Geochemistry of ultra-potassic rhyodacite magmas from the area of the Orlovka Massif of Li-F granites in Eastern Transbaikalia: Evidence from study of melt inclusions in quartz

Abstract

Dikes, stocks and/or sheet flows of felsic volcanic and subvolcanic rocks are typically observed in the vicinity of rare-metal Li-F granite massifs. Their ubiquitous spatial association to rare-metal granites and, often, geochemical affinity to them suggest their certain petrological relation. Compositionally unique ultrapotassic trachydacites enriched in many rare elements were found among these rocks within the Khangilay complex of ore deposits in Eastern Transbaikalia. Melt inclusions in rock-forming quartz were studied to reconstruct the composition and evolution of parent melt. The obtained data demonstrated the existence of a super-potassic peraluminous melt (K2O = 6.12 wt %, Na2O = 1.08 wt %) having elevated contents of rare lithophile elements (730 ppm Rb2O and 900 ppm BaO). The ion-microprobe content of Li is 354.23 ppm at a relatively low F content (up to 0.5 wt %). The residual melt is characterized by the most unusual composition: extremely low contents of mafic components and basicity (< 0.5 wt % femic oxides), a high Al index (A/CNK = 1.53) at comparatively low SiO2 (60 wt %), and high total sodic alkalinity (more than 10 wt % K2O + Na2O; 6.11 wt % Na2O). Such a composition corresponds to ongonite magma. However, the melt contains no F but has a high Cl content (0.34 wt %), which corresponds to the limit Cl saturation of haplogranite melt. SHRIMP-II U-Pb zircon dating showed significant difference between rare metal granites and trachyrhyodacites of the Khangilay complex of ore deposits: 139.9 ± 1.9 Ma and 253.4 ± 2.4 Ma, respectively. The geochemical similarity of these rocks, primarily in terms of abundance of refractory elements, REE distribution patterns, and initial Sr ratio, indicates their derivation from similar protolith.