PALAEOPROTEROZOIC METAMORPHISM IN THE JEORI-WANGTU GNEISSIC COMPLEX (JWGC), WESTERN HIMALAYAS

Abstract

The Jeori-Wangtu Gneissic Complex (JWGC) exposed as a tectonic window in the Lesser Himalayas represents one of the oldest Gneissic Complex of the Himalayas. Foliated granite and the metapelite constitute the dominant lithologies of the JWGC. The western margin of the JWGC is bounded by a brittle shear while in the east, the tectonic surface is a ductile shear zone. Kyanite schist, chloritoid schist, staurolite schist (St-1), garnet schist and staurolite schist (St-2) are present in a west to east sequence beginning from near to the Jhakhri thrust and up to the contact with the JWGC granite. Mica schist is intermittently present and is the dominant metapelite. Low to medium grade regional metamorphic conditions has been inferred for these rocks. Calc silicate enclaves within the JWGC granite preserve the contact metamorphic effects. These are reflected in development of narrow zones of disequilibrium assemblages of calcareous garnet (grs~53), clinopyroxene, K feldspar, calcic plagioclase (An86), quartz, zoned sphene, zoned allanite, amphiboles, calcite and epidote. Recording of contact metamorphic assemblage of 1.80 Ga granite witin the enclave calc silicates and in the host metapelites over an earlier, relict low to medium grade assemblage indicates that the JWGC preserves palaeoproterozoic metamorphic imprints. © 2005.