Kimberlites, Lamproites, Lamprophyres, Carbonatites, other Alkaline Rocks, and Mafic Dykes from the Indian Shield: Glimpses of Research (2012-2016)

Abstract

Major highlights of researches carried out on kimberlites, lamproites, lamprophyres, carbonatites, other alkaline rocks and
mafic dykes from the Indian shield during 2012-2016 are presented. New findings involving field mapping, petrology,
geochemistry (including high quality mineral based in situ isotopic studies) and geophysics have provided remarkable
insights on the mode of their occurrence, timing of emplacement, mineralogy and bulk-rock composition, redox conditions,
relative contribution of the lithosphere and asthenosphere, as well as their economic potential. Several large-scale geodynamic
aspects such as plume-lithosphere interactions, ancient subduction events, layered structure of the sub-continental
lithospheric mantle, spatial extent of the Precambrian large igneous provinces and supercontinent configurations could be
unraveled from these studies on deep-mantle derived small-volume magmatic rocks.