Geology and diamond provenance of the Proterozoic Banganapalle conglomerates, Kurnool Group, India
Sojen Joy
H. A. Jelsma
R. F. Preston
S. Kota
10.6084/m9.figshare.3452999.v1
https://geolsoc.figshare.com/articles/dataset/Geology_and_diamond_provenance_of_the_Proterozoic_Banganapalle_conglomerates_Kurnool_Group_India/3452999
<p>The Banganapalle Quartzite Formation occurs in the Cuddapah Basin in India and is characterized by a basal diamond-bearing
conglomerate horizon. The diamonds within this placer are generally thought to have been sourced from the erosion of kimberlites
of the Wajrakurur cluster. De Beers' India's exploration efforts have resulted in the discovery of a number of dykes within
the basin, with petrographical and geochemical similarities to lamproites. It is proposed that far-field stresses related
to the Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt (EGMB) provided extensional sites during the time of lamproite emplacement. The dykes have
not been dated. However, zircons recovered from heavy mineral stream samples in the area exhibit a number of age groupings,
including one in the range of 1287–1370 Ma. This age is interpreted as the emplacement age of the dykes in this region. Kimberlitic
indicator minerals (KIMs), recovered from conglomerate waste dumps, indicate the uniqueness of the garnet population relative
to that of the known kimberlite clusters to the west of the basin. We propose that the emplacement of lamproites occurred
as dyke–sill complexes at 1.4–1.3 Ga and that the lamproites represent the source of the diamonds in the Banganapalle conglomerates.
</p>
2016-06-21 11:03:53
De Beers
diamond provenance
Wajrakurur cluster
mineral stream samples
Banganapalle conglomerates
age groupings
area exhibit
KIM
exploration efforts
Banganapalle Quartzite Formation
emplacement age
Cuddapah Basin
geochemical similarities
lamproite emplacement
Kurnool Group
EGMB
Kimberlitic indicator minerals
garnet population
dykes
extensional sites
kimberlite clusters
Proterozoic Banganapalle conglomerates
conglomerate waste
Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt
Geology