The Gronnedal-Ika Carbonatite-Syenite Complex, South Greenland: Carbonatite Formation by Liquid Immiscibility

The Grønnedal-Ika complex is dominated by layered nephelinesyenites which were intruded by a xenolithic syenite and a centralplug of calcite to calcite–siderite carbonatite. Aegirine–augite,alkali feldspar and nepheline are the major mineral phases inthe syenites, along with rare calcite. Temperatures of 680–910°Cand silica activities of 0·28–0·43 weredetermined for the crystallization of the syenites on the basisof mineral equilibria. Oxygen fugacities, estimated using titanomagnetitecompositions, were between 2 and 5 log units above the fayalite–magnetite–quartzbuffer during the magmatic stage. Chondrite-normalized REE patternsof magmatic calcite in both carbonatites and syenites are characterizedby REE enrichment (La_CN–Yb_CN = 10–70). Calcite fromthe carbonatites has higher Ba (5490 ppm) and lower HREE concentrationsthan calcite from the syenites (54–106 ppm Ba). This isconsistent with the behavior of these elements during separationof immiscible silicate–carbonate liquid pairs. _Nd(T =1·30 Ga) values of clinopyroxenes from the syenites varybetween +1·8 and +2·8, and _Nd(T) values of whole-rockcarbonatites range from +2·4 to +2·8. Calcitefrom the carbonatites has ¹⁸O values of 7·8 to 8·6and ¹³C values of –3·9 to –4·6. ¹⁸Ovalues of clinopyroxene separates from the nepheline syenitesrange between 4·2 and 4·9. The average oxygenisotopic composition of the nepheline syenitic melt was calculatedbased on known rock–water and mineral–water isotopefractionation to be 5·7 ± 0·4. Nd and C–Oisotope compositions are typical for mantle-derived rocks anddo not indicate significant crustal assimilation for eithersyenite or carbonatite magmas. The difference in ¹⁸O betweencalculated syenitic melts and carbonatites, and the overlapin _Nd values between carbonatites and syenites, are consistentwith derivation of the carbonatites from the syenites via liquidimmiscibility. KEY WORDS: alkaline magmatism; carbonatite; Gardar Province; liquid immiscibility; nepheline syenite     

Nd isotopes demonstrate the role of contamination in the formation of coexisting quartz and nepheline syenites at the Abu Khruq Complex,Egypt

The petrogenesis of Abu Khruq, an 89 Ma alkaline ring complex of eastern Egypt which is composed of alkali gabbros and both silica over- and undersaturated syenites, has been investigated. Major and trace element relationships and Nd and Sr isotope data are consistent with formation of the gabbros from an alkaline mafic magma that experienced extensive fractionation, and all syenites from a felsic derivative of this melt. The parental magma had an ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr of 0.7030 and an ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd of 0.512750 (_Nd = +4.4) indicating derivation from a depeleted mantle source. The initial ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios are: 0.512721 to 0.512748 for the gabbros, 0.512739 to 0.512750 for the alkali syenites and trachytes, 0.512717 to 0.512755 for the nepheline syenites, and, 0.512706 to 0.512732 for the quartz syenites. In contrast, analyzed Precambrian granites from eastern Egypt have generally lower ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios (ranging from 0.51247 to 0.51261 or _Nd = -0.8 to 1.7, for 89Ma); their Nd model ages range from 775 to 935 Ma and suggest there was no significant input of pre-Pan-African crust in their formation. Among Abu Khruq rocks, ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios indicate that the quartz syenites formed by open-system, crustal contamination processes whereas the nepheline syenites experienced little or no contamination. Modeling shows that contamination occurred at various stages, affecting both mafic and more evolved compositions with input of about 20% crustal Nd for the most contaminated samples. The degree of contamination is related to the silica saturation of the quartz syenites. Simplified modeling of magma evolution within Petrogeny's Residua System demonstrates the ability of AFC processes to cause a critically undersaturated magma to evolve across the feldspar join and produce oversaturated rocks. The oversaturated syenites at Abu Khruq were produced in this manner whereas the nepheline syenites formed by fractionation without similarly large degrees of contamination. The results have broad implications for the formation of subvolcanic complexes in continental settings beyond the important production of silica oversaturated compositions from crustal interaction. They underscore the importance of crustal interactions in the formation of the various lithologies. Such interactions occur at various stages in the evolution of the magmas and, as such, are not strictly coupled with fractional crystallization. While previous study of Abu Khruq has demonstrated extensive hydrothermal alteration of O and Sr isotopes, the present work shows that the Nd isotope ratios were not significantly affected and thus reflect magmatic signatures. This feature combined with relatively small corrections for initial ratios emphasizes the utility of Nd isotopes for petrogenetic studies.     

Geochemical and isotopic (Sr,C, O) data from the alkaline complex of Grønnedal-ĺka (South Greenland): evidence for unmixing and crustal contamination

The alkaline intrusion of Grønnedal-ka (South Greenland) is the oldest of the ten major rift-related plutonic complexes of southern Greenland that intruded during the Gardar period between 1330 and 1150 Ma into the 2.6-Ga-old gneisses and metasediments of the Ketilidian basement. The Grønnedal-ka alkaline intrusion consists of carbonatites, silicocarbonatites, transitional carbonatites and nepheline-bearing syenites. The silicocarbonatites exhibit locally ocellar textures that are typical for immiscibility processes. A ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr initial ratio of about 0.703184 major and trace element compositions—including REE and C-, and O-isotope data from 15 carbonatite, 12 silicocarbonatite, 10 transitional carbonatite and 8 syenite and samples—provide evidence for minor crustal contamination of the mantle-derived magma that generated by unmixing carbonatites, silicocarbonatites and syenites. A scatter in major and trace element contents and isotope ratios is related to late- to post-magmatic alteration processes. The Grønnedal-ka silicocarbonatites are one of the rather rare cases in which unmixing of a highly alkaline mantle-derived magma into an alkalisilicate and a carbonatitic magma-fraction under plutonic conditions is well documented by textural and geochemical data.     

Nd and Sr isotope systematics of the Oka complex,Quebec, and their bearing on the evolution of the sub-continental upper mantle

A detailed isotopic study of minerals and whole rocks from the Cretaceous Oka complex, Quebec, Canada, shows a very small variation in initial Nd and Sr isotopic compositions. Assuming an age of 109 Ma for the complex, apatite, calcite, garnet, melilite, monticellite, olivine and pyroxene and whole rocks yield a range for initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr of 0.70323–0.70333; and for initial ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd of 0.51271–0.51284 ( _SR(T)= –14.8 to –16.2; _Nd(T)=+4.1 to +6.6). The negative _SR and positive _Nd indicate derivation of the Nd and Sr from a source with a time-integrated depletion in the large-ion lithophile (LIL) elements. This agrees with data from other Canadian carbonatites and confirms that a large part of the Canadian Shield is underlain by a source region depleted in the LIL elements. The new data from Oka suggest that the depleted source may have remained coupled to the continental crust until recent time.     

牦牛坪稀土矿床碳酸岩Pb同位素地球化学

四川牦牛坪稀土矿床与稀土矿化时空密切共生的碳酸岩一正长岩碱性杂岩体的成岩时代为喜山期，碳酸岩呈脉状沿正长岩岩体中心侵入。两者具有相似的^206Pb／^204Pb和^208Pb／^204Pb比值，但碳酸岩^207Ph／^204Ph比值变化较大，且低于正长岩。这种差异并不能归因于地壳物质的混染作用，而是反映了地幔源区的特征。在Ph、Sr和Nd同位素图解中，矿区碳酸岩和正长岩显示低Ph，高Sr同位素的特征，部份碳酸岩Ph同位素落在MORB内，而Sr和Nd同位素明显不同于MORB，相对接近洋岛玄武岩的Ⅰ型富集地幔(EM1)。喜山期扬子板块呈楔形体插入龙门山地壳之中，受挤压的中下部地壳向前陆深处发生俯冲，并延伸至攀西裂谷顶部富集地幔体中，被交代的富集地幔经不同程度的和不连续的部份熔融作用形成碱性岩浆，整个演化过程导致了源区成份的不均一性。     

Petrology and petrogenesis of carbonatitic rocks in syenites from central Anatolia,Turkey

The late Cretaceous A-type Karaçay?r pluton in Central Anatolia, Turkey, intrudes and entrains xenoliths of Palaeozoic limestone. Carbonatitic magmatic rocks within the syenite have been previously interpreted (Schuiling in Nature, 192:1280, 1961) to result from metasomatic alteration and syntectic melting of marble. Carbonatites and associated calcite-syenites exhibit mineralogical characteristics (Ab-rich plagioclase, Ba-rich K-feldspar, low-Mg# biotite) that are petrogenetically more evolved than the host syenitic suite. Geochemically, carbonate-rich magmatic rocks are greatly enriched in Sr, Ba, Th, and REE and have higher LREE/HREE ratios than either syenites or marbles. In terms of O-C-Sr-Pb isotope ratios, the carbonatite/calcite-syenite suite form a consistent and geochemically coherent group that is distinct from the marble country rock and xenolith population, but similar to some of the syenitic, and particularly the nepheline syenite components of the Karaçay?r pluton. Other silicate magmatic rocks are geochemically, isotopically, and geochronologically different, suggesting the pluton is composite. Overall, the mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of the carbonatites are incompatible with binary mixing of syenite and marble but are consistent with derivation of carbonatite from petrogenetically evolved foid syenite. Carbonate–silicate rock types have modal variations compatible with an origin by fractional crystallisation, rather than by liquid immiscibility.     

Geochemical evolution of the Zadoi Alkaline-Ultramafic Massif,Cis-Sayan area,southern Siberia

The unaltered magmatic rocks of the Zadoi Massif were analyzed for Sr isotopic composition and concentrations of major oxides and trace elements by ICP MS. The evolution of the massif involved four phases: (i) perovskite and ilmenite clinopyroxenites, (ii) ijolites, (iii) nepheline syenites, and (iv) carbonatites. The perovskite clinopyroxenites have anomalously high Ce/Pb (223–1132) and Pr/Sr × 1000 (70–360) ratios at a low initial Sr isotopic ratio (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)₀ = 0.70247–0.70285. The ilmenite clinopyroxenites have Ce/Pb and Pr/Sr × 1000 ratios approaching those in basalts of oceanic islands (OIB) (decreasing to 39 and 30, respectively) at a simultaneous increase in the (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)₀ ratios (0.7030–0.7036). The ijolites and nepheline syenites have patterns of incompatible trace elements similar to those in OIB and the highest (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)₀ ratios (0.70346–0.70414). The carbonatites are complementarily enriched in incompatible elements of the nepheline syenites and have (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)₀ = 0.7029–0.7034, which is comparable with the range of analogous ratios for the ilmenite clinopyroxenites. Our geochemical data indicate that the carbonatites were formed as an immiscible liquid or fluid, which separated from the ijolite-nepheline syenite melt during its interaction with the source material of the perovskite and ilmenite clinopyroxenites.     

Isotopic and Geochemical Investigation of the Chilwa Island Carbonatite Complex, Malawi: Evidence for a Depleted Mantle Source Region, Liquid Immiscibility, and Open-System Behaviour

Initial Nd, Pb, and Sr isotopic data from carbonatites and associatedintrusive silica-undersaturated rocks from the early Jurassic,Chilwa Island complex, located in southern Malawi, central Africa,suggest melt derivation from a Rb/Sr- and Nd/Sm-depleted butTh/Pb- and U/Pb-enriched mantle source. Initial ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd(0.51265–0.51270) isotope ratios from the Chilwa Islandcarbonatites are relatively constant, but their initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr(0.70319–0.70361) ratios are variable. The ¹⁸O_smow (9.53–14.15%0)and ¹³C_PDB (–3.27 to –1.50%0) isotope ratios ofthe carbonates are enriched relative to the range of mantlevalues, and there is a negative correlation between ¹⁸O andSr isotope ratios. The variations in Sr, C, and O isotopic ratiosfrom the carbonatites suggest secondary processes, such as interactionwith meteoric groundwater during late-stage carbonatite activity.The initial ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd (0.51246 0.51269) and initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr(0.70344–0.70383) isotope ratios from the intrusive silicaterocks are more variable, and the Sr more radiogenic than thosefrom the carbonatites. Most of the Pb isotope data from Chilwa Island plot to the rightof the geochron and close to the oceanic regression line definedby MORBs and OIBs. Initial Pb isotopic ratios from both carbonatites(²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb 15.63–15.71; ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb 19.13–19.78)and silicate rocks (²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb 15.61–15.72; ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb18.18–20.12) show pronounced variations, and form twogroups in Pb-Pb plots. The isotopic variations shown by Nd, Pb, and Sr for the ChilwaIsland carbonatites and intrusive silicates suggest that thesemelts underwent different evolutionary histories. The chemicaldata, including isotopic ratios, from the carbonatites and olivinenephelinites are consistent with magmatic differentiation ofa carbonated-nephelinite magma. A model is proposed in whichdifferentiation of the carbonatite magma was accompanied byfenitization (metasomatic alteration) of the country rocks bycarbonatite-derived fluids, and subsequent alteration of thecarbonatite by hydrothermal activity. The chemical and isotopicdata from the non-nephelinitic intrusive silicate rocks reveala more complex evolutionary history, involving either selectivebinary mixing of lower-crustal granulites and a nephelinitemagma, or incremental batch melting of a depleted source andsubsequent crustal contamination.     

Rare earth element behavior and Pb,Sr, Nd isotope systematics in a heavy metal contaminated soil

The aim of this study is to characterize the processes and phases which control migration and retention of rare earth elements (REE) in a heavy metal contaminated soil. In addition to concentration data, we used Pb, Sr and Nd isotopic compositions in order to distinguish between natural and anthropogenic trace metals and to characterize the phases leached away during the sequential extraction procedure.The samples were sequentially extracted in 3 steps with 1 N acetic acid (HAc), 1 N HCl and 1 N HNO₃. The Pb isotope data showed that anthropogenic Pb had mainly been retained in the uppermost 10 cm by the organic matter of the topsoil. The⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of the HAc extracts are almost constant and indicate that soil carbonate is derived from regionally outcropping carbonate-rich sediments. Most HCl and HNO₃ extracts have more radiogenic Sr isotopic compositions, but it is unclear whether this reflects a growing influence of anthropogenic or silicate-derived Sr.The depth distribution of the REE is mainly controlled by two different parameters: soil pH for the HAc extractable REE and FeMn oxides for the REE in the HCl and HNO₃ extracts. A part of the HNO₃ extractable REE was also bound to the organic matter of the topsoil. The REE concentrations in the HAc extractable phase increase with depth and increasing soil pH, which indicates that they are derived from the surface and hence are of anthropogenic origin. This is confirmed by¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd isotope ratios which show a mixing between a natural end-member at the top and an anthropogenic end-member at the base of the profile. We assume that the anthropogenic REE were transported in dissolved form as carbonate complexes and then precipitated during downward migration as soil pH increased.     

New data on carbonatites of the Il’mensky-Vishnevogorsky alkaline complex,the southern Urals,Russia

Carbonatites that are hosted in metamorphosed ultramafic massifs in the roof of miaskite intrusions of the Il’mensky-Vishnevogorsky alkaline complex are considered. Carbonatites have been revealed in the Buldym, Khaldikha, Spirikha, and Kagan massifs. The geological setting, structure of carbonatite bodies, distribution of accessory rare-metal mineralization, typomorphism of rock-forming minerals, geochemistry, and Sr and Nd isotopic compositions are discussed. Dolomite-calcite carbonatites hosted in ultramafic rocks contain tetraferriphlogopite, richterite, accessory zircon, apatite, magnetite, ilmenite, pyrrhotite, pyrite, and pyrochlore. According to geothermometric data and the composition of rock-forming minerals, the dolomite-calcite carbonatites were formed under K-feldspar-calcite, albite-calcite, and amphibole-dolomite-calcite facies conditions at 575–300°C. The Buldym pyrochlore deposit is related to carbonatites of these facies. In addition, dolomite carbonatites with accessory Nb and REE mineralization (monazite, aeschynite, allanite, REE-pyrochlore, and columbite) are hosted in ultramafic massifs. The dolomite carbonatites were formed under chlorite-sericite-ankerite facies conditions at 300–200°C. The Spirikha REE deposit is related to dolomite carbonatite and alkaline metasomatic rocks. It has been established that carbonatites hosted in ultramafic rocks are characterized by high Sr, Ba, and LREE contents and variable Nb, Zr, Ti, V, and Th contents similar to the geochemical attributes of calcio-and magnesiocarbonatites. The low initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.7044?0.7045 and εNd ranging from 0.65 to ?3.3 testify to their derivation from a deep mantle source of EM₁ type.     

四川冕宁包子山稀土矿床富Sr碳酸岩的发现及意义

全球范围内出露的碳酸岩大多为钙质、镁质、铁质碳酸岩,少量为钠质和硅质碳酸岩,极少有富Sr碳酸岩的报道,其岩石成因、资源意义及对碳酸岩岩浆演化的指示意义尚不清楚。本次在四川省牦牛坪稀土矿区南部包子山稀土矿床的露天采坑中发现了超级富Sr的碳酸岩,其呈不规则的脉状侵入到构造角砾岩中。岩石呈紫色-淡紫色,微晶-斑状结构,斑晶主要为萤石,基质主要为菱锶矿、方解石、氟碳铈矿、氟碳钙铈矿、金云母、重晶石并含少量的金属硫化物和氧化物。全岩的微量元素分析表明,其稀土元素总量(∑REE)达3.5%～6.1%,Sr含量达19.0%～27.7%,已超过稀土矿床和锶矿床的工业品位要求。岩石中的中、重稀土元素含量占稀土元素总量的1.14%～1.77%,一些高价值稀土元素含量较高,如Pr(939×10~(-6)～1399×10~(-6))、Nd(2783×10~(-6)～3937×10~(-6))、Gd(237×10~(-6)～320×10~(-6)),因此除轻稀土元素外,中、重稀土和锶元素也具有重要的资源意义。岩石强烈富集REE、Sr、Ba,而明显亏损P、Nb、Ta、Zr、Hf元素,可能与岩浆演化过程中锆石和其它基性矿物的结晶分离有关。全岩的Sr-Nd同位素组成与牦牛坪、里庄稀土矿床的碳酸岩相似,表明它们为同源岩浆产物。笔者认为,富Sr的碳酸岩代表了碳酸岩岩浆演化晚期的产物,REE、Sr、Ba、F和S元素均在岩浆演化晚期的碳酸岩中高度富集。碳酸岩岩浆超浅成侵位至构造角砾岩中,并与下渗的大气水相遇导致岩浆的淬冷和微晶-斑状结构的形成。早期基性矿物(如霓辉石、黑云母)及碳酸盐矿物(如方解石、白云石等)的结晶分离是造成晚期碳酸岩中稀土元素富集的重要原因。富Sr碳酸岩中石英斑晶的发现和其较低的SiO_2含量表明碳酸岩岩浆演化晚期可能是硅饱和的,且这种岩浆具有很低的SiO_2溶解能力。以菱锶矿(体积分数 50%)为主要碳酸盐矿物的稀土碳酸岩可能代表了一种新的碳酸岩类型,明显不同于已知的钙质、镁质、铁质和钠质碳酸岩。     

Sr and Nd isotope data of apatite,calcite and dolomite as indicators of source,and the relationships of phoscorites and carbonatites from the Kovdor massif,Kola peninsula,Russia

A detailed Sr−Nd isotopic study of primary apatite, calcite and dolomite from phoscorites and carbonatites of the Kovdor massif (380 Ma), Kola peninsula, Russia, reveals a complicated evolutionary history. At least six types of phoscorites and five types of carbonatite have been identified from Kovdor by previous investigators based on relative ages and their major and accessory minerals. Isotopic data from apatite define at least two distinct groups of phoscorite and carbonatite. Apatite from the earlier phoscorites and carbonatites (group 1) are characterized by relatively low⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.70330–0.70349) and¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd initial ratios (0.51230–0.51240) with F=2.01–2.23 wt%, Sr=2185–2975 ppm, Nd=275–660 ppm and Sm=31.7–96.2 ppm. Apatite from the second group has higher⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.70350–0.70363) and¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd initial ratios (0.51240–0.51247) and higher F (2.63–3.16 wt%), Sr (4790–7500 ppm), Nd (457–1074 ppm) and Sm (68.7–147.6 ppm) contents. This group corresponds to the later phoscorites and carbonatites. One apatite sample from a carbonatite from the earlier group fits into neither of the two groups and is characterized by the highest initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.70385) and lowest¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd (0.51229) of any of the apatites. Within both groups initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios show negative correlations. Strontium isotope data from coexisting calcite and dolomite support the findings from the apatite study. The Sr and Nd isotopic similarities between carbonatites and phoscorites indicate a genetic relationship between the two rock types. Wide variations in Sr and Nd isotopic composition within some of the earlier carbonatites indicate several distinct intrusive phases. Oxygen isotopic data from calcite and dolomite (δ¹⁸O=+7.2 to +7.7‰ SMOW) indicate the absence of any low-temerature secondary processes in phoscorites and carbonatites, and are consistent with a mantle origin for their parental melts. Apatite data from both groups of phoscorite plot in the depleted quadrant of an ε_Nd versus ε_Sr diagram. Data for the earlier group lie along the Kola Carbonatite Line (KCL) as defined by Kramm (1993) and data from the later group plot above the KCL. The evolution of the phoscorites and carbonatites cannot be explained by simple magmatic differentiation assuming closed system conditions. The Sr−Nd data can best be explained by the mixing of three components. Two of these are similar to the end-members that define the Kola Carbonatite Line and these were involved in the genesis of the early phoscorites and carbonatites. An additional component is needed to explain the isotopic characteristics of the later group. Our study shows that apatite from rocks of different mineralogy and age is ideal for placing constraints on mantle sources and for monitoring the Sr−Nd evolution of carbonatites. Editorial responsibility: W. Schreyer     

The Il’mensky-Vishnevogorsky miaskite-carbonatite complex,the Urals,Russia: Origin,ore resource potential,and sources

The origin and sources of the Il’mensky-Vishnevogorsky miaskite-carbonatite complex, one of the world’s largest alkaline complexes, with unique rare-metal and colored-stone mineralization and Nb, Zr, and REE deposits, are discussed in this paper. Geochemical and isotopic studies, including of Nd, Sr, C, and O isotopes, as well as estimation of PT formation conditions, of miaskites and carbonatites from various deposits of the Il’mensky-Vishnevogorsky Complex have been carried out. The Vishnevogorsky, Potaninsky, and Buldym Nb-REE deposits and the Il’mensky, Baidashevo, and Uvil’dy occurrences related to carbonatites were investigated. Their geological setting, composition, and ore resource potential are characterized. The genetic models and typical features of the Il’mensky-Vishnevogorsky Complex are considered. The rocks of the Il’mensky-Vishnevogorsky Complex were formed at T = 1000?230°C and P = 2–5 kbar. Carbonated miaskite melt was divided into immiscible silicate and carbonate liquids at T = 1000°C and P = 5 kbar. Miaskite crystallized at T = 850?700°C and P = 3.5–2.5 kbar. The formation temperature of carbonatite I of the Vishnevogorsky pluton was close to the temperature of miaskite crystallization (700–900°C). The crystallization temperature of carbonate-silicate rock and carbonatite I in the Central alkaline tract was 650–600°C. The formation temperature of carbonatite II varied from 590 to 490°C. Dolomite-calcite carbonatite III and dolomite carbonatite IV of the Buldym massif were formed at T = 575?410°C and T = 315?230°C, respectively. The geochemical features of carbonatites belonging to the Il’mensky-Vishnevogorsky Complex differ from those of carbonatites related to alkaline ultramafic rocks and are close to those of carbonatites related to nepheline syenite or carbonatites localized in linear fracture zones. A high Sr content in early carbonatites along with relatively low Ba, Nb, Ta, Ti, Zr, and Hf contents and a certain enrichment in HREE (a low La/Yb ratio) in comparison with carbonatites of the alkaline ultramafic association are typical. The geochemistry of carbonatites of the Il’mensky-Vishnevogorsky Complex corresponds to the trend of geochemical evolution of carbonatitic melts and their fluid derivatives. The Sr, Nd, C, and O isotopic compositions indicate a mantle magmatic source of the Il’mensky-Vishnevogorsky Complex and participation of moderately depleted mantle (DM) and enriched mantle EM1 in magma generation. Carbonatite and miaskite of the Vishnevogorsky pluton are related to the DM magma source, and carbonatite of the Buldym massif, to the EM1 source, probably, involved in the plume ascent.     

Chemical and isotopic (C, O, Sr, Nd) characteristics of the Xiluvo carbonatite (central-western Mozambique)

Summary The Xiluvo complex of central Mozambique is made up of coarse- to fine-grained calciocarbonatites (sövites and alvikites), heavily altered lamprophyres and syenitic rocks that intruded the Precambrian basement ca. 120Ma ago. The carbonatites have fractionated rare earth element patterns (chondrite-normalized La/Yb=30–80) and markedly negative Rb, K, P, Zr and Ti anomalies in mantle-normalized incompatible element diagrams. The ¹⁸O (+7 to +8), ¹³C (–5), and the age-corrected ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.7032–0.7033) and ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd (0.51263–0.51262) indicate an origin in the mantle. A few carbonatitic samples have higher ¹⁸O (+13), indicating interaction with high-¹⁸O crust or late-stage fluids. The chemical and isotopic compositions of the Xiluvo carbonatites and nearby carbonatites of similar age in Malawi indicate very similar sources, characterized by time-integrated depletion of Rb with respect to Sr and of Sm with respect to Nd. These characteristics point to a source similar in many respects to those of other East African carbonatites and to those of some ocean island basalts, with the additional influx of components possibly located in the African lithospheric mantle.     

Mineralization by mantle fluids in the Miaoniuping REE deposit, Sichuan Province, China

The Miaoniuping REE deposit, Sichuan Province, China is the second largest primary LREE deposit which is a little smaller than the world's largest Bayan Obo REE deposit, Inner Mongolia, China. The REE mineralization is spatially and temporally associated with carbonatites and syenites. This deposit is characterized by its tectonic setting of deep faults, the accompanying mantle-derived magmatic activity, the multiple of wall-rock alteration, the moderately high temperature of formation, H₂O and CO₂ being the important components of the ore-forming fluids, and the mantle source for the ore-forming materials and fluids. These features evidenced that this deposit is the product of the mineralization by mantle fluids.     

Shear zone-related syenites in the Damara belt (Namibia): the role of crustal contamination and source composition

Geochemical and Nd-Sr-Pb-O isotope data for a suite of syn-collisional (ca. 520 Ma) syenites associated with a major shear zone in the Proterozoic Damara orogen (Namibia) constrain their sources and petrogenesis. Major rock types from within and outside the shear zone range from highly potassic nepheline syenites to quartz syenites and were primarily generated by fractional crystallization from a mantle-derived alkaline magma. Even the most primitive samples show pronounced depletion in Nb, Ti, Sr and P on a primitive mantle-normalized diagram, indicating the involvement of a recycled crustal component in the source. Extrapolation of the Sr-Nd-Pb-O isotope composition of the syenites from within the shear zone back to a hypothetical parental melt with 10 wt% MgO suggests derivation from a moderately enriched lithospheric upper mantle (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr: 0.705, Nd: –2, ¹⁸O: 6, ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb: 19.40, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb: 15.82). More evolved quartz syenites show increasing ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios, increasing ¹⁸O values but less radiogenic Nd values and Pb isotopes with decreasing MgO, indicating assimilation of ca. 10% Archaean to Proterozoic local lower crust with unradiogenic Nd, high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and low U/Pb. For samples from outside the shear zone a hypothetical parental melt with 10 wt% MgO has distinctly more radiogenic Sr but less radiogenic Nd isotopic composition (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr: 0.712, Nd: –13), with strongly unradiogenic Pb isotope ratios (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb: 17.40, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb: 15.50), suggesting another strongly enriched lithospheric mantle source for these rocks. Differentiated syenites from outside the shear zone show decreasing ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, increasing ¹⁸O values, more radiogenic Nd values and Pb isotope ratios with decreasing MgO indicating interaction with a lithospheric component with low Rb/Sr but high Sm/Nd and U/Pb.     

Sources and geodynamic setting of petrogenesis of the Middle Cambrian Upper Petropavlovka alkaline basic pluton (Kuznetsk Alatau,Siberia)

Early Paleozoic alkaline basic magmatism in the Kuznetsk Alatau is manifested in the Upper Petropavlovka pluton of gabbro, feldspathoid rocks (theralites, mafic foidolites, and nepheline syenites), and Ca-carbonatites. According to Sm–Nd and Rb–Sr isotope data, the pluton formed in the Middle Cambrian (509 ± 10 Ma). The silicate igneous rocks correspond in the contents of silica, alumina, and alkalies to derivates of a K–Na alkaline basic association. The Ca-carbonatites are characterized by a high-temperature (600–900 °C) paragenesis of apatite, clinopyroxene, ferromonticellite, phlogopite, and magnetite. They are enriched in P2O5 (up to 6.4 wt.%), Sr (up to 3000–4500 ppm; Sr/Ba ~ 5–7), and REE + Y (up to 800 ppm) and show evidence for liquation genesis. The predominant magmatic source (εNd(T) = 5–7) was moderately depleted PREMA, possibly combined with E-MORB and EM. According to the isotopic data ((87Sr/86Sr)T ~ 0.7024–0.7065; δ18O ~ 6.3–15.5‰; δ18C ~ –3.5 to –2.0‰), the fractionation of the melts was accompanied by their crustal contamination. The trace-element composition of the mafic rocks testifies to the participation of a substance similar to the substrata of the parental magmas of MORB, IAB, and OIB in the magma generation. This suggests intrusion in the geodynamic setting of interaction between the active continental margin and an ascending mantle diapir. Most likely, the intrusion led to the mixing of material from different sources, including the components of PREMA, enriched suprasubduction lithospheric mantle (EM), and continental crust. The assumption is made that the complexes of highly alkaline rocks and carbonatites in the western Central Asian Fold Belt are of plume origin and belong to an Early Paleozoic large igneous province.     

Nd and Sr isotope signatures of the Khibina and Lovozero agpaitic centres, Kola Alkaline province, Russia

Nd and Sr compositions of the highly evolved agpaitic nepheline syenites and associated ijolites and carbonatites from the Khibina and the Lovozero alkaline centres define three magma sources. Isotopes of the voluminous nepheline syenites and ijolites of Khibina intrusions III, IV, V, VI and VII as well as of nepheline syenites of Lovozero lie on the Kola Carbonatite Mixing Line which is close to the “mantle array” defined by the components “bulk earth” and “prema” on a Sr---Nd plot. The Khibina carbonatites and associated silicate rocks of intrusion VIII, which have more radiogenic Sr, did not evolve from the same parent magma as the nepheline syenites.

Isotopic constraints exclude a pre-enrichment of Rb, Sr, Sm and Nd in the lithospheric mantle below Kola over more than 10 Ma prior to the crystallization of the magmas. A formation of the melts involving major participation of the Precambrian crust of the Baltic Shield is also excluded.

The lack of significant Eu anomalies in the Lovozero nepheline syenites gives evidence that the agpaitic magmas in the Kola region did not form from basaltic liquids by fractional crystallization of plagioclase or anorthoclase at crustal levels. A formation from nephelinite or nepheline benmoreite magmas at mantle pressures is more likely, possibly by dynamic flow crystallization.

Enrichment factors suggest that large-ion lithophile and high field-strength elements as Ta, La, Nb and Zr, which are highly concentrated in the agpaites, were scavenged from mantle volumes of some 100,000 km³. An enrichment of these elements prior to magma formation may have been performed by volatile transfer.

The well-defined whole-rock isochrons of the Khibina III–VII and the Lovozero agpaites of c. 370 Ma date the magma separation for the different intrusion, if these melts are cogenetic and formed by fractional crystallization in a Khibina and a Lovozero magma chamber. If, however, Rb and Sr were collected by a process of volatile transfer, and the initial Sr isotopic compositions of the two distinguished agpaite suites are, therefore, averages of the sampled mantle volumes, the Rb---Sr whole-rock isochron ages of c. 370 Ma would date this process of element collection. The concordance of the whole-rock ages with the mineral ages of Khibina and Lovozero samples is then further evidence for the short period between magma genesis, intrusion and crystallization.     

Petrology,geochemistry and source characteristics of the Burpala alkaline massif,North Baikal

The Burpala alkaline massif contains rocks with more than 50 minerals rich in Zr,Nb,Ti,Th,Be and rare earth elements(REE).The rocks vary in composition from shonkinite,melanocratic syenite,nepheline and alkali syenites to alaskite and alkali granite and contain up to 10%LILE and HSFE,3.6%of REE and varying amounts of other trace elements(4%Zr,0.5%Y,0.5%Nb,0.5%Th and 0.1%U).Geological and geochemical data suggest that all the rocks in the Burpala massif were derived from alkaline magma enriched in rare earth elements.The extreme products of magma fractionation are REE rich pegmatites,apatite-fiuorite bearing rocks and carbonatites.The Sr and Nd isotope data suggest that the source of primary melt is enriched mantle(EM-Ⅱ).We correlate the massif to mantle plume impact on the active margin of the Siberian continent.     

Role of fluid in the genesis of carbonatites and alkaline rocks: Geochemical evidence

In most alkaline-ultrabasic-carbonatite ring complexes, the distribution of trace elements in the successive derivatives of mantle magmas is usually controlled by the Rayleigh equation of fractional crystallization in accordance with their partition coefficients, whereas, that of late derivatives, nepheline syenites and carbonatites, is usually consistent with trends characteristic of silicate-carbonate liquid immiscibility. In contrast to the carbonatites of ring complexes, carbonatites from deep-seated linear zones have no genetic relation with alkaline-ultrabasic magmatism, and the associated alkaline rocks are represented only by the nepheline syenite eutectic association. The geochemical study of magmatic rocks from the Vishnevye Gory nepheline syenite-carbonatite complex (Urals), which is assigned to the association of deep-seated linear zones, showed that neither differentiation of a parental melt nor liquid immiscibility could produce the observed trace element distribution (Sr, Rb, REE, and Nb) in miaskites and carbonatites. Judging from the available fragmentary experimental data, the distribution patterns can be regarded as possible indicators of element fractionation between alkaline carbonate fluid and alkaline melt. Such trace element distribution is presumably controlled by a fluid-melt interaction; it was also observed in carbonatites and alkaline rocks of some ring complexes, and its scarcity can be explained by the lower density of aqueous fluid released from magma at shallower depths.