Geochemistry of Paleozoic ignimbrites in central Kazakhstan and their petrogenetic significance

Abstract

Ignimbrites in the Devonian and Late Paleozoic volcanic belts in central Kazakhstan were produced in various geotectonic environments and are diverse in composition. The bulk composition of the Devonian ignimbrites is rhyolitic. The Eifelian rocks of the Chingiz island-arc system belong to the calc-alkaline series and are enriched in Zr, Nb, Y, and REE (predominantly LREE). The Frasnian ignimbrites that were formed in unusual island arcs of the Mediterranean type are ultrapotassic. Compared to the Eifelian ignimbrites, they bear lower concentrations of Zr, Nb, Y, and REE but are richer in Rb and Ba. Both rock varieties show clearly pronounced Eu minima and Ce anomalies. The Carboniferous and Permian ignimbrites were generated within a volcanic belt in a continental margin. The Carboniferous ignimbrites are mostly of dacite-rhyolite and sometimes of dacitic andesite composition. Compared to the Devonian ignimbrites, they are depleted in Zr, Nb, and Y at higher concentrations of Ba and low REE sums, which are notably dominated by LREE; their Eu minima are small, and they have no Ce anomalies. The Permian ignimbrites are predominantly of rhyolite composition. The Early Permian rocks have REE sums close to those in the Carboniferous rocks, but the former have clearly pronounced Eu minima and Ce anomalies. The Late Permian ignimbrites have total REE concentrations close to those in the Devonian ignimbrites, but the former are strongly enriched in LREE and have prominent Eu minima and Ce anomalies. The major-and trace-element composition of fiamme in all ignimbrite varieties varies depending on the relative age of the fiamme. The REE patterns of the fiamme differ from massif to massif, but their systematic changes from older to younger fiamme are similar. Along with the identity of the isotopic characteristics of whole-rock ignimbrite samples and fiamme of different ages in them, this testifies that the ignimbrites were formed not via the mixing of various melts but by the systematic evolution of a parental melts, which were different for different massifs.