Clinopyroxene episyenites in a Proterozoic rapakivi granite,SE Finland — recrystallization textures,mass transfer and implications for the petrology of A-type granite complexes

Mineralogy and Petrology - Na-metasomatic augite and aegirine-augite episyenites are hosted by subalkaline amphibole granites in the 1.644 Ga Suomenniemi rapakivi granite complex,...     

Anticorrelated Rb−Sr and K−Ar age discordances,Leuchtenberg granite,NE Bavaria,Germany

The Leuchtenberg granite (Oberpfalz, NE Bavaria) displays a continuous differentiation trend ranging from mildy peraluminous, coarse-grained, porphyritic biotite granites (BG) to strongly peraluminous, medium- to fine-grained, garnet-bearing muscovite granites (GMG). The Rb–Sr and K–Ar age determinations of whole-rock and mineral samples from the granite and associated intermediate rocks (redwitzites) have revealed two divergent age gradients: Rb–Sr wholerock dates decrease and initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios increase for successively more evolved subsets of the granite. All BG samples (⁸⁷Rb/⁸⁶Sr=2–16) yield a date of 326±2 Ma with a low initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of 0.70778±0.00013 (1), while all GMG samples (⁸⁷Rb/⁸⁶Sr=70 to 1000) yield a younger date of 317±2 Ma with an enhanced initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of 0.7146±0.0039. The K–Ar measurements on biotites and muscovites give closely concordant dates for the GMG (326–323 Ma) and the southern lobe of the BG (324–320 Ma). The northern lobe of the BG, including the redwitzites, shows a well-defined trend of decreasing K–Ar dates from 320 Ma to 300 Ma towards the northwest. Critical consideration of both isotope systems leads to the conclusion that the Rb–Sr system of the GMG was disturbed by a later hydrothermal event. The ca. 326 Ma whole-rock Rb–Sr date for the BG is not in conflict with any of the K–Ar mineral dates and is taken as approaching the crystallization age of the Leuchtenberg granite. The K–Ar age progression within the northern lobe of the BG indicates that this part either cooled down over a protracted period of some 20 Ma or experienced reheating at ca. 300 Ma. The study highlights the potential of combined Rb–Sr and K–Ar dating in deciphering detailed chronology on the scale of a single igneous intrusion.     

Zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating and Sr-Nd isotope study of the Guposhan granite complex, Guangxi, China

Zircon U-Pb dating by the LA-ICP-MS method was applied to determining the ages of different units of the Guposhan granite complex, among which the East Guposhan unit is 160.8±1.6 Ma, the West Guposhan unit is 165.0±1.9 Ma, and the Lisong unit is 163.0±1.3 Ma in age. Much similarity in ages of the three units has thus proved that the whole Guposhan granite complex was formed in the same period of time. They were the products of large-scale granitic magmatism through crust-remelting in the first stage of the Middle Yanshanian in South China. However, the three units have differences both in petrology and in geochemistry. Besides the differences in major, trace and rare-earth elements, they are distinct in their Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd isotopic compositions. The East Guposhan unit and Lisong unit and its enclaves have a similar (87Sr/86Sr)i value of 0.7064 with an average of εNd(t)=-3.03, indicating that more mantle material was evolved in the magma derivation; whereas the West Guposhan unit has a higher (87Sr/86Sr)i value of 0.7173 but a lower εNd(t) value of -5.00, and is characterized by strong negative Eu anomalies and higher Rb/Sr ratios, suggesting that its source materials were composed of relatively old crust components and new mantle-derived components. In addition, an inherited zircon grain in the East Guposhan unit (GP-1) yielded a 206Pb/238U age of 806.4 Ma, which is similar to the ages of the Jiulin cordierite granite in northern Jiangxi and of the Yinqiao migmatic granite in Guangxi in the HZH granite zone. All this may provide new evidence for Late Proterozoic magmatism in the HZH granite zone.     

Tourmaline from quartz lenses of the Urtui granite pluton,Strel’tsovka orefield,Ttansbaikal krai

Quartz-tourmaline lenses, around which host granite is impregnated by uraninite, have been found among porphyritic granite with large phenocrysts of the Urtui pluton in the Ttansbaikal krai framing the Strel’tsovka volcano-tectonic structure. Two generations of tourmaline are distinguished. Most individual crystals belong to the first generation attributed to “fluor-schorl”; tourmaline-II attributed to schorl occurs as thin rims overgrowing tourmaline-I. The major type of cation isomorphic substitution in both tourmalines is Fe²⁺ → Mg. The Fe³⁺/Fe_tot value and Li content in the average sample are 2% and 80 ppm, respectively. The high F content, comparatively high Li, low Fe³⁺/Fe_tot value, and character of cation isomorphic substitution indicate that the tourmaline relates to greisens. The combination of these features allows one to distinguish greisen-type tourmaline-bearing rocks. The impregnated uranium mineralization in granite of the Urtui pluton, one of the probable sources of uranium in economic U ore of the Strel’tsovka deposit, is suggested to be caused by greisenization and the formation of quartz-tourmaline lenses.     

Glass at endocontacts of granite massifs in Volcanic–Plutonic belts (Exemplified by granite of Central Kazakhstan)

Glass formation takes place under conditions of rapid cooling of a melt at a great temperature difference between the melt and the host rock, which must have high thermal conductivity. The most favorable conditions for glass formation exist when the melt intrudes in the form of thin apophyses. Glass has been found in granite massifs related to the volcanic–plutonic association.     

Radioactive quartz-pebble conglomerates from western margin of Bonai granite pluton,Sundargarh district,Orissa — A new find

Several radioactive quartz-pebble conglomerate (QPC) occurrences at the western margin of Archaean Bonai granite and overlying Iron Ore Group (IOG) rocks have recently been located over a total strike length of 8–10 km intermittently in a NE-SW to E-W trend with steep dips due north-west to north in parts of Sundargarh district of Orissa. The QPC samples have analysed up to 0.039% U₃O₈ and 0.035% ThO₂ with high concentration of Y (74 to 518 ppm), La(<100 to 880 ppm), Cr ( 126 to 633 ppm), Zr (137 to 1250 ppm) and Pb (31 to 581 ppm). Cellulose Nitrate (CN) film studies of few QPC samples indicated adsorbed uranium over goethite and infiltrated ferruginous material (limonite), secondary uranium as encrustation and fracture filling and discrete sub-rounded grains of monazite, zircon, allanite and rare xenotime in the matrix of QPC as radioactive phases. Higher content of Th over U, elevated concentration of Y and La in QPC eliminates the possibility of its low temperature product by epigenetic processes. Poor correlation of U with elements like Pb, Y, Zr, La and Cr can be explained due to surficial leaching of uranium from QPC after its deposition as reflected by adsorbed U over iron-oxides and low U/Th ratio in QPC in the area.     

Geology and geochemistry of the Degana pluton—A proterozoic rapakivi granite in Rajasthan,India

Summary The Degana pluton hosts one of the few known tungsten deposits in India It is an epizonal, moderately high silica pluton emplaced during the Proterozoic in a posttectonic setting. Though homogeneous in composition, it displays textural heterogeneity from coarse-grained hypidiomorphic to fine-grained porphyritic to hypabyssal granite porphyry. Genetically related rhyolites are also present. Coherency of geochemical and mineralogical attributes in the Degana pluton can be explained by fractional crystallisation. Complex variety of hydrothermal and pneumatolytic features is also present. At shallow depths, emanation differentiation has led to progressive enrichment of Li, Rb, and W. Both the plutonic and volcanic phases of the magma show development of rapakivi texture and other diagnostic characteristics of the rapakivi granites.The Degana granite is a specialised granite and classified as an A-type intraplate anorogenic granite of mantle plume origin. The mineralogy and chemistry of the Degana pluton compares well with the various rapakivi granites of south-eastern Fennoscandia. Chemical and textural characteristics of the Degana pluton provide a constraint on the formation of the rapakivi texture when interpreted in terms of experimentally determined phase equilibria. The mantling process is interpreted as a result of pressure fluctuations due to escape and recharging of volatiles (e.g., H2O and F) accompanying the emplacement of the magma.

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Geologie und Geochemie des Degana-Plutons—ein proterozoischer Rapakivi Granite in Rajasthan, Indien

Zusammenfassung Der Degana Pluton enhält eine der wenigen in Indien bekannten Wolfram-Lagerstätten. Es handelt sich hier um einen epizonalen Pluton mit höheren Si-Gehalten, der während des Proterozoikums in ein posttektonisches Setting intrudiert wurde. Obwohl er in seiner Zusammensetzung homogen ist, zeigt er Heterogenität auf dem texturellen Bereich, die von grobkörnig hypidiomorph bis feinkörnig porphyritisch und schließlich bis zu hypabyssischen Granitporphyren reicht. Genetisch verwandte Rhyolite kommen im Untersuchungsgebiet auch vor. Übereinstimmende geochemische und mineralogische Parameter können auf fraktionierte Kristallisation zurückgeführt werden. Eine komplexe Vielfalt von hydrothermalen und pneumotolytischen Erscheinungen ist bemerkenswert. In geringen Tiefen hat die Emanations-Differentiation zu einer progressiven Anreicherung von Li, Rb und W geführt. Sowohl die plutonischen als auch die vulkanischen Erstarrungsprodukte des Magmas zeigen die Entwicklung von Rapakivi-Texturen und anderen diagnostischen Eigenschaften der Rapakivi-Granite.Der Degana-Granit ist ein spezialisierter Granit und ist als ein anorogener Intraplattengranit des A-Typs zu klassifizieren, der auf einen mantle plume zurückgeführt wird. Die Mineralogie und Chemie des Degana-Plutons läßt sich gut mit der verschiedener Rapakivi Granite im südöstlichen Fennoskandien vergleichen. Chemische und texturelle Eigenheiten des Degana Plutons ermöglichen eine Eingrenzung der Bildung von Rapakivi Texturen, sofern sie im Sinne experimentell bestimmter Phasen-Gleichgewichte interpretiert werden. Die Entstehung von Überwachsungen einzelner Kristalle wird als Resultat von Druckschwankungen interpretiert, die auf das Entweichen und die Neuzufuhr von volatilen Phasen (i.e. H₂O und F) im Gefolge der Platz nahme des Magmas zurückzuführen sind.

     

Rubidium‐strontium geochronology of the encounter bay granite and adjacent Metasedimentary rocks,South Australia

Rubidium‐strontium and strontium isotope data for eight whole‐rock samples of granite varieties from the Encounter Bay area, South Australia, yield an isochron age of 487 ± 37 m.y. Two specimens of albitised granite, formed as a result of late‐stage metasomatic alteration of original megacrystic granite, conform to this isochron. These data support a genetic relation between granites and late‐stage metasomatic alteration as suspected from field, petrographical and geochemical studies. Eight samples from contiguous Kanmantoo Group metasedimentary rocks have an isochron age of 487 ± 60 m.y. Thus this metamorphic event is coincident with emplacement of the Encounter Bay Granite.

The initial Sr⁸⁷Sr⁸⁶ ratio for the Encounter Bay Granite (0.719) is significantly higher than initial ratios for the Palmer (0.709) and Anabama (0.705) Granites from the same region and can be attributed to either remobilisation or incorporation of strontium from older crustal material in the intrusion. The apparent initial Sr⁸⁷/Sr⁸⁶ ratio for the Kanmantoo Group metasedimentary rocks (0.722) can not be distinguished from that for the Encounter Bay Granite within the analytical uncertainties. Compatability of ages and high initial Sr⁸⁷Sr⁸⁶ ratios suggest that the granites formed by remobilisation of associated crustal rock.     

Deformation history and timing of granite emplacement in the Butchers Hill — Helenvale region,northern Hodgkinson Province,Queensland

Granite plutons of the Whypalla Supersuite in the Butchers Hill — Helenvale region of north Queensland were intruded into the upper crust of the Hodgkinson Formation during contractional deformation associated with the Permian‐Triassic Hunter‐Bowen Orogeny. A four‐stage structural history has been resolved for the area, with fabric overprinting relationships, porphyroblast‐matrix microstructural geometries and isotopic ages being consistent with granite emplacement during D₄ shortening at ca 274 Ma. Microstructural relationships suggest the possibility of a minor syn‐D₃ phase of granite emplacement. The deformation‐emplacement history of the Butchers Hill — Helenvale area is consistent with that recognised regionally for the Hodgkinson Province, indicating province‐wide synchronous syntectonic granite intrusion during a major phase of contractional deformation. Intense syn‐emplacement deformation partitioning was ongoing in the country rocks during progressive D₄ and was associated with upward translation of country rock from the microscale to the macroscale along D₄ cleavages and shears. Kinematic indicators show that this progressive uplift, at the scale of the area examined, was east‐side‐up.     

Magma accumulation and segregation during regional-scale folding: The Holland’s dome granite injection complex,Damara belt,Namibia

The regional-scale, upright fold of the Holland’s dome in the Damara belt of central Namibia contains a kilometre-scale network of intrusive, highly fractionated uraniferous leucogranites. Three broadly orthogonal and intersecting sets of leucogranite sheets that intruded parallel and at right angles to the axial plane of the first-order fold can be distinguished. The granites are internally sheeted and illustrate the growth of the injection complex through the successive addition of thousands of smaller magma batches. Spatial and timing relationships point to a stepwise evolution of the injection complex. Early dilatancy-driven segregation and accumulation of granitic magmas in the core of the fold, above a basal detachment, was followed by compaction-driven segregation of a melt phase during fold tightening. The intersecting leucogranite sets provide a suitably organized permeability structure for melt segregation, while the successive injection of magma batches ensures compatibility between regional strain rates during folding and the rates of magma segregation. The three-dimensional network of melt-bearing structures further assisted regional shortening past the lock-up of the fold. The Holland’s dome injection complex illustrates the geometric complexity of magma transfer pathways and the significance of regional-scale folding for the accumulation, segregation and fractionation of granitic magmas in suprasolidus crust.     

Computer modeling of granite gneiss diapirism in the Earth’s crust: Controlling factors,duration, and temperature regime

This paper is devoted to the modeling the granite gneiss formation by means of diapiric upwelling. The natural examples of granitic diapirism in the Precambrian granite-greenstone belts and complexes of metamorphic cores are described. A new approach is proposed to describe the partial melting and development of gravity instability in the crustal granitic layer, which experienced heat impact and melting during intrusion of basaltic melt. Rheology of partially melted material and surrounding medium is regarded to be temperature-dependent, following either plasticity or creep (non-Newtonian viscosity) law. Modeling results show that crustal rheology plays a significant role in the character of diapirism (shape of upwelling bodies, duration of the process, and width of thermal aureole). The rates of upwelling within the crust behaving as elastoplastic body are orders of magnitude higher (meters to tens meters per year) than those obtained for creep (viscous) liquid model (0.8 cm/yr). Modeling results revealed that the limiting depth of upwelling of partially crystallized melt, with allowance for temperature dependence of creep, corresponds to the isotherm of 400°C.     

Protective mineral layers formed from granite–dry steam interaction

This work focuses on interaction between granite–stainless steel (SUS) pipe–dry steam in the presence of Cu. Three types of hydrothermal experiments were conducted: (1) SUS–Cu–granite, (2) SUS–Cu, (3) SUS–granite. It was found that a high protective amorphous AlSi_1,6O₄ layer (thickness about 5 μm) was formed on the supporting pipe surface only in the case of SUS–Cu–granite interaction. The Al silicate layer formed during the experiment was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with EDX. According to kinetic data this layer has high protective properties.     

Implications of a downward‐facing fold in the Bathurst granite contact aureole,Hill End Synclinorial Zone,New South Wales

A downward‐facing refolded fold in the aureole of the Bathurst Granite displays evidence for three phases of folding. This, and structural anomalies in other Lachlan Fold Belt granitoid aureoles, may be caused by granitoid emplacement. Alternatively they may be records of early deformations, preserved in the granitoid envelopes from the obliterating effects of later deformations. Various causes for the three fold phases are considered, including soft‐sediment deformation, orogenies, and kinking as a result of granitoid emplacement. A unique solution is not yet possible. Unrecognised structural complexities may be widespread in the Hill End Synclinorial Zone.     

Geochemistry and zircon geochronology of the Archean granite suites of the Rio Maria granite-greenstone terrane,Carajás Province,Brazil

The Archean granites exposed in the Mesorchean Rio Maria granite-greenstone terrane (RMGGT), southeastern Amazonian craton can be divided into three groups on the basis of petrographic and geochemical data. (1) Potassic leucogranites (Xinguara and Mata Surrão granites), composed dominantly of biotite monzogranites that have high SiO₂, K₂O, and Rb contents and show fractionated REE patterns with moderate to pronounced negative Eu anomalies. These granites share many features with the low-Ca granite group of the Yilgarn craton and CA2-type of Archean calc-alkaline granites. These granites result from the partial melting of rocks similar to the older TTG of the RMGGT. (2) Leucogranodiorite-granite group (Guarantã suite, Grotão granodiorite, and similar rocks), which is composed of Ba- and Sr-rich rocks which display fractionated REE patterns without significant Eu anomalies and show geochemical affinity with the high-Ca granite group or Transitional TTG of the Yilgarn craton and the CA1-type of Archean calc-alkaline granites. These rocks appear to have been originated from mixing between a Ba- and Sr-enriched granite magma and trondhjemitic liquids or alternatively product of interaction between fluids enriched in K, Sr, and Ba, derived from a metasomatized mantle with older TTG rocks. (3) Amphibole-biotite monzogranites (Rancho de Deus granite) associated with sanukitoid suites. These granites were probably generated by fractional crystallization and differentiation of sanukitoid magmas enriched in Ba and Sr.The emplacement of the granites of the RMGGT occurred during the Mesoarchean (2.87–2.86 Ga). They are approximately coeval with the sanukitoid suites (∼2.87 Ga) and post-dated the main timing of TTG suites formation (2.98–2.92 Ga). The crust of Rio Maria was probably still quite warm at the time when the granite magmas were produced. In these conditions, the underplating in the lower crust of large volumes of sanukitoid magmas may have also contributed with heat inducing the partial melting of crustal protoliths and opening the possibility of complex interactions between different kinds of magmas.     

Age,geochemistry, and emplacement of the ~40-Ma Baneh granite–appinite complex in a transpressional tectonic regime,Zagros suture zone,northwest Iran

The Baneh plutonic complex is situated in the Zagros suture zone of northwest Iran between the Arabian and Eurasian plates. This complex is divided into granite and appinite groups. Zircon U–Pb dating shows that granites crystallized 41–38 million years ago but appinites experience more protracted magmatic evolution, from at 52 to 38 Ma. Whole-rock chemical compositions show significant major and trace element variations between the two lithologies. Granitic rocks are more evolved, with high contents of SiO₂ (62.4–77.0 wt%), low contents of TiO₂ (0.25 wt%), MgO (0.05–1.57 wt%), and Fe₂O₃ (0.40–4.06 wt%) and high contents of Na₂O + K₂O (≈10 wt%). In contrast, appinites have low contents of SiO₂ (51.0–57.0 wt%) and K₂O (<2.1 wt%) and high Fe₂O₃ (6.4–9.35 wt%), MgO (2.0–9.9 wt%), and Mg number (Mg# = 35–76). The concentration of rare earth elements in the appinites is higher than in granitic rocks, making it difficult to form granites solely by fractionation of appinite magma. (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i and ε_Nd(40 Ma) in both groups are similar, from 0.7045 to 0.7061 and ?1.2 to +2.6, except for a primitive gabbroic dike with ε_Nd(40 Ma) = +9.9. Appinites show mainly typical I-type characteristics, but granites have some S-type characteristics. The sigmoidal shape of the Baneh pluton and its emplacement into deformed Cretaceous shales and limestone showing kink bands, asymmetric and recumbent folds in a broad contact zone, with pervasive ductile to brittle structures in both host rocks and intrusion, indicate that magma emplacement was controlled by a transpressional tectonic regime, perhaps developed during early stages in the collision of Arabia and Eurasian plates.     

Aerospectrometric and aeromagnetic characteristics associated Nb–Ta–Sn mineralization, G. Nuweibi albite granite Central Eastern Desert, Egypt

A geophysical signature associated with Nb–Ta–Sn mineralization of G. (G. : abbreviation to word Gebel which means mountain in Arabic) Nuweibi area, located the Central Eastern Desert of Egypt is presented. This signature was established by an integration of airborne gamma ray spectrometric and magnetic data. Variations seen in the gamma ray spectrometric data are used as a base to study the three granitic suites: younger-, albite-, and older granites in G. Nuweibi area. Graphical techniques such as frequency histograms and box-plots are used to visualize the shape of the distribution and determine the anomaly thresholds of the three radioelements eU, eTh, and K% data in these granitic suites. The box-plot graphical representations and calculations made on data sets indicate that no samples have eU values above the thresholds, i.e., no outliers representing values of the box-plots. Nuweibi albite granite is associated with a gamma ray response that includes the strongest eU, eTh, K%, and eTh/K ratio anomalies in the study area. K–eTh plot shows that the albite granite has a higher eTh concentration than the older and younger granites. The increase in K concentration and raise in Th/K ratio of Nuweibi albite granite points to unusual geological processes leading to mineralization and reflects the highly fractionated nature of the magma which results in thorium enrichment. This also reflects that K alteration associated with Nb–Ta–Sn mineralization is both poorly focused spatially and very much weaker than observed in any other mineralizing districts. The distribution of magnetic sources and their locations and depths in the study region are determined by Euler deconvolution and analytical signal techniques. Good clustering of Euler solutions were obtained using SI?=?0.5 and SI?=?1.0 for most of the features in the area under consideration. The solutions obtained have shown magnetic sources which can be related to the impact structure whose depths varies between ground surface to 1.66 km. The analytical signal revealed that the metamorphosed basic rocks (mainly olivine metagabbro), serpentinite and dyke bodies are the main sources of high magnetic anomalies, particularly within the area east G. Nuweibi region.     

Vertical distribution, stability and evolution of groundwater composition in granite suitable for storage of spent nuclear fuel

Granite with extremely low permeability has been selected to host a repository of spent nuclear fuel in the Czech Republic. Three boreholes were drilled in a test site of the Podlesi granite stock in the Krusne hory Mts. The holes were located 10 m apart. After hydraulic tests, four sections in one of the boreholes were separated by packers at depth of 69-111, 111-161, 161-220 and 220-300 m. Samples of groundwater from each section were periodically collected for chemical and isotopic analysis. Groundwater from fractures in the granite stock does not belong to a single and uniform groundwater body in spite of that the granite is chemically and mineralogically homogeneous. There are three water bodies, which are only partly hydraulically connected. They are： （1） The groundwater in the oxidation zone to a depth of about 111 m. （2） The groundwater of the zone of hydrolysis of alumosilicates from 111 to 220 m. （3） The groundwater of the zone of hydrolysis of alumosilicates below the depth of 220 m from a different fracture system than the water from the above sections. The total dissolved solids of water increase with depth. The Ca-SO4 component predominates in the near surface water body while Na-HCO3 component predominates in the two deeper water bodies. Water from the oxidation zone contains higher concentrations of iron and other trace metals. The chemical composition of water in the three water bodies changed during the 14 months of sampling. No steady state was reached during this time. The changes displayed systematic trends. The ratio Ca/Na increased and the ratio HCO3/SO4 decreased with time in the shallow water body. In contrast, the ratio CafNa decreased and HCO3/SO4 fluctuated without an obvious trend in the deeper water bodies. An unusually high concentration of dissolved organic carbon （DOC） was found in the lowest section of the test borehole. The concentration of DOC was 150 mg/L at the beginning of sampling. The isotopic composition was δ^13C=-27.6 ‰. The concentration of DOC dropped both towards the surface and with time.     

Application of cathodoluminescence to magmatic quartz in a tin granite – case study from the Schellerhau Granite Complex, Eastern Erzgebirge, Germany

A model of the cooling history of tin-bearing granitic magma forming the Schellerhau granites (Eastern Erzgebirge, Germany) is shown on the basis of quartz textures. Similar grain size, similar grain habit and correlatable growth textures of phenocrysts in different granite varieties give proof of a common crystallization history before the melts of the Schellerhau granite varieties were intruded. Four nucleation events occurred during crystallization in different crustal levels between about 20 and 1 km depth. The parental melt of the Schellerhau granites is interpreted to have contained<2.5 wt% H₂O originally. The water content of the melt during the subvolcanic intrusion stage amounted to more than 5 wt% and characterizes highly evolved residual melts that enable the formation of tin deposits. This study contributes to a better understanding of the development and behaviour of fractionated tin-bearing granitic melts, and links quartz cathodoluminescence (CL) with microanalytical studies. Received: 28 October 1998 / Accepted: 18 August 1999     

The igneous charnockite—high-K alkali-calcic I-type granite—incipient charnockite association in Trivandrum Block,southern India

The Pan-African (640 Ma) Chengannoor granite intrudes the NW margin of the Neoproterozoic high-grade metamorphic terrain of the Trivandrum Block (TB), southern India, and is spatially associated with the Cardamom hills igneous charnockite massif (CM). Geochemical features characterize the Chengannoor granite as high-K alkali-calcic I-type granite. Within the constraints imposed by the high temperature, anhydrous, K-rich nature of the magmas, comparison with recent experimental studies on various granitoid source compositions, and trace- and rare-earth-element modelling, the distinctive features of the Chengannoor granite reflect a source rock of igneous charnockitic nature. A petrogenetic model is proposed whereby there was a period of basaltic underplating; the partial melting of this basaltic lower crust formed the CM charnockites. The Chengannoor granite was produced by the partial melting of the charnoenderbites from the CM, with subsequent fractionation dominated by feldspars. In a regional context, the Chengannoor I-type granite is considered as a possible heat source for the near-UHT nature of metamorphism in the northern part of the TB. This is different from previous studies, which favoured CM charnockite as the major heat source. The occurrence of incipient charnockites (both large scale as well as small scale) adjacent to the granite as well as pegmatites (which contain CO₂, CO₂-H₂O, F and other volatiles), suggests that the fluids expelled from the alkaline magma upon solidification generated incipient charnockites through fluid-induced lowering of water activity. Thus the granite and associated alkaline pegmatites acted as conduits for the transfer of heat and volatiles in the Achankovil Shear Zone area, causing pervasive as well as patchy charnockite formation. The transport of CO₂ by felsic melts through the southern Indian middle crust is suggested to be part of a crustal-scale fluid system that linked mantle heat and CO₂ input with upward migration of crustally derived felsic melts and incipient charnockite formation, resulting in an igneous charnockite – I-type granite – incipient charnockite association.Editorial responsibility: T.L. Grove     

Granitic rocks as a source of granite: The Gösta and Sundsta Granites,south-west Sweden

Granites, among them three generations of microline-rich granites, intruded repeatedly between 1600 and 900 Ma in the South-western Swedish Gneiss Complex. The deformed and metamorphosed Gösta and Sundsta granites are medium-grained, pale greyish red rocks belonging to the oldest generation of microclinerich granites.Biotite dominates over hornblende. Allanite, titanite, apatite and zircon are important accessory minerals. The granites are metaluminous and syeno- to monzogranitic in composition. SiO₂ varies between 70.4 and 78.7% and K₂O/Na2_O between 0.86 and 2.32. Na and K are poorly correlated with the other major elements. The rocks are low in MgO (< 0.9%) and FeO (< 3.6%). They are characterized by high Rb/Sr, Ba/Sr and Ba/Rb ratios. The ratio Nb/Ta is almost constant ( 12) and the ratio Al/Ga decreases slightly with increasing SiO₂ content. The Gösta granite has small, negative Eu anomalies, differentiated light and almost flat heavy rare earth element patterns. It intruded into continental crust approximately 1560 Ma ago. It is argued that the granites formed from continental rocks by pseudoeutectic partial melting at a fairly shallow depth. The source is older than the dominant country rock.