scholarly journals Compositional Evolution of the Variscan Intra-Orogenic Extensional Magmatism in the Valencia del Ventoso Plutonic Complex, Ossa-Morena Zone (SW Iberia): A View from Amphibole Compositional Relationships

Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 431
Author(s):  
Aitor Cambeses ◽  
José F. Molina ◽  
Irene Morales ◽  
Concepción Lázaro ◽  
Juan A. Moreno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tetrahedral Site ◽  
Site Occupancy ◽  
Compositional Variation ◽  
Calc Alkaline ◽  
Lower Carboniferous ◽  
Compositional Evolution ◽  
Mineralogical Study ◽  
Mafic Magmas ◽  
Alkaline Magmas ◽  
Reverse Zoning

The Ossa-Morena Zone (OMZ), SW Iberia, has numerous Lower Carboniferous compositionally zoned plutons that formed in a Variscan intra-orogenic extensional setting. This magmatism shows a wide compositional variation comprising alkaline, transitional, and calc-alkaline suites. The calc-alkaline suite was produced by hybridization of alkaline magmas with felsic melts generated by crustal anatexis related to the intrusion of mafic magmas in the middle crust. In this work, we present a textural and mineralogical study of the Variscan Valencia del Ventoso main pluton from the OMZ to track the compositional evolution of magmas during hybridization using constraints from amphibole compositions and to determine the P-T conditions of emplacement using amphibole-based thermobarometry. This pluton exhibits reverse zoning with an inner facies containing alkaline dolerites, gabbros, and quartz diorites, an intermediate facies with transitional diorites, and an outer facies with calc-alkaline quartz diorites to monzogranites. Magmas from the intermediate and border facies crystallized under oxidizing conditions at relatively low temperatures (range: 640–760 °C) and ca. 280–300 MPa, implying near H2O-saturated conditions. These rock facies show mineralogical evidence of hybridization between alkaline to mildly alkalic and calc-alkaline magmas. The former is inferred from the occurrence of antecrysts of labradorite-andesine, high-Ti pargasite-hastingsite, and biotite with deficiency in tetrahedral-site occupancy, a distinctive feature of biotite from the inner facies alkaline dolerites. This contrasts with later crystallization from the calc-alkaline magma of andesine-oligoclase, low-Ti magnesiohornblende-edenite, and biotite with full tetrahedral-site occupancy. Constraints from amphibole-melt compositional relationships in antecrystic high-Ti amphibole suggest that the alkaline magmatic component could have a high- to ultra-K affinity.

Buffering of melt oxygen fugacity by sulphur redox reactions in calc-alkaline magmas

1994 ◽  
Vol 151 (5) ◽  
pp. 815-823 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. J. MATTHEWS ◽  
A. P. JONES ◽  
A. D. BEARD
Keyword(s):  
Oxygen Fugacity ◽  
Redox Reactions ◽  
Calc Alkaline ◽  
Alkaline Magmas

Release of Uranium from Uraninite in Granites Through Alteration: Implications for the Source of Granite-Related Uranium Ores

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Long Zhang ◽  
Zhenyu Chen ◽  
Fangyue Wang ◽  
Noel C. White ◽  
Taofa Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Uranium Concentration ◽  
Geochemical Data ◽  
Uranium Deposits ◽  
Bulk Rock ◽  
Calc Alkaline ◽  
Alkaline Granite ◽  
Compositional Evolution ◽  
High K ◽  
Backscattered Electron ◽  
Uranium Sources

Abstract Uraninite is the main contributor to the bulk-rock uranium concentration in many U-rich granites and is the most important uranium source for granite-related uranium deposits. However, detailed textural and compositional evolution of magmatic uraninite in granites during alteration and associated uranium mobilization have not been well documented. In this study, textures and geochemistry of uraninites from the Zhuguangshan batholith (South China) were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). The geochemical data indicate that the Longhuashan and Youdong plutons are peraluminous leucogranite, the Changjiang pluton is highly fractionated high-K calc-alkaline granite, and the Jiufeng pluton belongs to a high-K calc-alkaline association. Uraninites from the Longhuashan and Youdong granites have lower concentrations of ThO2 (0.9–4.0 wt %) and rare earth elements (REE)2O3 (0.1–1.0 wt %) than those from the Changjiang and Jiufeng granites (ThO2 = 4.4–7.6 wt %, REE2O3 = 0.7–5.1 wt %). Uraninites observed in the Longhuashan, Youdong, Changjiang, and Jiufeng granites yielded chemical ages of 223 ± 3, 222 ± 2, 157 ± 1, and 161 ± 2 Ma, respectively. The samples (including altered and unaltered) collected from the Longhuashan, Youdong, and Changjiang granites are characterized by highly variable whole-rock U concentrations of 6.9 to 44.7 ppm and Th/U ratios of 0.9 to 7.0, consistent with crystallization of uraninite in these granites being followed by uranium leaching during alteration. Alteration of uraninite, indicated by altered domains developing microcracks and appearing darker in backscattered electron (BSE) images compared to unaltered domains, results in the incorporation of Si and Ca and mobilization of U. In contrast, the least altered samples of the unmineralized Jiufeng granite have low U concentrations (5.3–16.4 ppm) and high ΣREE/U (13.6–49.4) and Th/U ratios (2.1–5.6), which inhibit crystallization of uraninite, as its crystallization occurs when the U concentration is high enough to exceed the substitution capacity of other U-bearing minerals. These results indicate that the Longhuashan, Youdong, and Changjiang granites were favorable uranium sources for the formation of uranium deposits in this area. This study highlights the potential of uraninite alteration and geochemistry to assist in deciphering uranium sources and enrichment processes of granite-related uranium deposits.

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