Pyroxene Amphibole Research Articles

Distribution of REE between amphibole and pyroxenes in the lithospheric mantle: An assessment from the lattice strain model

Abstract Amphibole and pyroxenes are the main reservoirs of rare earth elements (REEs) in lithospheric mantle that has been affected by hydrous metasomatism. In this study, we developed semi-empirical models for REE partitioning between orthopyroxene and amphibole and between clinopyroxene and amphibole. These models were formulated on the basis of parameterized lattice strain models of mineral–melt REE partitioning for orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, and amphibole, and they were calibrated using major element and REE data of amphibole and pyroxenes in natural mantle samples from intraplate setting. The mineral–melt REE partitioning models suggest that amphibole is not in equilibrium with coexisting pyroxenes in the mantle samples, and that the amphibole crystallized at a lower temperature than that of the pyroxenes. We estimated the apparent amphibole crystallization temperature using major element compositions of the amphibole and established temperature- and composition-dependent models that can be used to predict apparent pyroxene–amphibole REE partition coefficients for amphibole-bearing peridotite and pyroxenite from intraplate lithospheric mantle. Apparent pyroxene–amphibole REE partition coefficients predicted by the models can be used to infer REE contents of amphibole from REE contents of coexisting pyroxenes. This is especially useful when the grain size of amphibole is too small for trace element analysis.

TotBlocks: exploring the relationships between modular rock-forming minerals with 3D-printed interlocking brick modules

Abstract. Many rock-forming chain and sheet silicate minerals, i.e., pyroxenes, amphiboles, micas, and clay minerals, are built from shared chemical building blocks known as T-O-T modules. Each module consists of two opposing chains of vertex-sharing silica tetrahedra (T), which vertically sandwich a ribbon of edge-sharing metal–oxygen octahedra (O) in a T-O-T configuration. These minerals are both abundant and diverse in the lithosphere because T-O-T modules are chemically versatile (incorporating common crustal elements, e.g., O, Si, Al, Fe, and Mg) and structurally versatile (varying as a function of module width and linkage type) over a wide range of chemical and physical conditions. Therefore, these minerals lie at the center of understanding geological processes. However, their diversity leads to the minerals developing complex, 3D crystal structures, which are challenging to communicate. Ball-and-stick models and computer visualization software are the current methods for communicating the crystal structures of minerals, but both methods have limitations in communicating the relationships between these complex crystal structures. Here, we investigate the applications of 3D printing in communicating modular mineralogy and crystal structures. The open-source TotBlocks project consists of 3D-printed, T-O-T interlocking bricks, based on ideal polyhedral representations of T and O modules, which are linked by hexagonal pegs and slots. Using TotBlocks, we explore the relationships between modular minerals within the biopyribole (biotite–pyroxene–amphibole) and palysepiole (palygorskite–sepiolite) series. The bricks can also be deconstructed into T and O layer modules to build other mineral structures such as the brucite, kaolinite–serpentine, and chlorite groups. Then, we use the T-O-T modules within these minerals to visually investigate trends in their properties, e.g., habit, cleavage angles, and symmetry/polytypism. In conclusion, the TotBlocks project provides an accessible, interactive, and versatile way to communicate the crystal structures of common rock-forming minerals.

The Aksug Porphyry Cu–Mo Ore-Magmatic System (Northeastern Tuva): Sources and Formation of Ore-Bearing Magma

Abstract ––Two stages are recognized in the evolution of the Aksug ore-magmatic system (OMS): (1) formation of the Aksug granitoid pluton and (2) emplacement of small ore-bearing intrusions. Intrusive bodies of the two stages are composed of rocks of the same type and bear copper mineralization: poor dispersed and large-scale veinlet-disseminated, respectively. The pluton and small intrusions are formed by gabbroid and granitoid rocks, with similar petrogeochemical characteristics of igneous rocks of the same type. The plutonic gabbroic association includes gabbro, gabbrodiorites, and pyroxene–amphibole diorites/quartz diorites. The small subvolcanic gabbroic intrusions are gabbrodiorite and diorite porphyrites. The trace element patterns of the gabbroids are similar to those of igneous rocks in subduction zones. The gabbroids are characterized by isotope parameters εNd(500) = +6.1 to +7.2 and (87Sr/86Sr)500 = 0.7022–0.7030 and model age TNd(DM) = 0.85–0.74 Ga. As follows from the geochemical parameters, the depleted mantle metasomatized by subduction fluids was the source of basaltic magma. The plutonic granitoid association includes tonalites, plagiogranites, and amphibole diorites/quartz diorites; the small subvolcanic granitoid intrusions are tonalite porphyry and quartz diorite porphyrites. The trace element patterns and Nd and Sr isotope compositions of the granitoids are much similar to those of the gabbroids. According to the geochemical parameters, tonalitic and plagiogranitic magmas formed through the melting of juvenile mafic crust, and dioritic magma resulted from the mixing of basaltic and tonalitic/plagiogranitic magmas. In the course of the OMS formation, metals and volatiles were introduced by basaltic and granitoid magmas from the metasomatized mantle and juvenile mafic crust. The compression setting during the pluton formation hampered the separation of ore-bearing fluids, which led to poor dispersed mineralization. The extension setting during the emplacement of small intrusions favored the intense separation of ore-bearing fluids. The interaction of magma and fluids of the small intrusions with rocks of the pluton was accompanied by the removal of metals from the latter and their involvement in the ore-forming process. This increased the ore potential of the magmatic system and favored the formation of rich mineralization at the final stage of its evolution.

The early Paleozoic cumulate gabbroic rocks from the southwest part of the Tisza Mega-Unit (Mt. Papuk, NE Croatia): evidence of a Gondwana suture zone

The Mt. Papuk heteroadcumulate pyroxene–amphibole gabbronorites, which outcrops at the southern margin of the Tisza Mega-Unit, is suggested to stem from the deep oceanic crust formed by the in situ crystallisation in a supposed magma chamber. Amphibole oikocrystals are found to define a poikilitic texture of analysed rocks. A common enclosure in amphibole is the cumulus orthopyroxene, and rarely, the clinopyroxene and/or plagioclase and spinel. The chemical composition of related minerals and their crystallisation sequence suggest the sub-solidus crystallisation of gabbronorite in an open system at high temperatures and medium pressures. Parental magmas originated from the moderately depleted mantle source, which was metasomatised prior to melting. Early mineral fractionation gave rise to the assemblage consisted of spinel, pyroxene, plagioclase and intercumulus amphibole. The rocks’ bulk chemistry, mineral crystallisation sequence, pyroxene geochemistry and myriad of high Ca-plagioclase, which coexists with igneous Ca-amphibole are all in favour of the strong subduction influence typical for mafic intrusion formed above mantle wedge in the root of an island arc at depths of 10–21 km. Herein presented geochemical and isotopic data (40Ar–39Ar: 487.1 ± 4.3 Ma and Sm–Nd: 505 Ma) go along with the existence of an intra-oceanic arc related to geodynamic events that took place in the Prototethyan oceanic realm s.l. during middle Cambrian to earliest Ordovician. These events were likely correlated with the subduction of the Quaidam(?) back-arc ocean, or alternatively, with the subduction and closure of Prototethyan branches located between microcontinental fragments of Asia. Initially, the closure of back-arc oceans led to crust fragmentation and, then, addition of non-metamorphosed mafites into the obducted sequence further from the active continental margins of Gondwana and Laurassia at the time of the formation of Pangea in the late Palaeozoic.

Geochemistry of an Alaskan-type mafic-ultramafic complex in Eastern Desert, Egypt: New insights and constraints on the Neoproterozoic island arc magmatism

Mikbi intrusion (MI) is a part of the Neoproterozoic Nubian Shield located along the NE–SW trending major fracture zones prevailing southern Eastern Desert of Egypt. In this study, we present for the first time detailed mineralogical and bulk-rock geochemical data to infer some constraints on the parental magma genesis and to understand the tectonic processes contributed to MI formation. Lithologically, it is composed of fresh peridotite, clinopyroxenite, hornblendite, anorthosite, gabbronorite, pyroxene amphibole gabbro, amphibole gabbro and diorite. All rocks have low Th/La ratios (mostly <0.2) and lack positive Zr and Th anomalies excluding significant crustal contamination. They show very low concentrations of Nb, Ta, Zr and Hf together with sub-chondritic ratios of Nb/Ta (2–15) and Zr/Hf (19–35), suggesting that their mantle source was depleted by earlier melting extraction event. The oxygen fugacity (logƒO2) estimated from diorite biotite is around the nickel-nickel oxide buffer (NNO) indicating crystallization from a relatively oxidized magma. Amphiboles in the studied mafic-ultramafic rocks indicate relative oxygen fugacity (i.e. ΔNNO; nickel-nickel oxide) of 0.28–3 and were in equilibrium mostly with 3.77–8.24 wt.% H2Omelt (i.e. water content in the melt), consistent with the typical values of subduction-related magmas. Moreover, pressure estimates (0.53–6.79 kbar) indicate polybaric crystallization and suggest that the magma chamber(s) was located at relatively shallow crustal levels. The enrichment in LILE (e.g., Cs, Ba, K and Sr) and the depletion in HFSE (e.g., Th and Nb) relative to primitive mantle are consistent with island arc signature. The olivine, pyroxene and amphibole compositions also reflect arc affinity. These inferences suggest that their primary magma was derived from partial melting of a mantle source that formerly metasomatized in a subduction zone setting. Clinopyroxene and bulk-rock data are consistent with orogenic tholeiitic affinity. Consequently, the mineral and bulk-rock chemistry strongly indicate crystallization from hydrous tholeiitic magma. Moreover, their trace element patterns are subparallel indicating that the various rock types possibly result from differentiation of the same primary magma. These petrological, mineralogical and geochemical characteristics show that the MI is a typical Alaskan-type complex.

G. Groppelli and L. Viereck-Goette (eds.): Stratigraphy and geology of volcanic areas. The Geological Society of America Special Paper, 2010, 464 pages, ISBN 978-0-8137-2464-5 (pbk)

This 291-page long volume consists of a collection of 14 articles that are an outcome of a scientific session “devoted to the methodology in field mapping of volcanic areas” held at the 32nd International Geological Congress (IGC Florence, 2004). It also includes an accompanying CD-ROM not available to the reviewer. Field-work based “hard-rock geologists” mapping in volcanic areas are invariably faced with the problem of choosing how to establish map units and their contacts and then display them. In the early 1970s of the last century, when I was a young geologist myself, enrolled in mineral exploration and geological mapping in the Neogene volcanic areas in the East Carpathians (Romania), the major issue was to establish effective rock map divisions in a petrographically quite monotonous volcanic field, so that amphibole–pyroxene andesites were distinguished from pyroxene–amphibole andesites, and hypersthene-dominant andesites from augitedominant ones within the larger class of pyroxene andesites. Moreover, rocks containing opacitized and/or resorbed amphiboles were further distinguished, and the presence of accessory quartz crystals was a sufficient feature to map “quartz andesites”, even though the quartz was xenocrystic in origin. Textural criteria (e.g., separating “aphanitic” rocks from the “normal” porphyritic ones) completed the scheme. As whole-rock chemical analyses became accessible, petrochemical criteria were introduced to supplement the petrographical ones. The resulting maps, looking like mosaics of variously colored patches representing “petrotypes” of volcanic rocks, were frustratingly irrelevant from a volcanological point of view; volcanic structures and edifices were hardly seen in such maps. Later, in the 1980s, we introduced genetic criteria among the mapping tools, so that belonging to a certain volcanic structure and the genetic type of the volcanic products were both considered higher-order map entities than those based on precise petrographic features of the mappable rock units. The maps became more volcanologically relevant. Interestingly, the possible Cover used with permission; © 2010 Geological Society of America.

Petrogenesis of the Sabongari alkaline complex, cameroon line (central Africa): Preliminary petrological and geochemical constraints

The petrography, mineral chemistry and geochemical features of the Sabongari alkaline complex are presented and discussed in this paper with the aim of constraining its petrogenesis and comparing it with other alkaline complexes of the Cameroon Line. The complex is mainly made up of felsic rocks: (i) granites predominate and include pyroxene–amphibole (the most abundant), amphibole–biotite, biotite and pyroxene types; (ii) syenites are subordinate and comprise amphibole–pyroxene and amphibole–biotite quartz syenites; (iii) pyroxene–amphibole–biotite trachyte and (iv) relatively abundant rhyolite. The minor basic and intermediate terms associated with felsic rocks consist of basanites, microdiorite and monzodioites. Two groups of pyroxene bearing rocks are distinguished: a basanite–trachyte–granite (Group 1) bimodal series (SiO2 gap: 44 and 63wt.%) and a basanite–microdiorite–monzodiorite–syenite–granite (Group 2) less pronounced bimodal series (reduced SiO2 gap: 56–67wt.%). Both are metaluminous to peralkaline whereas felsic rocks bare of pyroxene (Group 3) are metaluminous to peraluminous. The Group 1 basanite is SiO2-undersaturated (modal analcite in the groundmass and 11.04wt.% normative nepheline); its Ni (240ppm) and Cr (450ppm) contents, near mantle values, indicate its most primitive character. The Group 2 basanite is rather slightly SiO2-saturated (1.56wt.% normative hypersthene), a marker of its high crustal contamination (low Nb/Y-high Rb/Y). The La/Yb and Gd/Yb values of both basanites (1: 19.47 and 2.92; 2: 9.09 and 2.23) suggest their common parental magma composition, and their crystallization through two episodes of partial melting (2% and 3% respectively) of a lherzolite mantle source with <4% residual garnet. The effects of crustal contamination were selectively felt in the values of HFSE/LREE, LREE/LILE and LREE/HFSE ratios, known as indicators. Similar features have been recently obtained in the felsic lavas of the Cameroon Volcanic Line.

Geological characteristics and metallogenesis of the shilu Fe-ore deposit in Hainan Province, South China

The Shilu Fe-ore deposit, a large-scale hematite-rich ore deposit in Hainan Province, South China, contains proven reserves of over 460Mt Fe-ore at 51% FeO, 4.07Mt Co-ore at 0.29% and 6.65Mt Cu-ore at 1.18%. The deposit is largely hosted within the Meso- to Neoproterozoic (ca. 0.85–1.30Ga) Shilu Group, a suite of metamorphosed neritic siliciclastic rocks and sedimentary carbonates, in which original sedimentary textures and structures are elegantly preserved. The Shilu Group, which hosts banded iron formations (BIFs), locally called amphibolitic itabirites, comprises six lithostratigraphic sequences. Fe-rich ores mainly reside in pyroxene–amphibole rocks of the middle sixth sequence, whereas the Co–Cu ores are located about 30–60m below the Fe-ore horizons and are primarily hosted by banded or impure dolostones of the lower sixth sequence. These ores are present mainly as lens-like or sheet-like bodies trending along troughs and/or transitional zones from limbs to troughs of the NW–SE trending synclinorium, and generally show banded or massive structures with lepidoblastic, cryptocrystalline or microcrystalline textures. Occasional oolitic and blastopsammitic textures are present, indicating an original sedimentary source for the Shilu Fe-polymetallic ores. At least two stages of deformation and associated metamorphism can be recognized. D1 deformation corresponds to a NW–SE trending synclinorium with associated regional greenschist facies metamorphism. D2 deformation records an early NW–SE orientated contraction (D2a), followed by doming with apparent skarnization (D2b) and finally transitional to a nearly E–W orientated extension (D2c), resulting in various amounts of folding, faulting and mineral recrystallization.Radiogenic isotopic analyses conducted on ores and host rocks record three metamorphic ages, including two Sm–Nd isochron ages of 830±16Ma and 212.9±6.6Ma, and a 40Ar–39Ar plateau age of 132.08±1.57Ma corresponding to D1, D2b, and D2c, respectively. Combined with previous U–Pb SHRIMP ages from ca. 960Ma to ca. 1300Ma and isotopic geochemical data (Xu et al., 2009), as well as other regional metamorphic events, an updated four-stage metallogenic model is proposed here: (1) deposition of the BIF-type ore source horizons between ca. 830 and 960Ma, (2) formation of a metamorphic sedimentary-type ore deposit from ca. 830–360Ma, (3) refinement of the deposit due to D2 deformation between ca. 250 and 210Ma and (4) superposed mineralizing stage formed by magma-related hydrothermal fluids between ca. 130 and 90Ma. The Shilu Fe-ore deposit can thus be better regarded as a structurally and hydrothermally reworked and re-enriched BIF-type ore deposit.

Behavior of trace elements in the contact zones of agpaitic intrusions of the Kola region: The role of fluids

The contact zones of large intrusions are objects ofspecial interest to researchers, because the boundariesbetween materials with strongly different compositionand physical properties demonstrate a processes, thestudy of which allows us to reveal the mechanisms ofmetasomatic transformations of rocks, first of all,peculiarities of redistribution of major and trace elements. The study of the contact influence of alkalinemagmas, the geochemical specifics of which is controlled by high concentrations of incoherent elements,is of special importance, because thick fenite zoneswith unique mineralization with sizes comparable withthose of massifs are formed at the contacts of alkalineintrusions. Currently fenitization zones of alkaline–ultrabasic massifs with carbonatites are the mainobjects of investigations [1–5]; geochemical study offenitization zones of large agpaitic intrusions withrelated industrial mineralization in fact was not performed.Our study was aimed at determination of the character of trace element distribution, the composition offluids, and estimation of their influence on elementmigration during metasomatism of Precambriangneiss in the contact zone between the Khibiny andLovozero massifs, the largest alkaline intrusions of theKola province. Northern contacts of agpaitic syenitewith Archean gneiss were the objects of investigation.The contact between nepheline syenite of theperipheral part of the massif (khibinite) and Archeangranite gneiss of the basement represented by pyroxene–amphibole and biotite varieties was revealed inthe Northern Lyavuchorr area of the Khibiny Massif,in the section with a length of 1.2 km. The thickness ofthe fenitization zone does not exceed 10 m. Nearcontact gneiss contains veins of finegrained alkalinesyenite (“umptekite”) with a thickness of 1–10 mobserved at a distance of 0.5 km from the contact. Theendocontact zone with a thickness of 20–50 m is represented by pegmatoid nepheline syenite with largesegregations of K–Na feldspar, clinopyroxene,nepheline, and eudialyte.The endocontact zone of the northeastern part ofthe Lovozero Massif (Vavnbed Mountain) is composed of massive nepheline syenite being graduallyreplaced by aegirine–amphibole–nepheline–Kfeldspar pegmatoid with large sc hlierenlike eudialyte segregations towards the contact. Transformations ofbasement rocks are mostly controlled by the influenceof aegirine–microcline–albite veins with zircon andilmenite mineralization on them. Gneiss alterationswere revealed in replacement of the initial mineralparagenesis by newly formed potassic feldspar, albite,nepheline, aegirine, arfvedsonite, and others.

Geochemistry, mineralogy and genesis of the Ayazmant Fe–Cu skarn deposit in Ayvalik, (Balikesir), Turkey

The Ayazmant Fe–Cu skarn deposit is located approximately 20 km SE of Ayvalık or 140 km N of Izmir in western Turkey. The skarn occurs at the contact between metapelites and the metabasites of the Early Triassic Kınık Formation and the porphyritic hypabyssal intrusive rocks of the Late Oligocene Kozak Intrusive Complex. The major, trace, and rare earth-element geochemical analysis of the igneous rocks indicate that they are I-type, subalkaline, calc-alkaline, metaluminous, I-type products of a high-level magma chamber, generated in a continental arc setting. The 40Ar– 39Ar isochron age obtained from biotite of hornfels is 20.3 ± 0.1 Ma, probably reflecting the age of metamorphic–bimetasomatic alteration which commenced shortly after intrusion into impure carbonates. Three stages of skarn formation and ore development are recognized: (1) Early skarn stage (Stage I) consisting mainly of garnet with grossular-rich (Gr 75–79) cores and andradite-rich (Gr 36–38) rims, diopside (Di 94–97), scapolite and magnetite; (2) sulfide-rich skarn (Stage II), dominated by chalcopyrite with magnetite, andraditic garnet (Ad 84– 89), diopside (Di 65– 75) and actinolite; and (3) retrograde alteration (Stage III) dominated by actinolite, epidote, orthoclase, phlogopite and chlorite in which sulfides are the main ore phases. 40Ar– 39Ar age data indicate that potassic alteration, synchronous or postdating magnetite–pyroxene–amphibole skarn, occurred at 20.0 ± 0.1 Ma. The high pyroxene/garnet ratio, plus the presence of scapolite in calc-silicate and associated ore paragenesis characterized by magnetite (± hematite), chalcopyrite and bornite, suggests that the bulk of the Ayazmant skarns were formed under oxidized conditions. Oxygen isotope compositions of pyroxene, magnetite and garnet of prograde skarn alteration indicate a magmatic fluid with δ 18O values between 5.4 and 9.5‰. On the basis of oxygen isotope data from mineral pairs, the early stage of prograde skarn formation is characterized by pyroxene (Di 94–97)-magnetite assemblage formed at an upper temperature limit of 576 °C. The lower temperature limit for magnetite precipitation is estimated below 300 °C, on the basis of magnetite–calcite pairs either as fracture-fillings or massive ore in recrystallized limestone-marble. The sulfide assemblage is dominated by chalcopyrite with subordinate molybdenite, pyrite, cubanite, bornite, pyrrhotite, galena, sphalerite and idaite. Gold–copper mineralization formed adjacent to andradite-dominated skarn which occurs in close proximity to the intrusion contacts. Native gold and electrum are most abundant in sulfides, as fine-grained inclusions; grain size with varying from 5 to 20 µm. Sulfur isotope compositions obtained from pyrrhotite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite and galena form a narrow range between − 4.8 and 1.6‰, suggesting the sulfur was probably mantle-derived or leached from magmatic rocks. Geochemical data from Ayazmant shows that Cu is strongly associated with Au, Bi, Te, Se, Cd, Zn, Pb, Ni and Co. The Ayazmant mineralizing system possesses all the ingredients of a skarn system either cogenetic with, or formed prior to a porphyry Cu(Au–Mo) system. The results of this study indicate that the Aegean Region of Turkey has considerable exploration potential for both porphyry-related skarns and porphyry Cu and Au mineralization.

Geochemistry of the metamorphosed Ordovician Taconian Magmatic Arc, Bronson Hill anticlinorium, western New England

The Bronson Hill anticlinorium (BHA) in western New England is a north- to northeast-trending belt of gneiss domes containing a metamorphosed stratified sequence of Ordovician, Silurian, and Devonian sedimentary and volcanic rocks. These overlie mostly late Ordovician intrusive igneous rocks. The intrusive rocks, exposed in the dome centers, are dominated by felsic gneisses of tonalitic to granitic compositions. They are the exposed parts of a composite batholith that developed along the axis of the Taconian volcanic arc. The Fourmile Gneiss of the Pelham dome, and the Monson Gneiss of the Monson dome, covered in most detail here, are calc-alkaline, dominantly tonalitic to granodioritic gneisses having 61–78% SiO 2. These are divided into two geochemical groups. The most abundant rocks have low Sr (∼50–200 ppm), high Y (∼10–50 ppm), low Al 2O 3, high FeO t, commonly negative Eu anomalies, and have flat to somewhat concave upward MREE and HREE patterns. These rocks were probably derived from melting of plagioclase–pyroxene–amphibole granulites in the deep crust. Rocks of the subordinate high-Sr group are similar in composition to adakites and have high Sr (∼300–600 ppm), low Y (∼1–13 ppm), higher Al 2O 3, lower FeO t, commonly no Eu anomalies, and are strongly depleted in HREE. These rocks were probably derived from a pyroxene–amphibole–garnet ± plagioclase source at higher pressure. Amphibolites are low in abundance in the Fourmile and Monson Gneisses. Most are a low-Nb type (<6 ppm Nb), compositionally similar to typical calc-alkaline island arc basalts. These were probably derived by melting of spinel lherzolite in the mantle wedge under the arc. Gabbroic anorthosite and ultramafic rocks also occur in the Monson dome and appear to be cumulates from magmas similar to the low-Nb amphibolites. A high-Nb (6–12 ppm) amphibolite group was identified and is unique to the Monson Gneiss. These rocks are transitional between calc-alkaline and alkaline basalts, are strongly LREE-enriched (La is 46–440 times chondrite), are enriched in strongly incompatible elements, and two of seven samples have normative nepheline. A broader survey of available analytical data from BHA felsic gneisses shows that gneiss compositions vary from dominantly tonalitic and granodioritic in the southern BHA to dominantly granitic from the Croydon and Mascoma domes (west-central New Hampshire) northward. This variation suggests that the southern part of the arc exposed in the BHA was based on mafic crust, whereas the northern part was based on intermediate to felsic crust. Examination of radiometric dates of Taconian igneous rocks, and biostratigraphic constraints in the Taconic allochthons and in the Taconian foreland, are consistent with a model in which the BHA gneisses are the youngest igneous components of the Taconian arc proper. Collision of this composite arc with Laurentia reached a conclusion in the latest Caradoc or Ashgill of the late Ordovician or in the very earliest Silurian. Younger plutons continuing into the Silurian (e.g., Highlandcroft in part) may be related to magmas generated during post-collision delamination or detachment of the subducted Iapetus oceanic slab.

Chemistry and petrological evolution of the Lastarria volcanic complex in the north Chilean Andes

AbstractThe Lastarria volcanic complex, along the northern Chile–Argentina border, includes three morphostructural components: Southern Spur, Lastarria (the highest cone, 5697 m) and Negriales (a geographically associated lava field, 5.4 km3). Petrographically, the Lastarria complex consists of pyroxene andesites and pyroxene–amphibole dacites. The whole-rock geochemistry shows a bimodial silica variation between 57 and 68%, with peaks at 59–60% and 61.62% SiO2. Petrographie and chemical data indicate different magmatic sources for Lastarria and Negriales. Whole-rock geochemistry can be explained by crustal contamination and crystal–liquid fractionation, with differences in storage times in magma chambers being a major controlling factor. Strong textural, mineralogical and chemical evidence for magma mixing, shortly before explosive eruptions at Lastarria, suggests that this process may have triggered the violent eruptive volcanic activity which characterizes the latest stages of the main cone. Abundant bombs of banded clear pumice and dark scoria in pyroclastic flow deposits are the texturally heterogeneous products resulting from incomplete mixing homogenization.