Intrusion of basaltic magma into a crystallizing granitic magma chamber: The Cordillera del Paine pluton in southern Chile

The Cordillera del Paine pluton in the southernmost Andes of Chile represents a deeply dissected magma chamber where mafic magma intruded into crystallizing granitic magma. Throughout much of the 10x15 km pluton, there is a sharp and continuous boundary at a remarkably constant elevation of 1,100 m that separates granitic rocks (Cordillera del Paine or CP granite: 69–77% SiO₂) which make up the upper levels of the pluton from mafic and comingled rocks (Paine Mafic Complex or PMC: 45–60% SiO₂) which dominate the lower exposures of the pluton. Chilled, crenulate, disrupted contacts of mafic rock against granite demonstrate that partly crystallized granite was intruded by mafic magma which solidified prior to complete crystallization of the granitic magma. The boundary at 1,100 m was a large and stable density contrast between the denser, hotter mafic magma and cooler granitic magma. The granitic magma was more solidified near the margins of the chamber when mafic intrusion occurred, and the PMC is less disrupted by granites there. Near the pluton margins, the PMC grades upward irregularly from cumulate gabbros to monzodiorites. Mafic magma differentiated largely by fractional crystallization as indicated by the presence of cumulate rocks and by the low levels of compatible elements in most PMC rocks. The compositional gap between the PMC and CP granite indicates that mixing (blending) of granitic magma into the mafic magma was less important, although it is apparent from mineral assemblages in mafic rocks. Granitic magma may have incorporated small amounts of mafic liquid that had evolved to >60% SiO₂ by crystallization. Mixing was inhibited by the extent of crystallization of the granite, and by the thermal contrast and the stable density contrast between the magmas. PMC gabbros display disequilibrium mineral assemblages including early formed zoned olivine (with orthopyroxene coronas), clinopyroxene, calcic plagioclase and paragasite and later-formed amphibole, sodic plagioclase, mica and quartz. The early formed gabbroic minerals (and their coronas) are very similar to phenocrysts in late basaltic dikes that cut the upper levels of the CP granite. The inferred parental magmas of both dikes and gabbros were very similar to subalkaline basalts of the Patagonian Plateau that erupted at about the same time, 35 km to the east. Mafic and silicic magmas at Cordillera del Paine are consanguineous, as demonstrated by alkalinity and trace-element ratios. However, the contemporaneity of mafic and silicic magmas precludes a parent-daughter relationship. The granitic magma most likely was derived by differentiation of mafic magmas that were similar to those that later intruded it. Or, the granitic magma may have been contaminated by mafic magmas similar to the PMC magmas before its shallow emplacement. Mixing would be favored at deeper levels when the cooling rate was lower and the granitic magma was less solidified.     

东天山石炭纪—二叠纪花岗质侵入岩的地球化学及地质意义

东天山吐哈盆地南缘至喀拉塔格—星星峡地块,晚古生代花岗质侵入岩岩石类型主要有花岗闪长岩、二长花岗岩、石英闪长岩、石英二长闪长岩。岩石地球化学特征表明：Si O2质量分数为57.3%~77.76%,全碱（K2O＋Na2O）质量分数为4.14%~10.49%,Ca O质量分数为0.49%~6.56%,Al2O3质量分数为11.39%~14.76%,铝饱和指数（A/CNK）为0.77~1.04,属于高钾钙碱性系列—钾玄质系列的准铝质花岗岩。稀土总量较高且轻稀土富集,富集Rb、Th、U、K、Pb,而亏损Nb、Ta、Ti、P,无明显负Eu异常。区域构造背景、岩石学和地球化学特征综合分析显示,东天山石炭纪—二叠纪花岗质侵入岩,是后碰撞构造演化阶段岩浆活动的产物,主要由幔源岩浆底侵引起的地壳物质部分熔融所形成的钙碱性花岗闪长质岩浆经高度演化及分异结晶作用而成。     

Early Cretaceous Magma Mingling in Xiaocuo, Southeastern China Continental Margin: Implications for Subduction of Paleo-Pacific Plate

Magma mingling has been identified within the continental margin of southeastern China.This study focuses on the relationship between mafic and felsic igneous rocks in composite dikes and plutons in this area,and uses this relationship to examine the tectonic and geodynamic implications of the mingling of mafic and felsic magmas.Mafic magmatic enclaves(MMEs) show complex relationships with the hosting Xiaocuo granite in Fujian area,including lenticular to rounded porphyritic microgranular enclaves containing abundant felsic/mafic phenocrysts,elongate mafic enclaves,and back-veining of the felsic host granite into mafic enclaves.LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb analyses show crystallization of the granite and dioritic mafic magmatic enclave during ca.132 and 116 Ma.The host granite and MMEs both show zircon growth during repeated thermal events at-210 Ma and 160-180 Ma.Samples from the magma mingling zone generally contain felsic-derived zircons with well-developed growth zoning and aspect ratios of 2-3,and maficderived zircons with no obvious oscillatory zoning and with higher aspect ratios of 5-10.However,these two groups of zircons show no obvious trace element or age differences.The Hf-isotope compositions show that the host granite and MMEs have similar ε_(Hf)(t) values from negative to positive which suggest a mixed source from partial melting of the Meso-Neoproterozoic with involvement of enriched mantlederived magmas or juvenile components.The lithologies,mineral associations,and geochemical characteristics of the mafic and felsic rocks in this study area indicate that both were intruded together,suggesting Early Cretaceous mantle—crustal interactions along the southeastern China continental margin.The Early Cretaceous magma mingling is correlated to subduction of Paleo-Pacific plate.     

Petrology and petrogenesis of the Mount Stuart batholith — Plutonic equivalent of the high-alumina basalt association?

The Mount Stuart batholith is a Late Cretaceous calc-alkaline pluton composed of rocks ranging in composition from two-pyroxene gabbro to granite. Quartz diorite is most abundant. This batholith may represent the plutonic counterpart of the high-alumina basalt association. A petrogenetic model is developed in which this intrusive series evolved from one batch of magnesian high-alumina basalt, represented by the oldest intrusive phase, by successive crystal fractionation of ascending residual magma. However, the possibility that this intrusive suite originated from an andésite (quartz diorite) parent by fractionation cannot be excluded.Computer modeling of this intrusive sequence provides a quantitative evaluation of the sequential change of magma composition. These calculations clearly indicate that the igneous suite is consanguineous, and that subtraction of early-formed crystals from the oldest rock is capable of reproducing the entire magma series with a remainder of 2–3% granitic liquid. This model requires that large amounts of gabbroic cumulate remain hidden at depth- an amount equal to approximately 8–10X the volume of the exposed batholith. Mass balances between the amounts of cumulate and residual liquid calculated compare favorably with the observed amounts of intermediate rocks exposed in the batholith, but not with the mafic rocks.Mafic magmas probably fractionated at depth by crystal settling, whereas younger quartz diorite and more granitic magmas underwent inward crystallization producing gradationally zoned plutons exposed at present erosional levels.     

Cathodoluminescence imaging and titanium thermometry in metamorphic quartz

Cathodoluminescence (CL) of quartz from metamorphic rocks representing a range of conditions from the garnet grade to the migmatite grade reveals a variety of textures, that is, a function of metamorphic grade and deformation history. Ti concentrations, determined by electron microprobe and ion microprobe, generally correlate with CL intensity (blue wavelengths), and application of the Ti‐in‐quartz thermometer (TitaniQ) reflects the temperature of quartz growth or recrystallization, and, in some settings, modification by diffusion. Quartz from garnet grade samples is not visibly zoned, records temperatures of 425–475 °C, and is interpreted to have recrystallized during fabric formation. Quartz grains from staurolite grade samples are zoned in CL with markedly darker cores and brighter rims, some of which are interpreted to have been produced by the dominant staurolite‐producing reaction, whereas others are interpreted as having formed by diffusion of Ti into quartz rims. Quartz from the matrix of kyanite and sillimanite grade samples are generally unzoned, although locally displays slightly brighter rims (higher Ti); quartz inclusions within garnet and staurolite have distinctly brighter rims, which are interpreted as having been produced by diffusive exchange with the host mineral. Quartz from migmatite grade samples displays highly variable CL intensity, which is dependent on the location of the grain. Matrix grains in melanosomes are largely unzoned or rarely zoned with darker cores. Leucosome quartz is strongly zoned with bright cores and dark rims and is interpreted as having formed during crystallization of the melt. Locally within the leucosome is observed oscillatory‐zoned quartz, which is interpreted as a subsolidus recrystallization to achieve strain relaxation. Quartz inclusions within garnet or plagioclase crystals often show bright domains separated by zones of dark CL. These enigmatic textures possibly reflect local melting fluxed by fluid inclusions. Temperatures calculated from the Ti–in–quartz thermometer are a function of the metamorphic grade of the sample, the textural setting of the quartz, the reaction history and the deformation history of the rock. The TitaniQ temperatures can be used to constrain the conditions at which various metamorphic processes have occurred.     

Isotopic evidence for multiple contributions to felsic magma chambers: Gouldsboro Granite, Coastal Maine

The Gouldsboro Granite forms part of the Coastal Maine Magmatic Province, a region characterized by granitic plutons that are intimately linked temporally and petrogenetically with abundant co-existing mafic magmas. The pluton is complex and preserves a felsic magma chamber underlain by contemporaneous mafic magmas; the transition between the two now preserved as a zone of chilled mafic sheets and pillows in granite. Mafic components have highly variably isotopic compositions as a result of contamination either at depth or following injection into the magma chamber. Intermediate dikes with identical isotopic compositions to more mafic dikes suggest that closed system fractionation may be occurring in deeper level chambers prior to injection to shallower levels. The granitic portion of the pluton has the highest Nd isotopic composition (ε_Nd = + 3.0) of plutons in the region whereas the mafic lithologies have Nd isotopic compositions (ε_Nd = + 3.5) that are the lowest in the region and similar to the granite and suggestive of prolonged interactions and homogenization of the two components. Sr and Nd isotopic data for felsic enclaves are inconsistent with previously suggested models of diffusional exchange between the contemporaneous mafic magmas and the host granite to explain highly variable alkali contents. The felsic enclaves have relatively low Nd isotopic compositions (ε_Nd = + 2 – + 1) indicative of the involvement of a third, lower ε_Nd melt during granite petrogenesis, perhaps represented by pristine granitic dikes contemporaneous with the nearby Pleasant Bay Layered Intrusion. The dikes at Pleasant Bay and the felsic enclaves at Gouldsboro likely represent remnants of the silicic magmas that originally fed and replenished the overlying granitic magma chambers. The large isotopic (and chemical) contrasts between the enclaves and granitic dikes and granitic magmas may be in part a consequence of extended interactions between the granitic magmas and co-existing mafic magmas by mixing, mingling and diffusion. Alternatively, the granitic magmas may represent an additional crustal source. Using granitic rocks such as these with abundant evidence for interactions with mafic magmas complicate their use in constraining crustal sources and tectonic settings. Fine-grained dike rocks may provide more meaningful information, but must be used with caution as these may also have experienced compositional changes during mafic–felsic interactions.     

Origin of quartz clusters in Vinalhaven granite and porphyry,coastal Maine

We use the crystallographic orientations of quartz crystals, as determined with EBSD, to provide new evidence for the formation of clustered quartz crystals during magma crystallization. Vinalhaven is dominated by granite, with minor porphyry that formed when granite remelted during input of coeval basalt. CL zoning suggests that most quartz clusters in granite and porphyry formed by synneusis, the “swimming together” of preformed crystals. In granite, most quartz pairs in clusters have random orientations—only about 10% have parallel or Esterel twin orientations. Porphyry has fewer quartz clusters, and all pairs have approximately parallel or Esterel twin orientations. CL zoning of quartz pairs in porphyry indicates that they attached prior to a major remelting event. Interpretation of the Vinalhaven quartz clusters leads us to propose that oriented synneusis occurs during crystal accumulation on a magma chamber floor. During hindered settling, some quartz crystals should have come into contact along their dipyramidal faces. Once in contact, continued settling and loss of interstitial melt may have rotated some quartz crystals such that lattices on their dipyramidal faces matched—producing parallel and Esterel twin orientations and creating strong bonds between pairs. Only a small proportion of pairs with matched dipyramidal faces formed in the granite and, during rejuvenation to produce porphyry, only these oriented pairs survived. Hence, the presence of oriented synneusis in a plutonic rock may demonstrate a history of crystal accumulation.     

Geochemistry, Geochronology and Lu-Hf Isotopes of Peraluminous Granitic Porphyry from the Walegen Au Deposit, West Qinling Terrane

Walegen Au deposit is closely correlated with granitic intrusions of Triassic age, which are composed of granite and quartz porphyries. Both granite porphyry and quartz porphyry consist of quartz, feldspar and muscovite as primary minerals. Weakly peraluminous granite porphyry(A/CNK=1.10–1.15) is enriched in LREE, depleted in HREE with Nb-Ta-Ti anomalies, and displays subduction-related geochemistry. Quartz porphyry is strongly peraluminous(A/CNK=1.64–2.81) with highly evolved components, characterized by lower TiO_2, REE contents, Mg~#, K/Rb, Nb/Ta, Zr/Hf ratios and higher Rb/Sr ratios than the granite porphyry. REE patterns of quartz porphyry exhibit lanthanide tetrad effect, resulting from mineral fractionation or participation of fluids with enriched F and Cl. LAICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating indicates quartz porphyry formed at 233±3 Ma. The ages of relict zircons from Triassic magmatic rocks match well with the detrital zircons from regional area. In addition, ε_(Hf)(t) values of Triassic magmatic zircons from the granite and quartz porphyries are -14.2 to -9.1(with an exception of +4.1) and -10.8 to -8.6 respectively, indicating a crustal-dominant source. Regionally, numerous Middle Triassic granitoids were previously reported to be formed under the consumption of Paleotethyan Ocean. These facts indicate that the granitic porphyries from Walegen Au deposit may have been formed in the processes of the closing of Paleotethyan Ocean, which could correlate with the arc-related magmatism in the Kunlun orogen to the west and the Qinling orogen to the east.     

Petrology of calc-alkaline/adakitic basement hosting A-type Neoproterozoic granites of the Malani igneous suite in Nagar Parkar,SE Sindh,Pakistan

The Nagar Parkar area contains three distinct groups of rocks, from oldest to youngest, (1) basement rocks ranging in composition from mafic to (quartz)diorite, tonalite, granite, and younger granodiorite, (2) granite plutons similar in general features to those of the Malani Igneous Suite of Rajasthan, and (3) abundant mafic, felsic and rhyolitic dykes. The basement rocks show strong brittle and local plastic deformation, and epidote amphibolite/upper greenschist facies metamorphic overprint. The chemistry of the basement rocks contrasts the commonly agreed within plate A-type character of the Neoproterozoic granites (group 2) that are emplaced into them. The basement rock association is calc-alkaline; the granodiorite displays the compositional characteristics of adakites, whereas the tonalite has intermediate composition between typical adakite and classical island arc rocks. This paper presents detailed petrography of the basement rocks and compares their geochemistry with those of the group 2 granites as well as with rocks from other tectonic environments. It is proposed that the Nagar Parkar basement is part of a 900–840 Ma magmatic arc that was deformed before it was intruded 800–700 Ma ago by the A-type continental granitic rocks followed by mafic to felsic dykes.     

Timing and geochemistry of potassic magmatism in the eastern part of the Svecofennian domain,NW Ladoga Lake Region,Russian Karelia

The Puutsaari intrusion is a potassium-rich magmatic complex in the eastern part of the Svecofennian domain close to the Archaean border. The intrusion is generally undeformed in contrast to 1880–1875 Ma-old country rock tonalitic migmatites and diatectites. The main rock types are: (1) mafic rocks of a gabbro–norite–diorite–quartz monzodiorite series; (2) quartz diorite–tonalite–granodiorite; and (3) coarse-grained microcline granite. The three rock-types intruded coevally forming a peculiar three-component mingling system. The mafic rocks, enriched in K, P, Ba, Sr and LREE, have marked shoshonitic affinities (K₂O=1.97–5.40, K₂O/Na₂O=0.6–2.37). On a regional scale they demonstrate transitional geochemistry between less enriched syn-orogenic 1880 Ma-old gabbro–tonalite complexes and strongly enriched 1800 Ma post-collisional shoshonitic intrusions. The microcline granite as well as the tonalite–granodiorite rocks are geochemically similar to crustal anatectic granitoids of the NW Ladoga Lake area. The three rock groups do not form a single trend on Harker-type diagrams and are unlikely to be related by fractional crystallisation or mixing. Zircons from the Puutsaari microcline granite and from the mafic rock series have been dated by ion-microprobe (NORDSIM) at 1868.2±5.9 and 1869±7.7 Ma, respectively. Most zircons recovered from a granite sample had zoned or homogeneous cores and unzoned fractured rims. No statistically significant variation of zircon core and rim ages from the granite was established in the course of this study. Zircons from the mafic rock are unzoned. It is suggested that the mafic rocks at Puutsaari were derived from an enriched mantle shortly after the main Svecofennian collisional event and the roughly 1.88 Ga regional metamorphic culmination. The emplacement of the mafic melt caused anatectic melting of various crustal protoliths and produced coeval granitic and tonalitic compositions.     

Quartz chemistry – A step to understanding magmatic-hydrothermal processes in ore-bearing granites: Cínovec/Zinnwald Sn-W-Li deposit,Central Europe

Quartz from granites, greisens and quartz veins from a 1596 m long vertical section through the Cínovec/Zinnwald Li-Sn-W deposit (Czech Republic) was studied using cathodoluminescence (CL) and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP MS). The trace contents of Al, Ti, Li and the Ge/Ti and Al/Ti values in quartz reflect the degree of fractionation of parental melt from which primary quartz crystallized. From the biotite granite to the younger zinnwaldite granite, quartz is characterized by increasing contents of Al (from 136–176 to 240–280 ppm) and decreasing Ti (from 16–54 to 6–14 ppm), while the contents of Li and Ge are similar (15–36 and 0.8–1.7 ppm, respectively). Quartz of the greisen stage and vein stage is poor in all measured elements (26–59 ppm Al, 0.5–1.6 ppm Ti, 2–13 ppm Li, 0.8–1.6 ppm Ge). The youngest low-temperature quartz forming thin coatings in vugs in greisen and veins differs in its extreme enrichment in Al (>1000 ppm) and Li (∼100 ppm) and very low Ti (<1 ppm). Within the greisen, remnants of primary magmatic quartz should be distinguished from metasomatic greisen-stage quartz in their higher intensity of CL and relatively higher Ti contents. A part of primary magmatic quartz may by secondarily purified via infiltration of hydrothermal fluids and dissolution–reprecipitation processes. Such quartz parallels newly formed greisen-stage quartz in its chemical and CL properties; the share of greisen-stage quartz may by therefore overestimated.     

Crust-derived felsic magmatism in the Emeishan large igneous Province: New evidence from zircon U-Pb-Hf-O isotope from the Yangtze Block,China

Numerous intrusive bodies of mafic–ultramafic to felsic compositions are exposed in association with volcanic rocks in the Late Permian Emeishan large igneous province (ELIP), southwestern China. Most of the granitic rocks in the ELIP were derived by differentiation of basaltic magmas with a mantle connection, and crustal magmas have rarely been studied. Here we investigate a suite of mafic dykes and I-type granites that yield zircon U-Pb emplacement ages of 259.9 ± 1.2 Ma and 259.3 ± 1.3 Ma, respectively. The ε_Hf(t) values of zircon from the DZ mafic dyke are –0.3 to 9.4, and their corresponding T_DM1 values are in the range of 919–523 Ma. The ε_Hf(t) values of zircon from the DSC I-type granite are between –1 and 3, with T_DM1 values showing a range of 938–782 Ma. We also present zircon O isotope data on crust-derived felsic intrusions from the ELIP for the first time. The δ¹⁸O values of zircon from the DSC I-type granite ranges from 4.87‰ to 7.5‰. The field, petrologic, geochemical and isotopic data from our study lead to the following salient findings. (i) The geochronological study of mafic and felsic intrusive rocks in the ELIP shows that the ages of mafic and felsic magmatism are similar. (ii) The DZ mafic dyke and high-Ti basalts have the same source, i.e., the Emeishan mantle plume. The mafic dyke formed from magmas sourced at the transitional depth between from garnet-lherzolite and spinel-lherzolite, with low degree partial melting (<10%). (iii) The Hf-O isotope data suggest that the DSC I-type granite was formed by partial melting of Neoproterozoic juvenile crust and was contaminated by minor volumes of chemically weathered ancient crustal material. (iv) The heat source leading to the formation of the crust-derived felsic rocks in of the ELIP is considered to be mafic–ultramafic magmas generated by a mantle plume, which partially melted the overlying crust, generating the felsic magma.     

Field evidence,mineral chemical and geochemical constraints on mafic-felsic magma interactions in a vertically zoned magma chamber from the Chotanagpur Granite Gneiss Complex of Eastern India

The Nimchak granite pluton (NGP) of Chotanagpur Granite Gneiss Complex (CGGC), Eastern India, provides ample evidence of magma interaction in a plutonic regime for the first time in this part of the Indian shield. A number of outcrop level magmatic structures reported from many mafic-felsic mixing and mingling zones worldwide, such as synplutonic dykes, mafic magmatic enclaves and hybrid rocks extensively occur in our study domain. From field observations it appears that the Nimchak pluton was a vertically zoned magma chamber that was intruded by a number of mafic dykes during the whole crystallization history of the magma chamber leading to magma mixing and mingling scenario. The lower part of the pluton is occupied by coarse-grained granodiorite (64.84–66.61?wt.% SiO₂), while the upper part is occupied by fine-grained granite (69.80–70.57?wt.% SiO₂). Field relationships along with textural and geochemical signatures of the pluton suggest that it is a well-exposed felsic magma chamber that was zoned due to fractional crystallization. The intruding mafic magma interacted differently with the upper and lower granitoids. The lower granodiorite is characterized by mafic feeder dykes and larger mafic magmatic enclaves, whereas the enclaves occurring in the upper granite are comparatively smaller and the feeder dykes could not be traced here, except two late-stage mafic dykes. The mafic enclaves occurring in the upper granite show higher degrees of hybridization with respect to those occurring in the lower granite. Furthermore, enclaves are widely distributed in the upper granite, whereas enclaves in the lower granite occur adjacent to the main feeder dykes.Geochemical signatures confirm that the intermediate rocks occurring in the Nimchak pluton are mixing products formed due to the mixing of mafic and felsic magmas. A number of important physical properties of magmas like temperature, viscosity, glass transition temperature and fragility have been used in magma mixing models to evaluate the process of magma mixing. A geodynamic model of pluton construction and evolution is presented that shows episodic replenishments of mafic magma into the crystallizing felsic magma chamber from below. Data are consistent with a model whereby mafic magma ponded at the crust-mantle boundary and melted the overlying crust to form felsic (granitic) magma. The mafic magma episodically rose, injected and interacted with an overlying felsic magma chamber that was undergoing fractional crystallization forming hybrid intermediate rocks. The intrusion of mafic magma continued after complete solidification of the magma chamber as indicated by the presence of two late-stage mafic dykes.     

Early Permian East-Ujimqin mafic–ultramafic and granitic rocks from the Xing’an–Mongolian Orogenic Belt,North China: Origin,chronology, and tectonic implications

The East-Ujimqin complex, located north of the Erenhot–Hegenshan fault, North China, is composed of mafic–ultramafic and granitic rocks including peridotite, gabbro, alkali granite, and syenite. We investigated the tectonic setting, age, and anorogenic characteristics of the Xing’an–Mongolian Orogenic Belt (XMOB) through field investigation and microscopic and geochemical analyses of samples from the East-Ujimqin complex and LA-MC-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb dating of gabbro and alkali granite. Petrographic and geochemical studies of the complex indicate that this multiphase plutonic suite developed through a combination of fractional crystallization, assimilation processes, and magma mixing. The mafic–ultramafic rocks are alkaline and have within-plate geochemical characteristics, indicating anorogenic magmatism in an extensional setting and derivation from a mantle source. The mafic–ultramafic magmas triggered partial melting of the crust and generated the granitic rocks. The granitic rocks are alkali and metaluminous and have high Fe/(Fe + Mg) characteristics, all of which are common features of within-plate plutons. Zircon U–Pb geochronological dating of two samples of gabbro and alkali granite yielded ages of 280.8 ± 1.5 and 276.4 ± 0.7 Ma, placing them within the Early Permian. The zircon Hf isotopic data give inhomogeneous ε_Hf(t) values of 8.2–14.7 for gabbroic zircons and extraordinary high ε_Hf(t) values (8.9–12.5) for the alkali granite in magmatic zircons. Thus, we consider the East-Ujimqin mafic–ultramafic and granitic rocks to have been formed in an extensional tectonic setting caused by asthenospheric upwelling and lithospheric thinning. The sources of mafic–ultramafic and granitic rocks could be depleted garnet lherzolite mantle and juvenile continental lower crust, respectively. All the above indicate that an anorogenic magma event may have occurred in part of the XMOB during 280–276 Ma.     

Geochronology,petrogenesis and tectonic implications of the Zhongchuan granitic pluton in the Western Qinling metallogenic belt,China

The Zhongchuan district is an important component of the metallogenic belt in the Western Qinling. The Zhongchuan granite pluton occurring in the centre of the Zhongchuan metallogenic area has been poorly constrained, though the Triassic granite in Western Qinling has been well documented. In‐situ zircon U–Pb ages, Hf isotopic compositions and whole‐rock geochemical data are presented for host granite and mafic microgranular enclaves (MMES) from the Zhongchuan pluton, in order to constrain its sources, petrogenesis and tectonic setting of the pluton. The distribution of major, trace and rare earth elements apparently reflect exchange between the MMES and the host granitic rocks mainly due to interactions between coeval felsic host magma and mafic magma. The zircon U–Pb age of host granite (231.6 ± 1.5 to 235.8 ± 2.3 Ma) has overlapping uncertainty with that of the MMES (236.6 ± 1.3 Ma), establishing that the mafic and felsic magmas were coeval. The Hf isotopic composition of the MMES (ε_Hf(t) = −13.4 to 4.0) is distinct from the host granite (ε_Hf(t) = −15.7 to 0.0), indicating that both enriched subcontinental lithosphere mantle (SCLM) and crustal sources contributed to their origin. The zircons have two‐stage Hf model ages of 1064 to 1798 Ma for the host granite and 858 to 1747 Ma for the MMES. This suggests that the granitic pluton was likely derived from partial melting of a Late Mesoproterozoic crust, with subsequent interaction with the SCLM‐derived mafic magmas in tectonic affinity to the South China Block. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

新疆尾亚矿区3期岩浆混合作用的初步研究

新疆东天山的尾亚钒钛磁铁矿矿区，发育3期岩浆混合作用。第一期为辉长质与花岗质岩浆混合．并生成闪长质岩石；第二期为闪长质与花岗质岩浆的混合，生成了石英二长质岩浆；第三期为石英二长岩浆与闪长质岩浆的混合。在各类岩石氧化物对SiO2的哈克图解上，尾亚3期岩浆混合岩石的投影点分别呈相关的线性关系。在稀土和微量元素方面，3期岩浆混合作用形成的岩石分别表现出相近的地球化学特征。配分曲线形态各自相似．形成的过渡岩石——岩浆混合岩类与各自的端元岩石具有继承关系。3期岩浆混合作用之间具有明显的继承性：第一期形成的岩浆混合岩，成分相当于闪长岩，与第二期岩浆混合的基性端元属同类岩石．且与第二期各类岩石具有相似的地球化学特征；第二期形成的石英二长闪长岩，与第三期的端元岩石石英二长斑岩体完全可以对比。尾亚地区的3期岩浆混合作用表明，混合作用可以是多阶段、多期次的，本区火成岩类最初的母岩浆是酸性的陆壳硅铝质和基性的幔源铁镁质岩浆。岩浆混合作用反映了本区壳幔相互作用的本质。     

桂岭岩体及其暗色微粒包体的岩石成因和地质意义

文章通过桂岭岩体及其暗色微粒包体的岩石学和地球化学研究,探讨了南岭西段早古生代壳幔相互作用及其构造背景.研究结果表明,桂岭岩体主要岩石类型为黑云母二长花岗岩,其SiO2含量为70.24％～75.13％,全碱含量为7.95％～8.44％;(La/Yb)N值为5.0～8.4,具有轻稀土富集、重稀土亏损和明显负Eu异常(δE...     

Ti diffusion in quartz inclusions: implications for metamorphic time scales

Quartz inclusions in garnet from samples collected from the staurolite zone in central New England are zoned in cathodoluminescence (CL). The CL intensity is interpreted to be a proxy for Ti concentration and the zoning attributed to Ti diffusion into the quartz grains driven by Ti exchange between quartz and enclosing garnet as a function of changing temperature. The CL zoning has been interpreted using a numerical diffusion model to constrain the time scales over which the diffusion has occurred. Temperature–time histories are sensitive to the presumed peak temperature but not to other model parameters. The total time of the metamorphic heating and cooling cycle from around 450?°C to the peak temperature (550–600?°C) back to 450?°C is surprisingly short and encompasses only 0.2–2 million years for peak temperatures of 600–550?°C. The metamorphism was accompanied by large-scale nappe and dome formation, and it is suggested that this occurred as a consequence of in-sequence thrusting resulting in a mid-crustal ductile duplex structure.     

Determining heterogeneous deformation for granitic rocks in the northern thrust in Wadi Mubarak belt,Eastern Desert,Egypt

Finite-strain was studied in the mylonitic granitic and metasedimentary rocks in the northern thrust in Wadi Mubarak belt to show a relationship to nappe contacts between the old granitic and metavolcano-sedimentary rocks and to shed light on the heterogeneous deformation for the northern thrust in Wadi Mubarak belt. We used the R_f/ϕ and Fry methods on feldspar porphyroclasts, quartz and mafic grains from 7 old granitic and 7 metasedimentary samples in the northern thrust in Wadi Mubarak belt. The finite-strain data shows that old granitic rocks were moderate to highly deformed and axial ratios in the XZ section range from 3.05 to 7.10 for granitic and metasedimentary rocks. The long axes (X) of the finite-strain ellipsoids trend W/WNW and E/ENE in the northern thrust in Wadi Mubarak belt. Furthermore, the short axes (Z) are subvertical associated with a subhorizontal foliation. The value of strain magnitudes mainly constants towards the tectonic contacts between the mylonitic granite and metavolcano-sedimentary rocks. The data indicate oblate strain symmetry (flattening strain) in the mylonitic granite rocks. It is suggested that the accumulation of finite strain was formed before or/and during nappe contacts. The penetrative subhorizontal foliation is subparallel to the tectonic contacts with the overlying nappes and foliation was formed during nappe thrusting.     

Metasomatic transformations of carbonate rocks observable in quarries of Riverside, California, United States

The results of skarn-forming processes at contacts of the multiphase Southern California Batholith with carbonate rocks accessible to study in quarries in Riverside, California, involve prograde metasomatic transformations of marmorized dolomites and calcareous rocks in contact with granitic melts and contaminated magmas. The processes of contact assimilation are proved to have been controlled by the emplacement of granitic melts overheated relative to subliquidus melts (with the overheated melts prone to approach the composition of granodiorite, syenite, and gabbro) into skarnified marbles. The degree of magma overheating was evaluated based on G.F. Smith’s data on linear melting temperature variations for anhydrous intrusive rocks with various SiO₂ concentrations (<750°C for granites and >1100°C for contaminated rocks, ΔT 350°). This corresponds to the thermal regime of the development of mineralogically contrasting hypabyssal skarn aureoles: magnesian at contacts with granite magmas and calcic at contacts with melts of high basicity. The peripheral parts of the aureoles ubiquitously contain preserved zones of forsterite calciphyres and periclase marbles, whereas skarns at mafic intrusions consist of high-temperature silicates of decreasing Mg contents: monticellite, merwinite, melilite, and spurrite. Prograde and retrograde mineralforming processes in the metasomatic rocks and their facies affiliation are analyzed, and the chemical composition of the minerals are examined. The Riverside skarn aureoles are compared with other compositionally contrasting skarn aureoles that developed in contacts with granite magmas and melts of increasing basisity.