low-Mg Rocks Research Articles

Compositional change from high-Mg to low-Mg magmatism at ca. 150 Ma in the central Lhasa terrane, Tibet: Switching from advancing to retreating subduction of the Bangong Tethyan slab

Differentiating between advancing and retreating subduction zones and delineating the timing and processes for switching between these end-member types are critical factors in understanding orogenic evolution. In this study, we used temporal composition variations and spatiotemporal distribution of igneous rocks to constrain the types and directions of the subduction zone beneath the Lhasa terrane in southern Tibet during the mid-Mesozoic. Comprehensive geochronological and geochemical data from mid-Mesozoic magmatic rocks in five areas of the central Lhasa terrane document two compositionally distinct magmatic suites: older (ca. 172−150 Ma) high-Mg diorite-granodiorite and younger (ca. 150−130 Ma) low-Mg granodiorite-syenogranite. The high-Mg rocks with enriched isotopes were likely generated by the mixing of Lhasa terrane basement-derived magmas with mantle-derived magmas that incorporated extensive contributions from subducted sediments. The low-Mg rocks with relatively depleted isotopes are interpreted as derived from a mixed lower-crust source (ancient basement and juvenile crust) with minor mantle contributions followed by crystal fractionation. Both high-Mg and low-Mg rocks show arc signatures and formed the 1200 km Shiquan-Zhegu-Menba arc. A combination of the Mesozoic geological and geochemical data suggests that both the Neo-Tethyan and Bangong Tethyan slabs were likely subducting beneath the Lhasa terrane, creating two opposing subduction zones. The change from high-Mg to low-Mg magmatism within the Shiquan-Zhegu-Menba arc likely records a tectonic switch from advancing to retreating subduction of the south-dipping Bangong Tethyan slab. Our results provide a good example for identification of subduction polarities and types of ancient orogenic belts through spatiotemporal distributions and changes in geochemical compositions of igneous rocks.

New Geochemical and Mineralogical Data on Rocks and Ores of the NE Flank of the Oktyabr’skoe Deposit (Norilsk Area) and a View on Their Origin

The Oktyabr’skoe deposit in the Norilsk ore district is the largest platinum-copper-nickel deposit in the world. It contains a huge main orebody (2.4 km3) of massive sulfide ores and some smaller sulfide bodies. Almost all publications on this deposit are devoted to the main orebody. However, to solve the problems of the deposit genesis, it is necessary to take into account the geological structure of the entire area and the composition of all orebodies. For the first time we present data on the inner structure, geochemical and mineralogical characteristics of the intrusive body, and related the disseminated and massive sulfide ores (orebody number C-5) in the northeastern flank of the deposit. The intrusion studied in the core of the borehole RG-2 consists of several horizons including the following rock varieties (from bottom to top): olivine gabbro-dolerites, taxitic gabbro-dolerites, picritic gabbro-dolerites, troctolites, olivine-free gabbro-dolerites, ferrogabbro, and leucogabbro. The intrusion shows a strong differentiated inner structure where high-Mg rocks (up to 25 wt.% MgO troctolites and picritic gabbro-dolerites) in the bottom are associated with low-Mg rocks (6–7 wt.%, gabbro-dolerites, leucogabbro, ferrogabbro) without intermediate differentiated members (8–12 wt.% MgO olivine gabbro-dolerites). Rocks are characterized by low TiO2 content (≤1 wt.%). Taxitic gabbro-dolerites, picritic gabbro-dolerites, and troctolites contain disseminated sulfide chalcopyrite-pyrrhotite mineralization (32 m thick). Cu and Ni concentrations reach up 0.74 and 0.77 wt.%, respectively. Massive ores (27 m) occur in the bottom part of the intrusion. The ores consist of pentlandite, chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite, the latter mineral dominates. Their chemical composition is stable: Cu/Ni ~1, Pd/Pt varies from 5 to 6. The C-5 orebody is similar to the C-3 orebody in terms of mineral and chemical compositions, and differ from the nearby the C-4 orebody which is characterized by a Cu/Ni ratio changing from 5 to 8. On the basis of geochemical and mineralogical data, it is assumed that orebodies C-3 and C-5 are associated with one intrusion, while the orebody number C-4 is related to another intrusive body. Thus, the deposit has a more complex structure and includes several more intrusions than is usually considered.

Trace-Element and Pb Isotope Evidence on Extracting Sulfides from Potassic Melts beneath Longmenshan and Molabushan Volcanoes, Wudalianchi, Northeast China

In the Wudalianchi volcanic field, eruptions started with low-Mg potassic lava flows 2.5–2.0 Ma ago and later changed to both low- and moderate-Mg potassic compositions. Volcanic rocks from the Molabushan and Longmenshan volcanoes record an unusually wide range of Pb abundances (from 3.7 ppm to 21 ppm relative to predominant range of 10–15 ppm). To determine the cause of these, we performed a comparative trace-element and Pb isotope study of rocks from these volcanoes and older lava flows. On a uranogenic lead diagram, older low-Mg lavas from lithospheric mantle sources plot on a secondary isochron with a slope corresponding to an age of 1.88 Ga. This contrasts with moderate-Mg volcanic rocks from the Molabushan cone, interpreted to have been derived from a recent convective mantle source, which define a flat linear pattern. Low-Mg rocks from the Molabushan flow have lead isotopic compositions that indicate mixed Gelaqiu and Molabu sources. Relative to rocks from the Molabushan cone, moderate-Mg lavas and slags from the East Longmenshan volcano have modified compositions characterized by Pb, S, and Ni abundances, Ni/Co, Ni/MgO ratios as well as 206Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb, 208Pb/204Pb, Ce/Pb, Th/Pb, and U/Pb ratios. We infer that the older Wudalianchi magmas were likely derived from a Paleoproterozoic lithospheric fragment, related to the evolved primordial mantle, and that later magmas were generated in the convecting mantle. These were influenced by segregation of small amounts of sulfides.

Precise magnesium isotope analyses of high-K and low-Mg rocks by MC-ICP-MS

This study presents a chemical protocol for the separation of Mg that is particularly adapted for diverse igneous rock samples, especially for high-K and low-Mg rocks.

Geochemistry and mineralogy of platinum group element in ores of the Kingash deposit, Eastern Sayan, Russia

The paper discusses the results of studying the contents of platinum group elements (PGE) and platinum group minerals (PGM) in ores of the Kingash deposit. The bulk of PGE has been established as concentrated in disseminated sulfide chalcopyrite–pyrrhotite–pentlandite ore and is represented by palladium bismuth–tellurides. During melt differentiation, the content and relationship of PGE are changed; the Pd/Pt value increases (up to 1.9 and 4.2 in dunite and wehrlite, respectively) with decreasing Mg number. The distribution of PGE, sulfur, and REE in various ore types suggests two formation mechanisms of high-grade ores: (1) the product of liquid immiscibility and gravity separation at the early magmatic stage and (2) involvement of the residual melt saturated in volatiles, which contributed to transportation and segregation of PGE at the late magmatic stage. The evolution of the ore system of the Kingash massif is characterized by sequential enrichment of PGM in Ni from high-Mg to low-Mg rocks similarly to sulfide minerals of disseminated ore. The criteria for ore content in utramafics of the Kansk block have been identified based on compared ore element and PGE concentrations in ultramafic rocks of the Kingash and Idar complexes.

Petrogenesis of the early Paleozoic low-Mg and high-Mg adakitic rocks in the North Qilian orogenic belt, NW China: Implications for transition from crustal thickening to extension thinning

The petrogenesis and geodynamic implications of the early Paleozoic adakitic rocks in the North Qilian orogenic belt remain topics of debate. In this study, petrology, zircon U–Pb age and Lu–Hf isotopic composition, whole-rock geochemistry and Sr–Nd isotopes were carried on both low-Mg and high-Mg adakitic rocks from the North Qilian orogenic belt. These results will provide significant constraints on the evolution of the North Qilian orogenic belt. In general, the low-Mg adakitic granites mainly consist of plagioclase (50–55%), alkali feldspar (20–25%), quartz (20–25%) and biotite (5%). In contrast, the high-Mg adakitic granodiorites are generally composed of alkali feldspar (30–35%), plagioclase (30–45%), quartz (20–25%) and amphibole (∼10%). The low-Mg adakitic granitoids (446–457Ma) are characterized by high SiO2 (69–72wt.%), low Mg# (39–42) and low Cr and Ni contents. However, the high-Mg adakitic granitoids (430–431Ma) have relatively lower SiO2 (65–66wt.%), higher Mg# (50–59) and higher Cr and Ni contents. The low-Mg adakitic rocks have high initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.7068–0.7080), negative εNd(t) (−2.3 to −3.3) and εHf(t) values (−6.8 to 1.9) with old zircon Hf model ages (1.2–1.6Ga). However, the high-Mg adakitic rocks show lower initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.7044–0.7066), higher εNd(t) (−1.8 to 3.0) and positive εHf(t) values (2.3–7.7) with younger zircon Hf model ages (0.9–1.1Ga). These results suggest that the low-Mg rocks were generated by partial melting of thickened crust, whereas the high-Mg rocks were derived from anatexis of delaminated lower crust, which subsequently interacted with mantle magma upon ascent. The data obtained in this study provide significant information about the geological and tectonic processes after the closure of the Qilian Ocean. The continent–continent collision and thickening probably occurred during 440–467Ma with formation of low-Mg adakitic rocks; and the transition of the tectonic regime from compression to extension probably occurred at ∼430Ma with formation of high-Mg adakitic rocks.

High-precision Mg isotope analyses of low-Mg rocks by MC-ICP-MS

We present a method for precise measurement of Mg isotope ratios for low-Mg rock samples (where MgO <1wt.%) by multi-collector inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS). The efficiency of Mg purification is significantly improved by using a newly calibrated HNO3+HF step to remove undesired matrix elements (such as Ti, Al, Fe, and K) in low-Mg samples. We also establish that increasing the amount of Mg loaded to the chromatographic column minimized blank effects of organics leached from cation resin. All parameters that could affect the accuracy and precision of Mg isotope analyses were rigorously examined by two independent laboratories in Beijing and Hefei. The δ26Mg of mono-elemental Mg standard CAM-1 measured in the two laboratories were −2.597±0.042‰ (2σ, n=49) and −2.598±0.039‰ (2σ, n=79), respectively; in house standard IGGMg1 were −1.742±0.041‰ (2σ, n=53) and −1.749±0.049‰ (2σ, n=72), respectively. The average δ26Mg over ten months of two synthetic standards, made by doping IGGMg1 and IGGMg2 with matrix elements, agrees well with their recommended values, within error. The robustness of our method was further assessed by replicated analyses of sixteen rock standards with MgO contents from 0.28wt.% to 49.4wt.%. The δ26Mg of USGS rhyolite standards RGM-1 and RGM-2 are −0.188±0.031‰ (2σ, n=35) and −0.182±0.041‰ (2σ, n=72), respectively; granite standard GA is −0.165±0.038‰ (2σ, n=57), G-2 is −0.129±0.045‰ (2σ, n=34), GS-N is −0.204±0.059‰ (2σ, n=33), GSP-2 is 0.042±0.020‰ (2σ, n=15), and GSR-1 is −0.234±0.016‰ (2σ, n=17). Based on repeated analyses of standards, the long-term external precision of our method is better than ±0.05‰ for δ26Mg. This precision allows us to distinguish the fractionation of Mg isotopes in low-Mg granites and rhyolites as well as that between mantle minerals.

High-magnesium andesites: the example of the Papuan Volcanic Arc

Abstract The late Cenozoic arc-type volcanic arc in southeastern Papua New Guinea developed in an environment of complex tectonic processes including obduction, subduction, rifting and sea floor spreading. The volcanic arc extends from the Papuan Peninsula south-eastward through the D'Entrecasteaux Islands into the Louisiade Archipelago. Lithologies are predominantly basaltic andesite and andesite, but include basalt, dacite and rhyolite. The rocks have typical arc-type geochemical features but include a group ranging from basalt to dacite which, although comparable in most other aspects of their compositions, are higher in MgO, Cr and Ni. These high-Mg rocks are less porphyritic and have simple olivine- or clinopyroxene- dominated phenocryst assemblages compared with the associated low-Mg rocks. The low-Mg rocks are plagioclase-phyric and contain augite and hypersthene with or without olivine, hornblende and biotite phenocrysts. Boninites are spatially associated with, but genetically unrelated to the arc-type rocks in Papua. The high-Mg rocks represent magmas derived by partial melting of subduction-modified mantle which rose rapidly from their source. In contrast, the low-Mg lavas represent magmas which were modified by shallow processes. The unusual abundance of high-Mg lavas in southeastern Papua is related to extensional tectonics which allowed deep sourced magmas to rise without significant modification. Supplementary material: Major and trace element analyses of lavas from the Papuan volcanic arc are available at http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18644