Genesis of trondhjemite by low-pressure low-melt fraction anatexis of hornblende-gabbro at Alvand Plutonic Complex (Hamedan, NW Iran): insights from geochemical modelling

Amphibole-dominated dehydration melting of gabbro is the primary process responsible for the genesis of adakites, low-K tonalites, modern trondhjemites, and plagiogranites as well as Archean tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite suites that represent the earliest examples of continental crust. Previous literature has mostly focused on the role of Al-rich amphibole during anatexis of a mafic source and many of these studies have investigated this process through experimental melting runs. However, due to experimental boundary conditions, little is known about partial melting of amphibole-bearing mafic rock at temperatures < 800°C for upper crustal conditions (pressure < 500 MPa). Classic and forward thermobarometric modelling suggests that in situ trondhjemite leucosomes, hosted by Cheshmeh-Ghasaban mafic metatexites (Alvand Plutonic Complex, Hamedan, NW Iran), represent a rare natural case study of a low-temperature incipient amphibole-dominated anatectic event of a mafic source with a primary assemblage (Pl+Hbl+Cpx+Bt+Opx) typical of a hornblende-bearing gabbroic rock.

Mineralogy of an Appinitic Hornblende Gabbro and Its Significance for the Evolution of Rising Calc-Alkaline Magmas

The magmatic and sub-solidus evolution of calcic amphiboles and Fe–Ti oxides was investigated in the Neoproterozoic Frog Lake pluton, Nova Scotia, Canada, in order to understand the relationship between the history of hydrous magma and the resulting mineralogy. The pluton occurs as sheet-like bodies of hornblende gabbro and hornblendite, with lesser tonalite dykes and granite bodies, interlayed with screens of medium-grade metamorphic country rock. Small, diffuse clots of felsic minerals are present in the gabbro. The subsolidus growth of actinolite occurs in early clinopyroxenes and amphiboles. Ilmenite is the dominant Fe–Ti oxide, as interstitial magmatic crystals. The increase of Mn towards the margin of the ilmenite crystals indicates a gradual increase in oxygen fugacity with time, leading to the precipitation of titanite and ferrohypersthene. The replacement of titanite by ilmenite and ilmenite lamellae in the amphiboles suggests subsequent reducing conditions during the sub-solidus crystallisation. The gabbros in the coeval, but apparently shallower, Jeffers Brook granodiorite laccolith have dominant magnetite and Mg-rich subsolidus amphiboles, which are indicative of high oxygen fugacity. The differences between the two plutons suggest that there was a greater flux of hydrothermal water through the sheet-like architecture of the Frog Lake pluton.

Geological and petrographical studies around Um Taghir area, Сentral Eastern Desert, Egypt

Um Taghir area is located in the northern extreme boundary of Central Eastern Desert of Egypt at the west of Safaga City. Um Taghir is represented by island arc related rocks and late to post tectonic magmatism. The island arc related rocks are represented by metavolcaniclastic sequences and metagabrroic rocks. Metavolcanoclastic rocks are considered as the older rock units of the study are and intruded by the metagabbro. The late to post tectonic magmatism is represented by (dokhan volcanic, gabbro, tonalite-granodiorite, monzogranite, alkali feldspar granites and different types of dikes). Usually, the gabbroic rock is bearing ilmenite lenses or bands in the bottom of the layered; this is related to magma rich of iron oxides. Petrographically, island arc assemblage is classified in to actinolite hornblende schist and metagabbro that show quite different of their content in plagioclase, hornblende, augite, quartz and biotite. Occasionally, the late to post tectonic magmatism represented by andesite, gabbro, tonalite, granodiorite monzogranite, alkali feldspar granites and different types of dikes. Andesite consists of plagioclase, quartz, alkali feldspar and hornblende. Gabbroic rocks are represented by pyroxene hornblende gabbro and leucogabbro. They show quite different of their content in plagioclase, pyroxene and clear difference in the content of both olivine and hornblende in both of them. While tonalite and granodiorite show quite different of their content in plagioclase, quartz, hornblende, alkali felspar and biotite. On the other hand, monzogranite and alkali feldspar granite, they show plagioclase is varying from oligoclase to albite; K-feldspars, quartz and muscovite are relatively more abundant in the alkali feldspar granite. Finally, the different types of dikes classified into granite, andesite, rhyolite and basalt dikes consist of the different mineral compositions.

Petrogenesis of plagiogranites in the Muslim Bagh Ophiolite, Pakistan: implications for the generation of Archaean continental crust

High-SiO2 rocks referred to as oceanic plagiogranites are common within the crustal sequences of ophiolites; however, their mode of petrogenesis is controversial with both late-stage fractional crystallization and partial melting models being proposed. Here, we present new whole-rock data from plagiogranitic dyke-like bodies and lenses from the lower and middle sections of the sheeted dyke complex of the Cretaceous Muslim Bagh Ophiolite, northwestern Pakistan. The plagiogranites have similar geochemical signatures that are inconsistent with them being the fractionation products of the mafic units of the Muslim Bagh Ophiolite. However, the plagiogranites all display very low TiO2 contents (<0.4 wt%), implying that they formed by partial melting of mafic rocks. Melt modelling of a crustal gabbro from the Muslim Bagh Ophiolite shows that the trace-element signature of the plagiogranites can be replicated by 5–10% melting of a crustal hornblende gabbro with amphibole as a residual phase, resulting in a concave-up middle rare Earth element pattern. Compositional similarities between the Muslim Bagh Ophiolite plagiogranites and Archaean TTG (trondhjemite–tonalite–granodiorite) has implications for the generation of juvenile Archaean continental crust. As the Muslim Bagh Ophiolite was derived in a supra-subduction zone, it is suggested that some Archaean TTG may have been derived from melting of mafic upper crust in early subduction-like settings. However, due to the small volume of Muslim Bagh Ophiolite plagiogranites, it is inferred that they can be instructive on the petrogenesis of some, but not all, Archaean TTG.