Formation Of Granitic Magmas Research Articles

Revisiting the fluid regime during anatexis of metasedimentary rocks: New constraints from an integrated approach on the Cenozoic Himalayan granites

Water plays a critical role in the formation of granitic magmas and continental crust, but distinguishing water-present and water-absent anatectic scenarios using the geochemistry of granites is controversial. In this study we use an integrated approach that combines whole-rock major and trace element geochemistry, Ti-in-zircon thermometry, phase equilibrium modeling and trace element modeling to study the water regime that produced the Miocene granites from the Malashan-Gyirong area in central Himalaya to solve this controversy. The Gyirong granites have relatively low CaO, Sr and Ba and high Rb and (87Sr/86Sr)i and the Malashan granites have relatively high CaO, Sr and Ba and low Rb and (87Sr/86Sr)i, and were classified as group A and group B granites, respectively. Following previous interpretation, group A and group B granites are consistent with the products of water-absent and water-present melting of metasedimentary rocks, respectively. Ti-in-zircon thermometry yielded maximum values of 761–796 °C for the Gyirong granites and 730–764 °C for the Malashan granites. Distinct variation trends in zircon trace element compositions indicate that these two groups of granites were not linked by crystallization differentiation. Using average compositions of Proterozoic pelite as starting materials, phase equilibrium modeling was carried out at a variety of P–T–H2O conditions typical of the Himalayan orogen, P = 5, 10 and 15 kbar, T = 600–800 °C, H2O = 0–10 wt%. Pelite can produce melts with coupled CaO–Na2O contents for both groups at 10 kbar. Specifically, constraints from compositions and temperatures require that the bulk H2O content is ca. 1–2 wt% for group A granites and > ca. 4 wt% for group B granites. Compared with the maximum structural water content of the pelite at 10 kbar (1.77 wt%), this study testifies that group A granites formed under water-absent conditions and group B granites under water-present melting conditions. Modeling shows that water-present melting can produce melts with high Sr–Ba and low Rb contents resembling group B granites, while water-absent melting can produce melts with low Sr–Ba and high Rb contents resembling group A granites. This study highlights that water can indeed cause differences in granite geochemistry but a comprehensive investigation is required to better determine the role of water during crustal anatexis.

Constraining mixing and mingling processes from zoned magmatic enclaves: An example from the Taejongdae granite in Busan, Korea

Zoned magmatic enclaves (MEs) within granitic intrusions provide valuable insights into the pre-intrusive processes involved in the formation of granitic magmas. This study focuses on the Taejongdae granite in Busan, Korea, which features uniquely zoned MEs, and aims to constrain the processes involved in their formation. Through a whole-rock geochemistry analysis, SHRIMP U-Pb zircon dating, and Lu-Hf isotope data, we investigated the geochemical characteristics and origin of the two magmas responsible for the zoned MEs (that is, dioritic and host granite magmas). Our findings have shown that the host granite aligns with the Bulguksa granites in the Gyeongsang Basin, which represent the I-Type magma resulting from the fractionation of magma generated through partial melting of the continental crust. In contrast, the dioritic magma exhibits a low K2O composition, high Sr content, and a positive-to-no Eu anomaly, indicating its formation via amphibole-dominated fractional crystallization under different pressure–temperature conditions. Both magmas share the same Cretaceous age and Hf ratios. The zoned MEs in the study area provide compelling evidence of magma mixing processes that occur between the outer dioritic zone and mafic core of the enclaves. However, the relationship between the outer dioritic zone and the host granite suggests limited interaction between the enclaves and host granite. This implies that mixing within the zoned enclaves occurred prior to enclosure in the host granite. By highlighting the significance of zoned magmatic enclaves, this case study advances our understanding of the pre-intrusive processes involved in the formation of granitic magmas, including magmatic mixing, mingling, and fractionation. These results offer important insights into the origin and geochemical characteristics of the two magmas and their interactions, thus contributing to a broader understanding of crustal evolution in subduction-related settings.

Indosinian magmatism and mineralization in the Banjiaoyuan tin deposit, middle Nanling Range, South China: Constraints from zircon and cassiterite U-Pb ages, geochemistry and Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic compositions

Indosinian W-Sn metallogeny associated with granites in South China has been reported in recent years by many researchers. However, the refined genetic relations between these deposits and the related granites remain unclear in most areas, and the tectonic setting of Indosinian magmatism and W-Sn mineralization are still widely controversial. The Banjiaoyuan tin deposit is located in the east vicinity of Yangmingshan pluton in the middle Nanling Range, South China. The granitic stocks in this deposit comprise two intrusive episodes, i.e., the first episode of medium-coarse-grained porphyritic tourmaline-biotite monzogranite (G1), and the second episode of micron-fine-grained tourmaline-muscovite monzogranite (G2). LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating gives weighted ages of 226.9 ± 1.6 Ma to 223.8 ± 1.9 Ma for G1, and 224.3 ± 2.0 Ma for G2, respectively. LA-MC-ICP-MS cassiterite U-Pb dating yields Tera-Wasserburg concordia age of 216.7 ± 2.4 Ma for tin mineralization. These ages indicate that both the granitic magmatism and related mineralization were initiated in the late Indosinian period. All the granites have high SiO2, Al2O3, P2O5 contents, and low TFeO, CaO, MgO, TiO2 contents, indicating that the granites are highly differentiated S-type granites, and furthermore, the high DI and Rb, K, U, Hf, Sm, low SI and Ba, Sr, Ti, TREE further show that the granites have undergone high extent of differentiation and evolution. High Rb/Nb and K/Nb ratios, low Nb/Ta and Zr/Hf ratios, widely varying CaO/Na2O ratios, low and uniform εNd(t) values, and dominantly negative and relatively dispersed εHf(t) values jointly indicate that the granites were derived from a heterogeneous mixture of calcium-poor mudstone and calcium-rich psammite (or metamorphic igneous rocks) in the crust. The known Indosinian W-Sn deposits in South China are more closely related to S-type granites than to I-type granites, suggesting that their ore-forming materials are mainly derived from the crust. In addition, individual positive εHf(t) values indicate that a small amount of newborn crustal components were involved in the formation of granitic magma. Compared with G1, G2 differs distinctly in petrological, chemical and isotopic characteristics, especially it is more richer in F content and contains magmatic cassiterite and wolframite crystals, suggesting that G2 have undergone higher extent of differentiation and evolution, and are much more closely related to the Sn-W mineralization than G1. The late Indosinian granites in this deposit were formed in post-collisional extensional tectonic environment, while the early Indosinian granites intruded in the Yangmingshan area were formed in syn-collision compression environment. Based on the statistics, the metallogenic ages of Indosinian W-Sn deposits in South China are between 212 and 230 Ma, and the petrogenetic ages of related granites are between 211 and 230 Ma, both age groups belong to the late Indosinian period, representing a regional large-scale granitic magma intrusion and mineralization event that initiated in post-collisional extensional tectonic environment.

Petrology and geochemistry of charnockites (felsic ortho-granulites) from the Kerala Khondalite Belt, Southern India: Evidence for intra-crustal melting, magmatic differentiation and episodic crustal growth

The Kerala Khondalite Belt (KKB) of the southern India encompasses volumetrically significant magmatic components. Among these, orthopyroxene-bearing, felsic ortho-granulites, popularly known as charnockites in Indian context, constitute an important lithology. In contrast to the well-known phenomena of arrested charnockitization, the geochemical characteristics and petrogenesis of these ortho-granulite suites remain poorly studied, leaving geodynamic models envisaged for the KKB highly conjectural. In this paper, we try to bridge this gap with detailed results on orthopyroxene-bearing, felsic ortho-granulites spread over the entire KKB and propose a new petrogenetic and crustal evolution model.Based on geochemical characteristics, the orthopyroxene-bearing, felsic ortho-granulites (charnockites sensu lato) of KKB are classified into (1) tonalitic (TC), (2) granitic (GC), and (3) augen (AC) suites. Members of the TC follow sodic (characterized by decreasing CaO/Na2O), whereas those of the GC and AC follow calc-alkaline trends of differentiation. Geochemical patterns of the TC resemble those of the Archaean tonalite–trondhjemite–granodiorite (TTG) suites, with slightly magnesian character (average Mg#=33), moderate LREE (average LaN=154), low HREE (average YbN=6) and Y (1–53ppm; average 11ppm). The TC is also characterized by positive to slightly negative europium anomalies (Eu/Eu*=0.7 to 1.67). The GC and AC suites, on the other hand, resemble post-Archaean arc-related granites. The GC displays ferroan nature (average Mg#=22), low to moderate degrees of REE fractionation (average [La/Yb]N=34.84), high contents of Y (5–128ppm; average 68), and low Sr/Y (1–98) ratios. Significant negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu*=0.18–0.91; average 0.50) and low Sr (65–690ppm) are also noted in the GC. Similar chemical characteristics are shown by the AC, with ferroan nature (average Mg#=21), low to moderate degrees of REE fractionation (average [La/Yb]N=26), high contents of Y (71–99ppm; average 87), and low Sr/Y (average 2) ratios with significant negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu*=0.03–0.31; average 0.23) and low Sr (average 160ppm) contents. The protoliths of the TC are interpreted as being derived from partial melting of thickened oceanic-arc crust composed of Archaean mafic composite source rocks (i.e., eclogite and/or garnet amphibolite) with a garnet amphibolite residue. Geochemical features of the GC, such as high Rb/Sr (average 1.80) and Ba/Sr ratios (average values >6), are considered as evidence for crustal reworking in their genesis, suggesting remelting of a quartzo-feldspathic (TTG) source, within the plagioclase stability fields.The geochemical features of the felsic ortho-granulite suite, substantiated with published geochronological data on members of the TC, GC, and AC suites, suggest a four-stage crustal evolution of the KKB. The first stage is marked by the formation of an over-thickened oceanic-arc. Zircon Hfc model ages of the TC and GC suites constrain the time of this juvenile magmatic crust-forming event as Meso- to Neoarchaean (2.8 to 2.6Ga). The second stage corresponds to the production of TTG magmas by melting of the over-thickened oceanic-arc crust, subsequent to basaltic underplating during Palaeoproterozoic (ca. 2.1Ga). The third stage was initiated by a transition in subduction style from shallow to steep due to continent-arc accretion. This stage is marked by the formation of granitic magmas through partial melting of the TTG crust and their differentiation into GC and TC. The zircon crystallization ages (1.89 and 1.85Ga) of the GC indicate arc accretion occurred during the Palaeoproterozoic. The fourth stage of crustal evolution is correlated with the Mesoproterozoic (~1.5Ga) emplacement of megacrystic K-feldspar granites (protoliths to the AC and augen gneisses). The distinct petrography, geochemistry and crystallization ages of the AC suggests recurrence of megacrystic, high-K calc-alkaline granitoids as the product of final phases of crustal-remelting marking subduction cessation. All these magmatic events are fairly well correlated with the major episodes of crustal growth observed in the once contiguous continental fragments (Sri Lanka and Madagascar) and worldwide events (2.7, 1.9, and 1.2Ga) implying similar episodic nature in the lower crustal evolution of the KKB.

Isotope geochemistry of Erentaolegai silver deposit, Inner Mongolia, China

Detailed studies have been conducted on the geology and geochemistry of the deposit and granite in the mining district in the last two decades, and by comparing this deposit with other typical epithermal deposits in the world, it is clear that the Erentaolegai silver deposit is a lower-sulfidation, adularia-sericite-type epithermal silver deposit and the bulk mineralogy of this deposit is consistent with low-sulfidation epithermal mineralization. Determined by the Rb-Sr isochron method, the age of magmatic intrusives in the mining district is 120 Ma. So, it can be concluded that the local areas were marginally subjected to the movement in Late Yanshanian and produced granitic magma, and about 29% mantle material, as is calculated, was involved in magmatism. The magma experienced crystallization-differentiation, resulting in the formation of granite and quartz porphyry; the latter was the product of violent granitic magma crystallization-differentiation, so silver was enriched in later petrogenetic stages and post-petrogenetic ore fluids from which Ag was derived dominantly. Oxygen and hydrogen isotopic characteristics indicate that meteoric waters on the Earth’s surface played an important role in the formation of granitic magma and the deposit: (1) contributing a lot to the fundamental complex partial melting; (2) contributing a lot to magma crystallization-differentiation, and bringing silver into the magma which is eventually responsible for the formation of quartz porphyry; and (3) contributing a lot to the formation of great amounts of ore fluid. The lead isotopic characteristics show that the silver and lead have an affinity for each other.

島弧-島弧衝突帯における花崗岩質マグマの形成と地殻の進化 —日高変成帯,野塚岳花崗岩の例—

島弧-島弧衝突帯における花崗岩質マグマの形成と地殻の進化 —日高変成帯,野塚岳花崗岩の例—

Experiments on dehydration-melting of the khondalite series in the northern segment of Helan Mountain, III—the evolution of oxygen, water, and hydrogen fugacities

Based on the experiments on dehydration-melting of solid samples of Al-rich gneiss (H029) and biotite granulitite (H013), the fugacities of O2, H2O and H2 have been calculated. It is recognized that the fugacities of O2, H2O and H2 vary regularly, but the fugacity of H2O shows a tendency of abrupt increasing at about 700°C and 800°C. According to the above fact, the melting mechanism of biotite can be well documented. Under relatively low temperatures ( 800°C), biotite can be dissociated and a larger amount of water can be released, which would result in a bigger degree of melting, hence leading to the formation of granitic magma.

D42-02 阿武隈山地竹貫変成岩に見られる角閃岩の部分融解と花こう岩質マグマの形成

D42-02 阿武隈山地竹貫変成岩に見られる角閃岩の部分融解と花こう岩質マグマの形成

Formation of granitic magmas during repeated orogenic events: an example from the Baltic Shield

Abstract The southwestern, 1.8-0.9-Ga old part of the Baltic Shield (SGC) was formed later than its central, Svecofennian zone (2.0-1.75 Ga). After the formation of its continental crust, the SGC was intruded repeatedly by anatectic granitoids. This study tests the hypothesis that the younger anatectic granitoids were formed by partial melting of early granites intruded during the formation of the original continental crust. The tests are based on Rb-Sr isotopic, major element, and trace element data. The Sm-Nd data are generally consistent with the suggested hypothesis. Only one of the seven granite intrusions included in the test based on the Rb-Sr data is rejected. Major and trace element data are available for four anatectic granite intrusions. The tests suggest rejection of the hypothesis for two of these massifs. For the remaining two, no rejection of the hypothesis can be based on the outcome of the applied tests. In conclusion, it is found that macro- and microscopically indistinguishable coeval granites which occur close to each other may have different origins.

The origin of granite: The role and source of water in the evolution of granitic magmas

Temperature and water content are the two most important parameters in the formation of granitic magmas. Evidence from volcanic and plutonic lithologies suggests that water contents of 2 to 4 wt. % are present in most silicic magmas. Calculations based on the stability of biotite yield water fugacities within the melt phase from about 500 to 2,000 bars, although these calculations determine the log f H 2 O and the effective uncertainty of ±0.5 log units yields a large absolute uncertainty. Comparison with crystallization experiments demonstrates that less than 2% water would require significant percentages of crystallization at temperatures above 900 °C with liquidus temperatures about 1000 °C. Water contents greatly in excess of 4 wt. % would mean that the magma would become vapor saturated at high pressures and would tend to crystallize during ascent to a fine-grained granite before reaching shallow depths. The main sources of water for magma generation are the dehydration of hydrous silicates within the crust and volatiles transported into the crust from subducted oceanic crust and upper mantle in the form of hydrous basalts and andesites. Dehydration reactions of muscovite, biotite, and horn-blende are of particular significance. Anatectic granites may be partially classified in terms of the probable dehydration reaction responsible for their generation. Melts generated from muscovite dehydration are relatively cool, peraluminous in composition, high in K/Na ratio, and generally high in initial 87 Sr/ 86 Sr and delta 18 O. Biotite-generated melts tend to be higher in temperatures, peraluminous to meta-aluminous in composition, moderately high in K/Na ratio, and relatively high in strontium and oxygen ratios. Both types may contain metasedimentary enclaves. Granitoids generated by hornblende dehydration would be much higher in initial temperature, peralka-line to meta-aluminous in composition, and lower in K/Na ratio and in general would have lower strontium and oxygen ratios. Volatiles deposited in hydrothermally altered oceanic crust and upper mantle will be released during subduction in the form of hydrous basalts and andesites. These melts are important energy-transfer mechanisms to drive anatexis within the crust. If these melts encounter a silicic magma chamber when intruding the crust, they will be trapped below the lower-density granitic melt. While partially quenching against the cooler melt, they may release volatiles and heat, which will aid in the melting process. Granites generated in this way will vary in their geochemical properties, depending on the relative importance of crustal versus mantle magma systems. In general, they will have moderate to high initial temperatures, be meta-aluminous in composition, be variable but somewhat low in K/Na ratio, and have lower initial strontium and delta 18 O ratios than will melts derived completely from the crust. The fact that most terrestrial spreading centers are subaqueous thus may aid in the formation of a thick granitic continental crust.