Petrogenesis of the Bondla layered mafic-ultramafic complex, Usgaon, Goa

The Bondla mafic-ultramafic complex is a layered intrusion that consists predominantly of peridotites and gabbronorites. A chromitite-pyroxenite-troctolite horizon serves as a marker to subdivide the intrusion into two zones. The Lower Zone displays gravity stratified layers of chromite that alternate with those of olivine, which up-section are followed by olivine+pyroxene-chromite cumulates. The Upper Zone comprises gabbroic rocks that exhibit uniform layering. On the basis of modal and cryptic variation exhibited by the minerals this zone can be subdivided in to several lithohorizons starting from the troctolites at the base to gabbronorites and leucogabbros at the top. The junction between the two zones is marked by the distinct reversal in cryptic variation exhibited by the chromites and pyroxenes.