The Mal’dzhangarka Carbonatite Massif (Anabar Shield): The Age of Magmatism and Mineralization (U–Pb and Re–Os Isotope Systems)

Abstract

Abstract—We present the first results of a comprehensive isotope-geochemical study of dolomitic carbonatites of the Mal’dzhangarka massif located in the southeast of the Billyakh melange zone (southeastern periphery of the Anabar Shield). Zircon grains separated from core samples from a depth of 6–30 m have a three-phase structure. All of them were trapped from the host metamorphic rocks and mark the age of the main stage of high-gradient metamorphism in the region, 2027 ± 9 Ma. Pyrochlore containing 38–705 ppm U and 5–21 ppm radiogenic Pb, with weak metamictization of the crystal lattice and an undisturbed U–Pb system, made it possible to estimate the concordant age of rare-metal mineralization in the massif, 167 ± 4 Ma, which is probably close to the crystallization age of the host carbonatites. The estimated age corresponds to one of the stages of kimberlite–carbonatite magmatism on the eastern slope of the Anabar dome. The Re–Os isotope system of pyrite from superposed late carbonate–sulfide veinlets in the carbonatites testifies to a close (within the error of determination) age, 179 ± 14 Ma, and a low initial Os isotope ratio, which indicates the contribution of mantle material to the formation of this isotope system.