Age and geological position of the Okunyovo rare-metal ore magmatic complex (Western Sayan Mountains)

Abstract

Geological, geochemical, and geochronological studies of rocks have been performed at the Okunyovo rare-metal ore magmatic complex (Western Sayan Mountains) composed of alkali granites and related F–Be mineralization. The geological data obtained and the features of the geochemical similarity of granite and ore mineralization identified are indicative of their genetic relation. Riebeckite from two granite samples has been subjected to 40Ar/39Ar analyses. The estimated age values of 481.5 ± 2.7 Ma and 486.5 ± 5.8 Ma are consistent within the limits of error and determine the age of Okunyovo alkali granite within 481–486 Ma ago. These data have made it possible to relate the studied rock and ore formation to the development of the Early Paleozoic ASFR controlled by the mantle plume. Along with the Okunyovo rare-metal granite massif, within the Sayan Region of the magmatic province, there are a number of Early Paleozoic alkali massifs related to the Aryskan, Raduga, and Kazyr rare-metal deposits. They are located in the conjugation area of the Western and Eastern Sayan ridges, in the Early Paleozoic Eastern Sayan rare-metal magmatism zone specialized in Be, W, Mo, Zr, Nb, and REEs.