each distinct set are co-genetic nature. The NBD, the DCD and the BDD samples are sub-alkaline tholeiitic in nature, whereas the LKD samples show alkaline nature. Very distinct REE patterns are observed for all the four sets again suggesting their different petrogenetic histories. Geochemical comparison between the studied samples and mafic dyke samples of southern and central parts of the Bastar craton suggests very different picture for the northern Bastar craton. Only one set of northern Bastar dykes, i.e. the NBD, matches with BD1 dykes; no other dyke sets match with any of the dyke swarms identified in southern and central Bastar craton. Geochemically it is not straightforward to confirm crustal contamination, however, on the other hand, possibility of crustal contamination cannot be ruled out completely. A petrogenetic model based on trace element data suggests that all the four sets are derived from different mantle melts. The NBD and the DCD are probably generated within spinel stability field, whereas the BDD and the LKD may be derived from melts generated within garnet stability field. Available geological and geochemical data support the emplacement of studied dykes in a stable continental rift tectonic setting, however earlier intrusions have chemistry similar to N-MORB. The available geological, geochemical and geochronological data on the four indentified sets of mafic dykes from the northern Bastar craton indicate their relation to the assembly and break-up of Columbia supercontinent.

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