Are the Vinjamur Rocks Carbonatites or Meta-Limestones?

Abstract

New whole-rock rare earth element (REE) data for the metacarbonate rocks interbedded with schists at Vinjamur in the Nellore Schist Belt of Andhra Pradesh, show low total REE contents (S9-128 ppm) that are inconsistent with an igneous carbonatitic origin but which correspond more closely with a sedimentary limestone origin. The REE data of these rocks however, do not give absolute discrimination between marbles of meta-limestone and metacarbonatite origin. Micro-probe analytical data give better discrimination, and the chemical compositions of the calcite, micas, amphibole, plagioclase, apatite, monazite and staurolite in the Vinjamur marbles give strong and consistent evidence of a metamorphosed sedimentary rather than an igneous origin.