Petrogenesis, W metallogenic and tectonic implications of granitic intrusions in the southern Great Xing’an Range W belt, NE China: insights from the Narenwula Complex

Extensive magmatism in NE China, eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt, has produced multi-stage granitic plutons and accompanying W mineralization. The Narenwula complex in the southwestern Great Xing’an Range provides important insights into the petrogenesis, geodynamic processes and relationship with W mineralization. The complex comprises granodiorites, monzogranites and granite porphyry. Mafic microgranular enclaves are common in the granodiorites, and have similar zircon U–Pb ages as their host rocks (258.5–253.9 Ma), whereas the W-bearing granitoids yield emplacement ages of 149.8–148.1 Ma. Permian granodiorites are I-type granites that are enriched in large-ion lithophile elements and light rare earth elements, and depleted in high field strength elements and heavy rare earth elements. Both the mafic microgranular enclaves and granodiorites have nearly identical zircon Hf isotopic compositions. The results suggest that the mafic microgranular enclaves and granodiorites formed by the mixing of mafic and felsic magmas. W-bearing granitoids are highly fractionated A-type granites, enriched in Rb, Th, U and Pb, and depleted in Ba, Sr, P, Ti and Eu. They have higher W concentrations and Rb/Sr ratios, and lower Nb/Ta, Zr/Hf and K/Rb ratios than the W-barren granodiorites. These data and negative ϵHf(t) values (–6.0 to –2.1) suggest that they were derived from the partial melting of ancient lower crust and subsequently underwent extreme fractional crystallization. Based on the regional geology, we propose that the granodiorites were generated in a volcanic arc setting related to the subduction of the Palaeo-Asian Ocean, whereas the W-bearing granitoids and associated deposits formed in a post-orogenic extensional setting controlled by the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean and Palaeo-Pacific Ocean tectonic regimes.

The role of shallow open system processes in the evolution of South Tepeldag Pluton (NW Turkey): insights and constraints from thermodynamic modelling

<p>Eocene granitoids in NW Anatolia occurred following the continental collision between Sakarya Continent and Tauride-Anatolide Platform and mark the onset of post-collisional magmatism in the region. One of the representative members of the Eocene granitoids, the Tepeldağ pluton crops out as two isolated granitic bodies and is intruded into the Cretaceous blueschist assemblages (Kocasu formation) and ophiolitic rocks within the Izmir-Ankara-Erzincan suture zone (IAESZ). South Tepeldağ pluton (STP) is composed mainly of granodiorite with subordinate quartz diorite, which show transitional contacts. Aplitic dykes crosscut the pluton as well as the country rocks. STP includes a number of mafic microgranular enclaves (MME) of gabbro/diorite composition.</p><p>Geochemically, STP shows distinct I-type affinity with a metaluminous to slightly peraluminous (ASI ≤1.02) nature. The samples are medium-K to high-K calc-alkaline in character. They exhibit depletion in HFSE (Ti, Hf, Zr, Nb and Ta) compared to large ion lithophile elements (Rb, Ba, Th, U, K) and presents negative Nb, P, Ti anomalies. STP displays slight negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.7–1.2), enrichment in LREE and flat HREE patterns in chondrite-normalized spider diagrams. MELTS modeling (with initial parameters of 1–3 kbar pressure, 2–3% water and QFM-NNO oxygen fugacity buffers) indicate that compositional variations in STP samples can be interpreted as a result of open system processes (assimilation fractional crystallization) rather than a reflection of fractional crystallization in the upper crustal magma chamber. All thermodynamic simulations dictate a crustal assimilation, especially in the late stages of the magmatic process, with a MgO, Na<sub>2</sub>O and Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>-rich assimilant similar to the suture zone (IAESZ) rocks.</p>

Crystallization Conditions and Petrogenetic Characterization of Metaluminous to Peraluminous Calc-Alkaline Orogenic Granitoids from Mineralogical Systematics: The Case of the Cambrian Magmatism from the Sierra de Guasayán (Argentina)

The Sierra de Guasayán (Eastern Sierras Pampeanas, Argentina) is formed by low to medium grade metamorphic rocks intruded by Cambrian metaluminous (La Soledad quartz-diorite), slightly peraluminous (Guasayán, El Escondido and El Martirizado granodiorite plutons), and strongly peraluminous (Alto Bello granodiorite) granitoids of the Pampean magmatic arc. Chemical compositions of amphibole, plagioclase, biotite, and titanite indicate that these granitoids were emplaced at low pressure (mostly <3 kbar) and temperature (<770 °C) under oxidizing conditions (QFM + 1 and QFM + 2), which are similar to the emplacement conditions reported for other granites of the Pampean magmatic arc. Mineral assemblages and whole-rock and mineral chemistry of the granitoids from the Sierra de Guasayán indicate an I-type affinity for the La Soledad quartz-diorite (amphibole, biotite, and titanite), S-type affinity for the Alto Bello granodiorite (biotite, muscovite, cordierite, and sillimanite), and a hybrid nature for the main Guasayán and El Escondido plutons (biotite, monazite, and magnetite). This hybrid nature is supported by the presence of abundant mafic microgranular enclaves and rapakivi texture and by published zircon Hf-isotope data (εHfi ranging from −4.76 to −0.12). This suggests, in turn, the involvement of hybridization in the genesis of these granitoids, which seems to be a common mechanism operating in the Pampean magmatic arc.

Mafic microgranular enclaves formed by gas-driven filter pressing during rapid cooling: An example from the Gangdese Batholith in southern Tibet

Mafic microgranular enclaves (MMEs), widespread in intermediate to felsic arc plutons, carry significant information on the genesis and evolution of arc magmas, yet their origin remains debatable. Here, we examine MME-host diorite pairs from the ca. 200 Ma Cuijiu Igneous Complex in the eastern Gangdese Batholith, southern Tibet, to constrain the petrogenesis of MMEs and the evolution of arc magmas. Within the complex, MMEs are essentially similar to their host diorites with similar emplacement ages (∼200 Ma), mineral assemblages and mineral compositions, as well as whole-rock Sr–Nd–Hf and zircon Hf isotopic compositions. However, MMEs have higher modal contents of hornblende and biotite, and are enriched in compatible elements and depleted in incompatible elements. Zircons from some MME samples are characterized by dark-CL cores overgrown by light-CL rims of varying thickness. The dark-CL cores show higher Th, U, and rare earth elements (REE) abundances than the light-CL rims. Based on comparison with co-genetic mafic melts and mass-balance calculations, we propose that the MMEs were early-crystallized cumulates (autoliths) related to their host diorites. The chilled textures, flow microstructures and pillow shapes suggest that the MMEs experienced rapid cooling before being captured by the host magmas. The rapid cooling may result from contact between ascending diorite magmas and cooler wall rocks. As the magmas quickly crystallized, they reached second boiling and vesiculation, and separated into fine-grained crystal-rich margins and melt-rich centers. Gradients in crystallinity and pressure expelled interstitial melts from the crystal-rich margins to the crystal-poor centers, leading to crystal-liquid separation (gas-driven filter pressing). The dark-CL zircon cores with high Th and U abundances may crystallize from highly evolved interstitial melts within the crystal-rich margins. The fine-grained crystal-rich margins were subsequently captured and dragged as MMEs before their complete crystallization by later ascending host magmas. This differentiation process could have occurred over several kilometers of magma ascent, and have played an important role in the polybaric fractional crystallization of the Cuijiu Igneous Complex, feeding more differentiated andesitic magmas to upper crustal mushes.