Age and Tectonic Significance of Permian Granites in Western Zanskar, High Himalaya

Field and U‐Pb geochronology data are presented for two new occurrences of Permian Himalayan granites, at Parkatchic (at ca. 270 Ma) and Sankoo (at 268± 5 Ma), western Zanskar. The granites were deformed during Late Eocene–Early Miocene metamorphism, and K‐Ar and Ar‐Ar systematics of micas and amphiboles were reset, as indicated by 40Ar/39Ar mica ages of 19–13 Ma. Permian granites from the High Himalaya were previously known only from one location but are significant because they are believed to be related to lower crustal melting that accompanied mafic volcanism (Panjal Trap volcanics) along the north Indian plate margin during rifting of Gondwana.