Journal article
Limited crustal contamination in large igneous province basalts: Sr-Nd-Pb-Os isotope evidence from the Western Ghats, Deccan Traps
Earth and planetary science letters, v 678, 119847
15 Mar 2026
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Abstract
•Os-Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic data constrain origin of Deccan basalts.•Small contribution from sub-continental lithospheric mantle sulfides.•Os isotopic data suggest negligible to minor amounts of crustal contamination for most Deccan and Phanerozoic Large Igneous Provinces.•(Very) low degrees of crustal contamination in LIPs related to magma emplacement mechanism and rates.
The origin of basalts from the Western Ghats lava sequences of the Deccan large igneous province (LIP) was investigated through combined major and trace element and isotopic analysis. Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic compositions are strongly variable and show a time-related shift from enriched, crustal-like values for the late Cretaceous Kalsubai and Lonavala Subgroup basalts to more depleted mantle-like values for the early Paleogene Wai Subgroup basalts. By contrast, Os isotopic data are relatively uniform from base to top of the Western Ghats (initial 187Os/188Osi at 66 Ma: 0.12-0.21) and generally similar to those of the present-day Réunion mantle plume. The basalts from the Wai Subgroup Ambenali Formation (187Os/188Osi 0.120) may show a moderate contribution from the sub-continental lithospheric mantle. In general, the combined isotopic and trace element compositions, and 187Os/188Osi in particular, show that assimilation of the Proterozoic to Archean Indian crust was generally low (<3 wt.% of starting magma) and did not exceed 8 wt.% in any of the studied lavas. Similar results have been previously reported for other Phanerozoic LIPs. Therefore, we suggest that the emplacement of LIPs as short-lived eruptive pulses interrupted by relatively longer hiatus periods possibly hindered effective and prolonged heating of the basement rocks above their solidus temperature. Most likely, this obstacle to crustal contamination was particularly effective for the Wai basalts, which are interlayered with numerous sedimentary or paleosol layers probably formed during periods of volcanic quiescence when the crustal basement may have returned to low sub-solidus temperatures.
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- Title
- Limited crustal contamination in large igneous province basalts: Sr-Nd-Pb-Os isotope evidence from the Western Ghats, Deccan Traps
- Creators
- A. Marzoli (Corresponding Author) - University of PaduaL. Reisberg - Centre de Recherches Pétrographiques et GéochimiquesM. Capriolo - University of BirminghamS. Callegaro - University of BolognaP.R. Renne - Berkeley Geochronology CenterM. Chiaradia - University of GenevaC.M. Meyzen - University of PaduaS. Self - Planetary Science InstituteL. Vanderkluysen - Department of Biodiversity, Earth and Environmental Science, Drexel University, Philadelphia, USAA. Boscaini - Université du Québec à Montréal
- Publication Details
- Earth and planetary science letters, v 678, 119847
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 12
- Grant note
- US National Science Foundation (NSF): EAR-1736737, EAR-1615021 Esper S. Larsen Jr. fund of UC BerkeleyAnn and Gordon Getty FoundationUS NSFNorwegian Research council: 301096 NSF: IES-1615003
PRR acknowledges support from the US National Science Foundation (NSF grants EAR-1736737 and EAR-1615021) , the Esper S. Larsen Jr. fund of UC Berkeley, and the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation. SS acknowledges support from US NSF and the Esper S. Larsen Jr. fund of UC Berkeley. SC acknowledges funding from the Norwegian Research council (grant 301096) . LV acknowledges support from NSF grant IES-1615003. Marie Laure Rouget (Brest) and Daria Pasqual (Padova) are thanked for ICP-MS and XRF analysis. Field assistance by K. Pande, C.J. Sprain, I.M. Fendley, T. Mittal, M.R. Richards and A.J. Tholt is appreciated. We thank Leone Melluso very much for lively and stimulating discussions on the Deccan. This work greatly benefitted from detailed and constructive reviews by W. Bohrson, R. Trumbull and three anonymous reviewers.
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science (BEES)
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001672500600001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105027405625
- Other Identifier
- 991022154844304721