Petrogenesis of granitic pegmatite veins: Perspectives from major element and B isotope in tourmalines, Chakabeishan, Northern Tibetan Plateau

Abstract

The petrogenesis of regionally zoned granitic pegmatite veins remains debated. Because of the economic significance, we carried out a study on the Chakabeishan (CKBS) pegmatite-type Li-Be deposit, eastern North Qaidam Tectonic Belt, Northern Tibetan Plateau, by means of in-situ major element and B isotope compositions of tourmalines in the beryl-bearing and spodumene-bearing pegmatite veins. Tourmalines (Tur-Be) from the beryl-bearing pegmatite are homogeneous schorl with low Mg/(Mg + Fe), high Na/(Na + Ca) and YAl, suggesting that they are of magmatic origin. Two generations of tourmalines (Tur-Li) from the spodumene-bearing pegmatite are identified: (i) the crystal cores (mostly elbaite and Li-rich schorl with subordinate schorl) are consistent with being of magmatic origin crystallized at the magmatic stage; (ii) the crystal rims (schorl) are best understood as the overgrowth at the later hydrothermal stage. Tur-Be and Tur-Li show an obvious difference in core-to-rim B isotopic variation trend with δ11B decrease in Tur-Be and increase in Tur-Li. The core-to-rim δ11B decrease in Tur-Be results from degassing during its host pegmatitic melt evolution, whereas the core-to-rim δ11B increase in Tur-Li is related to fluid exsolution. The estimated δ11B values for the initial melts of the beryl-bearing and spodumene-bearing pegmatites are −10.46‰ and −10.78‰, respectively, indicating that they most likely originate from protracted fractional crystallization/differentiation of granitic intrusions rather than partial melting of metapelite. Both Mg/(Mg + Fe) ratios and Li abundances in the cores of Tur-Be are lower than those of Tur-Li, suggesting that Tur-Li crystallizes from chemically more evolved melts.