Research subject. In this research, we carried out Sm-Nd- и Rb-Sr-dating of pyrochlore carbonatite from the Vishnevogorsky niobium deposit, Ilmeno-Vishnevogorsky Alkaline Complex, Southern Urals. IVC is located in the Ural fold region and is a carbonatite complex of the linear type. Rare metal (Nb-Zr-TR) deposits and occurrences are related to IVC. The age and the duration of IVC deposits formation remains a matter of debate. To determine the age of IVC carbonatites and related niobium ore, we measured Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr isotopic compositions and concentrations of the elements in the minerals (pyrochlore, calcite, apatite, biotite) and bulk sample of pyrochlore carbonatite. Materials and methods. The Sm and Nd isotopic compositions and concentrations were determined on a Finnigan MAT-262L (RPQ) seven-collector mass spectrometer in the static regime at the Geological Institute of the Kola Scientific Center, Apatity, Russia. The Sr and Rb isotopic compositions and concentrations were determined on thermos-ionization mass spectrometer Triton Plus (“Geoanalitik”, IGG UD RAN, Ekaterinburg, Russia). Results. Age of pyrochlore carbonatites from ore zone 140 (Vishnevogorsky deposit, IVC) defined by Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr isotopic methods. Mineral Sm-Nd-isochron (5 points) indicated age 229 ± 16 Ma, mineral Rb-Sr-isochron (5 points) showed similar age 250.5 ± 1.2 Ma. Conclusions. Results Sm-Nd и Rb-Sr dating indicate that the pyrochlore сarbonatites of ore zone 140 crystallized ≈ 250 Ma ago, at the stage of the postcollisional extension, possibly, in connection with exhumation complex, which was accompanied by decompression, partial melting of rocks, involving fluids, dissolution and precipitation of Ordovician-Silurian alkaline-carbonatitе complex. Thus, the formation of the IVC carbonatites and related Nb-ore, which began in Silurian (S), continued in Permian (P) and Triassic (T1-2) and was associated with the post-collision stage of tectonic activity in the Ural Fold Belt.
On the age of pyrochlore carbonatites from the Ilmeno-Vishnevogorsky Alkaline Complex, the Southern Urals (insights from Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd isotopic data)