The Role of Partial Melting and Fractional Crystallization in Determining Discordant Migmatite Leucosome Compositions

Anatectic migmatite leucosomes in the Quetico MetasedimentaryBelt (Superior Province) are discordant to the host rock layering.Two morphological varieties within the anatectic leucosome suiteare distinguished. The first type show little compositionalor textural variation either across, or along, the leucosomes.In contrast, the second variety exhibits both compositionaland textural variations in a single leucosome, typically withinternal cross-cutting relationships. Major-oxide contents varycomparatively little in the Quetico anatectic leucosome suite,but there is a considerable range in the incompatible element(REE, Hf, Zr, Y and Th) concentrations. In particular La contentsrange from 1.8 to 78.1 p.p.m. and the La/Yb ratios from 9.1to 101.9. Samples with high REE contents have negative Eu anomalies,whereas those with low total REE abundances have positive Euanomalies, which indicate that feldspar fractionation was importantin their petrogenesis. Three samples which have no Eu anomalies,and which are taken not to have experienced significant feldsparfractionation, are regarded as the closest approximation toa primary melt composition. Petrographic evidence indicates that only the most aluminousbulk compositions in the host rocks have melted, with cordieriteand biotite as the principal residual phases. Batch partialmelting models indicate that the three leucosomes without Euanomalies could have been derived from 40–80 per centpartial melting of the aluminous metasediments, but garnet musthave been a residual phase. Since the residuum from 40 per centpartial melting is more mafic than any of the rocks currentlyexposed in the area, it is concluded that the melting whichgave rise to the leucosomes occurred at greater depth. Crystallization models indicate that the observed range of leucosomecompositions can be derived by crystal fractionation of meltcompositions similar to the three leucosomes lacking Eu anomalies(i.e. the assumed primary melts). Samples with high abundancesof incompatible elements and negative Eu anomalies representfractionated melts, whereas those with low levels of REE andpositive Eu anomalies represent cumulates. Leucosome composition,morphology and texture can be related to crystallization history,notably the timing of crystallization with respect to leucosomeintrusion. In particular, those leucosomes that exhibit compositionaland textural zoning are interpreted to have undergone crystalfractionation during intrusion. Although a suite of migmatite leucosomes may be derived by partialmelting, it is concluded that the trace-element compositionof any particular leucosome depends, to a great extent, uponits segregation and crystallization history. Indeed, the primarymelt composition may not be preserved.