Mineralogical indicators of volatile loss and alkali metasomatism in roof zones of the biotite granite in the Kwandonkaya Complex, Nigeria

Abstract

The plutonic rocks in the Kwandonkaya complex, located within the NYG province of Nigeria, have some hypersolvus granites composed mainly of orthoclase microperthite and interstitial annite. These are inferred to have formed from a relatively F-poor, and relatively dry felsic melt. During cooling, Al–Si order was not completely achieved when the inversion of sanidiness to orthoclase and exsolution occurred. A majority of the granites contain intermediate to low microcline with annite to siderophyllite. The samples were incipiently modified in the subsolidus at very low fluid–rock ratios. Drusy granites result from resurgent boiling and volatile loss, which produced orthoclase-dominant feldspar and zoned zinnwaldite, with microcline lining cavities, whereas late loss of volatiles resulted in low microcline and zinnwaldite and metasomatism associated with cassiterite-topaz mineralization. Mica composition in both types of drusy granite is similar and seems to have been fluid-buffered. Albitization was rock-buffered and resulted in variable degree of Al–Si order in K-feldspar and mild modification of mica composition. Key factors affecting both the degree of Al–Si order of K-feldspar and mica compositions at Kwandonkaya seem to be the degree of volatile build-up and loss, and extent of fluid–rock interactions.