Syenite Complex Research Articles

The Tommot pluton: a Middle Paleozoic rift-related alkaline gabbro and syenite complex, Yakutia, northeast Russia

Abstract. The Tommot pluton is located within the continental Omulevka terrane of the inner zone of the Verkhoyansk-Kolyma Mesozoic orogen. It is a small complex (~12 km2) composed of alkaline-ultramafic rocks, alkaline and subalkaline gabbroids, and alkaline and quartz syenites. The pluton is unique both in the composition and age of its constituent rocks. Mineralogical-petrographical and geochemical studies of the rocks indicate that the alkaline rocks resulted from the melting of depleted mantle horizons. K-Ar, Rb-Sr, and 40Ar/39Ar age determinations confirm a Paleozoic age of the rocks. Formation of the alkaline rocks is related to Middle Paleozoic rifting which occurred as two discrete events: a Late Devonian event, which affected the marginal part of the Siberian continent, and a Late Carboniferous event that reflects internal deformation of the Omulevka terrane or late-stage extension. A spatially associated alkali granite, the Somnitel'nyy pluton, is Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous in age and is synchronous with accretion of the Kolyma-Omolon Superterrane to Siberia in the Mesozoic.

Diffusively disseminated hydrogen-hydrocarbon gases in rocks of nepheline syenite complexes

The composition and concentrations of gases disseminated in rocks (and moving through them mainly via diffusion) and characteristics of their release from these rocks were studied in the Khibina and Lovozero massifs in the Kola Peninsula. Similar to fluid inclusions occluded in vacuoles in minerals and unlike local “jet” gas exhalations, diffusively disseminated gases (DDG) ubiquitously occur in the massifs in variable concentrations. Along with predominant methane and hydrogen, subordinate amounts of methane homologues, and helium, DDG most commonly contain carbon dioxide (in higher concentrations than gases in other modes of their occurrence). One of the most important factors controlling the spontaneous release character of diffusively disseminated gases and their proportions of individual components is the geomechanical state of the rocks. It is proved that the distributions of all modes of gas occurrence in the rocks are generally not interrelated, and hence, it is senseless to utilize the contents of occluded and forcibly extracted gases to predict hazardous gas emissions in mines during the development of mineral deposits related to nepheline syenite complexes.

142Nd evidence for an enriched Hadean reservoir in cratonic roots

The isotope (146)Sm undergoes alpha-decay to (142)Nd, with a half-life of 103 million years. Measurable variations in the (142)Nd/(144)Nd values of rocks resulting from Sm-Nd fractionation could therefore only have been produced within about 400 million years of the Solar System's formation (that is, when (146)Sm was extant). The (142)Nd/(144)Nd compositions of terrestrial rocks are accordingly a sensitive monitor of the main silicate differentiation events that took place in the early Earth. High (142)Nd/(144)Nd values measured in some Archaean rocks from Greenland hint at the existence of an early incompatible-element-depleted mantle. Here we present measurements of low (142)Nd/(144)Nd values in 1.48-gigayear-(Gyr)-old lithospheric mantle-derived alkaline rocks from the Khariar nepheline syenite complex in southeastern India. These data suggest that a reservoir that was relatively enriched in incompatible elements formed at least 4.2 Gyr ago and traces of its isotopic signature persisted within the lithospheric root of the Bastar craton until at least 1.48 Gyr ago. These low (142)Nd/(144)Nd compositions may represent a diluted signature of a Hadean (4 to 4.57 Gyr ago) enriched reservoir that is characterized by even lower values. That no evidence of the early depleted mantle has been observed in rocks younger than 3.6 Gyr (refs 3, 4, 7) implies that such domains had effectively mixed back into the convecting mantle by then. In contrast, some early enriched components apparently escaped this fate. Thus, the mantle sampled by magmatism since 3.6 Gyr ago may be biased towards a depleted composition that would be balanced by relatively more enriched reservoirs that are 'hidden' in Hadean crust, the D'' layer of the lowermost mantle or, as we propose here, also within the roots of old cratons.

New massif of Archean alkaline syenites in the Murmansk domain of the Kola peninsula

Alkaline magmatism typical of a mature continental crust is among the most important geodynamic markers in the Early Precambrian. The Late Archean alkaline rocks represented by alkali granites, alkali gabbros, syenites, nepheline syenites, and carbonatites are known at the ancient shields [1]. In the Kola Peninsula, such magmatism (with an age of 2.75‐2.61 Ga) in the form of alkali granite and alkali gabbro‐nepheline syenite complexes occurs in the Archean Keivy and Ingozero structures [2, 3]. No Precambrian alkaline complexes have been found yet in the Archean Murmansk domain of the Kola peninsula. The Late Archean Iokan’gskii intrusive complex of porphyritic lepidomelane‐ferrohstingsite granites was previously ascribed by Batieva [2] to the alkali granite complex. However, later studies [4] showed that it belongs to the complex of ancient rapakivilike granites of normal alkalinity. During recent studies of the granitoids from the Barents Sea shore of the Kola Peninsula in the area of Gremikha settlement and Mt. Ostrovnaya, the small Late Archean alkaline massif called Panejavr Massif after an nearby lake was discovered and studied. The Panejavr Massif is located within the Iokan’gskii block of the Murmansk domain, and its position is controlled by the junction of two faults (Fig. 1). The massif is contained among Late Archean migmatite‐granites and metabasite dikes that fill the NE-trending faults. The Panejavr Massif is a complex stock having an autonomous internal structure discordant to the host rocks (Fig. 1) and consisting of two chemically and mineralogically contrasting intrusive phases.

U–Pb zircon age, geochemical and isotopic characteristics of carbonatite and syenite complexes from the Shaxiongdong, China

The Qinling is an important orogenic belt, which formed by the joining of the North China and South China blocks. The Shaxiongdong carbonatite–syenite complexes were emplaced at the southern margin of South Qinling and border the South China block. LA-ICPMS (Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry) zircon U–Pb geochronology constrains the syenite emplacement age to be 441.8 ± 2.2 Ma, which is significantly earlier than the collision of the South China block and South Qinling along the Mianlue suture (200–240 Ma) near where the complexes reside. Trace-element abundances and C–O–Sr–Nd–Pb isotopes for the carbonatites and calcite separates indicate an igneous origin. They and associated syenites show overlaps of initial 87Sr/ 86Sr ratios (0.7029–0.7033, 0.7030–0.7032) and ε Nd (2.8 to 4, 2.5 to 6 for syenites and carbonatites, respectively), which implies that the carbonatites may derive from a carbonated alkali silicate melt. However, the rocks are composed dominantly of calcite. They have markedly lower Th, Nb, Zr and P contents compared to average calciocarbonatites worldwide. Calcites from the carbonatites are also characterized by low REE contents and relatively flat REE patterns. This indicates that the carbonatites are calcite-rich cumulates, which were produced from a residual liquid derived from an intensively fractioned carbonatite magma. In addition, the syenites are characterized by negative Pb and no Nb anomalies. They show lower Sr isotopes and higher ε Nd than syn/post-orogen related granites emplaced in the Qinling. This indicates that the complexes formed in a rifting environment. It is noted that Sr and Nd isotopic compositions from the carbonatites and syenites are close to HIMU mantle source values. Variations in 207Pb/ 206Pb (0.785–0.842) and 208Pb/ 206Pb (1.954–2.110) ratios from the calcites best fit a model involving mixing HIMU and EM1 components. Therefore, plume activity may play an important role in the complex generation and tectonic evolution of the South China block. Geological support for this deduction is the presence of numbers of Silurian dyke swarms. We hypothesize that the upwelling plume metasomatizing the continental lithosphere resulted in the South Qinling separating from South China block along the Mianlue suture during the early Paleozoic period.

New data on the age of subalkaline magmatism at the eastern margin of the east European paleocontinent and estimation of the rate of longitudinal opening of the early Paleozoic rift

Subalkaline igneous rocks are widespread in the Main Ural Fault Zone as a chain of dikes and minor intrusions that crosscut the Ordovician sequences deposited at the eastern (Uralian) margin of the East European paleocontinent (Fig. 1). In the Polar Urals, the subalkaline rocks belong to the Paipudyn rhyolite complex, the Manitanyrd trachybasalt–trachyrhyolite complex, and the Pozhem rhyolite complex. In the Subpolar and northern Urals, they occur in the Bol’shepatoka and Malinovka trachyrhyolite complexes. The Verkhneserebryanka trachybasalt–trachyte complex, the Vaganovka gabbro–syenite complex, the Kordonokamenka alkali granite complex, and the Belokamenka syenite complex are recognized in the central Urals. Most of these complexes are still poorly characterized in terms of petrography, geochemistry, and reliable isotopic dating. The age of some complexes is based only on random K–Ar determinations of wholerock samples. These complexes are attributed to tectonomagmatic reactivation in the Ordovician, Carboniferous, and Triassic–Jurassic.

U–Pb geochronology of the Wolf River batholith, north-central Wisconsin: Evidence for successive magmatism between 1484 Ma and 1468 Ma

Single-grain zircon U–Pb age determinations were completed on individual phases of the Mesoproterozoic, anorogenic Wolf River batholith (WRB) of Wisconsin and the nearby Wausau syenite complex in order to (a) define the age more precisely and accurately, (b) determine whether there is a resolvable age difference within units of the WRB and (c) determine whether the Wausau syenite complex is coeval with any or all parts of the WRB. U–Pb results for many individual zircon grains from the WRB plot near concordia and yield ages ranging from 1468 ± 4 Ma to 1484 ± 2 Ma. Plutons of the northeastern lobe of the WRB (Peshtigo monzonite, Hager porphyry, Belongia granite, and High Falls granite) have a weighted average crystallization age of 1470.3 ± 1.2 Ma, which is younger than the main complex plutons (Wolf River granite, Wiborgite porphyry, Red River granite, and Waupaca granite), which yields a weighted average crystallization age of 1475.6 ± 1.7 Ma (excluding one sample of Wolf River granite from Hogarty which yields an age of 1484 ± 2 Ma). Two samples from the main complex also contain zircons with younger apparent ages of 1470–1471 Ma; these younger grains may reflect late stage alteration of some zircons coeval with emplacement of the northeastern lobe. The Wausau syenite and the Nine Mile granite of the nearby Wausau syenite complex (1522 Ma and 1506 Ma, respectively) are significantly older than the WRB and definitely not coeval or comagmatic. The syenite complex may be a precursor to the larger WRB magmatism. Sm–Nd T DM ages for most WRB samples indicate crust formation ages from 1.8 Ga to 1.9 Ga, compatible with formation of the magmas from late Paleoproterozoic (Penokean) crust. One unit, which locally intrudes Archean gneiss, has a small component of that older rock involved in its evolution. The two Wausau complex units have younger TDM ages and appear to have incorporated slightly greater amounts of juvenile constituents.

Petrogenesis of the Middle Devonian Gushan diorite pluton on the northern margin of the North China block and its tectonic implications

The Gushan diorite pluton, located at the northern margin of the North China block, was emplaced during Middle Devonian times (SHRIMP U–Pb zircon age of 390 ± 5 Ma). Rocks from the pluton are characterized by low SiO2 and high alkali contents, and they show monzodiorite compositions in a total alkali v. silica (TAS) plot. They exhibit light REE-enrichment, no to slightly positive Eu anomalies, strong depletion in Rb, Th, U, Nb, Ta, P, Zr, Hf and Ti, enrichment in Ba, K and Sr, low contents of Y and Yb, and high Sr/Y ratios. They have a relatively narrow range of isotopic compositions with initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios of ∼ 0.7050, εNd(T) values of −9.5 to −7.5 and zircon εHf(T) values from −11.8 to −5.8. These features are remarkably similar to another Middle Devonian intrusion, the Shuiquangou syenitic complex at the northern margin of the North China block. These similarities suggest that the two intrusions probably have a common origin. They were considered to be derived from a type I enriched mantle, ultimately with some involvement of ancient lower crustal components, and were likely emplaced in a back-arc extension environment related to southward subduction of the Palaeo-Asian oceanic plate or during the cessation of the subduction. Aluminium-in-hornblende barometry studies of the Middle Devonian Gushan pluton yielded emplacement depths of about 18 km. Combined with previous geobarometry results on the Carboniferous plutons within the Inner Mongolia Palaeo-uplift on the northern margin of the North China block, it is inferred that the uplift and exhumation of the plutons within the Inner Mongolia Palaeo-uplift during Middle Devonian to Late Carboniferous times were not as distinct as those during Late Carboniferous to Early Jurassic times, and the strong uplift and exhumation of the Inner Mongolia Palaeo-uplift were achieved during Late Carboniferous to Early Jurassic times.

Age of the Cabonga nepheline syenite, Grenville Province, western Quebec

This study presents isotope dilution – thermal ionization mass spectrometry (ID–TIMS) U–Pb data for megacrystic zircon from the Cabonga Nepheline Syenite Complex of the Réservoir Cabonga terrane (Grenville Province). This terrane is an allochthonous slab metamorphosed under granulite-grade conditions ~1.18–1.14 Ga and transported onto migmatites of the Grenvillian Parautochthon at about 1.02 Ga. The very low uranium and lead concentrations of zircon from the Cabonga nepheline syenite (CNS) did not permit determination of a statistically significant crystallization age using laser ablation microbeam techniques. Consequently, extensive microsampling (15 zircon chips), guided by X-ray and electronic imaging, followed by ID–TIMS analyses were carried out on a single megacrystic zircon. A regression of 13 out of 15 U–Pb isotopic analyses results in a crystallization age of 1171 ± 3 Ma for the CNS. Criteria based on zircon morphologies, zoning patterns, varying Th/U ratios (0.3–0.9), and a highly fractionated Zr/Hf ratio (68) suggest an igneous derivation for the CNS. The Cabonga alkaline rocks, intruded under high-grade metamorphic conditions, preceded the onset of the widespread and ubiquitous (1.15 ± 0.01 Ga) anorthosite–mangerite–charnockite–granite magmatism in the southern part of the Grenville Province.

Intrusion age, geochemistry and metamorphic conditions of a quartz-monzosyenite intrusion at the craton–Eastern Ghats Belt contact near Jojuru, India

The boundary between the Archean cratons and the Eastern Ghats Belt in peninsular India represents a rifted Mesoproterozoic continental margin which was overprinted by a Pan-African collisional event associated with the westward thrusting of the Eastern Ghats granulites over the cratonic foreland. The contact zone contains a number of deformed and metamorphosed nepheline syenite complexes of rift-related geochemical affinities. In addition to the nepheline-bearing rocks, metamorphosed quartz-bearing monzosyenitic bodies can also be identified along the suture in the region between the Godavari-Pranhita graben and the Prakasam Igneous Province. One such occurrence at Jojuru near Kondapalle is geochemically comparable to the nepheline syenites and furnishes a weighted mean concordant U–Th–Pb SHRIMP zircon age of 1263 ± 23 Ma (2 σ), which provides a lower age bracket for the rift-related magmatic activity. The original igneous mineral assemblage in the monzosyenite was partially replaced by the formation of coronitic garnet during the Pan-African metamorphism of the rocks. P– T estimates of garnet corona formation at the interface between clinopyroxene–orthopyroxene–ilmenite clusters and plagioclase indicate mid to upper amphibolite facies condition (5.5–7.0 kbar and 600–700 °C) during the thrust induced deformation and metamorphism associated with the Pan-African collisional tectonics.

A reassessment of models for hydrocarbon generation in the Khibiny nepheline syenite complex, Kola Peninsula, Russia

Although hydrocarbon-bearing fluids have been known from the alkaline igneous rocks of the Khibiny intrusion for many years, their origin remains enigmatic. A recently proposed model of post-magmatic hydrocarbon (HC) generation through Fischer-Tropsch (FT) type reactions suggests the hydration of Fe-bearing phases and release of H 2 which reacts with magmatically derived CO 2 to form CH 4 and higher HCs. However, new petrographic, microthermometric, laser Raman, bulk gas and isotope data are presented and discussed in the context of previously published work in order to reassess models of HC generation. The gas phase is dominated by CH 4 with only minor proportions of higher hydrocarbons. No remnants of the proposed primary CO 2-rich fluid are found in the complex. The majority of the fluid inclusions are of secondary nature and trapped in healed microfractures. This indicates a high fluid flux after magma crystallisation. Entrapment conditions for fluid inclusions are 450–550 °C at 2.8–4.5 kbar. These temperatures are too high for hydrocarbon gas generation through the FT reaction. Chemical analyses of rims of Fe-rich phases suggest that they are not the result of alteration but instead represent changes in magma composition during crystallisation. Furthermore, there is no clear relationship between the presence of Fe-rich minerals and the abundance of fluid inclusion planes (FIPs) as reported elsewhere. δ 13C values for methane range from − 22.4‰ to − 5.4‰, confirming a largely abiogenic origin for the gas. The presence of primary CH 4-dominated fluid inclusions and melt inclusions, which contain a methane-rich gas phase, indicates a magmatic origin of the HCs. An increase in methane content, together with a decrease in δ 13C isotope values towards the intrusion margin suggests that magmatically derived abiogenic hydrocarbons may have mixed with biogenic hydrocarbons derived from the surrounding country rocks.

Natural radionuclides in the rocks of the Valle del Cervo Pluton in Piedmont

Monitoring of the gamma radiation in Valle del Cervo Pluton was performed by determining U and Th contents in the main rock types cropping out over the entire area and pertaining to the granitic complex, syenitic complex and monzonitic complex. In particular, syenitic rocks were largely used as building and ornamental materials (e.g. Sienite della Balma). All the samples are fresh and do not present joints or fractures filled with U minerals. In the crushed samples the activity of uranium varies from 346 to 764 Bq/kg. Concentration of thorium varies from 202 to 478 Bq/kg. For all the analysed rocks uranium activity is higher than thorium one. The lowest value of radioactive concentration is referred to rocks of the granitic complex. The most active rocks are syenites. The data confirm the high activities of Valle del Cervo rock types, strongly connected with high K content of the source magma (geochemical signature); on the contrary, the activity seems to be not related to the location of the samples.

Hydrothermal alteration of chevkinite-(Ce) in the Shuiquangou syenitic intrusion, northern China

A rare-earth iron titanosilicate mineral closely associated with amphibole was found in two altered syenite samples from the Shuiquangou syenitic complex. Based on electron microprobe analyses, the mineral is chevkinite-(Ce). The mineral is altered and mantled by a corona of allanite–ilmenite–titanite–epidote–quartz. Mass balance calculations reveal that the former chevkinite was replaced directly by an allanite and ilmenite association (allanite–ilmenite zone) in the inner part of the corona texture. It appears that during the replacement, Si and Ti were immobile, whereas Al, Fe, Mn, Mg and Ca were externally supplied and a proportion of REE and Th were transferred out of the former chevkinite. The released REE and Th become incorporated in allanite and titanite in the allanite–ilmenite–titanite mantle where allanite contains higher Nd, Sm and Y but lower La and Ce than that in the allanite–ilmenite zone, suggesting that redistribution of these elements took place and the mobility of Nd, Sm and Y is enhanced during hydrothermal alteration.

Crustal Source for a Syenite Complex in the High-grade Eastern Ghats Belt, India: Sm-Nd Isotopic Evidence-Reply*

Crustal Source for a Syenite Complex in the High-grade Eastern Ghats Belt, India: Sm-Nd Isotopic Evidence-Reply*

Crustal Source for a Syenite Complex in the High-grade Eastern Ghats Belt, India: Sm-Nd Isotopic Evidence - Comment*

Crustal Source for a Syenite Complex in the High-grade Eastern Ghats Belt, India: Sm-Nd Isotopic Evidence - Comment*

Petrology and geochemistry of the Shuiquangou syenitic complex, northern margin of the North China Craton

The Palaeozoic Shuiquangou complex is a major syenitic intrusion along the northern margin of the North China Craton that hosts a number of gold deposits. Despite the heterogeneity of the complex in terms of texture and modal mineralogy, mineral compositions, whole-rock chemistry as well as radiogenic isotope compositions show a well-constrained magmatic evolutionary trend. The whole-rock major element and REE trends are broadly consistent with fractional crystallization dominated by clinopyroxene, amphibole and accessory minerals. Initial Nd–Sr isotopic compositions suggest that the parent magmas to the complex were ultimately derived from an enriched mantle with relatively high initial 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios and negative ϵ Nd values. The enrichment of the mantle source was probably inherited from an older lithospheric mantle beneath the North China Craton. Sr isotopic data indicate that the Rb–Sr system was disturbed by later alteration processes, whereas Nd isotopes are essentially unaffected and exhibit a broad trend consistent with simultaneous fractional crystallization and country-rock assimilation (AFC). Quantitative modelling indicates that a very high bulk distribution coefficient for Nd and low ratios of assimilation to crystallization are needed to produce the observed Nd isotope evolutionary trend.

Geology and U–Pb geochronology of the Kipawa Syenite Complex — a thrust related alkaline pluton — and adjacent rocks in the Grenville Province of western Quebec

The Kipawa Syenite Complex, a thin, folded sheet of amphibole syenite, quartz syenite and minor nepheline syenite, lies along a west-vergent thrust separating a lower slice comprising the Kikwissi granodiorite and biotite tonalite dated at 2717 +15–11 Ma, and unconformably overlying metasedimentary rocks from an overlying slice containing the Red Pine Chute orthogneiss, an alkali granite gneiss, and the Mattawa Quartzite. The syenite complex, dated at 1033 ± 3 Ma, lies within the lower slice but has metasomatically altered the overlying slice. Texturally guided U–Pb spot analyses on partially metasomatised zircons from the alkali granite gneiss yield a cluster of 207Pb/206Pb ages at 1389 ± 8 Ma, interpreted as the time of igneous crystallization and four ages overlapping the time of syenite emplacement, interpreted as in situ, metasomatic growth. The highest structural slice comprises garnet amphibolite separated from lower slices by the Allochthon Boundary Thrust. Metamorphic grade increases upward from greenschist grade in the biotite tonalite to amphibolite grade (690 °C, 9 kbar (1 kbar = 100 MPa)) at the lower boundary of the alkali granite. Emplacement of the Kipawa Syenite Complex took place after assembly of the thrust stack had begun and after emplacement of the allochthon or hot slab responsible for the inverted metamorphic gradient. Origin of the syenite is tentatively ascribed to anatexis of material metasomatized by flow of alkaline solutions along a major shear surface. Crystallization of new zircon in the margins of the syenite shows that metasomatism continued from ca. 1035 to 990 Ma, redistributing alkalies, fluorine, rare-earth elements and zirconium.

Pan-African Alkali Granitoids from the Sør Rondane Mountains, East Antarctica

Alkali granitoids (500-550 Ma) representing a prominent Pan-African magmatic event are widely distributed in the Sør Rondane Mountains, Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica. Geochemically, they are granitic to syenitic in composition and show an alkaline affinity of A-type granites. They are characterized by high K 2O+Na 2O (7-13 wt%) and K 2O/Na 2O (1-2), low to intermediate Mg#, wide ranges of SiO 2 (45-78 wt%), Sr (20-6500 ppm) and Ba (40-13000 ppm) and have Nb and Ti depletion in the primitive mantle normalized diagram. The granitoids are subdivided into Group I granites, Group II granites, Lunckeryggen Syenitic Complex and Mefjell Plutonic Complex. The Group I granites have higher Mg#, Sr/Ba, Sr/Y, (La/Yb) N and LREE/HREE, lower A/CNK, SREE and initial 87Sr/ 87Sr ratios and lack Eu anomalies compared to those with negative Eu anomalies in the Group II granites. The syenitic rocks from the Mefjell Plutonic Complex are higher in alkali, Ga, Zr, Ba, and have lower Mg#, Rb, Sr, Nb, Y, F and LREE/HREE with positive Eu anomaly, whereas the granites from the Mefjell Plutonic Complex have high LREE/HREE ratios with negative Eu anomaly. The Lunckeryggen syenitic rocks have intermediate Mg#, higher K 2O, P 2O 5, TiO 2, Fe 2O 3/FeO, Ba, Sr/Y and LREE/HREE ratios with lack of Eu anomalies and are lower in Al 2O 3, Ga, Y, Nb and Rb/Sr ratios. Based on chemical characteristics combined with isotopic data, we suggest that the Lunckeryggen syenitic body and Group I granitic bodies may be derived from the mantle-derived hot basic magma by fractional crystallization with minor assimilation. We also suggest that the Group II granites may be derived from assimilation with crustal rocks to varing degrees and then fractional crystallization in higher crustal levels (ACF model). The Mefjell Plutonic Complex seems to be derived from a heterogenetic magma source compared with other granitoids from the Sør Rondane Mountains. The syenitic rocks in the Mefjell Plutonic complex have a unique source (iron-enriched) and have a chemical affinity with the charnockites in Gjelsvikjella and western Mühlig-Hofmannfjella, but not like the Yamato syenites in adjacent areas.

Evolution of the North Qôroq centre nepheline syenites, South Greenland: alkali-mafic silicates and the role of metasomatism

AbstractThe North Qôroq centre comprises a series of concentric nepheline syenite intrusions and forms part of the Igaliko Nepheline Syenite Complex, in the rift-related Gardar Province of South Greenland. The North Qôroq syenites range from mildly undersaturated augite syenite to strongly peralkaline agpaitic nepheline syenite. Extensivein situfractional crystallization has been postulated for the chemical variation both within units and throughout the centre. Many of the rocks have been affected by metasomatic fluids associated with the emplacement of younger syenite units, and this complicates their interpretation. In this study, the trends and compositions exhibited by pyroxene and amphibole from North Qôroq are examined and related to either primary crystallization or metasomatic activity (e.g. controls offO2, peralkalinity). Implications thus drawn are used to interpret the chemical processes inherent in the chemical and fluid evolution of alkaline magmas, and, in particular, the transition from miaskitic to agpaitic magmatism. In general, the major phases of the North Qôroq syenites records the increasing evolution of the units by crystal fractionation, towards peralkaline compositions. The composition of olivine, in the least evolved syenites, also points to a relatively high state of fractionation of the parent magma, whilst pyroxene and amphibole record an overall decrease in Mg/Mg+Fe), and a general increase in Fe3+and alkali content, with increased fractionation. The increasing peralkalinity of the magma also governs the evolution of pyroxene and, to a lesser degree, amphibole towards higher Zr and Ti contents in the more Na-rich compositions. The trends for pyroxene from metasomatized syenite show similar patterns, but lower Fe2+enrichment, suggesting the source of the metasomatic fluids is similar to the evolving syenites. The presence of amphiboles in metasomatic rocks, and high F contents attest to the F-rich nature of the metasomatic fluids, which is in agreement with results previously reported for metasomatic fluorapatite.

Carbonatites and lamprophyres of the Gardar Province – a ‘window’ to the sub-Gardar mantle?

AbstractCarbonatite magmas are considered to be ultimately derived from mantle sources, which may include lithospheric and asthenospheric reservoirs. Isotopic studies of carbonatite magmatism around the globe have typically suggested that more than one source needs to be invoked for generation of the parental melts to carbonatites, often involving the interaction of asthenosphere and lithosphere.In the rift-related, Proterozoic Gardar Igneous Province of SW Greenland, carbonatite occurs as dykes within the Igaliko Nepheline Syenite Complex, as eruptive rocks and diatremes at Qassiarsuk, as a late plug associated with nepheline syenite at Grønnedal-Íka, and as small bodies associated with ultramafic lamprophyre dykes. The well-known cryolite deposit at Ivittuut was also rich in magmatic carbonate. The carbonatites are derived from the mantle with relatively little crustal contamination, and therefore should provide important information about the mantle sources of Gardar magmas. In particular, they are found intruded both into Archaean and Proterozoic crust, and hence provide a test for the involvement of lithospheric mantle.A synthesis of new and previously published major and trace element, Sr, Nd, C and O isotope data for carbonatites and associated lamprophyres from the Gardar Province is presented. The majority of Gardar carbonatites and lamprophyres have consistent geochemical and isotopic signatures that are similar to those typically found in ocean island basalts. The geochemical characteristics of the two suites of magmas are similar enough to suggest that they were derived from the same mantle source. C and O isotope data are also consistent with a mantle derivation for the carbonatite magmas, and support the theory of a cogenetic origin for the carbonatites and the lamprophyres. The differences between the carbonatites and lamprophyres are considered to represent differing degrees of partial melting of a similar source.We suggest that the ultimate source of these magmas is the asthenospheric mantle, since there is no geochemical or isotopic evidence for their having been derived directly from ancient, enriched sub-continental lithospheric mantle. However, it is likely that the magmas actually formed through a two-stage process, with small-degree volatile-rich partial melts rising from the asthenospheric mantle and being ‘frozen in’ as metasomites, which were then rapidly remobilized during Gardar rifting.