In-situ LA-ICP-MS trace elemental analyses of magnetite: Fe–Ti–(V) oxide-bearing mafic–ultramafic layered intrusions of the Emeishan Large Igneous Province, SW China

Abstract

The Taihe, Baima, Hongge, Panzhihua and Anyi intrusions of the Emeishan Large Igneous Province (ELIP), SW China, contain large magmatic Fe–Ti–(V) oxide ore deposits. Magnetites from these intrusions have extensive trellis or sandwich exsolution lamellae of ilmenite and spinel. Regular electron microprobe analyses are insufficient to obtain the primary compositions of such magnetites. Instead, laser ablation ICP-MS uses large spot sizes (~40μm) and can produce reliable data for magnetites with exsolution lamellae. Although magnetites from these deposits have variable trace element contents, they have similar multi-element variation patterns. Primary controls of trace element variations of magnetite in these deposits include crystallography in terms of the affinity of the ionic radius and the overall charge balance, oxygen fugacity, magma composition and coexisting minerals. Early deposition of chromite or Cr-magnetite can greatly deplete magmas in Cr and thus Cr-poor magnetite crystallized from such magmas. Co-crystallizing minerals, olivine, pyroxenes, plagioclase and apatite, have little influence on trace element contents of magnetite because elements compatible in magnetite are incompatible in these silicate and phosphate minerals. Low contents and bi-modal distribution of the highly compatible trace elements such as V and Cr in magnetite from Fe–Ti oxide ores of the ELIP suggest that magnetite may not form from fractional crystallization, but from relatively homogeneous Fe-rich melts. QUILF equilibrium modeling further indicates that the parental magmas of the Panzhihua and Baima intrusions had high oxygen fugacities and thus crystallized massive and/or net-textured Fe–Ti oxide ores at the bottom of the intrusive bodies. Magnetite of the Taihe, Hongge and Anyi intrusions, on the other hand, crystallized under relatively low oxygen fugacities and, therefore, formed net-textured and/or disseminated Fe–Ti oxides after a lengthy period of silicate fractionation. Plots of Ge vs. Ga+Co can be used as a discrimination diagram to differentiate magnetite of Fe–Ti–(V) oxide-bearing layered intrusions in the ELIP from that of massif anorthosites and magmatic Cu–Ni sulfide deposits. Variable amounts of trace elements of magmatic magnetites from Fe–Ti–(P) oxide ores of the Damiao anorthosite massif (North China) and from Cu–Ni sulfide deposits of Sudbury (Canada) and Huangshandong (northwest China) demonstrate the primary control of magma compositions on major and trace element contents of magnetite.