CHAPTER-4

4.0.0 - ULTRAMAFIC ROCKS

4.1.0 - INTRODUCTION :

The ultramafic rocks constitute the second

important rock type of the area around Gopalpur, the

first being granitic (ch.2.0.0). The term "ultrabasic"

refers to chemical composition while "ultramafic" refers

to mineralogieal composition but both the terms have

been used loosely (Chatterjee, 1974). According to Williams,

Turner and Gilbert, 1955) most ultramafic rocks are

ultrabasic since they contain less than 45° silica.

All of them have colour indices more than 70. Ultramafic

rocks are composed largely of dark coloured ferromagnesian

minerals : olivine, pyroxene, serpentine and opaques.

Ultramafic monomineralic rocks composed of following

mafic minerals respectively, would certainly be ultrabasic

as /shown -/by - the ■, Si0o, content by .percent- given in

& . i •. J _J • , 1 ? ,4\'bd x..l . :..... . ■„

parentheses after each mineral : forsterite (42.9), fayalite

(29.4) hornblende (average value 37), biotite (average

value 43.1) and serpentine (average value approximately

42). However, monomineralic rocks composed of pyroxenes,

although definitely ultramafic, would not be ultrabasic

because of their high SiC^ content: enstatite (60), diopside

(55.6), aegirine (52) (Wyllie, 1967). Most of the occurrences

around Gopalpunr hitherto not described in details,

 : 53 :

can be named as ultramafic rocks because the Si02

proportion is 47% (varying from 44% to 52%). The rocks

contain pyroxenes as the most abundant constituent

with very minor amounts of olivine at places. They

are differentiated to gabbros which belong to the mafic

category.

In Jojohatu area lying about 100 kms north

of Gopalpur the ultramafic rocks have been described

as lenticular bodies of Alpine type (Sarkar and Saha,

1964) and synkinematie with . cross folding of Iron Ore

Group (Saha, 1970). The peridotite of Manpur is described

as a solid mass, which has been forced up by the earth

movements. It is younger than Singhbhum granite and

serpentinised by hydrothermal solutions derived from

unknown deep sources. The surpentinisation : was a

post - consolidation phenomenon and it was caused by

replacement. The nonfibrous serpentine was transformed

into fibrous serpentine under the influence of stress

(Chatterjee, 1955). Minor intrusions of periodotite in

Champua, are described to be post - Singhbhum granite

in age (Bose, 1958). Ultramafic rocks in Keonjhar region,

including the present area, are described to

the form of a lenticular intrusion (Ghosh and

Rao, 1952).
 : 54 :

4.2.0 - MODE OF OCCURRENCE AND STRUCTURE :

The ultramafic rocks cover 20% of the total area occurring

in a massive body in the central portion and also

in the form of several dykes. The massive body is

exposed on flat land and along nala-cuts whereas dykes

form linear hillocks. The margin of the ultramafic body

within the Older granite is irregular but two major

rectilinear margin trends can be discerned, namely

NNW-SSE and ENE-WSW. Parallel to these trends, there

are also dolerite dykes and major joints (Map-I). The

ultramafic rocks are also found in the shape of sills

and dykes within the Older granite. The Younger granite

occurs as small intrusives within the ultramafic rocks

(P1.14A). Enclaves of Older granite are present within

the ultramafic rocks whereas the ultramafic rocks are

found as enclaves within the Younger granite (P1.14B).

Thus, the relative age of different rock types are clearly

illustrated in the field. The highly irregular nature

of the ultramafic body around Gopalpur is not consistent

with the idea of a lenticular body or a laccolith. On

the otherrhand the local rectilinear outline parallel

to the directions of the dolerite dykes and major joints

are very remarkable. The gabbroic dykes, which are

differentiated products of this ultramafic body are

also nearly parallel to the dolerite dykes. So it is

 : 55 :

inferred that the ultramafic body has followed the pre-exist­

ingjoints and fracture system in the Older granite:

of the area. Joints and fracture systems were also

followed by the Younger granite and dolerite, respectively.

There are two sets of vertical joints trending

N 20° W - S 20°E and N 70°E - S 70°W. Other minor

joints and fractures give rise to the highly fractured

and frittered nature of the rock. Hexagonal cooling

cracks and pitted surfaces are developed at several

exfoliated blocks (Pis. 15 & 16). There are parallel

toindistinct bands of different grain size. Except for

such minor brittle structures and poorly devloped foliation

no other deformational feature is observed in ultramafic

rocks. Deformation, if any, is limited to microscopic

scale only (ch.4.3.0).

4.3.0 - TEXTURAL CHARACTERS :

Ultramafic rocks of this area show wide variation in

textures and microstructures, particularly from the

centre to border of themass. In the central portion

the rocks are highly coarse-grained and porphyritic

grading to hypidiomorphic but towards the obarder

they grade to medium-grained varieties having prismatic

crystals or fine needles of tremolite. The margins are

 : 56 :

locally chilled to very fine grains. So basing on their

disposition in space, the ultramafic rocks of this area

can be grouped to four textural types (pig. 13).

1) Extremely coarse grained porphyritic

texture with phenocrysts of hyp.ersthene, augite and

bronzite developed in the central portion of the rock

body (Pis. 16 & 17); this is interpreted as the result

of slow cooling at deeper level.

2) Medium to coarse grained hypidiomorphic

texture is seen locally in central portion of the body.

Bronzite proportion is less in this case as compared

to the previous type. The emplacement to higher level

and relatively rapid cooling has given rise to this

texture.

3) Medium grained ultramafic rocks containing

prismatic and needle-shaped tremolite are found in

more or less well-defined zones around the hypidiomorphic

mass (PI. 18 A and Fig. 13). This texture is developed

due to contact effect of Younger granite which has

intruded along ultramafic rock - Older granite ^-border.

The other minerals developed in association with tremolite

are cordierite, hornblende (green), actinolite, epidote

and chlorite.

4) At some places the margins of ultramafic

rocks are extremely fine grained hypidiomorphic, which

 : 57 :

can be interpreted as effect of chilling (ch.4.5.0.).

There is no sharp contact between these

four textural varieties and the variation is so irregular

that it cannot be mapped. Mineralogy, texture

the chemistry of the ultramafic rock in Keonjhar

are also reported by other authors who find a regular

variation (Deb and Chakravorty, 1960). In porphyritic

variety the phenocrysts of bronzite, augite and

hypersthene are identified under microscope. In some

cases zoned pyroxenes and euhedral crystals of apatite

and tourmaline are also present. Changes due to hydrother­

mal action of Younger granite have been juxtaposed

over the above textural types. As a result the rock

looks patchy (massive) and mottled by the presence

of serpentine, chlorite, talc etc. Branching to netlike

veins of asbestos are also locally developed (P1.18B).

Bending, kinking and distortion of cleavage planes

and twin lamallae in pyroxenes (P1.19A) and undulose

extinction in pyroxenes and cordiorite indicate the

minor shearing in these ultramafic. rocks.

4.4.0 - MINERALOGY :

In ultramafic rocks pyroxenes are the essential minerals

with occasional olivine and anthophyllite alongwith

 : 58 :

tourmaline, feldspar, Motile, apatite as accessory

constituents. Pyroxenes are altered completely or partly

to serpentine. The remnant pyroxenes are found to

be encircled by their altered products. Hypersthene,

augite and bronzite are the main minerals of the pyroxene

group . All of them are seen as phenocrysts showing

two sets of prominent cleavages and interference colours

of higher orders when in unaltered condition. Hypersthene

and bronzite are highly pleochroic with straight extinction

where as augite is nonpleochroic with oblique extinction

(C A Z = 55°). Zoning is a common phenomenon in these

pyroxenes (where hypersthene is encircled by augite)

and which has locally developed twinning, (PI. 19B).

This shows that hypersthene is the first mineral to

crystallise followed by augite. Picrites are occasionaly

seen where the olivine occurs as essential constituent

with pyroxenes. Anthophyllite occurs as essential constituent

both in pyroxenites and picrites and shows pieochroism

from clove brown to green. After alteration it breaks

up to needles and bunches of needles of tremolite.

Opaque minerals are developed along the cracks of

olivine (P1.20A). Euhedral habits of tourmaline and

apatite are suggestive of their being primary. Biotite

shows pieochroism from faint brown to deep brown and

 : 59 :

hence is inferred to have high titanium contents. But

the biotite in ultramafic rocks is expected to be of

low titanium content. Hence the presence of high titanium

biotite indicates mixing up of ultramafic rocks with

the Younger granite magma. In case of gabbroic and

noritic rocks piagioclase occurs alongwith pyroxenes.

Here the piagioclase is highly altered to sericite. The

opaque minerals are seen as clots, dots , lines and

patches in various orientations (PI. 20B and 21A).

In some cases they are also parallel to the asbestos

veins.

The ultramafic rocks are acted upon by

the hydrothermal solutions, the carrier of which is

the Younger granite giving rise to various altered

products like serpentine, muscovite, talc, uralite etc.

Serpentine is the most prominent alteration product

derived from pyroxenes and olivine. It occurs as aggregates

of fibcor;lameller nature and shows sieve structure. It

is usually colourless to faintly greenish and nonpleochroic.

In some cases serpentine and the opaque minerals are

arranged to resemble foliation and bandings showing

the action of hydrothermal solution along closely spaced

cracks and joints. The presence of muscovite and

talc shows the evidence of hydrothermal action on ultramafic

 60 :

rocks. The sericitisation and uralitisation have profusely

affected the gabbros occuring as dykes and sills, suggesting

that the hydrothermal action is very intense in such

smaller differenciated bodies. In massive ultramafic

bodies the hydrothermal action is limited to cracks

and joints only along which uralite, asbestos and talc

are formed. As the Younger granite occurs as small

bodies it can only affect dykes, sills and jointed parts

of the ultramafic rocks leaving the main body less

affected. The presence of uralite is noted as secondary

fibrous light blue-green amphibole formed by the process

of uralitisation from the pyroxenes. It imparts a greenish

colour to the rock.

The contact metamorphic effect of Younger

granite on the ultramafic rocks is evidenced by the

presence ofthe minerals like cordierite, hornblende,

tremolite, actinolite, epidote, etc. This mineral

assemblage suggests albite - epidote - hornblende

hornfels facies and hornblende - hornfels facies of

contactmetamorphism (Turner etal, 1960). Cordierite

found within the serpentine occurs as xenoblastic grains

or vein like masses. Chlorite is developed along the

cracks of cordierite. Hornblende, the metamorphosed

products of the pyroxenes, can be identified by the

 : 61 :

presence of two sets of oblique cleavages, oblique extinction

(c A Z = 19°) and plechroism from leaf green to dark

green. Hornblende surrounding the pyroxene (Pls.21B

& 22A) is locally marked. Tremolite and actinolite are

also formed by the contact metamorphic effect on the

ultramafic rocks. Both of them have acicular habit

but tremolite occurs as diversely oriented or parallel

needles (P1.22B) and fibers whereas actionolite occurs

as radiating needles. Both the minerals are nonpleochroic

and show oblique extinction.The presence of pyroxene

at the border is interesting. The symplektitic intergrowth

between tremolite and plagioclase has replaced pyroxene

at places. Epidote is also formed from pyroxenes. Calcite

the latest mineral is found as veins and is characterised

by its twinkling and fourth order interference colours.

4.5.0 CONTACT EFFECTS :

4.5.1 Changes in Older granite :

The Older granite is intruded by the Ultramafic

magma which changes the texture and microstructure

of the preexisting rock, mainly at the margins. Away from

 : 62 :

the margin granite shows coarse grained hypidimorphic

texture and rarely graphic and myrmeckitic structure.

But along the border zones the graphic, myrmeckitic

and symplekctiticc intergrowths are abundantly juxtaposed

over the hypidiomorphic texture. These textures and

micro-structures are due to reheating of the pre-existing

Older granite. The contact metamorphic paragenesis

belongs to epidote hornfels facies corresponding to

relatively low temperature (Turner etal, 1960).

4.5.2. Changes in Ultramafic rocks at Older granite

contact :
Such changes are due to either cooling or assimilation.

The cooling effect is observed in the fine grained rocks

occuring around tie coarse to medium grained hypidiomor­

phic central part of the intrusive body. This can be

interpreted;* as effects of rapid cooling or marginal

chilling against Older granite. The usual ^effects of

rapid chilling namely development of glass or extremely

fine grain size have not developed here because of

the originally low temperature of ultramafic rocks (Turner

etal, 1960, p.312) However, cooling cracks are quite

common at shallow levels of the intrusive. Biotite and

brown hornblende are formed in border zones instead

of pyroxene which is common at central portion. Both

 : 63 :
biotite and hornblende conform to the hypidiomorphic

texture and do not show any parallel arrangement

as would have been expected in case of their

metamorphic origin. Crystals of pyroxene, hornblende

and biotite occassionaly grow as parallel intergro­

wths.

Assimilation of the Older granite by ultramafic

rocks has resulted in albite-rich rims around calcic

plagioclase crystals found as constituents of ultramafic

rocks. Intergrowth between quartz and feldspars are

very common in ultramafic rocks at the contacts. These

intergrowths as well as crystals of orthoclase and quartz

occur interstitial to the pyroxene crystals. This indicates

the assimilation of granitic constituent by the ultramafic

magma and their recrystallisation in the interstitial

space.Another interesting evidence of assimilation is

the occurrence of relict orthoclase within ultramafic

rocks. This orthoclase is identified to be originally

present in granite because it shows undulose extinction

where as the enclosing minerals are free from strain

effect.

4.5.3. Effects of Younger granite on ultramafic rocks

Contact effects of Younger granite on the ultramafic

rocks include a variety of textural and mineralogical

 : 64 :

changes. The overall hypidiomorphic texture of the

ulltramafic rocks remains intact but myrmeckites and

symplektites are developed interstitially due to metasomatic

replacement in the contact zones. Quartz and feldspar

crystals cut across pyroxene crystals. Zoned plagioclase

is very common in ultramafic rocks along the contact

zones, but such plagioclase is totally absent in ultramafic

rocks and gabbros away from the Younger granite contact.

The albite-rich plagioclase of the granite grows around

the calcic plagioclases of ultramafic rocks giving rise

to such zoning. Thus, quartzofeldspathic constituents

of granite were added to those of ultramafic rocks.

Another type of contact effect of Younger granite

on ultramafic rocks is the hydrothermal action due

to which pyroxenes are surrounded by hornblendes

and a number of other hydroxyl bearing phases such

as uralite (ch.4.4.0), sericite, kaolin, talc, chlorite

etc.. In some cases pyroxenes are pseudomorphed by

a mass of tremolite, talc and serpentine. Such type

of association of minerals are found near Ghatsila,

where the metamorphosed ultrabasic rocks show regular

gradation from the least altered types characterised

by the assemblage of high temprature minerals to the

most altered ones composed of low temperature minerals.

 : 65 :

The ultrabasic rocks here are characterised by an

assemblage of tremolite and chlorite in one area which

shows gradation to tremolite - chlorite - talc in other

areas (Roy, 1956). The mineralogical characters and

the textures of the ultrabasic intrusives there show

that the alterations belong to the category of 'hydrothermal

metamorphism'. The degree of alteration of pyroxene

and plagioclase by hydrothermal action is very high

within the contact zones of Younger granite and ultramafic

rocks. Along the border zone the biotite observed in

ultramafic rocks is different from that away from it.

This border zone biotite is pleochroic from faint brown

to deep brown, whereas the original biotite of ultramafic

rock is of yellowish brown to deep brown pleochroism.

This change in the type of biotite is due to its derivation

from the Younger granite.

4.6.0 CHEMICAL CHARACTERS :

Whole rock analysis for major elements has been conducted

for eight ultramafic rock samples, two mafic (gabbroic)

rock samples and one dolerite sample for which C.I.P.W.

norms are calculared (Tab.3). The results of the analysis

are represented diagramatically to elucidate the chemical

composition of rocks, their mutual relations and to

compare them with the rocks of the other areas. Trace

 : 66 :

element analysis has also been done on these rocks

for the important minor constituents (Tab. 4). The geo­

chemical variations are plotted separately.

Osann's system of chemical classification

is of great advantage and wide use (Johansen, 1962).

The A-C-F diagram (Fig. 14 A.) shows that some ultramafic

rocks plot very near the pyroxenite/peridotite (P) of

Osann. But there is a variation towards hornblendite

(H), alkaligabbro (A) and gabbro (G) of Osann. The

chemical relation between the different mafic and ultramafic

minerals of Gopalpur are indicated in this plot. In

the S-Al-F plot (Fig„l4B) the analysis from Gopalpur

lie in the field of igneous rocks of Osann. The rocks

are all poor in Al. and show a variation in values

of S and f. in the Al-C-Alk plot (Fig,.14C) the ultramafic

and mafic rocks fall to the right of the feldspar line

i.e. in the field of igneous rocks. There is no rock

of Gopalpur area lying to the right of the vertical

medial line (the field where Al. is less than Aik.)

and all the rocks lie to the left and in sextant 3.

The chemical relations of the rocks of present

area are illustrated in variation diagrams where weight

percentages of different oxides are plotted against

 : 67 :

the weight percentages of silica. The A^O^ ^ Si ^2

plot O'Fig. 15A) indicates the sympathetic variation

between A^O^ and Si C^. Thefew analysis which plot

out of the curve suggest contamination with country-rock

giving higher alumina values. Magnesia weight percentages

sharply decrease with increase of silica in most of

the rocks as is illustrated in Fig.l5B. The plots near

the base which are located away from the curve belong

to the mafic and contaminated members. There is no

significant variation in the weight percentages of other

oxides namely those of iron, calcium and alkalis. A

sympathetic trendy between lime and silica percentages

is indicated in Fig. 15C. In this diagram the ultramafic

rocks plot towards the base (poorer in both lime and

silica) as distinct from the mafic and contaminated

members. Plots of iron oxides against silica (Figs. 16A&B)

show a concentration indicating the overall similarity

of the rocks in Feo and Fe20g content. However, the

mafic and contaminated members can be separated from

the ultramafic ones in their lower values of iron oxide.

The plots of weight percentage of alkalies (Figs. 16C

and D) clearly indicate that these oxides are almost

not varying.

The variation diagrams Mg-Ca-(Fe" + Fem

 : 68 :

+ Mn) and Mg -(Fem + Fe" + Mn)- Aik (Cation percentage)

are usually considered very significant in comparing

magmatic rock suites of mafic complexes in various

geological environments. The general similarity of the

fields of composition of some Alpine type masses with

the field for the lower part of the stratiform masses

are thought to be suggestive of the derivation of some

Alpine type from the stratiform type (Bowes etal, 1970).

In the Bushveld type there is some relative enrichment

of Fe in relation to Mg in the basic rocks in contrast

with the ultrabasic rocks of basal zone. In the upper

zone there is considerable Fe enrichment followed by

progressive enrichment of Na + K. Similar variations

are observed in the Skaergaard, Alpine and Sittampundi

complexes. The Fe - Mg ratio is very similar throughout

the complex in Stillwater area. This may be possibly

due to the fact that the upper part of the Stillwater

complex is not seen (Hess, 1960). However, the fields

of composition represented in Figs. 17A and B is considered

to be representative of the peridotite/pyroxenite-gabbro/

norite - anorthosite association in igneous masses.

The rocks of Gopalpur plot in the field which is well

comparable with the fields established for Alpine, Bushveld

and Lewisian complexes,

 : 69 :

A-F-M plot shows the differentiation

of a basaltic magma from magnesium corner to alkali

corner with a curve towards the iron corner. The plots

from Gopalpur area (Fig. 18) conform to the Alpine composite

trend (Thayer, 1967) in parts and extend along the

Skaergard trend. The chemical relationship are still

largely speculative. Analysis of known Alpine type

intrusive rocks suggests a magnesian differentiation

trend that crosses the A-F-M triangle much nearer to

the typical calc-alkaline plutonic trend than to Skaeergaard

rock trend. The Mgo/Feo ratio in Alpine type ranges

from 9/1 to 3/1 in peridotite and pyroxgnite to about

1/2 in gabbro / diorite and finally 1/4 in granophyres.

Thayer has concluded that even though Alpine peridotites

and gabbros are characterised by metamorphic textures

and structures, their chemical affinities to diorite and

granodiorite indicate igneous differentiation. The composition

of the magma from which they differenciated must remain

conjectural bjit close relationship to the plutonic calc-alka­

line trend is obvious. In view of the ambiguity in

the orginal nature of the Alpine type ultrabasic rocks

(Thayer, op.cit) and the possible derivation of some

Alpine typeultramafie rocks from stratiform complexes

(Bowes etal, op.cit), the original nature of the ultramafie

 : 70 :

rocks around Gopalpur can only the discussed after

much more detailed work than is possible in the present

thesis.

The trace elements observed in the basic

to ultramafic rocks of Gopalpur (Tab. 4) show a more

or less regular variation indicating chemical relationship

between them. As for example, the Ni - Co plot (Fig.l9A)

indicates sympathetic variation between these two elements

conforming to variations in other complexes of the world.

The Co proportion in relation to Mg also vary regularly

and more or less sympathetically, although it is in

some cases lower than in some other basic rocks (Fig.l9B).

Nickel proportion also increases with Chromium as illustrat­

ed in Fig.l9C. and is somewhatsimilar to the relation

between Cobalt and Nickel.

The plots of Cobalt and Nickel against total

Iron (Cation percentage) are given in Figs.20A and

20B. The proportion of these two trace elements show

an abrupt increase between 7 and 8% iron but then show

more or less uniform values in iron rich members .

Plots of Nickel and Chromium, against Mgo

(Figs. 21A & 21B) show a broad similarity with those

of other ultrabasic complexes (Bowes etal, 1973).

 : 71 :

These plots show sympathetic variation of Nickel and

Chromium with Magnesium as is expected in ultramafic

suites (Divakar Rao, etal, 1975).

In the plots of Zinc and Copper against

MgO & B) the proportion of Zinc and Copper

remain more or less uniform in magnesian rocks but

with decrease in magnesia, there is a sharp rise in

proportion of these two constituents. This may indicate

the effect of contamination with granite (ch.2). The

proportions of other trace elements remain within small

ranges. Thus Barium varies from about 50 to 240 ppm,

Ce from. about 20 to 100 ppm, La from 3 to 60 ppm,

Rb.from 13 to 67 ppm, Sr from 56 to 193 ppm ’:and

Zr.from 53 to 178 ppm with occasional higher values.

Elements like Ga, Nb, Pb, U, Th, Y are not present

in considerable proportion.

4.7.0. STRATIGRAPHIC POSITION :

The stratigraphic position of ultramafic rocks in Singhbhum

and adjoining areas of Keonjhar, Mayurbhunj districts

of Bihar and Orissa, is having some uncertainties when

considered in detail (ch. n ,1.2.0). These problems can

be enumerated as follows

a) No specific age data is available for the ultramafic

 : 72 :

rock of the region. There is also controversy regarding

the number of phases of ultramafic intrusion. Iyengar

and Banerjee (1964) pointed out that the basic plutonic

rocks are seen as peripherally intruded gabbros and

anorthosites. Two phases of ultramafic intrusions are

proposed by Prasad Rao, etal (1964). Sarkar and Saha

(1964) are of the opinion that there are three types

of basic and ultrabasic intrusions. Saha (1970) also

suggested that there are three groups of associational

ultramafic intrusions, while Banerji (1974) pointed

out that there are several phases of ultrabasic intrusions

associated with several orogenie cycles (eh. 1.2.0).

b) There are differences in opinion as regards the

mode of emplacement of the ultramafic rocks. The ultramafic

rocks intrude the countryrock as sills and dykes as

has been proposed by many workers, while Sarkar and

Saha (1964) further suggested it to be Alpine ttype'

of intrusion. Iyenger and Banerji (1964) are of the opinion

that these ultramafic rocks intruded along the periphery of

the country rock.

c) Grouping of these rocks depend ingi -on composition

has * variously been referred to as 'gabbros and ultrabasics '

or ' basic and ultrabasic intrusives ' or ' gabbro, norite
and anorthosites? etc. The ultrabasic members are identified
 : 73 :

to be pyroxenites, periodites, serpentinites and anorthosites.

Of particular interest is the inference that they are

a suite of gabbro-anorthosite-norite grading locally

to peridiotite and pyroxenite and extending from south

Singhbhum to Mayurbhanj (Dunn and Dey, 1942 and

Chatterjee, 1945). Thus their grouping based only on

lithology is not very dependable from stratigraphic

point of view.

The ultramafic rocks of the area under disussion

are associated with the Older granite, quartzite, Younger

granite and dolerite. They intrude into the older granite

and do not occur as lenticular body '.or as a laccolith

but follow the fractures and joints of the Older granite

(ch, 4.2.0) having chilled margins at places. Recrystallisa­

tion is observed in Older granite at the contact with

ultramafic rocks. There are also some assimilation effects

by the ultramafic rocks ( ch. 4.5.0) which contain enclaves

of the preexisting Older granite. These features indicate

that ultramafic rocks are intrusives to Older granite.

The quartzite of this area is also older than the ultramafic

rocks as it has been intruded by the later. This can

be evidenced by the chilling effect on ultramafic rocks

at the contact of quartzite and by the presence of

apophyses of ultramafic rocks into the quartzite (Map-1).

 : 74 :

However, the exact contact of quartzite with the main mass

of ultramafic rock is oblitered by soil cover.

The age relation between ultramafic rocks and the

Younger granite is quite evident as Younger granite is a

later intrusive (ch. 4.2.0). The evidences, in brief, are

the enclaves of ultramafic rocks in Younger granite, dykes

of Younger granite in ultramafic rocks and intrusion of

Younger granite along the contact of Older granite and

ultramafic rocks. Various contact effects of the Younger

granite on ultramafic rocks (ch. 4.5.0 ) are also distin­

ctly observed.

Dolerite, the youngest rock of the area, intrudes

into ultramafic rocks and its intrusive contact is clearly

visible in the field. It is, however, difficult to distinguish

between some dolerite dykes .and gabbroic dykes which

are the differentiated products of ultramafic rocks.

It is concluded that the ultramafic rocks are intrusi­

ve into the Older granite and the quartzite. The Younger

granite and the dolerite dykes are intrusives into ultram­

afic rocks. Gabbro and norite, the differentiated products

of the ultramafic rocks, may be confused with dolerite.

The absence of glass and extremely fine grained mater­

ial along the margin of the ultramafic rocks and

 : 75 :

the gradation in grain size as mentioned in the above

suggest that the ultramafic rocks of the present area

intruded in low temperature condition and cooled down

slowly.

According to wyllie (1967,p.3) there are many

different rock types in the ultramafic clan and these

occur in a variety of field and petrographic associations.

We may expect, therefore, that there is a variety of

processes involved in the origin and emplacement of

these rocks. The ultramafic and ultrabasic rock associations

provide a framework for more detailed accounts and

petrogenetic discussions in individual areas. Wyllie

has listed ten rock associations and in some associations

there are sevaral subdivisions. There is overlap between

some of the associations and gradation between some

of the subdivisions. He has pointed out that the following

associations are to be regarded only as a working

clasification to be modified according to the infermation

from particular areas. The ten associations are-----

a) Layered gabbro-norite-peridotite association

in major intrusions, having two subdivisions.

b) Ultramafic rocks in differentiated basic sills

and in minor intrusions having three subdivisions.

c) Concentrically zoned dunite-peridotite association,

 : 76 :

d) Alpine type peridotite-serpentinite association

having six subdivisions.

e) Minor associates of batholithic complexes having

three subdivisions.

f) Alkalic ultrabasic rocks in ring complexes having

three subdivisions.

g) Kimberlites having three subdivisions.

h) Ultrabasic lavas having three subdivisions.

i) Ultrabasic nodules having three subdivisions.

j) Metamorphic and metasomatic ultrabasic and ultramafic

rocks.

Considering the various characters of the above

mentioned associations, the ultramafic rocks of the

present area may be put under the subdivision of the

low grade regionally metamorphosed environment belonging

to the "Alpine type peridotite-serpentinite" association.

Such association has been described by Jahns (1967)

in Roxbury Dist., Vermont, U.S.A. and Canada where

hundreds of discrete intrusive bodies occur in folded

and metamorphosed eugeosynclinal sediments of Palaeozoic

age. They range from small sills and concordant or

partly concordant lenses to thickly bulbous and irregularly

tabular masses with maximum dimensions measured in

miles. All are very small as compared with the entire

 : 77 :

belt which is sinuous but has a prevailing NE-SW trend

reflecting the ancient folded structure of the host terrain.

In Roxbury Dist., the most abundant and wide-speread

rock types are peridotites, dunites, pyroxenites and

various alteration products of the ultrabasic plutonites.

Their Primary mineralogy is simple with magnesian

olivine as predominant constituent. Enstatite is locally

abundant and augite is observed in a few locality.

The consistent accessories are spinels and quartz.Feldspars,

amphiboles and micas are rare or absent. These rocks

are partly or completely altered to serpentine or steatite.

The chief alteration products are serpentine, talc,

carbonates, amphiboles, chlorite, epidote, garnet, albite,

muscovite, apatite, magnetite, ilmenite, rutile, sphene,

tourmaline, zircon, pyrite and pyrrhotite. Mining operations

within Appalachian have yielded wide range of commercial

■ materials including olivine, chrysotile asbestos, talc

and soapstone; Turner etal (1960) have reported that

alongwith above-mentioned minerals, the Alpine type ultra-

mafic rocks are also associated with the chromite deposits.

In the present area the ultramafic rocks have

intruded into the Dhanjori metasediments and the underlying

basement rocks. The mineral constituents of the ultramafic

rocks of this area are very similar to those of Alpine

 : 78 :

type. The chemical characters of the ultramafic rocks

around Gopalpur also conform to Alpine type ( ch.

4.6.0 ). Intrusion has taken place mostly along the

weak zones in the rocks and represent only a part

of an extensive basic-ultrabasic magmatism. The ultramafic

intrusion has been affected by the Younger granite

which is a later intrusive. Mineralogical association

(ch. 4.4.0 indicates that there is decrease of degree

contact metamorphic effect of the Younger granite

the ultramafic rocks from the border zone towards

the center. Further work correlating the different ultramafic

bodies of north Orissa and Bihar may prove interesting.

“i6 sjc
 T A B L E - 3

Chemical analysis of dolerite.gabbro/norite and

ultramafic rocks

Major Samp 1 e No.

elements.
(Wt.%) 1 2 3 4 5 6

Si02 46.64 48.01 47.29 44.58 46.06 50.53

A12°3 13.69 12.19 4.45 3.98 5.22 9.89

Fe2°3 2.64 3.90 2.18 1.91 1.31 0.52

FeO 11.92 12.60 8.32 8.86 8.56 9.14

MgO 5.37 3.99 27.19 32.48 26.61 13.43

CaO 9.65 8.36 4.84 3.33 4.23 7.30

Na2° 2.14 2.55 - 0.78 0.58 0.00 2.29

k2o 0.89 1.18 0.64 0.55 0.25 0.52

Ti02 1.81 2.66 0.32 0.29 0.38 0.67

MnO 0.15 0.19 0.16 0.16 0.12 0.13

P2°5 0.25 0.51 0.06 0.02 0.05 0.08

L.O.I. 2.93 3.16 0.51 3.20 6.57 3.71

C02 0.08 0.15 0.19 0.00 0.30 0.33

Total 98.16 99.45 96.93 99.92 99.66 88,54

Exaplanations of tables - 3 & 4

1. Norite (Bhadurighar)

2. Fine grained pyroxenite ( Bakpantari)

3. Pyroxenite (Kandsar)

4. Peridotite (Gopalpur)

5. Fine grained pyroxenite (Kandsar)

6. Pyroxenite (Gopalpur)
 T A B L E - 3 (Contd.)

Normative S a m p 1 e No.
minerals. 1 2 3 4 5 6

Apatite - 1.01 - - - -

Ilmenite 3.34 5.01 0.60 0.61 0.61 1.22

Orthoclase 5.00 6.67 3.34 2.78 1.11 2.78

Albite 17.82 21.48 6.29 4.72 - 18.86

Anorthite 25.30 18.35 6.95 6.95 13.62 15.30

Magnetite 3.71 5.57 3.02 2.78 1.86 0.70

Hematite - - - - - -

Diopside 18.75 17.26 13.44 7.47 5.72 16.87

Hypersthene 19.45 17.06 31.02 20.64 48.45 32.00

Olivine 1.20 - 31.40 50.78 21.02 6.24

Quartz - 3.42 - - - -

Total 94.57 95.83 96.06 96.73 92.39 93.97

 TAB L E - 3 (Contd .)

Major S a m p 1 e No.
elements.
(Wt.%) 7 8 9 10 11 12

Si02 49.98 44.77 48.01 53.21 54.51 52.40

A12°3 11.92 3.78 12.27 11.58 13.97 11.14

Fe2°3 1.21 3.22 2.79 8.11 1.78 9.18

FeO 10.27 7.61 13.22 3.29 7.42 2.75

MgO 8.67 29.50 4.46 9.71 5.45 10.45

CaO 7.83 3.39 8.41 7.17 9.57 7.61

Na20 2.58 0.26 3.43 2.57 1.73 2.14

k2° 1.15 0.41 1.37 1.51 1.11 1.00

Ti02 1.71 0.30 2.96 1.12 0.55 1.13

MnO 0.14 0.12 0.21 0.16 0.14 0.16

P2°5 0.21 ■ 0.05 0.88 0.15 0.07 0.14

L.O.I 2.13 4.72 2.40 2.14 2.04 2.15

C02 0.23 0.46 0.20 0.26 0.12 0.19

Total 98.03 98.58 100.61 100.98 98.46 100.44

Exaplanations of tables - 3 & 4 (Contd.)

7. Gabbro (Satkuripahar)

8. Peridotite (Gopalpur)

9. Fine grained pyroxenite (Gopalpur)

10. Gabbroic dyke (Barapasi)

11. Dolerite (Ratanpur)

12. Pyroxenite (Nischintapur)

 T A B L E - 3 (Contd.)

Normative S a m p 1 e No.
minerals. 7 8 9 10 11 12

Apatite - - 2.02 - - -

Ilmenite 3.19 0.46 5.62 2.13 0.91 2.13

Orthoclase 6.67 2.22 7.78 8.90 6.12 5.56

Albite 21.48 2.10 28.82 21.50 14.15 17.82

Anorthite 17.51 8.06 14.18 15.57 27.24 18.07

Magnetite 1.62 4.64 3.94 7.66 2.55 6.03

Hematite - - - 2.72 - 4.96

Diopside 17.25 6.83 18.88 15.55 16.31 15.12

Hypersthene 24.33 37.75 9.74 17.00 17.12 19.10

Olivine 2.93 30.92 6.83 - - -

Quartz - - - 7.08 11.34 8.88

Total 94.98 92.98 97.81 98.11 95.74 97.67

 T A B L E - 4

Trace element analysis (p.p.ro) of dolerite, gab bro/norite

and ultramafic rocks.

S a m p 1 e No.
1 2 3 4 5 6
Ba 220 442 128 154 54 392

Ce 32 65 bdl bdl bdl 35

Co 57 54 107 129 96 46

Cr 375 109 1961 1812 1503 597

Cu 143 111 41 67 43 23

Ga 18 20 5 5 6 11

La 17 41 9 7 10 24

Nb 6 12 5 6 10 6

Ni 150 73 1403 1849 1407 204

Pb 6 9 4 2 bdl 5

Rb 39 67 41 20 13 17

S 1060 1010 87 106 179 17

Sr 157 165 79 76 78 135

Th 5 7 3 2 3 4

U 2 3 1 3 2 3

Y 42 68 13 10 14 22

Zn 120 142 72 87 68 85

Zr 178 357 66 57 76 147

 TABLE- 4 (Contd.)

Sample No.

7 8 9 10 11 12

Ba 272 64 399 294 318 183

Ce 48 bdl 97 23 17 19

Co 57 112 40 58 51 63

Cr 604 1895 293 1041 672 1003

Cu 183 31 62 65 77 100

Ga 21 4 21 17 14 16

La 41 3 60 19 22 16

Nb 7 6 16 5 6 10

Ni 411 1668 103 322 248 334

Pb 5 4 8 4 8 5

Rb 42 36 62 55 46 42

S 253 121 1915 968 91 925

Sr 282 56 230 178 193 183

Th 3 4 11 5 5 5

U 1 2 1 2 2 2

Y 35 11 68 28 23 26

Zn 97 65 165 78 74 85

Zr 214 53 450 165 103 144

Fig. 13 :

Contact of ultramafic rocks with Younger granite,

which itself has been emplaced between ultramafic

and Older granite (not, seen in the Figure) lying

to the north. Four zones (I to IV) in the ultramafic

rocks are discernible in the field. Loc. Gopalpur.

 "4" • 4" • 4* ■ 4 • 4 ’

5; r 4~ ■ 4" ■ 4* * 4~ * 4—
» i-|_ • "I”* •..I" « " | »*|-

4* • 4" * 4^4 • 4*

4—I—h ’ 4* * 4—4
4“ ■ 4 • 4 • 4~'* 4*
* "|™ * "'|— • *‘|' - • ' ^.. • ■ • I" | -»—

4-*4—• 4*■'4~
* piiijiimn * ...|« >' a * | " * *~| '■ a "-j1 ■■ * ■»"" j1| * *i a '■"j— a —a 11|.... a »i»^....

■■|- • ■11 ■■ » *—|— a * *■ j— • ■"|*» * ■ ■■ a -|— • ti^/a -L. a ' |

• .-j.i.i.. , a | t -|— a -"I*— • 11 'j "• a -|~ V 1 '"I"1 • " j- a |" a | |

4—h • 4-- |/ ■ |" ■ » —|— . , ~|» * -|- »

t . . -j- a^- .-j________ |________|-1

4* • 4^<*4^*-4~ * 4- • 4- H—I-• 4-r

“f— —j~ , -j— • -J— * * 4“ * 4~ *’4~ * 4"' *4
~t~ • 4~ • 4~ • 4 • H—~t~ • + • 4*4* •+■ • 4 *.4 * 4 * 4
Flq-|3
 ,;/S f UCM GOPALPliH

NORITE/GABBRO-1.7.10 A»Alkoli gobbro

PTROXENITE-2.3.5.6.9.12 G = Gobbro
PERIOOTITE -4.8 H = Hornblendite
OOLERtTE-M P *Pyroxenife / Peridot ite
• ■ Samples from the present area
d^sField of 1250 Igneous rocks(OSANN)

Fig. 14-B
percentage
W eight

10
O
AUO*

percentage
ro
o

SiOg Weight percentage

W e ig h t

FigJ5 A
MgO
percentage
W eight

40 50 60

SiOg Weight percentage

Fig. 15 B
CoO

S1O2 Weight percentage

Fig.ISC
 5__________ 8
p e rc e n ta g e

T
W e ig h t
FeO
p

40 50 60
SiOg Weight percentage SiOg Weight percentage

Fig. 16-A Fig. 16-8

N
o
W e ig h t p e rc e n ta g e
N a^O
O
o
*

SiOg Weight percentage

£n
ro

o
0
CD

Fig.16-0
1
Co
 _ lit, II
Fe +Fe+Mn

Fig.l7-B
 */
*

Fig.18
 wf

yj
, Field of bone to uitrobooie rock*.

\V
i

ppm .
Co. ppm .

\
\

Nl
\
i

\
* .(

_1_
IOOO aoo 2000 *500 *00 1000 nw
Ni. ppm. Cr. ppm.
Flg.l9-A Flg.l9-C

Fiold of basic rocks.

Mo
Cotion Weight Percentage
Fig. 19-e
 *3 00
PP™-

*000
Co

300

ol L 1 JL_ J l i
s « 8 10 it \2 *3 *4
Fi'VF."
Cation Weight percentage
Flg.20-A
tooor-

• 300
ppm .

•OOO
W

>00

oL_______ L I J__; L -L J i i
> » 8 »C M 12 43 14

Pe"V Ft"
Cot»on Weight percentage
Fig.20-8
 2000
ppm .
Ni

Fig.21 A
PP™-
Z "-

Flg.22 A
IT»

IM

ll»
.
ppm .

I
Cu.

»* -

_______ 1_________ I .... ' . l__________i_________ I_________ i_________ i

0 » 10 IS 20 IS so M
Mgu Weight porctntogo
Flg.22 B
P1.13A : Quartzite showing subrounded elastics of quartz

in siliceous matrix. Inclusions of apatite

and zircon are seen within the clastic quartz.

Loc.Tulasichera.

Transmitted light,Nicols crossed, X36.

P1.13B : Photomicrograph of quartzite showing recrystallise

quartz. Loc.Tulasichera.

Transmitted light, Nicols crossed, X36.

P1.14A : Younger granite intruding ultramafic rock^

agmatitic mixture of fine grained ultramafic

rocks and coarse grained younger granite

being developed.

Loc. Basantapur.

P1.14B : Enclave of fine grained ultramafic in younger

granite > sketch pen (14 cm long) lies on the

left of the ultramafic enclave. Loc.Basantapur.

P1.15A : General view of the exposures of the ultramafic

rocks showing well jointed and exfoliated

blocks. (Gabbroic ultramafic rock). Loc.Pichhula.

1
P1.15B : Two sets of cooling cracks in coarse grained

pyroxenite. Loc.Basantapur.
PI. 16A : Hexagonal cooling cracks and pitted surface

coarse grained pyroxenite. Loc.Basantapur.

P1.16B : Close view of the above.

P1.17A Bronzite phenocrysts partly serpentinised in

coarse grained pyroxenite. Loc. Gopalpur.

P1.17B : Close view of the above.

P1.18A : Tremolite needles in fine grained pyroxenite

from the contact zone with younger granite.

Loc.Basantapur.

P1.18B : Asbestos veins in serpentinised fine grained

pyroxenite occurring close to Younger granite.

Loc.Barapasi.
P1.19A : Strained pyroxene crystal showing distorted

cleavage. It has undulose extinction. Mottled

appearance of the groundmass is due to serpentine

and sericite (Gabbro dyke). Loc.Bhadurighar.

Transmitted light, Nicols crossed, X36.

P1.19B :• Simple twinning in pyroxene (lath shaped).

The mottled appearance of the groundmass

is due to serpentinisation (pyroxenite).

Loc.Gopalpur

Transmitted light, Nicols crossed, X36.

P1.20A : Photomicrograph of picrite showing olivine

and pyroxene pseudomorphed by serpentine.

Loc.Gopalpur.

Transmitted light, Nicols crossed, X36.

P1.20B : Opaque minerals (black) with pyroxene (grey

with cleavage lines) and serpentines (with

mottled appearance) in pyroxenite,

Loc. Govindpur.

Transmitted light, Nicols crossed, X36.

P1.21A : Meta picrite showing a porphyroblast of tremoiite

surrounded by groundmass mostly composed

of serpentine and talc. Both the phenocrysts

and groundmass are traversed by branching

and lenticular mass of opaque minerals, which

is also present as irregular patches (black).

Dark grey patches represent biotite. Later

fracturs are filled up by transparent serpentine

(picrite). Loc.Gopalpur.

Transmitted, polarised light, X36.

P1.21B : Twinned pyroxene bordered by hornblende

and quartz feldspar myrmeckite in ultramafic

rock. Loc. Barapasi.

Transmitted light, Nicols crossed, X36.

PI.22A : Pyroxene (in the central part) bordered by

hornblende. The other minerals are plagioclase

and serpentine (pyroxenite). Loc. Barapasi.

Transmitted light, Nicols crossed, X36.

P1.22B : Photomicrograph of pyroxenite composed of

tremolite, zoned plagioclase, hornblende and

serpentine. Loc.Gopalpur.

Transmitted light, Nicols crossed, X36.

PI.I3A

P1.I3B
 PI.I4A

PI.I4B
 P1.15A

PI.15 B
PU6A

PI.I6B
P1.I7B
PI. 18 A

2 .

PI.I8B
PI.I9A

PI.I9B
PI.20A

PI.20B
PI.2IA

P1.2IB
PI .22 B