Origin,age and petrogenesis of Neoproterozoic composite dikes from the Arabian‐Nubian Shield,SW Jordan

The evolution of a Pan‐African (c. 900–550 Ma) suite of composite dikes, with latite margins and rhyolite interiors, from southwest Jordan is discussed. The dikes cut the Neoproterozoic calc‐alkaline granitoids and high‐grade metamorphic rocks (c. 800–600 Ma) of the northern Arabian‐Nubian Shield in Jordan and have been dated by the Rb‐Sr isochron method at 566±7 Ma. The symmetrically distributed latite margins constitute less than one‐quarter of the whole dike thickness. The rhyolite intruded a median fracture within the latite, while the latter was still hot but completely solidified. The dikes are alkaline and bimodal in composition with a gap in SiO₂ between 61 and 74 wt%. Both end members display similar chondrite‐normalized rare earth element patterns. The rhyolites display the compositional signature of A‐type granites. The (La/Lu)_N values are 6.02 and 4.91 for latites and rhyolites, respectively, and the rhyolites show a pronounced negative Eu anomaly, in contrast to the slight negative Eu anomaly of the latites. The chemical variability (e.g. Zr/Y, Zr/Nb, K/Rb) within and between latites and rhyolites does not support a fractional crystallization relationship between the felsic and mafic members of the dikes. We interpret the magma genesis of the composite dikes as the result of intrusion of mantle‐derived mafic magma into the lower crust in an extensional tectonic regime. The mafic magma underwent extensive fractional crystallization, which supplied the necessary heat for melting of the lower crust. The products of the initial stages of partial melting (5–10%) mixed with the fractionating mafic magma and gave rise to the latite melts. Further partial melting of the lower crust (up to 30%) produced a felsic melt, which upon 50% fractional crystallization (hornblende 15%, biotite 5%, feldspars 60%, and quartz 20%) gave rise to the rhyolitic magma. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.