Petrogenesis of mantle-derived, LILE-enriched Archean monzodiorites and trachyandesites (sanukitoids) in southwestern Superior Province

1989 ◽  
Vol 26 (9) ◽  
pp. 1688-1712 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard A. Stern ◽  
Gilbert N. Hanson ◽  
Steven B. Shirey

In southwestern Superior Province, diorite, monzodiorite, and trachyandesite ("sanukitoids") occurring within syn- to post-tectonic intrusive complexes and within greenstone belts have the following chemical characteristics: 55–60 wt.% SiO2, MgO > 6 wt.%, Mg# > 0.60, Ni and Cr both > 100 ppm, Na2O + K2O = 6 wt.%, Sr and Ba both 600–1800 ppm, and rare-earth-element (REE) patterns that are strongly light rare-earth-element (LREE) enriched (Cen = 80–250, Ybn = 4 – 10) and show no Eu anomalies. Sanukitoids and their granodioritic derivatives constitute at least 5% of the exposed crust in the study area. The sanukitoids cannot be derived by melting, fractionation, or crustal contamination of basalts or lamprophyres that are coeval with the sanukitoids. Crustal contamination of komatiites fails to explain the high large-ion-lithophile-element (LILE) contents of the sanukitoids. Rather, we suggest that the sanukitoids were derived by hydrous melting of LILE-enriched mantle peridotite at pressures between 10 and 15 kbar. The sanukitoids with steepest REE patterns have the lowest FeO contents, indicating that the part of the mantle source with the highest Mg# had the most fractionated REE pattern prior to melting. Mantle source regions to the sanukitoids had different Mg#'s and were enriched in LILE's (metasomatized) to varying extents by fluids of crustal or mantle origin prior to melting.

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Matte ◽  
M Constantin ◽  
R Stevenson

The Kipawa rare-earth element (REE) deposit is located in the Parautochton zone of the Grenville Province 55 km south of the boundary with the Superior Province. The deposit is part of the Kipawa syenite complex of peralkaline syenites, gneisses, and amphibolites that are intercalated with calc-silicate rocks and marbles overlain by a peralkaline gneissic granite. The REE deposit is principally composed of eudialyte, mosandrite and britholite, and less abundant minerals such as xenotime, monazite or euxenite. The Kipawa Complex outcrops as a series of thin, folded sheet imbricates located between regional metasediments, suggesting a regional tectonic control. Several hypotheses for the origin of the complex have been suggested: crustal contamination of mantle-derived magmas, crustal melting, fluid alteration, metamorphism, and hydrothermal activity. Our objective is to characterize the mineralogical, geochemical, and isotopic composition of the Kipawa complex in order to improve our understanding of the formation and the post-formation processes, and the age of the complex. The complex has been deformed and metamorphosed with evidence of melting-recrystallization textures among REE and Zr rich magmatic and post magmatic minerals. Major and trace element geochemistry obtained by ICP-MS suggest that syenites, granites and monzonite of the complex have within-plate A2 type anorogenic signatures, and our analyses indicate a strong crustal signature based on TIMS whole rock Nd isotopes. We have analyzed zircon grains by SEM, EPMA, ICP-MS and MC-ICP-MS coupled with laser ablation (Lu-Hf). Initial isotopic results also support a strong crustal signature. Taken together, these results suggest that alkaline magmas of the Kipawa complex/deposit could have formed by partial melting of the mantle followed by strong crustal contamination or by melting of metasomatized continental crust. These processes and origins strongly differ compare to most alkaline complexes in the world. Additional TIMS and LA-MC-ICP-MS analyses are planned to investigate whether all lithologies share the same strong crustal signature.


1980 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 1292-1299 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. E. M. Smith

In well exposed, well developed greenstone belts of the Superior Province there is a clear progression from stratigraphically lower, geochemically primitive volcanic rock types (komatiites, tholeiites) to overlying geochemically evolved calc-alkaline volcanic rock types. In the western Blake River Group of the Abitibi Greenstone Belt the change from tholeiitic to calc-alkaline volcanics represents a geochemical discontinuity defined by an increase in incompatible elements and light/heavy rare-earth element fractionation in the overlying rocks. Quantitative modelling of the parameters of the discontinuity indicates that it can be explained by a change to very small amounts of melting of unmodified mantle lherzolite, although this is not a unique solution. In calc-alkaline suites showing high degrees of rare-earth element fractionation the calculated melt fraction required of unmodified mantle becomes unrealistically low and models involving a geochemically evolved source may have to be considered.


1989 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
pp. 1356-1367 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. D. Fowler ◽  
L. S. Jensen

The Archean tholeiitic Kinojévis suite is characterized by an iron-enrichment trend and abundant Fe–Ti oxides in its evolved basalts, andesites, and rhyolites. The rare-earth-element (REE) patterns of the suite remain flat from the basalts through to the rhyolites, with the development of small, negative Eu anomalies. Quantitative modelling of the trace elements from little-altered samples is consistent with the mineralogy, suggesting that the suite was produced through fractional crystallization of olivine, pyroxene, plagioclase, and Fe–Ti oxides. The evolved rhyolites are interpreted as having developed by greater than 90% fractional crystallization in a high-level magma chamber.The calc-alkaline Blake River Group conformably overlies the Kinojévis rocks and is characterized by enrichment in alkalis and silica. The REE patterns are light rare-earth-element (LREE) enriched, and the felsic rocks have prominent negative Eu anomalies. Geochemical modelling shows that the suite could have developed either through fractional crystallization dominated by plagioclase and clinopyroxene or by assimilation of tonalite, coupled with fractional crystallization.


1986 ◽  
Vol 23 (9) ◽  
pp. 1412-1432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsai-Way Wu ◽  
Robert Kerrich

Oxygen isotopic compositions of whole rocks and coexisting quartz–feldspar pairs have been determined for nine pre-, and syn- to late-kinematic granitoid plutons in the Grenville Province of Ontario. These new data demonstrate that granitoid rocks (Algonquin, Mulock) in migmatite terrain of the Ontario Gneiss Segment possess normal δ18O values (<9.0‰), whereas mesozonal to epizonal plutons (Elphin, Coe Hill, Deloro, Barber's Lake) in the Central Metasedimentary Belt (CMB) are characterized by significantly higher 18O contents (δ18O > 9.0‰), in accord with previous results.In the Algonquin sodic suite, a gross covariance of δ18O with compositional indices is present, from 6.4‰, SiO2 = 50.5 wt. % (gabbro) to 8.7‰, SiO2 = 72 wt. % (trondhjemite), resulting from combined assimilation–fractional crystallization. Mafic members of the sodic suite are 18O enriched overall (5.8–7.9‰) relative to fresh tholeiites (5.7 + 0.3‰), implicating some 18O contamination of the protolith. The dispersion of δ18O values in the Algonquin potassic suite, from 4.3 to 9.3‰, is independent of composition and attributed to isotopic exchange with low-18O thermal waters during emplacement. Biotite–hornblende granite of the Mulock batholith is characterized by a limited oxygen isotope compositional range, where the average δ18O = 8.1 ± 0.5‰; δ18O correlates with SiO2 but not with the zonal distribution of Ba, Rb, and Sr abundances.The Union Lake quartz diorite (δ18O = 8.5 ± 0.1‰) and White Lake trondhjemite (δ18O = 7.3 ± 0.6‰) have oxygen isotope compositions comparable to those of other trondhjemitic suites in the CMB. A systematic enrichment of ~1.2‰ in the Union Lake pluton, together with enhanced Ca, Mg, Fe, and Sr, can be accounted for by assimilation of ~5% marbles and 10% amphibolites from the country rock. Uniformly high δ18O values of 11.5 ± 0.8‰ characterize the Elphin granite–syenite complex. The largest values (11.7–12.7‰) and lowest SiO2 (54–56 wt. %) are in the partially assimilated host gabbro–diorite complex, endorsing the presence of 18O-enriched source regions. The Cheddar biotite–hornblende granite, one of a population of intrusions within the alkalic belt of the western CMB, has a restricted isotopic span, where δ18O = 8.8 ± 0.9‰. An unusual concave rare-earth-element (REE) distribution may result from interaction with a heavy rare-earth -element (HREE) enriched volatile phase. The Coe Hill biotite granite (δ18O = 10.4 ± 0.4‰) is isotopically in compliance with other granites and syenites of the CMB. Covariance of δ18O and SiO2, in conjunction with smooth and continuous geochemical trends, is interpreted in terms of assimilation–fractional crystallization.Peralkaline granite of the Deloro pluton includes a hypersolvus phase with high, scattered δ18O values (9.1–11.8‰) and a subsolvus counterpart attributed to late influx of water that induced isotopic reequilibration toward a more constrained range (δ18O = 9.2–10.2‰). REE distributions of a calcic syenite phase are compatible with its evolution by fractional crystallization of a low-K tholeiitic magma, and the high-18O character (δ18O = 11.1–12.6‰) requires 18O enrichment of the protolith and (or) 18O contamination of the magma. Peralkaline rhyolitic volcanics, compositionally coherent with the Deloro pluton and possibly representing extrusive equivalents, possess significantly higher and more variable δ18O values, from 11.7 to 14.2‰; this is attributed to 18O enrichment during low-temperature exchange with thermal waters, superimposed on a primary high-18O magma. The Barber's Lake two-mica granite contains enhanced abundances of U (15 ppm) and Th (36 ppm) in conjunction with systematically elevated δ18O values (10.4 ± 0.5‰). Geochemical constraints are compatible with its evolution from a trondhjemitic magma, but the isotopically enriched nature requires extensive 18O contamination of the protolith and (or) magma. These nine granites variously retain "memory" of primary and (or) secondary features, including δ18O of the source region, covariance of isotopic and compositional parameters, and sporadically superimposed disturbance by exchange with thermal waters. During metamorphism, quartz and feldspar were systematically reset to high-temperature fractionations, but the extent of open-system exchange with rock reservoirs was limited.Despite some probable disturbance by metamorphism and the limited data available, O–Sr isotope systematics of the Grenville granitoids indicate that (1) high-18O granites from the Frontenac Axis were derived from in situ anatexis of Grenville Supergroup metasediments, (2) synkinematic granites were derived by mixing of a primary magma generated at a lower crustal (granulite facies) or upper mantle level with the fusion products generated by partial melting of the Archean–Early Proterozoic type metasediments, and (3) the tonalite–trondhjemite suite in this part of the Grenville Province was derived from a similar lower crustal or upper mantle primary magma by direct fractional crystallization.


2006 ◽  
Vol 43 (10) ◽  
pp. 1419-1444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol D Frost ◽  
B Ronald Frost ◽  
Robert Kirkwood ◽  
Kevin R Chamberlain

The 2.95–2.82 Ga quartzofeldspathic gneisses and granitoids in the Bighorn, western Owl Creek, and northeastern Wind River uplifts in the central Wyoming Province include low-K tonalite–trondhjemite–granodiorite (TTG) and high-K granodiorite–granite (GG) rocks. Both types of granitoids were intruded contemporaneously, although TTGs are more abundant in the older gneisses. The TTG suite consists of calcic to marginally calc-alkalic rocks that straddle the boundaries between metaluminous and peraluminous and between ferroan and magnesian compositions. Rare-earth element (REE) patterns of these rocks may be highly fractionated with low heavy rare-earth element (HREE) contents and modest to absent Eu anomalies but may also be less strongly HREE depleted. These rocks do not represent first-generation continental crust: most have unradiogenic Nd and radiogenic 207Pb/204Pb isotopic compositions that require the incorporation of isotopically evolved sources. The GG suite has compositions that are transitional between Archean TTG and modern, continental margin calc-alkalic rocks. The GG suite is characterized by higher alkali contents relative to CaO than the TTG suite and higher K/Na ratios but exhibits a similar range in REE patterns. The Nd, Sr, and Pb isotopic compositions of the GG suite are slightly less variable but lie within the range of those of the TTG suite. We interpret them as having a source similar to that of the TTG, perhaps forming by partial melting of preexisting TTG. The shift from TTG-dominated to GG-dominated continental crust was a gradual transition that took place over several hundred million years. Clearly subduction-related calc-alkalic magmatism is not recognized in the Wyoming Province prior to 2.67 Ga.


2013 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 148-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Mvondo ◽  
D. Lentz ◽  
M. Bardoux

Geological investigation of the rocks in the Elu Link has provided new information on the geodynamic origin of the Neoarchean (ca. 2716–2663 Ma) Hope Bay and Elu granite–greenstone belts. Stratigraphic and geochemical features of these rocks and those of the nearby Flake Lake area in the Hope Bay belt suggest that the two greenstone belts are contiguous, having similar mafic-dominated bimodal rocks comprising abundant basalts to andesites and less common dacites and rhyolites hosting gabbroic and trondhjemite–tonalite–granodiorite (TTG) intrusions. The corresponding parental magmas, whose evolution likely occurred via fractional crystallization and juvenile crustal contamination, formed from both deep and shallow mantle sources. The basalts, andesites, gabbros, and felsic volcanic rocks are variably tholeiitic to calc-alkaline. Chondrite- and primitive mantle-normalized profiles demonstrate (1) flat to slightly fractionated heavy rare-earth element (HREE) patterns with a weak negative Eu anomaly and (2) light rare-earth element (LREE) enriched and strongly fractionated HREE patterns with variable negative to positive Eu anomalies. In contrast, TTG rocks are calc-alkaline, with strong LREE enrichment, HREE depletion, and variable positive Eu anomalies. Altogether, the rocks exhibit Nb and Ti troughs, and variable Nb/Ta, La/Ta, and Zr/Hf ratios indicative of crustal contamination. Chalcophile elements and related ore deposits in the area are inferred to be formed from hydrothermal fluids mobilized during emplacement and after crystallization of their host rocks. An extensional, high-heat-flow back-arc tectonic environment is proposed to explain the stratigraphic and geochemical characteristics and the presence of large gold resources in these greenstone belts.


Minerals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 93
Author(s):  
Avhatakali Raphalalani ◽  
Georges-Ivo Ekosse ◽  
John Odiyo ◽  
Jason Ogola ◽  
Nenita Bukalo

The aim of the present study was the paleoenvironmental reconstruction of the prevailing environment under which the Lwamondo and Zebediela kaolin deposits were formed. Hence, this study reports deuterium and oxygen stable isotope values and trace and rare earth element concentrations for two samples of kaolin. Upper continental crust-normalised trace-element patterns reveal that large ion lithophile elements and high-field-strength elements are generally depleted in Lwamondo and Zebediela kaolins, whereas transition trace elements are generally enriched in these kaolins. Upper continental crust-normalised rare earth element (REE) patterns show that there is a slight enrichment of heavy REEs (HREEs) compared to light REEs (LREEs) in these kaolins. The δ18O and δD stable isotope values for kaolinite from Lwamondo ranged from 17.4‰ to 19.1‰ and from −54‰ to 84‰, respectively, whereas those values for kaolinite from Zebediela varied from 15.6‰ to 17.7‰ and from −61‰ to –68‰ for δ18O and δD, respectively. The REE patterns and the content of other trace elements indicate ongoing kaolinitisation in the Lwamondo and Zebediela kaolins with minimum mineral sorting. The sources of the kaolins varied from basic to acidic and these were derived from an active margin tectonic setting. Lwamondo kaolin was deposited in an oxic environment whereas Zebediela kaolin was deposited under suboxic/anoxic conditions. Based on the δ18O and δD values of the kaolinite, they formed in a supergene environment at temperatures generally below 40 °C.


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