Chemistry of Cr-spinels from Ultramafic Complexes of Western Dharwar Craton and its Petrogenetic Implications

Abstract Ultramafic complexes containing chromite-bearing units occur scattered over a large area of the Western Dharwar Craton (WDC). They are broadly separated into two groups; the older complexes, forming a part of the oldest known Sargur Group and occurring as dismembered enclaves within the Peninsular Gneissic Complex, and the younger, forming part of greenstone belt sequence having emplaced in the early stages of basin formation. In this study, chromite-bearing units of the ultramafic complexes of the older group forming the Nuggihalli belt and Rangapura-Shivani complex and the younger group forming the ultramafic complexes of Channagiri, Shankaraghatta and Usgao, have been selectively examined. While Shankaraghatta ultramafite contains sparse disseminations, the other complexes include in addition mm-cm scale bands and lenses\pods of chromite; commercially workable deposits of chromite are confined only to the Nuggihalli belt. Further, whereas PGE mineralization of possible commercial value is recognized in the Channagiri complex, the Shankaraghatta complex encloses Ni-Au-PGE mineralization. Almost 200 spot analyses of chromite grains occurring in the five different ultramafic complexes of WDC have been obtained. Although it is the most resistant mineral of the rocks, in the intensely altered Channagiri complex it shows deep alteration whereas in the other less altered complexes the alterations are localized to outer zones and margins of the mineral. The least altered Cr-spinel composition (Spl) with XMg 0.01-0.656, XCr 0.553-0.955 and XFe 0.014-0.215 is on the whole in the range of aluminian chromite, but, it shows significant variations from one complex to the other and even within the limits of a single complex, related to primary magmatic processes. An interesting finding is the presence of occasional relics of titanium chromite in the PGE mineralized Channagiri complex. In addition to common alteration of Spl to ferrian chromite (SpII) (with Al2O3:0.47-6.46 %; MgO: 1.4-4.1%; Cr2O3: 36.1-54.9 %; Fe2O3: 11.6-23.1 %), alteration of the mineral to chromian magnetite and magnetite (with Al2O3: 0.01-0.84 %; MgO: 0.01-0.07 %; Cr2O3: 1.17-28.81 %; Fe2O3: 34.7-63.6 %) is also recorded. These alterations, as well as near total conversion of olivine and pyroxenes into antigorite and chlorite, were brought about by pervasive low-grade regional metamorphism which accompanied penetrative fluid action and deformation. The alteration comprised of two way diffusion of elements. While the formation of ferrian chromite was associated with quantitative outward migration of Al, Mg and very moderate Cr into the surrounding and inward migration of iron from the surrounding and oxidation of iron, the conversion of chromite into Cr-magnetite/magnetite was brought about by quantitative outward migration of Cr, Al and Mg into the surrounding and inward diffusion of iron. As has been the case with many of the examples studied world over, the Cr-spinels of WDC too have chemical characteristics which largely overlap with those of both layered and ophiolitic/podiform examples and do not permit their characterization exclusively as layered or podiform types.