Magmatic and hydrothermal evolution of highly-fractionated rare-metal granites at Gabal Nuweibi, Eastern Desert, Egypt

Abstract

The Nuweibi intrusion was emplaced during the final tectono-magmatic stage of Arabian-Nubian Shield development (ANS). Two cogenetic phases of intrusion can be recognized in the field: the early phase is represented by porphyritic albite granite and the final phase by non-porphyritic albite granite. Mineralogically, both phases are essentially composed of albite, quartz, and K-feldspars with subordinate muscovite. Accessory minerals include fluorite, zircon, NbTa oxides, cassiterite, beryl, topaz, and garnet. Geochemically, the Nuweibi intrusion consists of extensively fractionated rare-metal granite with low contents of TiO2, FeOt, CaO, MgO, P2O5, Sr, and Ba in contrast to elevated concentrations of alkalis, Rb, Nb, Ta, and Hf. Their peraluminous (molar Al2O3/[CaO + Na2O + K2O] = 1.06–1.15) and low-P (P2O5 < 0.008 wt%) character identify them as highly fractionated I-type granites. The primary magma of the Nuweibi intrusion was most likely generated by partial melting of the juvenile crust of the ANS. We document numerous lines of evidence that the Nuweibi albite granite was formed by extensive fractional crystallization followed by interaction with magmatically-derived, F-rich hydrothermal solutions. The REE patterns of the Nuweibi albite granite show marked negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu⁎ = 0.01–0.15) as well as prominent M-type tetrad effects (TE1,3 = 1.332–3.536), typically seen in highly differentiated granites and attributed to exchange with hydrothermal fluid. Anomalous ratios of isovalent “twin” elements such as Nb/Ta, Zr/Hf, and Y/Ho likewise indicate exchange with hydrothermal fluid. The primary rare-metal accessory minerals are restricted to the Mn-rich part of the columbite-tantalite series; this manganoan trend is characteristic of highly fractionated granites. Likewise, the presence of wodginite, a Sn-bearing mineral, is a unique fingerprint of highly evolved rare-metal granites. Late-stage hydrothermal overprint of the primary rare-metal mineralization is preserved by rims of fluorcalciomicrolite partly replacing columbite-(Mn) and tantalite-(Mn). Accumulation of residual volatile-rich melt and exsolved fluids in the upper part of the magma chamber produced stockscheider pegmatite, greisen, and quartz veins that cut the peripheries of the Nuweibi intrusion and the surrounding country rocks.