New Data on the Mineralogy of Chromite from the Nuggihalli Schist Belt, Western Dharwar Craton, Karnataka, India: Petrogenetic Implications
Corresponding Author
Perumala V.S. RAJU
National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, India (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research)
Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorElapavalooru V.S.S.K. BABU
National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, India (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research)
Search for more papers by this authorRoland K.W. MERKLE
Department of Geology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Perumala V.S. RAJU
National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, India (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research)
Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorElapavalooru V.S.S.K. BABU
National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, India (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research)
Search for more papers by this authorRoland K.W. MERKLE
Department of Geology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract:
The occurrence of rhythmic layering of chromite and host serpentinites in the deformed layered igneous complexes has been noticed in the Nuggihalli schist belt (NSB) in the western Dharwar craton, Karnataka, South India. For this study, the chromitite rock samples were collected from Jambur, Tagadur, Bhakatarhalli, Ranganbetta and Byrapur in the NSB. Petrography and ore microscopic studies on chromite show intense cataclasis and alteration to ferritchromite. The ferritchromite compositions are characterized by higher Cr number (Cr/[Cr+Al]) (0.68–0.98) and lower Mg number (Mg/[Mg+Fe]) (0.33–0.82) ratios in ferritchromite compared to that of parent chromite. The formation process for the ferritchromite is thought to be related to the exchange of Mg, Al, Cr, and Fe between the chromite, surrounding silicates (serpentines, chlorites), and fluid during serpentinization.
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