Geochemistry of garnetiferous Ti–clinohumite rock and talc–kyanite–phengite–almandine schist from the Kokchetav UHP terrane, Kazakhstan: An insight to possible origins of some chemically unusual UHP rocks

Abstract

Major-element, trace-element and O-isotope analyses were carried out for garnetiferous Ti–clinohumite rocks and eclogites from the Kumdy Kol area, as well as talc–kyanite–phengite–almandine schists (previously named as whiteschists) and eclogites from the Kulet area of the Kokchetav ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) terrane, to explore their possible origins. Both garnetiferous Ti–clinohumite rocks and talc–kyanite–phengite–almandine schists are possibly genetically related to eclogites, as they occur in close association with eclogites enclosed within gneiss/metapelite in these two areas. Most eclogites from the Kumdy Kol and the Kulet areas exhibit chemical characteristics similar to that of ocean floor basalt, although a few show arc affinity with slight Ta and Nb depletions. Garnetiferous Ti–clinohumite rocks from the Kumdy Kol region are characterized by very high Mg, low Si, Ca, Na, and K contents compared with eclogites. They also exhibit LREE depleted patterns with negative Eu anomalies. Their O-isotope compositions are less than + 5.6‰. On the other hand, the rocks show comparable Al, Ni, Cr, Co and HREE contents as eclogites. The Mg enrichment of these garnetiferous Ti–clinohumite rocks is suggested to have originated from their mafic protoliths that had been subjected to mafic rock–ultramafic rock–fluid interactions. Talc–kyanite–phengite–almandine schists from the Kulet area are typically low in Ca and Na, but high in Mg, K, Rb, Ba, Cs, Th, U and O-isotope compositions (+ 6 to + 10‰) relative to eclogites. This peculiar chemical composition can be accounted for if the basaltic protoliths had been subjected to sequential high-temperature (enrichment of Mg) and low-temperature (enrichment of K, Rb, Ba, Cs, Th, U and O-isotope compositions) seawater–basalt interactions. One talc–kyanite–phengite–almandine schist sample KLW 7 is distinctly high in Si and K, but low in Mg and Fe, which can be attributed to more severe low-temperature hydrothermal alterations. However, except for Mg, the enrichment of Rb, Ba, Cs, Th, U and O-isotope compositions in these schist samples could also be enhanced by, or otherwise be interpreted as a result of, fluid influx sourced from enclosing metapelite during subduction.