Zirconolite, Baddeleyite, Zircon, and Thorite of Island-Arc Quartz Gabbronorite-Dolerites of the Ayu-Dag Intrusive, Crimean Mountains

Abstract

The Early Bajocian island-arc quartz gabbronorite-dolerites of the Ayu-Dag intrusive contain syngenetic zirconolite and baddeleyite. Zirconolite includes Ca-dominant and atypical Y-dominant (Y, Ca, Th, REE)2FeZr2Ti3O14 varieties. Two genetic types of zircon and thorite occur. The dominant xenogenic zircon-I with thorite inclusions and numerous melting traces (lacunes) is enriched in Hf, Th, Y, and P (up to 6 wt % HfO2, 5 wt % ThO2, 6 wt % Y2O3, 3 wt % P2O5). Thorite contains 7–9 wt % UO2. Zircon-I and thorite-I of similar compositions are typical minerals of highly radioactive granites. The isotope age of xenogenic zircon is more than 2 Ga. Rare syngenetic zircon-II is extremely depleted in Th, U, Y, and Hf. Thus, the Ayu-Dag basic magma was contaminated by Early Precambrian highly radioactive granites, whose bodies probably occur in the basement of Crimean Mountains.