Tectonostratigraphic and Geochronologic Reappraisal Constraining the Growth and Evolution of Singhbhum Archaean Craton, Eastern India

Reappraisal of field relationships between the different lithological ensembles supported by available geochronological data, and taking due note of the tectono-metamorphic, magmatic and sedimentation history helped to build up a coherent crustal evolutionary history of the Singhbhum Archaean craton, eastern India. The evolution of the earliest sialic crust, as the isotope ages suggest, was around 3700 Ma or even earlier. Deposition of the oldest, dominantly metasedimentary supracrustals, the Older Metamorphic Group (OMG), was initiated at around 3380 Ma, i.e. after a gap of about 320 million years. The closing of OMG basins synchronously with the emplacement of a granitoid phase was at ca. 3285 Ma. No other fabric-forming ductile deformation and metamorphism associated with the development of foliation and mineral lineation is known in the rocks of the Singhbhum Archaean craton subsequent to this event. Formation of the succeeding geological ensembles including the deposition of BIF-bearing Iron Ore Group (IOG) and the emplacement of the post-IOG granitoids at ca. 3100 Ma can be described as 'non-orogenic' event taking place during the phase of tectonic quiescence. Supracrustals like the Dhanjori and Simlipal mafic volcanics with intercalated beds of arenite evolved later during the phase of Plume outburst at around 2800 Ma. The end-Archaean intrusion of Newer Dolerite dykes in conjugate sets and the deposition of Kolhan Group in an N-S oriented basin during an E-W stress system mark the culmination of the Archaean crust-building activity in the Singhbhum Archaean craton.