西藏拉隆穹窿淡色花岗岩中石榴子石矿物学研究及对岩浆-热液过程的指示

为建立淡色花岗岩演化和稀有金属成矿的矿物学指标,本文选取了北喜马拉雅拉隆淡色花岗岩的石榴子石为研究对象,对其开展电子探针分析和矿物原位LA-ICP-MS微量分析,结果表明MnO含量从白云母花岗岩(12.42%~13.48%)到钠长石花岗岩(16.83%~22.09%)逐渐增高,白云母花岗岩石榴子石主要为铁铝榴石,钠长石花岗岩中石榴子石主要为锰铝榴石,其均为典型岩浆成因的石榴子石。石榴子石微量元素结果显示白云母花岗岩和钠长石花岗岩石榴子石稀土均呈现HREE富集、LREE亏损,Eu负异常的特征。从白云母花岗岩到钠长石花岗岩,石榴子石中Zn含量增加,Sc、Y和HREE等元素含量降低,特别是当HREE含量小于1000×10^-6时,稀有金属元素Be、Nb和Ta含量增加,标志着岩浆演化从正岩浆阶段进入了岩浆-热液过渡阶段。形成于岩浆-热液过渡阶段的锰铝榴石可以作为拉隆淡色花岗岩Be-Nb-Ta稀有金属矿化的矿物学指标,此外,石榴子石中Sc、Y和HREE等元素的变化也可以作为淡色花岗岩稀有金属矿化的判别标志。     

喜马拉雅造山带新生代花岗岩中两类石榴石的地球化学特征及其在地壳深熔作用中的意义

在喜马拉雅碰撞造山带中,石榴石是变泥质岩的主要造岩矿物,也是花岗岩或淡色体的重要副矿物,保存了有关地壳深熔作用的关键信息,是揭示大型碰撞造山带中-下地壳物质的物理和化学行为的重要载体。在喜马拉雅造山带内,新生代花岗质岩石(淡色花岗岩和混合岩中的淡色体)含两类石榴石,大多数为岩浆型石榴石,自形-半自形,不含包裹体,但淡色体中含有港湾状的混合型石榴石。岩浆型石榴石具有以下地球化学特征:(1)从核部到边部,显示了典型的"振荡型"生长环带;(2)富集HREE,亏损LREE,从核部到边部,Hf、Y和HREE含量降低;(3)显著的Eu负异常;(4)相对于源岩中变质石榴石,Mn和Zn的含量显著增高。岩相学和地球化学特征都表明:变泥质岩熔融形成的熔体(淡色体)捕获了源岩的变质石榴石,熔体与石榴石反应导致大部分元素的特征被改变,只在核部保留了源岩的部分信息。同时,在花岗质熔体结晶过程中,形成少量的岩浆型石榴石。这些石榴石摄取了熔体中大量的Zn,浓度显著升高,在斜长石和锆石同步分离结晶作用的共同影响下,石榴石中Eu为明显负异常,Hf、Y和HREE浓度从核部到边部逐渐降低。上述数据和结果表明,花岗岩中石榴石的矿物化学特征记录了精细的有关花岗岩岩浆演化的重要信息。     

藏南北喜马拉雅穹窿高Sr/Y二云母花岗岩中磷灰石地球化学特征及其岩石学意义

北喜马拉雅穹窿最东部的雅拉香波穹窿发育两套高Sr/Y比值二云母花岗岩,分别形成于始新世(约43～44Ma)和中新世(约18～20Ma)。虽然在Sr-Nd同位素系统特征和形成时代上存在明显差异之外,但无论在矿物组成,还是在元素地球化学(高CaO,高Na/K和Sr/Y比值等)特征上,这两套花岗岩都存在高度相似性。为探讨在这两套花岗质岩浆形成和演化过程中,磷灰石的地球化学行为特征,应用LA-ICP-MS分析了磷灰石的微量元素地球化学组成。测试结果揭示(1)在这两套花岗岩中,微量元素在磷灰石与熔体之间的配分行为相似;(2)始新世二云母花岗岩中包含残留的磷灰石;(3)在同一件样品中,在磷灰石颗粒之间,存在一定程度的微量元素地球化学特征的不均一性,反映了局部熔体地球化学特征;(4)在花岗质岩浆演化过程中,富钙长石组分的斜长石的分离结晶作用,不仅导致熔体的Ca和Sr含量降低,Na含量和Eu负异常幅度增大,同时导致熔体的LREE含量升高。     

藏南错那洞淡色花岗岩成因：来自全岩地球化学和锆石U-Pb年龄的约束

藏南错那洞穹隆位于喜马拉雅造山带东部,淡色花岗岩是其核部组成部分之一。对其中的弱定向二云母花岗岩和含石榴子石二云母花岗岩进行LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年,显示其结晶年龄分别为(20.6±0.3) Ma和(16.7±0.2) Ma,属于喜马拉雅中新世淡色花岗岩。错那洞含石榴子石二云母花岗岩和弱定向二云母花岗岩均具有富硅(w(SiO2)为71.6%~74.6%)、富铝(w(Al2O3)为14.5%~16.1%)、富钾(w(K2O)为4%~4.7%)及高铝饱和指数(A/CNK=1.16~1.22)的特征,属高钾钙碱性系列的强过铝质花岗岩,并且两类花岗岩都富集Rb、U、K、Pb,相对亏损Nb、Ta、Zr、Ti。但含石榴子石淡色花岗岩具有明显的Eu负异常(Eu/Eu*=0.29~0.46),而弱定向二云母花岗岩Eu的负异常相对较弱(Eu/Eu*=0.58~0.80)。弱定向二云母花岗岩的Rb/Sr值为2.4~3.5,Ba含量为(200~253)×10-6,TiO2含量相对较低,表明错那洞弱定向二云母花岗岩是在无水条件下由变泥质岩中的白云母脱水熔融而形成,并且弱定向二云母花岗岩的产生可能与藏南拆离系(STDS)启动造成的构造减压有关。含石榴子石二云母花岗岩的K/Rb、Zr/Hf、Nb/Ta、Y/Ho值呈现出非球粒陨石异常,稀土四分组效应和异常高的Rb/Sr值(18.6~22.2)表明错那洞含石榴子石二云母花岗岩是经过岩浆高度演化而形成的。高度演化的岩浆有利于W、Sn、Be等稀有金属成矿。错那洞含石榴子石二云母花岗岩与错那洞穹隆的W-Sn-Be矿具有相邻的空间位置,两者之间可能存在一定的成因联系;而错那洞弱定向二云母花岗岩与扎西康Pb-Zn矿床在时间上和空间上都具有一致性,两者之间很可能也存在一定的成因联系。     

胶东半岛三佛山高Ba—Sr花岗岩成因

胶东半岛三佛山岩体是昆嵛山杂岩体的重要组成部分，其岩性主要由二长花岗岩组成，位于苏鲁超高压碰撞带与胶东陆块之间的缝合带中。岩石化学特点具高钾钙碱性岩石系列特征，岩体为准铝Ⅰ型花岗岩，并具有高Ba—Sr花岗岩的岩石地球化学特征，即高Ba、Sr含量，高Sr／Y、La／Yb、K／Rb值，低Y（〈13μg／g）、Yb（1．8μg／g）、Rb／Sr比值（平均为0．33），弱的Eu负异常，亏损Nb、P、Ti等高场强元素。根据该岩体岩石地球化学特征、包体岩石学特征，并结合前人对高Ba—sr花岗岩成因研究成果，笔者认为该岩体可能是幔源基性岩浆与地壳熔融的酸性端元混合而成。混合后的岩浆没有明显的长石和云母类矿物的结晶分异作用，混合岩浆最大温度在750-800℃左右。酸性岩浆的源区以石榴子石＋辉石＋角闪石＋斜长石的残留为特征。残留相物质组成特征暗示源区应位于壳幔边界，深度30km土，结合早期形成的昆嵛山二长花岗岩源区深度大于40km这一现象，表明胶东地区中生代岩石圈减薄作用在110Ma达到最大，地壳厚度恢复至正常厚度。     

喜马拉雅碰撞造山带新生代地壳深熔作用与淡色花岗岩

自从印度-欧亚大陆碰撞以来,伴随着构造演化和温度-压力-成分(P-T-X)的变化,喜马拉雅造山带中下地壳变质岩发生不同类型的部分熔融反应,形成性质各异的过铝质花岗岩。这些花岗岩在形成时代、矿物组成、全岩元素和放射性同位素地球化学特征上都表现出巨大的差异性。始新世构造岩浆作用形成高Sr/Y二云母花岗岩和演化程度较高的淡色花岗岩和淡色花岗玢岩,它们具有相似的Sr-Nd同位素组成,是碰撞早期增厚下地壳部分熔融的产物。渐新世淡色花岗岩主要为演化程度较高的淡色花岗岩,可能指示了喜马拉雅造山带的快速剥露作用起始于渐新世。早中新世以来的淡色花岗岩是喜马拉雅造山带淡色花岗岩的主体,是变泥质岩部分熔融的产物,包含两类部分熔融作用——水致白云母部分熔融作用(A类)和白云母脱水熔融作用(B类)。这两类部分熔融作用形成的花岗质熔体在元素和同位素地球化学特征上都表现出明显的差异性,主要受控于两类部分熔融作用过程中主要造岩矿物和副矿物的溶解行为。这些不同期次的地壳深熔作用都伴随着高分异淡色花岗岩,伴随着关键金属元素(Nb、Ta、Sn、Be等)的富集,是未来矿产勘探的重要靶区。新的观测结果表明:在碰撞造山带中,花岗岩岩石学和地球化学性质的变化是深部地壳物质对构造过程响应的结果,是深入理解碰撞造山带深部地壳物理和化学行为的重要岩石探针。     

A型花岗岩的微量元素地球化学

本文总结和评述了A型花岗岩典型的微量元素特征,如富集Ga、稀土元素（除Eu外）和高场强元素,亏损Ba、Sr和明显的Eu负异常。分别讨论了影响微量元素特征的多种制约因素,主要包括源区性质、岩浆的物理化学条件、岩浆作用过程和络合作用。通过对比世界范围内几个地区相伴生的碱性A型花岗岩和铝质A型花岗岩的微量元素地球化学特征,发现前者Ga、F含量更高,而轻重稀土比值小,Eu、Ba、Sr等元素含量更低,显示了前者的岩浆分异作用更强,同时说明了碱性A型花岗岩可以由与之伴生的铝质A型花岗岩分异而来。     

壳幔作用导致武平花岗岩形成——Sr-Nd-Hf-U-Pb同位素证据

岩石学、元素地球化学和Sr-Nd-Hf-U-Pb同位素的综合研究显示,武平花岗质杂岩体是由形成时代和成因不同的黑云母花岗岩和含石榴子石花岗岩组成。LA-ICPMS锆石U-Pb定年指示前者形成于161．4 Ma,后者形成于113 Ma。黑云母花岗岩以中等富集大多数不相容元素和中等轻重稀土分异为特征,岩石具有低的87Sr／86Sr初始比值(<0．710)和高的εNd(t) 值(-2．6--5．7)。结合与附近基底变质岩的同位素对比,论文指出黑云母花岗岩岩浆是由元古代基底变质岩部分熔融产生的熔体与幔源岩浆的强烈混合形成。不均匀的锆石Hf同位素组成(εHf(t)=-3．6--10．8)支持了这种混合成因模式。含石榴子石花岗岩以富Si、Al、Na、K、Nb、Ta、Y和HREE而贫P、Sr、Ba、LREE、Zr和Hf含量为特征,它们具有低的(La/Yb)n, Zr／Hf、Nb／Ta比值和高的Rb／Sr比值,显示了强烈的以斜长石为主的分异特征;它们的87Sr／86Sr初始比值大于0．710,εNd(t) =-7．1,锆石的Hf同位素较低且相对均匀(εHf(t)平均值为-9．7),表明岩浆没有受到明显的地幔组分混染。结合它们高的HREE含量,论文指出它们的母岩浆很可能是由早期熔融事件的富石榴子石残留相再次熔融形成。因此,南岭地区中生代花岗岩的地球化学差异很可能反映了岩浆形成过程中壳幔作用的强弱。     

藏南也拉香波早渐新世富钠过铝质淡色花岗岩的成因机制及其构造动力学意义

藏南也拉香波穹隆位于近东西向展布的北喜马拉雅片麻岩穹隆(NHGD)最东端,主要由石榴角闪岩、石榴石云母片麻岩、二云母花岗岩和淡色花岗岩组成.SHRIMP锆石U/Pb定年结果表明也拉淡色花岗岩的结晶年龄为35.3±1.1Ma,明显老于位于该穹隆以西类似的淡色花岗岩(年龄普遍<25Ma).全岩元素和Sr-Nd同位素测试结果揭示：(1)也拉香波淡色花岗岩为过铝质富钠花岗岩;(2)与片麻岩相似,也拉香波淡色花岗岩富集大离子亲石元素(LILE,如K,Sr,Rb和Ba),但亏损Ti,Y,Yb,Sc和Cr;(3)和片麻岩或角闪岩相比,也拉香波淡色花岗岩同时亏损LREE和HREE,但与HREE相比,LREE相对富集;(4)在Sr-Nd同位素系统特征上.淡色花岗岩初始Sr同位素比值与角闪岩的相当,在0.711949～0.719344之间;但远小于片麻岩.而Nd同位素组成在片麻岩和角闪岩之间,在-8.9～-15.0之间.以石榴角闪岩和片麻岩为端元,简单混合计算表明：由石榴角闪岩为主和片麻岩为辅组成的混合源区发生部分熔融作用,各自产生的熔体进行不同程度的混合,可形成类似于也拉香波淡色花岗岩成分的岩浆,其中角闪岩的部分熔融起主要作用.使用Zr在岩浆中的饱和浓度温度计得出岩浆的平均温度为673℃,在此温度下,变泥质片麻岩在高压(～10kbar)条件下的水致部分熔融和角闪岩部分熔融都可形成也拉过铝质富钠淡色花岗岩,但角闪岩的脱水部分熔融起主导作用.在地壳增厚条件下,下地壳角闪岩的部分熔融可能是导致喜玛拉雅造山带从缩短增厚向伸展垮塌转换的主要因素之一.     

喜马拉雅淡色花岗岩成因与稀有金属成矿潜力

喜马拉雅淡色花岗岩世界瞩目,具有重要的理论研究和找矿意义,但是其成因争议较大。本文统计了两千余件样品的全岩主微量地球化学、Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf同位素、锆石/独居石/磷钇矿等副矿物原位U-Pb年龄和锆石Hf同位素等,试图全面地总结喜马拉雅淡色花岗岩的研究进展和现状。喜马拉雅淡色花岗岩分为南北两带,北带花岗岩主要出露于特提斯喜马拉雅和片麻岩穹隆中,而南带花岗岩主要发育在高喜马拉雅顶部和东-西构造结中。从北往南,成岩时代逐渐变新;南北两带均以二云母花岗岩和(石榴石-电气石)白云母花岗岩为主,两期(始新世和中新世)中-基性岩脉和埃达克质岩主要在北带中发育。新生代岩浆活动分为5个阶段：49~40 Ma、39~29 Ma、28~15 Ma、14~7 Ma、6~0.7 Ma,分别主要与新特提斯洋壳板片断离、印度陆壳板片的低角度俯冲、断离或回撤、南北向撕裂(裂谷)和东西构造结的快速隆升有关。喜马拉雅淡色花岗岩起源于高喜马拉雅杂岩系的不一致(不平衡)部分熔融,并经历了矿物分离结晶的高分异演化。淡色花岗岩属于强过铝质岩石,具有高Si、K、Na,低Ca、Fe、Mg、Ti、Mn,高的Rb/Sr、Y/Ho值,低的Th/U、Nb/Ta、Zr/Hf、K/Rb值,稀土元素总量较低,负Eu异常明显的地球化学特征。随着成岩时代变新,Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf等同位素都指示岩浆源区中古老地壳物质的占比逐步增加。喜马拉雅淡色花岗岩/伟晶岩中Li、Be、W、Sn、Ta、Cs和Rb等稀有元素的富集系数大于10,伟晶岩属于典型的LCT型伟晶岩。喜马拉雅新生代淡色花岗岩带有望成为一条新的世界级的Li-Be-Sn-W-Ta稀有金属成矿带。     

Fractionated Ilmenite-series Granites in Southwest Japan: Source Magma for REE-Sn-W Mineralizations

Abstract. Various leucocratic biotite granites, low-temperature I-type, from the middle zone of the Sanyo ilmenite-series granitic terrane were studied chemically. These granites are locally associated with REE-Sn-W mineralizations, and were compared with unmineralized granites and batholithic Ryoke granites in three areas of the Chubu, Kinki and Chugoku Districts. They are unique in the region because they have extremely low ferromagnesian components but high Rb/Sr and 10000Ga/Al ratios. These granites are divided petrographically into the main phase, finer-grained marginal phase and younger sheets and dikelets. These rocks have increasing of HREE+Y and Nb+Ta contents in this order, which is also followed by decreasing zircon saturation temperature from 780 to 725C. Together with the mode of occurrence of these granites, the leucogranitic magmas are considered to have formed by in-situ fractionation of the host granitic magmas near the top of the magma chambers. The concentration of HREE, Y, Nb and Ta in these Sanyo Belt leucogranites is principally controlled by magmatic fractionation.     

Origin and Petrogenetic Implications of Spessartine Garnet in Highly-Fractionated Granite from the Central Eastern Desert of Egypt

A highly-fractionated garnet-bearing muscovite granite represents the marginal granitic facies of the Abu-Diab multiphase pluton in the Central Eastern Desert of Egypt. New electron microprobe analyses(EMPA) and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(LA-ICP-MS) data from garnets are reported, in order to constrain their origin and genesis. Garnet in the Abu-Diab host granite is euhedral to subhedral, generally homogeneous and, in rare cases, it shows weak zonation. The garnet contains appreciable amounts of MnO and FeO, with lesser amounts of MgO and CaO, yielding an end-member formula of Sps_(61–72)Alm_(25–35)Prp_(1–4)Adr_(0–1). Moreover, it is depleted in large ion lithophile elements(LILE) with lower values of Ba, Nb and Sr relative to the primitive mantle. Additionally, it contains high concentrations of HREE and Y and their REE pattern shows strong negative Eu anomalies. The garnet was crystallized under relatively low temperature(646°C–591°C) and pressure( 3 kbar) conditions. The textural and chemical features indicate that the garnet is magmatic in origin and is chemically similar to that from highly-fractionated A-type granite. It was probably formed at the expense of biotite in a highly-evolved MnO-rich magma and/or by hydroxyl complexing of Mn during the ascending fluid phases.     

Metasomatism in mantle xenoliths from the Letlhakane kimberlites: estimation of element fluxes

A suite of metasomatised xenoliths from the Letlhakane kimberlite (Botswana) forms a metasomatic sequence from garnet peridotite to garnet phlogopite peridotite to phlogopite peridotite. Before the modal metasomatism, most of the Letlhakane xenoliths were depleted harzburgites that had been subjected to an earlier cryptic metasomatic event. Modal phlogopite and clinopyroxene - Cr-spinel increase at the expense of garnet and orthopyroxene with increasing degrees of metasomatism. The most metasomatised xenolith is a wehrlite. With progressive modal metasomatism, the clinopyroxene becomes enriched in Sr, Sc and the LREE, orthopyroxene becomes depleted in Ca and Ni, but enriched in Al and Mn, and olivine becomes depleted in Al and V. Garnet chemical composition largely remains unchanged. The garnet replacement reaction seen in most xenoliths allows the measurement of the flux of trace elements through detailed modal analysis of the pseudomorphs. Mass balance calculations show that the modally metasomatised rocks became enriched in incompatible elements such as Sr, Na, K, the LREE and the HFSE (Ti, Zr and Nb). Major elements (Al, Cr and Fe) and garnet-compatible trace elements (V, Y, Sc, and the HREE) were removed during this metasomatic process. The modal metasomatism caused a strong depletion in Al, and the results challenge previous suggestions that this metasomatic process merely occurred within an Al-poor environment. The data suggest that the xenoliths represent the mantle wallrock adjacent to a major conduit for an alkaline basic silicate melt (with high contents of volatile and incompatible elements). The volatile and incompatible element-enriched component of this melt percolated into the wallrock along a strong temperature gradient and caused the observed range of metasomatism.     

Apatite as an indicator mineral for mineral exploration: trace-element compositions and their relationship to host rock type

Over 700 apatite grains from a range of rock types have been analysed by laser-ablation microprobe ICPMS for 28 trace elements, to investigate the potential usefulness of apatite as an indicator mineral in mineral exploration. Apatites derived from different rock types have distinctive absolute and relative abundances of many trace elements (including rare-earth elements (REE), Sr, Y, Mn, Th), and chondrite-normalised trace-element patterns. The slope of chondrite-normalised REE patterns varies systematically from ultramafic through mafic/intermediate to highly fractionated granitoid rock types. (Ce/Yb)_cn is very high in apatites from carbonatites and mantle-derived lherzolites (over 100 and over 200, respectively), while (Ce/Yb)_cn values in apatites from granitic pegmatites are generally less than 1, reflecting both HREE enrichment and LREE depletion. Within a large suite of apatites from granitoid rocks, chemical composition is closely related to both the degree of fractionation and the oxidation state of the magma, two important parameters in determining the mineral potential of the magmatic system. Apatite can accept high levels of transition and chalcophile elements and As, making it feasible to recognise apatite associated with specific types of mineralisation. Multivariate statistical analysis has provided a user-friendly scheme to distinguish apatites from different rock types, based on contents of Sr, Y, Mn and total REE, the degree of LREE enrichment and the size of the Eu anomaly. The scheme can be used for the recognition of apatites from specific rock types or styles of mineralisation, so that the provenance of apatite grains in heavy mineral concentrates can be determined and used in geochemical exploration.     

Trace element distribution in mineral inclusions in zoned garnets from eclogites of the Atbashi Range (South Tianshan)

Ion microprobe data for minerals from the eclogites of the Atbashi Range (South Tianshan) constrain the distribution of trace (Rb, Sr, Ba, Cr, V, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, U, Th, and Y) and rare-earth elements (REE) in zoned garnets and mineral inclusions in them. This study showed that garnets from the Atbashi eclogites are the main hosts for heavy REE; epidotes are important hosts for REE, Y, Sr, Th, and U; and omphacites are depleted in almost all trace elements compared with the bulk-rock compositions. Garnet, as well as epidote and omphacite inclusions exhibit systematic rimward depletion in a number of trace elements, which is related to the depletion of the rock matrix in these elements during crystallization. Deviations from this trend, including the enrichment of garnet rims in HREE and strong variations in the REE contents of garnets and mineral inclusions, can be explained by metamorphic reactions involving the destabilization of REE-bearing minerals. Our data suggest that the mobility of trace elements under eclogites-facies conditions is mainly controlled by the stability of certain minerals.     

Geochemistry of granulite‐facies granitic rocks from Battye Glacier,northern Prince Charles Mountains,East Antarctica

Proterozoic basement outcrops in the vicinity of Battye Glacier, northern Prince Charles Mountains, are dominated by granulites and gneisses derived from felsic (granitoid) intrusive igneous rocks, and by pegmatites. Felsic orthopyroxene granulites, garnet leucogneisses and garnet pegmatites have major and trace element compositions of highly felsic, but not strongly fractionated, granites. The garnet leucogneisses and garnet pegmatites have S‐type characteristics, whereas the felsic granulites are probably I‐type, although their high Zr+Nb+Y+Ce abundances suggest possible A‐type affinities. Intermediate orthopyroxene ± clinopyroxene granulites mostly resemble I‐type quartz diorites, except for a small subgroup of samples (characterised by low Na₂O and K₂O, and high MgO, Ni, Cr and HREE) of uncertain affinities and significance. Element ratios involving LILE (e.g. K/Rb, Rb/Ba, Rb/Sr, K/La, La/Th) closely match those typical of the inferred granitoid protoliths, suggesting that these rocks have experienced relatively little LILE depletion (except possibly for U) during regional metamorphism. It is therefore inferred that metamorphism was probably broadly isochemical. Because the felsic and intermediate granulites and garnet leucogneisses are Sr‐depleted, Y‐undepleted and mostly have negative Eu anomalies they are inferred to be the products of partial melting of felsic crustal sources leaving plagioclase‐bearing residua. Plagioclase fractionation during crystallisation could also account for these characteristics, but K/Rb, Rb/Ba and Rb/Sr ratios in these rocks are not consistent with strong fractionation of feldspar. Garnet pegmatites differ chemically from garnet leucogneisses mainly in their lower Fe, Ti, Nb, Zn, Zr, Th and REE abundances and positive Eu anomalies, related to lower garnet, ilmenite and zircon contents in the garnet pegmatites. A genetic link between these two rock types, probably involving fractionation of these minerals during partial melting or crystallisation, is inferred. Incompatible‐element abundances suggest that generation of the Battye Glacier granitic magmas from felsic crust might have occurred in a mature continental magmatic arc possibly well removed from an active subduction trench or, perhaps, in an intracontinental setting.