Partial Melting Of Enriched Mantle Research Articles

The lithospheric cycle of ore-forming ingredients and the resultant recurrent ‘flare-ups’ of porphyry Cu deposits: Examples from the Yidun Arc, eastern Tibet

The porphyry Cu deposits with distinct mineralisation ages frequently occur as recurrent ‘flare-ups’ in a narrow region; however, the reasons controlling their occurrence are still debated. The eastern Yidun Arc in eastern Tibet produced a cluster of porphyry Cu deposits of the late Triassic and late Cretaceous ages, making it the ideal location for conducting this research. As a result, we use the late Triassic Xuejiping Cu–(Au) and late Cretaceous Hongshan–Hongniu Cu–Mo deposits as research objects, compiling new and published geochronological, elemental, and Sr–Nd–Hf isotopic data from their ore-forming porphyries to shed light on the above issue. The zircon U–Pb ages of the Xuejiping and Hongshan–Hongniu porphyries are 217.8 – 217.9 Ma and 78.7 Ma, respectively, and display adakitic characteristics. The Xuejiping porphyries present enriched Sr–Nd–Hf isotopes (0.70529 – 0.70590, −3.30 – −1.09, 0.40 – 2.20, respectively), low (Gd/Yb)N (2.24 – 3.20) and Nb/Ta (12.8 – 15.9) ratios, relatively high Nb (14.9 – 20.0 ppm) and Zr/Sm (23.4 – 41.5) values, indicating their origin in the partial melting of enriched mantle that is metasomatised by slab-melts and fluids in subduction zone. Furthermore, the Hongshan–Hongniu porphyry is adakitic, like the late Triassic igneous rocks in this area. Its Sr–Nd–Hf isotopes (0.69873 – 0.70996, −10.7 – −6.72, −14.9 – −0.50, respectively) are close to the isotopic evolution line of the late Triassic Xuejiping intrusions and show a trend towards the regional crystalline basement, which signify that the Hongshan–Hongniu porphyry mainly originated from the late Triassic juvenile crust, with some contributions from crystalline basement. One highly fractionated sample (i.e. HZK17-11-76) has extremely evolved Sr–Nd isotopes (0.70996 and −10.7, respectively), indicative of assimilation of sedimentary rocks. The new genetic models of the late Triassic and late Cretaceous porphyries in the Geza Arc show that the westward subduction of the Garzê–Litang oceanic crust in the late Triassic triggered the occurrence of the highly oxidised and Cu–S–H2O rich adakitic melts in the middle–lower crust, which evolved to amphibole cumulates and porphyry Cu–(Au) deposits (i.e. Xuejiping) in the upper crust. In the late Cretaceous, the extensional environment triggered the re-melting of late Triassic juvenile cumulates and Mo-rich crystalline basement, resulting in Cu–Mo–S–H2O-rich, highly oxidised magma. Through fractional crystallisation and assimilation of Mo-rich sedimentary rocks, the magma eventually transformed into Hongshan–Hongniu porphyry-(skarn) type Cu–Mo deposits. In summary, we conclude that the periodic recycling of the ore-forming ingredients on a lithospheric scale from slab subduction to post-subduction periods controls the recurrent ‘flare-ups’ of PCDs in this confined area.

Sediment recycling by continental subduction indicated by B-Hf-Pb-Nd isotopes from Miocene–Quaternary lavas in the northern margin of Tibet

Although it has been argued that sediment recycling plays an important role in the differentiation of the continental crust, boron (B) isotopic data does not support a direct input of subducted sediments into arc magmas. This raises questions about the viability of sediment recycling as a process in the differentiation of continental crust. Here, we report B isotopic data from Miocene–Quaternary lavas derived from different sources in the northern margin of Tibet. These lavas have high B contents and negative δ11B values close to those of continental sediments. Strongly peraluminous rhyolites have the highest B (93 to 1559 ppm) contents with negative δ11B (−9.7 to −17.9) values. Adakitic dacites and trachyandesites exhibit the lowest B (18 to 29 ppm) contents with markedly negative δ11B (−12.0 to −35.7) values whereas olivine leucitites have B (37.2 to 59.3 ppm) contents with negative δ11B (−8.3 to −15.6) values. These lavas also have enriched Hf-Pb-Nd isotopic compositions similar to those of sediments. This data, combined with numerical modelling and geophysical and tectonic data for Cenozoic continental subduction in the northern margin of Tibet, indicates that: (1) the strongly peraluminous rhyolites were generated by partial melting of mica-bearing continental sedimentary rocks subducted to the depth of mid-to-lower crust; (2) adakitic lavas were derived by partial melting of sediment-bearing thickened lower crust underwent dehydration and eclogites-facies metamorphism; and (3) olivine leucitites were generated by partial melting of enriched mantle metasomatized by sediment-bearing eclogite-facies crust-derived melts. Thus, at continental convergent margins, continental subduction is an important mechanism for sediment recycling and the evolution of continental crust.

Late Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic arc magmatism in the Shandong Peninsula, North China Craton and its tectonic implications

The transition in tectonic regime of our planet during the late Archean with the initiation broadly modern style subduction system is one of the major topics of interest in earth science. The North China Craton (NCC), one of the oldest cratonic nuclei in the world, preserves important records of Archean and Paleoproterozoic crustal evolution, cratonization and related geodynamic history that are important in understanding the continental growth of the early Earth. Here we investigate a suite of Archean to Paleoproterozoic rocks including hornblendite, amphibolite, gabbro, diorite, basalt, plagiogranite, granite porphyry and greenschist from Shandong Peninsula within the southwestern Jiaoliao block of the eastern NCC using zircon U-Pb geochronology, Lu-Hf isotopes, and whole-rock geochemistry. We aim to understand the timing and petrogenesis of the rock suite and its implications on the geodynamic history of the NCC. Zircon U-Pb data show 207Pb/206Pb ages in the range of 2.68–1.83 Ga, and is divided into three groups of 2.68–2.43, 2.38–1.96 and 1.95–1.83 Ga. Among these, the 2.68–2.43 Ga group confirms with the major magmatic phase during Neoarchean-Paleoproterozoic transition in the eastern NCC, whilst the other groups of 2.38–1.96 and 1.95–1.83 Ga ages might represent the Paleoproterozoic orogenic events in the NCC. Zircon Lu-Hf isotopic data display εHf(t) values ranging from −0.4 to 10.0 and TDMC of 3074–2080 Ma, which are subdivided into one group with U-Pb ages of 2672–2445 Ma characterized by εHf(t) values from −0.4 to 7.0 and TDMC of 3074–2588 Ma and another group (2134–2009 Ma) with εHf(t) values in the range of 2.8–10.0 and TDMC ranging from 2458 to 2080 Ma. These results indicate that the magmas (2672–2445 Ma group) were sourced mainly from Late Mesoarchean to Neoarchean juvenile components with minor input of reworked Mesoarchean crustal components, whereas the 2134–2009 Ma group was derived from Paleoproterozoic juvenile components. Whole-rock geochemical data of the granite porphyry and plagiogranites show typical subduction-related arc signature with the enrichment of LREEs and LILEs and depletion of HREEs and HFSEs (e.g. Nb, Ta, Ti), and mainly belong to I-type granites generated at arc-related setting. The ultramafic–mafic magmatic suite corresponds with tholeiitic to calc-alkaline series which were formed by partial melting of enriched mantle within an island arc setting in an active continental margin. In conjunction with the results from previous studies in the NCC, we correlate the 2.68–2.43 Ga ages with Late Neoarchean amalgamation of microblocks and cratonization of the NCC driven by late Neoarchean oceanic plate subduction, and the 2.38–1.83 Ga ages represent Paleoproterozoic orogenic events including the assembly of major crustal blocks in the NCC within the Paleoproterozoic supercontinent Columbia, and the final collision of these crustal blocks and cratonization.

Petrogenesis of Early Cretaceous adakites in Tongguanshan Cu–Au polymetallic deposit, Tongling region, Eastern China

Adakites are closely related to Cu–Au deposits in many regions worldwide. The petrogenesis of the Early Cretaceous adakites in the Lower Yangtze River Belt (LYRB) of East China and their genetic relationship with Cu-Au polymetallic mineralization are still debated. The Tongguanshan (TGS) pluton is representative of the adakitic intrusions in the Tongling region and is composed of granodiorite and quartz monzodiorite, and contains quartz monzodiorite enclaves. Zircons from the granodiorite yield a SIMS U-Pb crystallization age of 136.7 ± 1.4 Ma, which suggests that the Cretaceous magmatism is related to the mineralization. The host rocks and enclaves have SiO2 contents of 61.2–65.3 wt% and 54.9–58.0 wt%, respectively. Both the host rocks and the enclaves are characterized by high Al2O3 and Sr, and low Y and Yb contents, as well as high Sr/Y and (La/Yb)N ratios, which are typical geochemical characteristics of adakites, and they can be further divided into high-silica (host rock) and low-silica (enclave) adakites. The large range of εHf(t) and δ18O values of the host rocks (−11.6 to − 21.9, 6.8‰–7.6‰, respectively) and of the enclaves (−13.8 to − 23.6, 6.9‰–7.3‰, respectively), suggest an enriched and heterogeneous source. The host rocks and enclaves have similar Sr-Nd isotopic compositions (εNd(t) = −9.73 to −11.4, ISr = 0.7068 to 0.7073), which are intermediate among those of MORB, marine sediment, and the Yangtze lower crust. Whole-rock element ratios suggest that the host rocks were generated by the partial melting of subducted oceanic crust mixed with sediments, followed by assimilation of the lower crust. In contrast, the enclaves were derived from partial melting of enriched mantle metasomatized by slab-derived melts. Magma mixing, crustal contamination, and metasomatism play roles in generating the geochemical variations in the TGS adakites. The high oxygen fugacity and high contents of slab-derived volatiles suggested by apatites are favorable for large-scale Cu mineralization in the Tongling area, LYRB.

Petrogenesis of the Dog Lake Granite Chain, Quetico Basin, Superior Province, Canada: Implications for Neoarchean crustal growth

The Neoarchean Dog Lake Granite Chain consists of six intrusions (Shabaqua, Silver Falls, Trout Lake, Barnum Lake, White Lily, and Penassen Lake), which parallel the tectonic boundary between the Abitibi-Wawa terrane to the south, and the Quetico Basin to the north. It is a single composite body at depth with derivative branches extending higher into the crust, and consists of three phases: monzodiorite, syenite/quartz monzonite and granite, emplaced at approximately 2.671 Ga, 2.663–2.669 Ga and 2.670 Ga, respectively.The metaluminous monzodiorites with abundant angular igneous mafic xenoliths, enriched zircon ɛHf(t) values ranging from −0.52 to +4.20 and enriched ɛNd(t) (−0.37 to +1.74), were generated by assimilation fractional crystallization of a mafic magma generated by partial melting of enriched mantle metasomatized by melts of subducted oceanic sediments. The metaluminous syenite/quartz monzonite phase has similar mineral assemblages, trace element and Nd-Hf isotopic characteristics to the monzodiorite, and was probably produced by assimilation fractional crystallization of a monzodiorite magma. The granite-hosted zircons have prominent positive Ce anomalies, negative Eu anomalies and mostly positive zircon ɛHf(t) (−0.12 to +4.25) and enriched ɛNd(t) values (−1.70 to +0.71), suggesting a mixed source of immature sedimentary rocks and metasomatically enriched mantle-derived magma.The subduction of oceanic lithosphere under the Abitibi-Wawa arc during the collision of the Abitibi-Wawa arc and the Wabigoon terrane before ~2.7 Ga, generated a metasomatically enriched mantle and associated volcanic rocks. The volcanic rocks underwent rapid weathering and erosion to form the immature sedimentary rocks of the Quetico accretionary prism. Lithospheric inversion caused partial melting of the metasomatically enriched mantle, generating a mafic magma. The mafic magma ascended and underwent assimilation fractional crystallization forming the monzodiorite and syenite/quartz monzonite. Mafic magma was emplaced at the base of the Archean immature sedimentary rocks, triggering melting to generate felsic magma. Mixing of these felsic and mafic magmas generated the DLGC granite in the shallow crust.The Neoarchean arc-continent collision preserved in the Quetico Basin is similar to that in modern arc systems where intra-oceanic arc crust is added to continental margins, suggesting it was an important mechanism for recycling juvenile crust, generating compositional differentiation, and cratonization.

Early Carboniferous seafloor spreading recorded by volcanic rocks in the western segment of the Changchun–Yanji Suture Belt, NE China

This study reports zircon U–Pb geochronological, geochemical, and zircon Hf–O isotopic data for metavolcanic rocks from the Shitoukoumen and Yongji areas in central Jilin Province, northeast China, to reveal their petrogenesis and tectonic setting. The metavolcanic rocks collected from the Shitoukoumen and Yongji areas are composed of metabasaltic trachyandesite, metatrachyandesite, and metarhyolitic tuff. Zircon U–Pb dating results indicate that the metavolcanic rocks were erupted during 359–355 Ma. Metavolcanic rocks in the Shitoukoumen area can be divided into two groups according to their geochemical characteristics. Group‐I rocks (metabasaltic trachyandesite and metatrachyandesite) show geochemical features similar to those of ocean island basalt (OIB), with slightly lower zircon δ18O values (4.06 ± 0.42‰ to 5.16 ± 0.28‰) than those of mantle‐derived zircons, and depleted εHf(t) values (7.84–15.4). Group‐II rocks (metabasaltic andesite) show similar geochemical characteristics to those of normal mid‐ocean ridge basalt (N‐MORB). Group‐I rocks may have been derived from partial melting of enriched mantle involving high‐temperature altered oceanic crust, whereas Group‐II rocks originated mainly from partial melting of depleted mantle. Metarhyolitic tuffs from the Yongji area have high SiO2 and K2O contents, as well as high Ga/Al ratios, and show similar geochemical characteristics to those of A‐type rhyolites. The results of the study, together with published data, indicate that the eastern segment of the northern margin of the North China Craton was a passive continental margin setting during the early Carboniferous, and that the Paleo‐Asian Ocean remained open along the Changchun–Yanji suture belt until the early Carboniferous.

Geochemical description and sulfur isotope data for Shahrak intrusive body and related Fe‐mineralization (east Takab), northwest Iran

AbstractThe Shahrak intrusive body (SIB) occurs at the intersection of the Urumieh–Dokhtar Volcanic Belt and the Sanandaj–Sirjan metamorphic belt in northwest Iran. This intrusive body consists of granodiorite, monzonite, monzodiorite, and monzogabbro, that intruded Oligo‐Miocene sedimentary units and Cretaceous and Precambrian metamorphic rocks. Iron mineralization has occurred as magnetite skarn with hematite and pyrite in calcareous units at the contact with the SIB. The Rb–Sr age dating shows that the age of the SIB is about 24.9 Ma (Chattian). Whole rock geochemical studies indicate that the magma has calc‐alkaline to high‐K calc‐alkaline affinities and is metaluminous. The multi‐elements spider diagrams normalized to chondrite and primitive mantle show significant enrichment of light rare earth element against heavy rare earth element and depletion of Ti, P, Ta, and Nb, indicating characteristic features of the volcanic arc rocks in a subduction setting. Furthermore, the various types of tectonomagmatic diagrams show that these rocks are generated in an active continental margin. The parental magma of the rocks probably originated from an enriched mantle on the basis of the geochemistry of the REE elements. The average Sr isotopic composition of the SIB is 87Sr/86Sr(i) = 0.706. Therefore, the parent magma of the SIB may be the result of partial melting of enriched mantle or subducted slab contaminated with the continental crust. The sulfur isotope composition of pyrite grains (ave., +5.29 ‰) in the Korkora‐1 iron deposit indicates that the sulfides are formed from magma or due to in situ dissolution and leaching of igneous sources. Dehydration melting of the subducted part of oceanic crust has likely produced the fluids that are necessary for melting of the mantle wedge to produce mafic‐intermediate melts. The generated melts penetrated into the crust, and during their ascent they underwent a little crustal contamination and eventually were emplaced as intrusive bodies comprising gabbrodiorite to granodiorite.

An Early Cretaceous record of trachyte from the red bed basin of the southwest Dabie Orogen, Central China: Implications for tectonic evolution and geodynamics

Zircon U–Pb ages of approximately 130 Ma were obtained from trachytes in Xiaochang County, at the southwestern margins of the Dabie Mountains, in Central China. The SiO2 and K2O contents of these trachytes range between 56.78–63.77% and 3.76–5.07%, respectively, while Rittmann indexes (δ) range between 3.7 and 6.8. These characteristics indicate that the trachytes belong to the alkaline series. The trachytes are enriched in large‐ion lithophile elements (LILEs) but are depleted in high‐field‐strength elements (HFSEs). The initial 87Sr/86Sr values of the trachytes range from 0.7060 to 0.7072, with negative εNd(t) values varying from −10.43 to −12.88. The weighted averages of the zircon εHf(t) and TDM2 values are −11.7 ± 0.5 and 1921 ± 28 Ma, respectively. The presence of Early Cretaceous K‐rich volcanic rocks at the southwestern margins of the Dabie Mountains has been confirmed for the first time. This finding fills a gap regarding the presence of Mesozoic volcanic rocks in this region and limits the earliest possible formation age of the red bed basin at the southwestern margins of the Dabie Mountains to the Early Cretaceous. The trachytes originate from partial melting of enriched mantle. They are closely related to major regional faults and represent the eastern extension of the Qinling–Daba alkaline rock belt.

Peralkaline Felsic Magmatism of the Atlantic Islands

The oceanic-island magmatic systems of the Atlantic Ocean exhibit significant diversity in their respective sizes, ages, and the compositional ranges of the magmas they have produced. Nevertheless, almost all of the major Atlantic islands and island groups have produced peralkaline felsic magmas, implying that similar petrogenetic regimes may be operating throughout the Atlantic Ocean, and elsewhere. The origins of peralkaline magmas are frequently linked to low-degree partial melting of enriched mantle, followed by protracted differentiation in the shallow crust. Nevertheless, additional petrogenetic processes such as magma mixing, crustal melting, and contamination have been identified at numerous peralkaline centres. The onset of peralkalinity leads to magma viscosities lower than those typical for metaluminous felsic magmas, which has profound implications for processes such as crystal settling. A literature compilation demonstrates trends which suggest that the peralkaline magmas of the Atlantic Ocean islands are generated primarily via extended (up to ~ 95 %), open system fractional crystallisation of mantle-derived mafic magmas. Crustal assimilation is likely to become more significant as the system matures and low-solidus material accumulates in the crust. Magma mixing occurs between mafic and felsic end-members, and also between variably-evolved felsic magmas, and is often recognised via hybridised intermediate magmas. The peralkaline magmas are hydrous, and are frequently zoned in composition, temperature, and/or water content. They are typically stored in shallow crustal magma reservoirs (~ 2 to 5 km), which are maintained by mafic replenishment. Low melt viscosities (1 × 101.77 to 1 × 104.77 Pa s) facilitate two-phase flow, facilitating the formation of alkali-feldspar crystal mush. This mush may then contribute melt to an overlying melt lens via filter pressing or partial melting. We utilise a three stage model to account for the establishment, development, and termination of peralkaline magmatism in the ocean island magmatic systems of the Atlantic. We suggest that the overall control on peralkaline magmatism in the Atlantic is magma flux rate, which controls the stability of upper crustal magma reservoirs. The abundance of peralkaline magmas in the Atlantic suggests that their development must be a common, but not inevitable, stage in the evolution of ocean islands.

Eocene-Oligocene potassic high Ba-Sr granitoids in the Southeastern Tibet: Petrogenesis and tectonic implications

Potassic high Ba-Sr granitoids are widely distributed over collisional orogenic belts worldwide, however, their magma sources and petrogenetic processes are still debated. To better understand them, we collected a suite of Paleogene high Ba-Sr granitoids in the Jianchuan Basin, southeast Tibet. Based on the mineralogical compositions, major and trace element geochemistry, and age of formation, we subdivide them into two groups: intermediate series and granitic series. LA-MC-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb analyses show that the intermediate series crystallized at 33.8–36.9 Ma, similar to or slightly earlier than the granitic rocks with crystallization ages of 33.1–34.0 Ma. New geochemical and zircon Hf isotopic results, in combination with previous results, support an enriched mantle source for the high Ba-Sr intermediate rocks, and a mixed source of enriched mantle and lower crust for the granitic ones. We suggest that partial melting of enriched mantle with fractional crystallization of mafic minerals produced the potassic high Ba-Sr intermediate series. Meanwhile, the juvenile heat from such magma induced melting of thickened lower crustal materials which together with magma from mantle accounted for source of the granite series. The high Ba-Sr intermediate rocks have nearly identical major and trace element, and isotopic signatures as Archean sanukitoids, thus offer a potential constraint on the formation mechanism for the sanukitoids. Our study supports that the emergence of the sanukitoids requires a sediment-metasomatized mantle and thus indicates the onset of crustal recycling into the mantle.

Evidence for Cyclical Fractional Crystallization, Recharge, and Assimilation in Basalts of the Kimama Drill Core, Central Snake River Plain, Idaho: 5.5-Million-Years of Petrogenesis in a Mid-crustal Sill Complex

Basalts erupted in the Snake River Plain of central Idaho and sampled in the Kimama drill core link eruptive processes to the construction of mafic intrusions over 5.5 Ma. Cyclic variations in basalt composition reveal temporal chemical heterogeneity related to fractional crystallization and the assimilation of previously-intruded mafic sills. A range of compositional types are identified within 1912 m of continuous drill core: Snake River olivine tholeiite (SROT), low K SROT, high Fe-Ti, and evolved and high K-Fe lavas similar to those erupted at Craters of the Moon National Monument. Detailed lithologic and geophysical logs document 432 flow units comprising 183 distinct lava flows and 78 flow groups. Each lava flow represents a single eruptive episode, while flow groups document chemically and temporally related flows that formed over extended periods of time. Temporal chemical variation demonstrates the importance of source heterogeneity and magma processing in basalt petrogenesis. Low-K SROT and high Fe-Ti basalts are genetically related to SROT as, respectively, hydrothermally-altered and fractionated daughters. Cyclic variations in the chemical composition of Kimama flow groups are apparent as 21 upward fractionation cycles, six recharge cycles, eight recharge-fractionation cycles, and five fractionation-recharge cycles. We propose that most Kimama basalt flows represent typical fractionation and recharge patterns, consistent with the repeated influx of primitive SROT parental magmas and extensive fractional crystallization coupled with varying degrees of assimilation of gabbroic to ferrodioritic sills at shallow to intermediate depths over short durations. Trace element models show that parental SROT basalts were generated by 5-10% partial melting of enriched mantle at shallow depths above the garnet-spinel lherzolite transition. The distinctive evolved and high K-Fe lavas are rare. Found at four depths, 319 m, 1045 m, 1078 m, and 1189 m, evolved and high K-Fe flows are compositionally unrelated to SROT magmas and represent highly fractionated basalt, probably accompanied by crustal assimilation. These evolved lavas may be sourced from the Craters of the Moon/Great Rift system to the northeast. The Kimama drill core is the longest record of geochemical variation in the central Snake River Plain and reinforces the concept of magma processing in a layered complex.

Petrogenesis of Plio-Quaternary basanites in the Gandom Beryan area, Kerman,Iran: geochemical evidence for the low-degree partial melting of enriched mantle

In the Gandom Beryan area, basanitic lava flows erupted from fractures in the Nayband fault zone and formed an area of about 300 km2 of basanitic rocks in the western part of the Lut Block. Olivine and clinopyroxene are the major phenocrysts in a microlitic groundmass for these basanitic rocks. The geochemical data show that Gandom Beryan rocks are basanite in composition and belong to intercontinental rifts related to alkali basanites. These rocks have low Fe/Mg ratios (Fe2O3t/MgO = 1.07-1.43) with low silica content (SiO2 = 44.89-48.26 wt.%) and are high-Ti basanites. The investigated rocks are characterized by a significant enrichment of total REE and LREE relative to chondrite. Moreover, the REE patterns of these rocks are linear without any negative Eu anomalies. The low abundances of HREE in basanitic rocks and the REE modeling together reflect the relation between these elements and residual garnet in the partially melted mantle. The 207Pb/204Pb and 206Pb/204Pb ratios of the basanitic rocks fall near the field of enriched mantle II (EM-II). The Gandom Beryan volcanism, which was related to partial melting of mantle within an extensional setting, resulted from a left-step, pull-apart basin in the Nayband N-S trending strike-slip fault system. Although the fault system is older than Gandom Beryan volcanism, it seems that it has been reactivated during and after the volcanism.

Coexistence of MORB and OIB-type mafic volcanics in the Manipur Ophiolite Complex, Indo-Myanmar Orogenic Belt, northeast India: Implication for heterogeneous mantle source at the spreading zone

This paper presents the first report of the coexistence of tholeiitic mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) – type and alkaline ocean island basalt (OIB) – type mafic volcanics from the Manipur Ophiolite Complex (MOC), Indo-Myanmar Orogenic Belt, northeast India. The MORB-types have comparatively lower TiO2 concentrations (0.6–1.6wt.%), show almost flat REE patterns with depleted LREEs [(La/Sm)N=0.62–1.03]. However, few samples in the MORB group show enrichment in LREE [(La/Sm)N=2.83–2.95] which is the typical composition of P-MORB. Alkaline OIB-types are characterized by high concentration of TiO2 (1.7–3.5wt.%) with highly enriched LREE pattern as compared to their HREE [(La/Sm)N=2.27–3.44, (Sm/Yb)N=2.56–3.29]. Such geochemical variation implies more than two sources. Possibly, one for OIBs (enriched mantle) and several ones for MORBs; from depleted MORB mantle (DMM) source to significantly enriched DMM source by OIB-type components. Petrogenetic modeling suggests that 20% partial melting of depleted mantle within spinel stability facies zone (shallow depth) is responsible for generation of MORB tholeiites and 5–10% partial melting of enriched mantle or plume material at garnet facies stability zone (deeper depth) is responsible for production of alkaline OIB-type. Geochemical signatures of variably enriched MORB and P-MORB samples further suggest possible scenario of mixing of depleted N-MORB and enriched OIB melt. It is therefore likely that mafic volcanics of the MOC were derived from chemically heterogeneous mantle sources erupted at the sea floor spreading zone as MORB generated by partial melting of depleted upper mantle and as OIB generated by partial melting of enriched mantle or a plume source, which was proximal to the spreading axis. Later, due to prolonged subduction of the Indian plate beneath the Myanmar plate and afterward collisional activity, they might have accreted along the Indo-Myanmar Orogenic Belt as upthrust ocean crust.

Melilite-derived mineral inclusions in chromite from the Gaositai complex: Implications for an extensional tectonic setting in Early Permian at the north North China Craton

The Early Permian mafic-ultramafic concentrically zoned Gaositai intrusion at Chengde, on the northern margin of the North China Craton (NCC), is a cumulative complex emplaced along a giant fracture that penetrates deeply into the continental lithosphere. Melt inclusions are present in chromite crystals from the inner dunite and chromitite zones of the Gaositai complex. The melt inclusions have experienced post-trap crystallization and resulted in multiple mineral phases, including melilite, garnet, phlogopite, magnesite and apatite, which can indicate the liquidus minerals of the primitive magma. The characteristics of the melilite+melanite+clinopyxene assemblage indicate that the primary parental magma was highly undersaturated and derived from an alkali-rich mantle source. The crystallization of phlogopite, magnesite and apatite suggests a primary magma rich in K, H2O and CO2. When compared with experimental data, the primary magma of the Gaositai intrusion is concordant with a kamafugite magma originating from partial melting of enriched mantle with H2O and CO2 at pressures greater than 2.7 GPa. This magmatic process would have been related to extensional thinning of the continental lithosphere. The Gaositai primary magmas have high Nb/La ratios, which are similar to those of ocean island basalts, but different from arc-related magmas. This suggests that the northern margin of the NCC was not an active continental margin of the Paleo-Asian Ocean subduction zone during the Early Permian: an extensional tectonic setting during the emplacement of the Gaositai intrusion is more likely.

PGE geochemistry of the Fengshan porphyry–skarn Cu–Mo deposit, Hubei Province, Eastern China

The Fengshan Cu–Mo deposit is located in the western part of the Jiurui Cu–Au–Mo district in the Late Mesozoic Middle–Lower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt (YRMB), Eastern China. The mineralization is spatially associated with the Fengshan granodiorite porphyry stock (149–138Ma), where two types of ore bodies (porphyry, skarn) occur. The Fengshan deposit is located on the Yangtze Craton, i.e., in an intracontinental extensional environment, a geological setting not considered by previous studies of PGE abundance and distribution in porphyry systems. For the present investigation the PGE geochemistry of fourteen samples of the granodiorite, ore and flotation concentrates were determined by ICP-MS, after preconcentration by the Lead Fire Assay technique from large (30g) samples. A maximum of 32ppb Pd and 81.2ppb Pt is reported for the molybdenum flotation concentrate. Cu, Au, Pt, Pd contents from flotation concentrate samples are almost 1 to 2 orders of magnitude higher than those reported for ore samples; this is especially true for the Pt content. Covariant diagrams of Cu and Mo with noble metals (Au, Ag, Pt and Pd) reveal weak correlation between Cu vs. Au, Ag, and Mo vs. Pt. Also, Au shows a slightly positive relationship with Pt and Pd.It is apparent that Pd and Pt contents of flotation concentrate from the Fengshan deposit are considerably lower than those reported for porphyry deposits in an island arc setting. However, Au and Ag appear to be elevated in the Fengshan deposit. The intrusion derived from an enriched mantle source, high oxygen fugacity (fO2), and liberation of mantle sulfates during partial melting, are the first steps for PGE enrichment in porphyry Cu deposits. However, the Fengshan granodiorite was most likely generated by partial melting of enriched mantle that was previously metasomatized by slab melts related to an ancient subduction system. Au, Pt, and Pd in potassic alteration zones and/or endocontact zones are transported as an aqueous chloride complex in high temperature, hypersaline fluid. In contrast, Au, Pt and Pd would be transported by bisulfide complex in low temperature, intermediate salinity fluid in phyllic alteration zones and/or exocontact marble. That is distinctly different from the porphyry Cu deposits in an island arc environment, where intrusion derived directly from slab melting and Pd and Pt are transported only as chloride complexes.

Origin of Cenozoic alkaline potassic volcanic rocks at KonglongXiang, Lhasa terrane, Tibetan Plateau: Products of partial melting of a mafic lower-crustal source?

Abstract It is generally believed that Cenozoic potassic and ultrapotassic volcanic rocks of the Tibetan Plateau were generated by partial melting of enriched mantle. This paper reports new data regarding the elemental and isotopic compositions of the KonglongXiang volcanic rocks (KVR; K2O/Na2O > 2 and low MgO contents) in the middle–western Lhasa terrane, Tibetan Plateau. Ar–Ar isotope dating of a sample from the KVR yields an age of 21.3 Ma, indicating that the KVR lavas erupted during the Early Miocene. The KVR consists mainly of trachyte and rhyolite. A comparison of the KVR with Cenozoic potassic volcanic rocks of the Tibetan Plateau and the results of melting experiments involving K-rich volcanic rocks, as well as other K-rich volcanic rocks from throughout the world, reveals that the KVR trachytes originated from a mafic lower crust containing K-rich minerals rather than from a mantle source. The KVR rhyolites were probably derived from the middle–upper crust. Based on age data, compositional data, and the regional tectonic setting, we propose that the formation of the KVR and associated N–S grabens was triggered by Early Miocene E–W regional extension in the area of the southern Tibetan Plateau.

U–Pb zircon ages, geochemical and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic constraints on the dating and origin of intrusive complexes in the Sulu orogen, eastern China

TPost-orogenic intrusive complexes from the Sulu belt of eastern China consist of pyroxene monzonites and dioritic porphyrites. We report new U–Pb zircon ages, geochemical data, and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic data for these rocks. Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry U–Pb zircon analyses yielded a weighted mean 206Pb/238U age of 127.4 ± 1.2 Ma for dioritic porphyrites, consistent with crystallization ages (126 Ma) of the associated pyroxene monzonites. The intrusive complexes are characterized by enrichment in light rare earth elements and large ion lithophile elements (i.e. Rb, Ba, Pb, and Th) and depletion in heavy rare earth elements and high field strength elements (i.e. Nb, Ta, P, and Ti), high (87Sr/86Sr)i ranging from 0.7083 to 0.7093, low ϵNd(t) values from ϵ14.6 to − 19.2, 206Pb/204Pb = 16.65–17.18, 207Pb/204Pb = 15.33–15.54, and 208Pb/204Pb = 36.83–38.29. Results suggest that these intermediate plutons were derived from different sources. The primary magma-derived pyroxene monzonites resulted from partial melting of enriched mantle hybridized by melts of foundered lower crustal eclogitic materials before magma generation. In contrast, the parental magma of the dioritic porphyrites was derived from partial melting of mafic lower crust beneath the Wulian region induced by the underplating of basaltic magmas. The intrusive complexes may have been generated by subsequent fractionation of clinopyroxene, potassium feldspar, plagioclase, biotite, hornblende, ilmenite, and rutile. Neither was affected by crustal contamination. Combined with previous studies, these findings provide evidence that a Neoproterozoic batholith lies beneath the Wulian region.

Petrogenesis of Cretaceous adakitic and shoshonitic igneous rocks in the Luzong area, Anhui Province (eastern China): Implications for geodynamics and Cu–Au mineralization

Both adakitic and shoshonitic igneous rocks in the Luzong area, Anhui Province, eastern China are associated with Cretaceous Cu–Au mineralization. The Shaxi quartz diorite porphyrites exhibit adakite-like geochemical features, such as light rare earth element (LREE) enrichment, heavy REE (HREE) depletion, high Al 2O 3, MgO, Sr, Sr / Y and La / Yb values, and low Y and Yb contents. They have low ε Nd( t) values (− 3.46 to − 6.28) and high ( 87Sr / 86Sr) i ratios (0.7051–0.7057). Sensitive High-Resolution Ion Microprobe (SHRIMP) zircon analyses indicate a crystallization age of 136 ± 3 Ma for the adakitic rocks. Most volcanic rocks and the majority of monzonites and syenites in the Luzong area are K-rich (or shoshonitic) and were also produced during the Cretaceous (140–125 Ma). They are enriched in LREE and large-ion lithophile elements, and depleted in Ti, and Nb and Ba and exhibit relatively lower ε Nd( t) values ranging from − 4.65 to − 7.03 and relatively higher ( 87Sr / 86Sr) i ratios varying between 0.7057 and 0.7062. The shoshonitic and adakitic rocks in the Luzong area have similar Pb isotopic compositions ( 206Pb / 204Pb = 17.90–18.83, 207Pb / 204Pb = 15.45–15.62 and 208Pb / 204Pb = 38.07–38.80). Geological data from the Luzong area suggest that the Cretaceous igneous rocks are distributed along NE fault zones (e.g., Tanlu and Yangtze River fault zones) in eastern China and were likely formed in an extensional setting within the Yangtze Block. The Shaxi adakitic rocks were probably derived by the partial melting of delaminated lower crust at pressures equivalent to crustal thickness of > 50 km (i.e., ∼1.5 GPa), possibly leaving rutile-bearing eclogitic residue. The shoshonitic magmas, in contrast, originated mainly from an enriched mantle metasomatized by subducted oceanic sediments. They underwent early high-pressure (> 1.5 GPa) fractional crystallization at the boundary between thickened (> 50 km) lower crust and lithospheric mantle and late low-pressure (< 1.5 GPa) fractional crystallization in the shallow (< 50 km) crust. The adakitic and shoshonitic rocks appear to be linked to an intra-continental extensional setting where partial melting of enriched mantle and delaminated lower crust was probably controlled by lithospheric thinning and upwelling of hot asthenosphere along NE fault zones (e.g., Tanlu and Yangtze River fault zones) in eastern China. Both the shoshonitic and adakitic magmas were fertile with respect to Cu–Au mineralization.

A rare earth element-rich carbonatite dyke at Bayan Obo, Inner Mongolia, North China

¶A carbonatite dyke, extremely enriched in rare earth elements (REE), is reported from Bayan Obo, Inner Mongolia, North China. The REE content in the dyke varies from 1 wt% to up to 20 wt%. The light REEs are enriched and highly fractionated relative to the heavy REEs, and there is no Eu anomaly. Although carbon isotope δ13C (PDB) values of the carbonatites (−7.3 to −4.7‰) are within the range of normal mantle (−5±2‰), oxygen isotope δ18O (SMOW) (11.9 to 17.7‰) ratios apparently are higher than those of the mantle (5.7±1.0‰), indicating varying degrees of exchange with hydrothermal fluids during or after magmatic crystallization. The carbonatite is the result of partial melting followed by fractional crystallization. Primary carbonatite melt was formed by less than 1% partial melting of enriched mantle, leaving a garnet-bearing residue. The melt then rose to a crustal magma chamber and underwent fractional crystallization, producing further REE enrichment. The REE and trace element distribution patterns of the carbonatites are similar to those of fine-grained dolomite marble, the ore-host rock of the Bayan Obo REE–Nb–Fe giant mineral deposit. This fact may indicate a petrogenetic link between the dykes described here and the Bayan Obo mineral deposit.

Potash-rich volcanic rocks and lamprophyres in western Shandong Province: 40Ar-39Ar dating and source tracing

Highly precise 40Ar-39Ar dating results demonstrate that the ages of potash-rich volcanic rocks in western Shandong Province are 114.7–124.3 Ma, and that of the lamprophyres is 119.6 Ma. The potash-rich volcanic rocks have relatively high (87Sr÷86Sr)i ratios (0.708715–0.711418) and distinctly negative end values (−11.47–−17.54), and are enriched in radiogenic lead (206Pb÷204Pb=17.341−17.622, 207Pb÷204Pb=15.525−15.538, 208Pb÷204Pb = 37.563−37.684). Similarly, the lamprophyres also have quite low end values (−11.57–−19.64). Based on the fact that the Sr, Nd and Pb isotopic compositions of potash-rich volcanic rocks are very consistent with that of the clinopyroxene separates, and by integrating comprehensive analyses of their tectonic settings, and extensive comparisons of the Sr, Nd isotopic compositions with that of the related simultaneous rocks, it is concluded that the potash-rich volcanic rocks and lamprophyres in western Shandong Province were most possibly derived from the partial melting of enriched mantle which was caused by source contamination and metasomatism of subducted continental crustal materials.