Mantle contribution to the evolution of Middle Tertiary silicic magmatism during early stages of extension: the Egan Range volcanic complex, east-central Nevada

Abstract

The Egan Range volcanic complex lies 30 km northwest of Ely, on the edge of a highly extended domain in east-central Nevada. It consists mainly of lavas with subordinate tuffs and sedimentary rocks. The rocks are divided into three stratigraphic and lithologic groups that correlated with widespread middle Tertiary volcanic rocks associated with early stages of extension in the region. Volcanic rocks of the early group are predominantly two-pyroxene dacite and andesite lavas, all of which contain quenched, mafic inclusions and have compositions indicating they were derived by mixing between a contaminated mantle melt and a rhyodacitic crustal component. Rocks of the middle group are relatively homogeneous biotite, hornblende dacite and rhyodacite lavas. Elevated compatible and incompatible element concentrations and straight-line correlations of compositional data in the early and middle groups support a simple mixing model. Minor fractionation of clinopyroxene is required to explain some low Cr concentrations. Major element variations of the late group can be successfully modeled by crystal fractionation of observed phenocrysts accompanied by moderate assimilation of a crustal component to account for elevated Rb, Th, U, and light rare earth element concentrations. Rocks of all three groups appear to be related to a common primary magma type, the composition of which can be modeled from the mafic inclusions in the early group. Low Ni and Mg contents in the inclusions indicate that olivine was fractionated prior to their participation in mixing of early group magmas. Based on estimated volumes of volcanic rocks in the Egan Range volcanic complex and in the region, and on the petrologic models for each group, a significant amount of basalt must have been added to the crust during this middle Tertiary magmatic episode.