U-Pb age and trace elements composition of titanite from granites of Belokurikhinsky massif, Gorny Altai

Abstract

As a result of isotope-geochemical study, the age data (U-Pb method, ID-TIMS) of titanite from the first phase granites of the Belokurikhinsky granite massif, Gorny Altai, were obtained for the first time. The concordant value of the titanite age of 255 ± 2 Ma coincides within the margin of error with the previously published results of dating micas from granites of the second and third phases of the Belokurikha massif by the Ar-Ar method (250 ± 3 Ma). At the same time, the results of dating differ significantly from the previously published age values for the granites of the Belokurikha massif (232 ± 5 Ma, U-Pb method for the monofraction of zircon grains; 245 ± 8 Ma, Rb-Sr method for the whole rocks). Therefore, there is every reason to narrow the time interval of the formation of the Belokurikha granite massif to 255-250 Ma. The study of the trace element composition of titanite by SIMS demonstrated their zonal structure. The central part of the titanite grain differs from the rim by a noticeably higher content of REE, Cr, Y, and Nb. The content of V, Zr and Ba decreases to a lesser extent towards the rim, the content of Sr and U remains constant. At the same time, the REE distribution spectra in the central and rim parts are conformal to each other, having a convex spectrum for LREE and a concave one for HREE. Titanite is characterized by a negative Eu-anomaly, the depth of which decreases to the rim of the grain. A negative Eu-anomaly indicates the co-crystallization of titanite and plagioclase. The REE distribution spectra in titanite from the Belokurikha massif correspond to the characteristics of a typical magmatic titanite from granitoids and differ significantly from the distribution spectra in metamorphic titanite.