Isotope and geochemical characteristics of rocks from the Oshurkovo apatite-bearing massif, Western Transbaikalia

Abstract

We present the results of a study on gabbroic rocks, syenites, pegmatites, carbonatites, and hydrothermal products of the Oshurkovo apatite-bearing massif. The results include Nd and Sr isotope ratios; the isotope compositions of carbon and oxygen in calcite; oxygen in apatite, magnetite, and silicate minerals (phlogopite, titanite, diopside, amphibole, K-feldspar, and quartz); sulfur in barite; and hydrogen in mica. The isotopic data are close to the EM-1 enriched mantle values and confirm a comagmatic relationship between the gabbros and carbonatites. The binary plot ɛNd vs. 87Sr/86Sr demonstrates strong differentiation between silicate rocks and carbonatites, as is the case with the other Late Mesozoic carbonatite occurrences of southwestern Transbaikalia. The oxygen isotope composition of all comagmatic phases also falls within the range of mantle values. A clear trend toward heavier oxygen and lighter carbon isotope compositions is observed in all successively emplaced phases, which is consistent with a trend defined by hydrothermal products formed under the influence of the parent magma chamber. Carbonates formed during the greenstone alteration of gabbroic rocks are enriched in the light oxygen isotope (δ18O from −2.8 to −7.3‰), suggesting a contribution of vadose water.