Metasomatic overprinting by juvenile igneous fluids, Igdlerfigsalik, South Greenland

Abstract

The late Igdlerfigsalik centre, part of the Igaliko nepheline syenite complex in the Gardar Province, S Greenland, is bounded to the N and E by compositionally similar, earlier syenites forming the early Igdlerfigsalik and South Qoroq centres. In a circa 1 km wide zone parallel to its contact with late Igdlerfigsalik, the South Qoroq centre shows recrystallisation and alteration of mafic phases. South Qoroq therefore comprises two zones, termed the “unaltered” and the “recrystallised” zones. A study of the biotites from the rocks of the area of the present study has demonstrated variations in biotite chemistry, notably variations in elements inferred to reside on the octahedral and hydroxyl sites. Samples were chosen to provide a representative selection from each centre, avoiding pegmatites and late-stage veins. Electron probe microanalyses demonstrate little Cl in these biotites. Fluorine contents of some biotites can be demonstrated to vary with Fe/(Fe+Mg) and ∑(octahedral Al and Ti). Statistical analysis of the data sets as a whole, however, does not demonstrate simple relationships between fluorine content and these parameters and more complex crystallographic controls over fluorine uptake are inferred. Despite these variations, the relative fluorine contents characteristic of each centre can be determined, which, it is believed, reflect the characteristic F activity of fluids associated with each period of magmatism. In South Qoroq, the unaltered zone has a distinctive F-content in biotite, reflecting the original F-content of fluids associated with South Qoroq magmatism. However in the recrystallised zone, the F-contents are distinct, more closely resembling F-contents characteristic of late Igdlerfigsalik rocks. Reaction between a fluorine-rich, younger fluid and older fluorine-poor rocks is inferred. Despite evidence in the micas for fluid-rock interaction, whole-rock chemical changes are irregular in nature and appear not to conform to simple trends. Mass-balance equations are therefore unable to predict the levels of fluid-rock interaction. Similar exchange between late-stage fluids from younger centres and pre-existing rocks may be commonplace in igneous plutonic environments, and fluorine in micas may provide a relatively sensitive guide to fluid-rock interactions.