The continental crust is the record of the history of the Earth, of the processes and events that have contributed to the planet's evolution. It is now understood that the continental crust is growing continuously since the early ages of the Earth. Archean-Proterozoic boundary marks one of the major transition periods in the crustal evolution processes. However, there are only few crustal remnants available to investigate this milestone of Earth history, reported with significant chemical discontinuity. The Neoarchean crustal fragments of southern India provide a window to probe the processes that happened during such transitions. The geology of southern India can be broadly divided in to the Archean Dharwar Craton (DC) of granites and greenstones belts to the north and an assembly of crustal blocks experienced granulite grade metamorphism to the south from Archean to Neoproterozoic, namely the Southern Granulite Terrain (SGT). The relationship between DC and SGT terranes are not well established, primarily due to lack of studies on the growth and evolution on each of the crustal blocks. This study focuses on the crustal tract between Salem Attur Shear Zone and the Cauvery Shear Zone of the SGT. This region lies to the east of Palghat Cauvery Shear System, which is considered as dextral shear zone, suture zone, Neoproterozoic terrain boundary and reworked Archean crust in the previous studies. However, so far no comprehensive studies had been reported from the region that consists of a spectrum of rocks charnockite, granitic gneiss, hornblende gneiss, granite and mafic-ultramafics litho-units inclusive of a layered complex. The objectives of this study are 1) to understand the crustal formation processes in Kolli-massif 2) to delineate the chronology of events or processes through radiometric dating. 3) to understand the crustal reworking and evolutionary processes in Kolli-massif . Major tools used in this study include petrology (field studies and petrography), geochemistry, U-Pb Zircon geochronology, Sr-Nd and Hf Isotopes. The content of this thesis is divided in to six chapters. Chapter 1 is an introduction to the topic – crustal growth. It discusses the importance of continental crustal process in understanding the evolutionary history of the 2500 Ma Earth. It also emphasizes on the reason to investigate Kolli-massif which is a part of the Southern Granulite Terrain. Chapter 2 deals with the literature review which is relevant in the context of the study. The chapter discusses topics like structure of the Earth crust, various models proposed on the generation of continental crust (continuous as well as episodic) and also the models discussed in the literature on the generation of TTG (subduction of oceanic crust and ocean plateau and non-subduction). An overall view on crustal reworking and recycling is also included. The chapter ends with a short review on southern Indian crustal tectonics and a detailed discussion on the evolution Palghat Cauvery Shear Zone. Chapter 3 describes the geology of the study area Kolli-massif in details. This includes the structural, lithological units, field relation and geochronolgical aspects combined and their implications on the crustal assembly of southern India. Chapter 4 is a discussion on the results, interpretation and implications of crustal generation and evolution of the Archean Kolli-massif. This chapter is subdivided to four. Chapter 4.1 deals with possible source and tectonic settings for the magma generation which lead to the formation of Archean Sittampundi Complex. The whole rock and spinel chemistry two different suggests both MORB and arc signature for these rocks. Although this is such a quite contrasting scenario, such scenarios are known to occur in an intra-oceanic subduction in the Archean as well as modern analogue. The search for MOR setting lead to Kanjamalai, where major rocks like metagabbro show geochemical affinity, as described in Chapter 4.2. The presence of rocks like plagiogranite also supports MORB affinity. Based on field observations and above evidences Kanjamalai complex is interpreted as subducted remnant of an Archean Mid Oceanic Ridge. Chapter 4.3 deals with the major rock type of the region charnockite and granitic gneiss. The whole geochemical chemistry suggests arc signatures (depleted HFS elements, enriched LREE) and negative Nd and Hf isotope suggests reworked magma. However, the high HREE content and absence of Eu anomaly in the charnockite but reverse case of granitic gneiss indicates they might have of a different source and may not solely by the subduction of oceanic crust described in chapter 4.1. Combining the results from Hf and Nd isotopes that shows the presence of an older crust of age 2700-2900 Ma, it can be concluded that the an older oceanic crust, probably with an ocean plateau was part of subduction and magma genesis. The presence of garnet websterite describes accretion in operation in the generation of Kolli-massif. Chapter 4.4 deals with crustal recycling. The results on the investigation on meta-BIFs yielded results that can be interpreted that the iron formations were deeply subducted. The proposal of accretionary tectonics is also supported by the presence of meta-BIFs in the shear zone with in the Kolli-massif. Chapter 5 deals with the Neoproterozic reworking of the Archean Kolli-massif. The investigations on the sapphirine bearing granulite suggest that the rocks have undergone UHT metamorphism (6Kbar and 925˚C). The geochronogical evidences shows that the zircon rim growth ca. 550 Ma over a 2480 Ma crust. This suggests crustal reworking that would have happened during the Gondwana amalgamation happened during the Neoproterozoic time.It is therefore concluded in Chapter 6 that the Kolli-massif is having an Archean nucleus that was grown by the arc accretion. This reworked during the regional metamorphism along with the Gondwana metamorphism in the Neoproterozoic. Further scope of this study is also discussed.

Subduction zones are regions of intense earthquake activity up to great depth. Sources are located inside the subducting lithosphere and, as a consequence, seismic radiation from subduction zone earthquakes is strongly affected by the interior slab structure. The wave field of these intraslab events observed in the forearc region is profoundly influenced by a seismically slow layer atop the slab surface. This several kilometer thick low-velocity channel (wave guide) causes the entrapment of seismic energy producing strong guided wave phases that appear in P onsets in certain regions of the forearc. Observations at the Chile-Peru subduction zone presented here, as well as observations at several other circum-pacific subduction zones show such signals. Guided wave analysis contributes details of immense value regarding the processes near the slab surface, such as layering of subducted lithosphere, source locations of intraslab seismicity and most of all, range and manner of mineralogical phase transitions. <br><br> Seismological data stem from intermediate depth events (depth range 70 km - 300 km) recorded in northern Chile near 21 Grad S during the collaborative research initiative " Deformation Processes in the Andes" (SFB 267). A subset of stations - all located within a slab-parallel transect close to 69 Grad W - show low-frequency first arrivals (2 Hz), sometimes followed by a second high-frequency phase. <br><br> We employ 2-dimensional finite-difference simulations of complete P-SV wave propagation to explore the parameter space of subduction zone wave guides and explain the observations. Key processes underlying the guided wave propagation are studied: Two distinct mechanisms of decoupling of trapped energy from the wave guide are analyzed - a prerequisite to observe the phases at stations located at large distances from the wave guide (up to 100 km). Variations of guided wave effects perpendicular to the strike of the subduction zone are investigated, such as the influence of phases traveling in the fast slab. Further, the merits and limits of guided wave analysis are assessed. Frequency spectra of the guided wave onsets prove to be a robust quantity that captures guided wave characteristics at subduction zones including higher mode excitation. They facilitate the inference of wave guide structure and source positioning: The peak frequency of the guided wave fundamental mode is associated with a certain combination of layer width and velocity contrast. The excitation strength of the guided wave fundamental mode and higher modes is associated with source position and orientation relative to the low-velocity layer. <br><br> The guided wave signals at the Chile-Peru subduction zone are caused by energy that leaks from the subduction zone wave guide. On the one hand, the bend shape of the slab allows for leakage at a depth of 100 km. On the other, equalization of velocities between the wave guide and the host rocks causes further energy leakage at the contact zone between continental and oceanic crust (70 km depth). Guided waves bearing information on deep slab structure can therefore be recorded at specific regions in the forearc. These regions are determined based on slab geometry, and their locations coincide with the observations. <br><br> A number of strong constraints on the structure of the Chile-Peru slab are inferred: The deep wave guide for intraslab events is formed by a layer of 2 km average width that remains seismically slow (7 percent velocity reduction compared to surrounding mantle). This low-velocity layer at the top of the Chile-Peru slab is imaged from a depth of 100 km down to at least 160 km. Intermediate depth events causing the observed phases are located inside the layer or directly beneath it in the slab mantle. The layer is interpreted as partially eclogized lower oceanic crust persisting to depth beyond the volcanic arc. / Subduktionszonen sind bis in große Tiefen von intensiver Erdbebentätigkeit geprägt. Die Erdbebenquellen befinden sich in der subduzierten Lithosphäre (Slab), ihr Wellenfeld wird deshalb stark von der internen Slab-Struktur beeinflusst. Eine Schicht mit reduzierter seismischer Geschwindigkeit im oberen Bereich der Platte kann als Wellenleiter für diese Signale fungieren. In der nur wenige Kilometer dicken Schicht entstehen sogenannte geführte Wellen, die in Teilen des Forearc beobachtet werden. Diese Phasen bergen wertvolle Informationen über die Struktur nahe der Slab-Oberfläche, wie zum Beispiel Dicke der Schichtung, Herdlokationen und vor allem Tiefe und Art mineralogischer Umsetzungen. <br><br> Die Beobachtungen stammen von mitteltiefen Beben (70 km - 300 km) im Untersuchungsgebiet in Nord-Chile und wurden im Rahmen des Sonderforschungsbereich 267 " Deformationsprozesse in den Anden" aufgezeichnet. Stationen in einem Streifen um 69 Grad W, der sich parallel zum Streichen der Subduktionszone erstreckt, zeigen niederfrequente Ersteinsätze, denen teilweise höherfrequente Phasen folgen. <br><br> Mit Hilfe eines 2-dimensionalen Finite-Differenzen-Algorithmus werden die P-SV Wellenausbreitung simuliert, und die Beobachtungen erklärt. Zentrale Fragestellungen zu Wellenleitern in Subduktionszonen werden untersucht: Es werden zwei Mechanismen, die das Auskoppeln seismischer Energie aus dem Wellenleiter ermöglichen beschrieben - eine Grundvoraussetzung für das Auftreten von geführten Wellen in großen Entfernungen vom Wellenleiter (bis zu 100 km). Des weiteren werden Stärken und Grenzen der Analyse von geführten Wellen erörtert. <br><br> Die Spektren der geführten Wellenzüge erweisen sich als robuste Messgröße, um die Charakteristika des Wellenleiters zu bestimmt. Struktur des Wellenleiters und Quellpositionen können so für festgelegte Quell-Empfänger-Geometrien abgeleitet werden. Die Peak-Frequenz der Grundmode wird durch eine Kombination aus Dicke der Schicht und Geschwindigkeitskontrast bestimmt. Die Stärke der Anregung der Grundmode und höherer Moden lässt auf die Lage und Orientierung der Erdbebenquelle relativ zur Schicht schließen. Geschwindigkeitskontrast, Schichtdicke und Quellposition sind von herausragender Bedeutung, um mineralogische Interpretationen des Wellenleiters zu überprüfen. <br><br> Aufbauend auf die Simulationen werden die Beobachtungen interpretiert und Auskunft über die Struktur der Chile-Peru Subduktionszone erhalten: Eine dünne Schicht an der Slab-Oberfläche (durchschnittlich 2 km dick) trägt geringere seismische Geschwindigkeiten als der umgebende Mantel und fungiert als Wellenleiter für intra-platten Ereignisse in Tiefen von 100 bis mindestens 160 km. Ereignisse, die geführte Wellen hervorrufen, liegen in dieser Schicht oder direkt darunter im subduzierten Mantel. Um zu den Stationen in der Forearc-Region zu gelangen, entkoppelt ein Teil der geführten Wellen in einer Tiefe von circa 100 km aus der Niedergeschwindigkeitsschicht. Die Krümmung des Slab erlaubt das Austreten der Wellen und nimmt auch Einfluss auf die Pulsformen. <br><br> Der Wellenleiter in der Chile-Peru Subduktionszone ergibt sich als unregelmäßige Schicht mit reduzierter seismischer Geschwindigkeit, in der geführte Wellen entstehen, in unterschiedlichen Tiefen wieder austreten, und an die freie Oberfläche gelangen. Die Beobachtungsgebiete befinden sich im Forearc und werden durch die Geometrie und Struktur der subduzierten Platte festgelegt. <br><br> Die nur wenige Kilometer dicke, seismisch langsame Schicht an der Oberfläche des Chile-Peru Slab legt nahe, dass die Unterkruste der subduzierten Platte bis in große Tiefen besteht und nicht vollständig eklogitisiert ist. Abgeleitete Schichtdicke, Geschwindigkeitskontrast

xiv, 103 p. : ill. (some col.) / Results from a recent mid-ocean ridge tomography study along the fast-spreading, northern East Pacific Rise (EPR) reveal that the axis of mantle upwelling beneath the ridge is skewed with respect to the spreading axis, giving rise to regions of both rise-centered and off-axis mantle melt accumulation. Here, we investigate the effects of off-axis melt accumulation on the architecture of overlying crust as well as off-axis melt delivery on crustal construction along the ridge axis. We first present evidence for off-axis magmatism 20 km from the spreading center in 300-ka-old crust overlying a region of off-axis melt supply. Seismic data reveal an intrusive complex ∼2 km beneath the seafloor that is limited in lateral extent (<5 km) and comprises a melt lens underlain by low-velocity, high-attenuation crust, which provides the necessary conditions to drive off-axis volcanic and hydrothermal activity. We next present results from thermodynamic modeling that show systematic, along-axis variations in the depth of crystallization and degree of differentiation of magma produce crustal density variations of ∼0.1 g/cm 3 . These density anomalies are on the order inferred from a recent study that shows increasing axial depth along the northern EPR correlates with an increase in crustal density and offset of mantle upwelling with respect to the ridge axis. Our results, along with geophysical and geochemical data from the 9°-10°N region of the EPR, suggest that along-axis deeps correspond with magmatic systems that have significant near-Moho (i.e., crust-mantle transition) crystallization, which we attribute to off-axis delivery of mantle melt. As this investigation is motivated by the EPR tomography results, we conclude with a numerical study that examines the travel time sensitivity of Pn , a sub-crustal head wave commonly used in local travel time tomography, to crustal and mantle heterogeneity. Our results indicate that Pn travel times and Fresnel zones are insensitive to normal sub-axial crustal thickness anomalies, mantle velocity gradients and crust-mantle velocity contrast variations and that mantle low-velocity zones must be at least 3 km thick to produce significant, near-constant Pn delay times. Our data support the validity and interpretation of the EPR tomography results. This dissertation includes both previously published and unpublished co-authored material. / Committee in charge: Dr. Douglas R. Toomey, Chairperson; Dr. Paul J. Wallace, Member; Dr. Eugene Humphreys, Member; Dr. James Isenberg, Outside Member

Les teneurs en éléments majeurs et trace, les isotopes Sr-Nd-Pb, les teneurs en H2O et l’isotope de l’O des phénocristaux de cpx des basaltes cénozoïques de 11 sites du Sud Est Chinois situés dans des contextes géodynamiques variables ont été mesurés pour identifier les différents composants faisant partie de leur source. Les basaltes Cénozoïques de Zhejiang se sont mi en place durant deux périodes, 20-27Ma et après 11Ma. Leurs teneurs en H2O varient de 1.3-2.6%. Les basaltes Cénozoïques du Fujian ont fait éruption il y a moins de 10 Ma. Le teneurs en H2O initial des basaltes de Shiheng s’étend de 1.3-2.4%; les diabases de Bailin ont des teneurs s en eau estimés de 1.9-2.1%, et ceux de Mingxi des teneurs es initiaux de 0.3-0.5%. Les teneurs en H2O des basaltes de sont de 1.3-2.6%. Les basaltes de Xilong (Zhejiang), Mingxi (Fujian) et Leihuling (Hainan) ont des sources mantelliques contaminées par de la croûte océanique recyclée, ceux de Gaoping et Shuangcai (Zhejiang), Shiheng, Bailin et Niutuoshan (Fujian) et Maanling, Dayang et Fujitian (Hainan) voient leurs sources mantelliques contaminées par à la fois des sédiments et la croûte océanique recyclés. Les matériaux recyclés diffèrent suivant l’âge et la localisation. En résumé, les basaltes cénozoïques SE chinois ont des signatures élémentaires et isotopiques marquées par la présence de matériaux océaniques recyclés dans leurs sources mantelliques. Les matériaux recyclés varient entre les différentes localités, tant dans leurs proportions que leur degré d’évolution. Nos résultats montrent que la plaque subductée Ouest Pacifique affecte probablement la composition du manteau sous continentale du Sud Est Chinois / The major and trace element contents, Sr-Nd-Pb isotope, H2O contents and the cpx phenocryst O isotope of Cenozoic basalts from 11 places with distinct geological backgrounds in SE China have been measured to decipher the relationship between the possible recycled components and mantle geochemical heterogeneities. Zhejiang basalts erupted in two stages, 20-27Ma and after 11Ma. Their H2O contents range from 1.3-2.6%. The estimated H2O contents of initial basaltic melts for the Shiheng basalts range from 1.3-2.4%; the Bailin diabases have “fake” basaltic melt water contents from 1.9-2.1%; and the Mingxi basalts have initial H2O contents of 0.3-0.5%, in Fujian. H2O content the basalts from Leihuling (LH), Dayang (DY) and Fujitian (FJT) areas in Hainan are 2.7 wt. %, 1.3 wt. %, and 2.6 wt. %. The Xilong basalts from Zhejiang, Mingxi basalts from Fujian and Leihuling basalts from Hainan involved recycled oceanic crust components in the mantle source, while the Gaoping and Shuangcai basalts from Zhejiang, Shiheng, Bailin, and Niutoushan basalts from Fujian as well as the Maanling, Dayang and Fujitian basalts from Hainan involved recycled oceanic sediments and crust components in their mantle source. Overall, the SE China Cenozoic basalts have involved the recycled oceanic materials in their mantle source. The recycled oceanic materials have different existential state and locations, when the geological history of SE China are considered. The subducted Pacific slab most likely effect the composition of mantle in SE China

This thesis presents the results of a combined magnetic fabric and palaeomagnetic analysis of lower crustal rocks exposed in the Oman (Semail) ophiolite. This has long been an important natural laboratory for understanding the construction of oceanic crust at fast spreading axes and its subsequent tectonic evolution, but magnetic investigations in the ophiolite have been limited. Analyses presented here involve using: (i) magnetic anisotropies as a proxy for magmatic petrofabrics in lower crustal rocks in order to contribute to outstanding questions regarding the mode of accretion of fast-spread oceanic crust; and (ii) classical palaeomagnetic analyses to determine the nature of magnetization in these rocks and gain further insights into the regional-scale pattern of tectonic rotations that have affected the ophiolite. The extensive layered gabbro sequences exposed in the Semail ophiolite have been sampled at a number of key localities. These are shown to have AMS fabrics that are layer-parallel but also have a regional-scale consistency of the orientation of maximum anisotropy axes. This consistency across sites separated by up to 100 km indicates large-scale controls on fabric development and may be due to consistent magmatic flow associated with the spreading system or the influence of plate-scale motions on deformation of crystal mushes emplaced in the lower crust. Detailed analysis of fabrics in a single layer and across the sampled sections are consistent with either magmatic flow during emplacement of a melt layer into a lower crustal sill complex, or traction/drag of such layers in response to regional-scale stresses (e.g. mantle drag). Together, results support formation of the layered gabbros by injection of melt into sill complexes in the lower crust. New anisotropy data from the overlying foliated gabbros sampled at two key localities also provide insights into the style of melt migration at this crustal level. Fabrics are consistent with either focused or anastomosing magmatic upwards flow through this layer, reflecting melt migration beneath a fossil axial melt lens. Previous palaeomagnetic research in lavas of the northern ophiolitic blocks has demonstrated substantial clockwise intraoceanic tectonic rotations. Palaeomagnetic data from lower crustal sequences in the southern blocks, however, have been more equivocal due to complications arising from remagnetization. Systematic sampling resolves for the first time a pattern of remagnetized lowermost gabbros and retention of earlier magnetizations by uppermost gabbros and the overlying dyke-rooting zone. Results are supported by a positive fold test that shows that remagnetization of lower gabbros occurred prior to Campanian structural disruption of the Moho. NW-directed remagnetized remanences in the lower units are consistent with those used previously to infer lack of significant rotation of the southern blocks. In contrast, E/ENE-directed remanences in the uppermost gabbros imply a large, clockwise rotation of the southern blocks, of a sense and magnitude consistent with that inferred from extrusive sections in the northern blocks. Hence, without the control provided by systematic crustal sampling, the potential for different remanence directions being acquired at different times may lead to erroneous tectonic interpretation.

Mid-ocean ridge hydrothermal systems are known to extend to deep levels of the oceanic crust, including the plutonic section, but little is known about the timing and nature of fluid-rock interactions at these levels. To investigate the temporal and spatial characteristics of hydrothermal alteration in the lower crust, this study investigates a suite of hydrothermally altered (<5 to >20% hydrous alteration) gabbroic rocks recovered from the Hess Deep Rift, where 1.2 Ma fast-spreading East Pacific Rise crust is well-exposed. These samples were altered to amphibole-dominated assemblages with chlorite-rich samples occurring in a restricted region of the field area. Hornfels, indicative of reheated, previously altered rocks, are clustered in the central part of the field area. The entire sample suite has elevated 87Sr/86Sr (mean: 0.70257±0.00007 (2σ), n=16) with respect to fresh rock (0.7024). Bulk rock 87Sr/86Sr is strongly correlated with percentage of hydrous alteration and weakly correlated with bulk rock Sr content. The distribution of Sr in igneous and metamorphic minerals suggests that greenshist-facies alteration assemblages (chlorite, actinolitic amphibole, albitic plagioclase) lose Sr to the fluid while amphibolite-facies secondary assemblages (secondary hornblende, anorthitic plagioclase) take up Sr. The temperature-dependent mobilization of Sr in hydrothermal systems has implications for the 87Sr/86Sr and ultimately fluid/rock ratio calculations based on the assessed 87Sr/86Sr systematics. Considering Sr behaviour, minimum fluid/rock ratios of ~1 were calculated for the plutonic section. Due to the large uncertainty regarding fluid Sr composition at depth and the sensitivity of fluid/rock ratio calculations on this parameter, a model combining the sheeted dike complex and the plutonic section to one hydrothermal system is introduced, yielding a fluid/rock ratio of 0.5. This value may be more realistic since the fluid composition entering and exiting the sheeted dike complex is better constrained. The regional distribution of hornfelsed material with elevated 87Sr/86Sr suggests that fluid ingress into the upper plutonics at Hess Deep occurred on-axis in a dynamic interface of a vertically migrating axial magma chamber (AMC) and the base of the hydrothermal system. / Graduate