Rb-Sr and K-Ar geochronologic and isotopic studies,Llano Uplift,central Texas

Two major episodes are evident in the metamorphic and igneous Precambrian basement of the Llano Uplift, central Texas. Dynamothermal metamorphism was accompanied by minor basaltic and tonalitic syntectonic plutonism. This was followed by a second period of thermal overprinting accompanying emplacement of high-K₂O, high-level major granite plutons. Extensive isotopic age work by Zartman, published in the mid-1960s, suggests that development of the basement complex, spanning an interval of 150 m.y. or more, began with deposition of Valley Spring Gneiss (the lowest unit) and terminated about 1,050 m.y. ago with final postmetamorphic cooling (indicated by retention ages of Ar and Sr in biotite). We have supplemented these data with more than 50 new K-Ar and Rb-Sr analyses.Two foliated plutons in the southeast are 1,167±12m.y. (2) old, with distinctly different initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios. Field relationships and isotopic data indicate that these plutons are the earliest yet known in the Uplift. Metamorphosed basalt dikes and gabbro bodies were emplaced immediately preceding and following the syntectonic plutons. Eleven of these rocks had extremely uniform initial ⁸⁷Sr/ ⁸⁶Sr=0.7029±0.0005. A Rb-Sr whole-rock isochron of the unfoliated Enchanted Rock pluton indicates an age of 1,048±34 m.y. with initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr= 0.7048±0.0007. One of the northern unfoliated granites, the Lone Grove pluton, gives a whole-rock isochron age of 1,056±12 m.y., with initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.7061±0.0003. All of the intrusive rocks have initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios consistent with a source in the mantle or lower crust, but not in ancient remobilized continental crust. Six K-Ar hornblende ages from metabasalts are 1,078±19 m.y. (1), in general agreement with K-Ar and Rb-Sr mineral ages elsewhere in the eastern Llano Uplift. A metasedimentary Valley Spring Gneiss sample from the western Uplift has a whole rock-muscovite Rb-Sr age of 1,129±9 m.y. Field and isotopic data are now sufficiently numerous to permit a moderately detailed reconstruction of the Precambrian history of the area.     

Nd,Sr, Pb,Ar, and 0 isotopic systematics of Sturgeon Lake kimberlite,Saskatchewan, Canada: constraints on emplacement age,alteration, and source composition

Rb-Sr isotopic dating of phlogopite megacryst samples separated from Sturgeon Lake kimberlite, Saskatchewan, yields a crystallization age of 98±1 Ma (2 , MSWD=1.2; ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr(t)=0.7059). The ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar analyses of a phlogopite megacryst sample indicate the presence of large amounts of excess ⁴⁰Ar and yield an excessively old age of 410 Ma. Assessment of the Ar data using isotope correlation plots indicates clustering of the data points about a mixing line between the radiogenic ⁴⁰Ar component at 98 Ma and a trapped component with uniform ³⁶Ar/⁴⁰Ar and Cl/⁴⁰Ar. Values of {ie212-1} as high as +20%. (VSMOW) for calcite from the groundmass and a whole-rock sample indicate pervasive lowtemperature alteration. The {ie212-2} of matrix carbonate is-11.3%. (PDB), slightly lighter than typical values from the literature. The {ie212-3} values of about +5%. (VSMOW) for brown phlogopite megacrysts may be primary, green phlogopites are interpreted to be an alteration product of the brown variety and are 2%. heavier. Initial Nd-Sr-Pb isotopic ratios for a whole-rock sample {ie212-4}; ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr=0.7063, ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=18.67, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=15.54, ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=38.97) suggest an affinity with group I kimberlites. Initial {ie212-5} values of +1.7 and +0.5 (⁸⁷Sr/ ⁸⁶Sr(t)=0.7053 and 0.7050) for eclogitic and lherzolitic garnet megacryst samples, and values of 0.0 for two phlogopite megacryst samples reflect an origin from an isotopically evolving melt due to assimilation of heterogeneous mantle. Lilac high-Cr lherzolitic garnet megacrysts give an unusually high {ie212-6} of +28.6 (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr=0.7046) indicating a xenocrystic origin probably from the lithospheric mantle. The very radiogenic ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios of the kimberlite are consistent with melting of EM II (enriched) mantle components.     

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.     

H,O, Sr,Nd, and Pb isotope geochemistry of the Latir volcanic field and cogenetic intrusions,New Mexico,and relations between evolution of a continental magmatic center and modifications of the lithosphere

Over 200 H, O, Sr, Nd, and Pb isotope analyses, in addition to geologic and petrologic constraints, document the magmatic evolution of the 28.5–19 Ma Latir volcanic field and associated intrusive rocks, which includes multiple stages of crustal assimilation, magma mixing, protracted crystallization, and open- and closed-system evolution in the upper crust. In contrast to data from younger volcanic centers in northern New Mexico, relatively low and restricted primary ¹⁸O values (+6.4 to +7.4) rule out assimilation of supracrustal rocks enriched in ¹⁸O. Initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.705 to 0.708), ¹⁸O values (-2 to-7), and ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios (17.5 to 18.4) of metaluminous precaldera volcanic rocks and postcaldera plutonic rocks suggest that most Latir rocks were generated by fractional crystallization of substantial volumes of mantle-derived basaltic magma that had near-chondritic Nd isotope ratios, accompanied by assimilation of crustal material in two main stages: 1) assimilation of non-radiogenic lower crust, followed by 2) assimilation of middle and upper crust by inter-mediate-composition magmas that had been contaminated during the first stage. Magmatic evolution in the upper crust peaked with eruption of the peralkaline Amalia Tuff (26 Ma), which evolved from metaluminous parental magmas. A third stage of late, roofward assimilation of Proterozoic rocks in the Amalia Tuff magma is indicated by trends in initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios from 0.7057 to 0.7098 and 19.5 to 18.8, respectively, toward the top of the pre-eruptive magma chamber. Highly evolved postcaldera plutons are generally fine grained and are zoned in initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios, varying from 0.705 to 0.709 and 17.8 to 18.6, respectively. In contrast, the coarser-grained Cabresto Lake (25 Ma) and Rio Hondo (21 Ma) plutons have relatively homogeneous initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios of approximately 0.7053 and 17.94 and 17.55, respectively. ¹⁸O values for all the postcaldera plutons overlap those of the precaldera rocks and Amalia Tuff, except for those for two late-stage rhyolite dikes associated with the Rio Hondo pluton that have ¹⁸O values of-8.6 and-9.5; these dikes are the only Latir rocks which may be largely crustal melts.Chemical and isotopic data from the Latir field suggest that large fluxes of mantle-derived basaltic magma are necessary for developing and sustaining large-volume volcanic centers. Development of a detailed model suggests that 6–15 km of new crust may have been added beneath the volcanic center; such an addition may result in significant changes in the chemical and Sr and Nd isotopic compositions of the crust, although Pb isotope ratios will remain relatively unchanged. If accompanied by assimilation, crystallization of pooled basaltic magma near the MOHO may produce substantial cumulates beneath the MOHO that generate large changes in the isotopic composition of the upper mantle. The Latir field may be similar to other large-volume, long-lived intracratonal volcanic fields that fundamentally owe their origins to extensive injection of basaltic magma into the lower parts of their magmatic systems. Such fields may overlie areas of significant crustal growth and hybridization.     

Sr isotopic heterogeneity in primitive basaltic rocks,southeastern Australia: correlation with mantle metasomatism

Rb/Sr data for seven basaltic provinces (K-Ar ages 50-0 Ma) in southeastern Australia imply isotopic heterogeneities in the mantle sources. The total range of ⁸⁷Sr/ ⁸⁶Sr is 0.7031–0.7054. Effects of crustal contamination are negligible, since the rocks analyzed represent primary or primitive magma compositions. The inferred scales of heterogeneity range from <1 km for small intraprovince variations, to in the order of 100 km for the larger differences between provinces.Correlation of regional high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr in basaltic rocks with the presence of amphibole-bearing upper mantle xenoliths suggests that the degree of metasomatic activity in the underlying mantle is a major control on the Rb/Sr and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values of mantle source volumes and partial melts derived from these. Xenolith data also indicate that both pervasive metasomatism and the presence of crystallized melts or cumulates as veins and dykes in mantle wall rock are possible mechanisms for metasomatic additions.Mantle isochrons can be constructed both within some provinces and between provinces. However, episodic metasomatism in the mantle source regions, with correlated enrichment in Rb/Sr and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, can produce artificial isochrons which may have no relevance to mantle differentiation events.     

Time calibration of a PT-path from the Western Tauern Window,Eastern Alps: the problem of closure temperatures

New Hornblende K-Ar and ³⁹Ar-⁴⁰Ar and mica Rb-Sr and K-Ar ages are used to place specific timemarks on a well-constrained pressure-temperature path for the late Alpine metamorphism in the Western Tauern Window. After identification of excess ⁴⁰Ar, the closure behavior of Ar in hornblende is compared with that of Sr and Ar in phengite and biotite. Samples were collected in three locations, whose maximum temperatures were 570° C (Zemmgrund), 550° C (Pfitscher Joch), and 500–540° C (Landshuter Hütte).The average undisturbed age sequence found is: Phengite Rb-Sr (20 Ma)>hornblende K-Ar (18 Ma)>phengite K-Ar (15 Ma)>biotite Rb-Sr, K-Ar (13.3 Ma)>apatite FT (7 Ma). Except for the phengite Rb-Sr age, the significance of which is debatable, all ages are cooling ages. No compositional effects are seen for closure in biotite. Additionally, Rb-Sr phengite ages from shearzones possibly indicate continuous shearing from 20 to 15 Ma, with reservations regarding the validity of the initial Sr correction and possible variations of the closure temperatures. The obviously lower closure temperature (T _c) for Ar in these hornblendes than for Sr in the unsheared phengites indicates that the T _c sequence in the Western Tauern Window is different from those observed in other terrains. In spite of this discrepancy, valuable geological conclusions can be drawn if the application of closure temperatures is limited to this restricted area with similar T, P and : (1) All ages of samples located on equal metamorphic isotherms decrease from east to west by about 1 Ma which is the result of a westward tilting of the Tauern Window during uplift. (2) In a PT-path, the undisturbed cooling ages yield constantly decreasing uplift rates from 3.6 mm/a to 0.1 mm/a. (3) Use of recently published diffusion data for Ar in hornblende (T _c=520° C) and biotite (T _c=320° C) suggests an extrapolated phengite closure temperature for Sr at 550° C. This suggests that the prograde thermal metamorphism at this tectonic level of the Tauern Window lasted until some 20 Ma ago.     

Geochemical Characteristics and Genesis of the Luxi-Xianrenzhang Diabase Dikes in Xiazhuang Uranium Orefield, Northern Guangdong Province

The Luxi-Xianrenzhang diabase dikes were emplaced into the eastern part of the Guidong composite granitoids in northern Guangdong Province at the end of the Early Cretaceous. They show tholeiitic features, enrichment in large ion lithophile elements, slight enrichment in light rare earth elements, depletion in Zr and Hf, and basically no depletion in Nb and Ta and no Eu anomaly. They are similar to intraplate basalt in terms of trace element characteristics. They have high εNd（t） values （3.6-4.9）, initial ^87Sr/^86Sr ratios （0.70530-70641） and δ^18O values and Dupal anomaly of Pb isotope compositions. Their Sr-Nd, Pb-Sr, Pb-Nd and Pb-Pb isotopes plot between DMM and EMII, with Pb similar to EMII, Nd relatively close to DMM and Sr in between. This profile suggests that the diabase dikes studied were derived from partial melting of a mantle source that had been subjected to metasomatism by fluids originated from a subduction zone under a tectonic environment of crustal extension and lithosphere thinning in the late Yanshanian.     

Constraints on the origin of Damaran granites by Rb/Sr and δ18O data

The mean (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) and mean (⁸⁷Rb/⁸⁶Sr) ratios of the intrusive granites from the North and South of the Orogen's Central Zone plot on straight lines. These are interpreted as areal isochrons indicating the time of last Sr isotope homogenization 526 and 571 Ma ago in the respective source rocks.Initial (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) and mean (⁸⁷Rb/⁸⁶Sr) ratios of approximately coeval granites of the main magmatic pulses in the North (470 Ma) and in the South (520 Ma) line up along isochrons suggesting that in both cases 60 Ma passed after the homogenization in the protolith before large scale intrusions took place.The data require that the intrusions have preserved the Rb/Sr ratios of their source rocks permitting only very little assimilation or fractionation.The source rocks in the North and South had rather unradiogenic Sr 526 and 571 Ma ago, respectively. At R_i0.7066 all presently known Damaran metasediments and metavolcanics as well as the basement must be excluded as the protoliths. A hypothetical source with a large proportion of low (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) volcanic material is required. In the center, on the other hand, the Sr isotope ratios are more radiogenic and derivation from common Damaran metasediments is a distinct possibility.The total rock ¹⁸O values show an unusual spread from 7.1 to 15.2, the majority being very heavy. This excludes granulites and requires sediments or heavily altered volcanics as source rocks. A plot of ¹⁸O vs. initial Sr isotope ratios of the granites from the center which could have been derived from Damaran metasediments has a very clear negative slope. No trend is visible for the southern granites. Of the northern granites the older group shows a negative, the younger group a positive correlation. This is interpreted as indicating mainly altered volcanics (perhaps spilites) for the older and a mixture of volcanogenic and metasedimentary rocks as the source for the younger group. The high ¹⁸O values show that the granites are crustal remelts.     

A middle Triassic extensional event in the Hainan Island: Geochronologic and geochemical evidence from igneous rocks from Dazhou Island

Hainan Island lies at the southern tip of the South China block that was affected by the opening and closure of the paleo-Tethys from Paleozoic to Mesozoic and subsequently by the subduction of the paleo- Pacific plate beneath the Euroasian plate since the late Mesozoic era. This study presents zircon U-Pb ages and geochemistry of granites and basic diabase veins in Dazhou Island located 5 km southeast of Hainan Island. The age for granites is 237.2 Ma (MSWD = 0.14, n = 14), suggesting that they were emplaced in the late middle Triassic and are products of magmatic-tectonic episodes during the closure of paleo-Tethys. The granites belong to the shoshonitic magmatic series and are metaluminous I-type granites. They are systematically depleted in Ba, Nb, Sr, P, and Ti, and have variable ranges of initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.71005 ~ 0.71110), but relatively constant εNd(t) values (–6.4~–6.8). The two-stage depleted mantle Nd model ages (T_DM2 = 1531–1562 Ma) for these granites suggest that they may have originated from partial melting of the lower crust with a crustal residence age of early Middle Proterozoic Era. The zircon U-Pb ages for diabase veins can be divided into three groups. The age for Group I is 236.8 Ma (n = 4), which represents the crystallization age of the veins and somewhat younger than the accompanying granites. The ages for Group II and III are 1767 Ma (n = 6) and 2432 Ma (n = 3), respectively. These suggest that the veins have inherited some old zircons that possibly represent old geological events in the Hainan Islands. The diabase also belongs to the shoshonitic magmatic series and has arc-like trace element characteristics. The veins have high 87Sr/86Sr and low 143Nd/144Nd ratios, which suggest that they may have originated from an enriched mantle II type source or a mantle source metasomatized by aqueous fluids released from previously subducted slab. The new ages obtained for the Dazhou igneous rocks in the present study are similar to those for the Qiongzhong batholith in the Hainan Island, which implies that the Hainan Island had also regionally experienced a middle Triassic extension event after the Indosinian Orogeny.     

Nd-Sr-Pb systematics and age of the Kings River ophiolite,California: implications for depleted mantle evolution

Sm-Nd whole-rock and mineral data for the Kings River ophiolite define two isochrons of 485±21 Ma and 285±45 Ma age with _Nd (483)= +10.7±0.5 and Nd (285)= +9.9±1.1, respectively. The 483 Ma isochron is defined by samples of the main igneous construct. Samples from crosscutting diabase dikes and flaser gabbro sheets within the peridotite unit yield the 285 Ma isochron. The 483 Ma data provide the first evidence of lower Paleozoic oceanic crust in the Sierran ophiolite belt. New U-Pb analyses of zircons from a plagiogranite lying on the 483 Ma Sm-Nd isochron yield upper and lower intercepts with the concordia of 430 _–60 ⁺²⁰⁰ and 183±15 Ma. Published zircon ages have underestimated the primary age of the ophiolite by 200–300 m.y. due to the effects of polymetamorphism. The 483 Ma samples have initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr=0.7023–0.7030, ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=17.14–17.82, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=15.37–15.52, ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb=36.80–37.38. The 285 Ma samples have similar initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, but more radiogenic Pb. The range in Sr and Pb compositions is probably due to introduction of radiogenic Sr and Pb during multiple post-emplacement metamorphic events. The high _Nd, low ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb of the least disturbed samples are clearly diagnostic of a midocean ridge origin for the 483 Ma portion of the ophiolite. Igneous activity at 285 Ma is thought to have occurred in an arc or back-arc setting, or perhaps along a leaky transform. The initial _Nd (483)=+10.7 is indistinguishable from that of the similar age Trinity Peridotite (Jacobsen et al. 1984). This value is the highest yet reported for the Mesozoic or Paleozoic depleted mantle and requires either a mantle source that was depleted 850 m.y. earlier than average or a source more highly depleted than average. Alternatively, if such values were more typical of the early Paleozoic mantle than is currently thought, then there has been little evolution of the depleted mantle over the last 500 m.y. This requires that the modern mantle has been refluxed by material with low _Nd, such as continental crust.Division Contribution # 4302 (530)     

Development of heterogeneities in the subcontinental Mantle: Evidence from the Ferrar Group,Antarctica

Tholeiitic lava flows (Kirkpatrick Basalts) and dolerite sills and dikes (Ferrar Dolerites) of the Jurassic Ferrar Group from Antarctica and dolerite sills from Tasmania, Australia are characterised by initial strontium isotope ratios ranging from 0.7089 to 0.7153. The mean and standard deviation of 85 analyses is 0.7115±0.0012. Some of the scatter in the initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios can be attributed to sample inhomogeneity, analytical uncertainties and sample alteration. The published major element data show well-defined trends that are consistent with an evolution by fractional crystallization. Recognition of a parental magma is difficult due to the fractionated nature of the rocks. Trace element analyses, particularly the rare earth elements (REE) support a differentiation model. Compared to mid-ocean ridge basalts, Ferrar Group rocks are enriched in light REE. Kirkpatrick Basalts from the central Transantarctic Mountains show significant correlations between initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios and major elements only for SiO₂ and CaO. The general lack of strong correlation is the basis for rejecting the possibility of wholesale contamination by sialic material as a possible cause of the high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios. Selective contamination of the basaltic magmas is a possibility and cannot be completely discounted. It would probably involve a fluid phase in order to transport and mix the light REE, Rb, ⁸⁷Sr, and other elements. By analogy with selective contamination of ocean ridge basalts by sea water it is difficult to envisage a similar process acting on magma emplaced in a non-marine environment. Because of the elevated values of the initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios, their similar average value over 2,500 km and the large volume of magma involved (4× 10⁵ km³) a mantle origin for the high Sr ratios is preferred. Models to account for the enrichment of Rb and light REE in the Antarctic mantle during or prior to the Jurassic include:

1. addition of continental material from a Palezoic Mesozoic subduction zone;
2. metasomatism of volatile elements from the lower mantle; and
3. evolution of a mantle with a high Rb/Sr ratio.

     

Geochronology,Geochemistry and Petrogenesis of Diabase Dyke Swarms in East Tianshan,Xinjiang, NW China

Diabase dyke swarms are widespread in the East Tianshan and Beishan regions. LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb ages of these diabase vary from 305 Ma to 278 Ma, showing that these dykes were formed during Late Carboniferous-Early Permian magmatism. All diabase samples are subalkali calc-alkali, characterized by slight LREE and LILEs enrichment, and weak negative Ti, Nb and Ta anomalies. The diabase samples have positive εNd(t) values (>+3), high Sr isotopic compositions (initial 87Sr/86Sr values=0.7030-0.7097), and large variation of Pb isotopic compositions, indicating they were derived from a deplete mantle source. Regional geology and geochemistry evidences indicate that these diabase dyke swarms were generated in a lithosphere extensional setting and had the same magma sources. Initial magmas may be a mixture of depleted asthenosphere mantle and enriched lithospheric mantle during rapid magma ascending.     

Petrogenesis and tectonic significance of the Early Devonian lamprophyres and diorites in the Alxa Block,NW China

The North Qilian orogenic belt (NQOB) has been defined as a subduction-collision zone between the Alxa Block and the Qilian Block during the Early Paleozoic. To constrain the post-collisional tectonic evolution of the NQOB, analyses of zircon U-Pb-Hf isotopes, whole-rock major, trace element and Sr-Nd-Pb isotope compositions of the newly discovered Early Devonian lamprophyres and diorites dikes from the Longshoushan area in southwestern margin of the Alxa Block were conducted. Zircon U-Pb dating yields emplacement ages of 400 ± 4 Ma and 403 ± 6 Ma for two lamprophyre dikes and 391 ± 3 Ma for two diorite dikes. The lamprophyres dikes are shoshonitic-high-K (calc-alkaline) in nature, and are characterized by SiO₂ contents of 53.6–56.3 wt %, (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i ratios of 0.7064 to 0.7072, εNd(t) values of 0.1–1.0, and zircon εHf(t) values of −8.0 to −2.9. The diorite dikes are high-K (calc-alkaline), and are characterized by MgO contents of 6.32–6.98 wt %, (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i ratios of 0.7089–0.7137, εNd(t) values of −3.8 to −3.5, and zircon εHf(t) values of −9.9–0.4. Both the lamprophyre and diorite dikes show parallel enrichments in LREEs and LILEs and depletions in HREEs and HFSEs and have similar ratios of (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_i (17.587–18.133), (²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_i (15.518–15.584) and (²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb)_i (37.676–38.058). Geochemical and isotopic data suggest that the lamprophyre and diorite dikes were derived from low-degrees melts of amphibole- and phlogopite-bearing lherzolite and phlogopite-bearing lherzolite, respectively, in the spinel-garnet transition facies. Their parental magmas both experienced extensive fractional crystallization in a deep magma chamber and negligible crustal contamination during their ascent. Regarding the Palaeozoic tectonic development of the North Qilian orogenic belt, we propose that the Early Devonian lamprophyres and diorites possibly are related to North Qilian orogen unrooting and collapse and marking the end of the North Qilian orogenic events.     

A K-Ar and Sr-isotopic study of the volcanic rocks of the island of principe,West Africa — Evidence for mantle heterogeneity beneath the Gulf of Guinea

K-Ar dating on a suite of volcanic rocks from the island of Principe gives the following chronology.

1. Basal palagonite breccia (30.6 ± 2.1 Ma).
2. Older Lava Series (OLS) basalt (23.6±0.7 Ma) and hawaiite (19.1±0.5 Ma).
3. Younger Lava Series (YLS) nephelinite (5.60±0.32 Ma) and basanite (3.51 ±0.15).
4. Intrusive phonolite (5.32±0.17 Ma, 5.48±0.19 Ma), tristanite (4.89±0.15 Ma) and trachyphonolite (6.93±0.68 Ma) plugs.

Phonolites and YLS samples plot on a 5.9±0.3 Ma Rb-Sr isochron. The tristanite-trachy-phonolite suite samples also lie on this isochron. This lends support to the suggestion that the YLS basanite magmas were parental to the phonolites but rules out a similar relationship between the OLS magmas and the tristanite-trachyphonolite suite. The mean initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio for the YLS nephelinites and basanites is 0.70297. The basalts and hawaiites of the OLS show a positive ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr vs. Rb/Sr correlation which may be interpreted as a 244±43 Ma pseudoisochron. This could be the result of a large-scale heterogeneity generated in the mantle during the early stages in the break-up of Gondwanaland. The mean initial ⁸⁷Sr/ ⁸⁶Sr ratio (at 21 Ma) for the OLS (0.70326) is significantly higher than that for the YLS and implies an isotopically distinct mantle source.     

Geochemistry and geochronology of Early Mesozoic tholeiites from Central Morocco

From Central Morocco (Central High Atlas, Middle Atlas, Haute Moulouya) continental tholeiites were investigated geochemically and geochronologically. These tholeiites are intercalated within continental redbeds of the Early Mesozoic (Triassic-Liassic). The major, trace and rare earth element contents classify these volcanic rocks as basaltic to andesitic-basaltic, quartz-normative tholeiites. Some trace element ratios (e.g. Zr/Nb, Zr/ Y, Y/Nb, Ti/V) suffer a heterogeneous source with a composition similar to MORB (P- to N-type). The enriched LILE contents, the negative Nb anomaly and the inital⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.7064–0.7069) reveal the presence of a crustal component up to 13–17 wt%.⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of carbonate mineral separates from different lava flows show different cycles of alteration; however, the major and trace element chemistry together with Sr isotope evidence, indicate that the alteration phases are not submarine in origin.⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age determinations on translucent plagioclase phenocrysts yield extrusion ages which range between 210.4 ± 2.1 Ma and 196.3 ± 1.2 Ma. These ages correspond to a stratigraphic period between the Norian (Rhaetian?) and the Upper Sinemurian.     

The evolution of illite to muscovite: mineralogical and isotopic data from the Glarus Alps,Switzerland

Thirty-five illite and muscovite concentrates were extracted from Triassic and Permian claystones, shales, slates and phyllites along a cross-section from the diagenetic Alpine foreland (Tabular Jura and borehole samples beneath the Molasse Basin) to the anchi- and epimetamorphic Helvetic Zone of the Central Alps. Concentrates and thin sections were investigated by microscopic, X-ray, infrared, Mössbauer, thermal (DTA and TG), wet chemical, electron microprobe, K-Ar, Rb-Sr, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar and stable isotope methods.With increasing metamorphic grade based on illite crystallinity data (XRD and IR) the following continuous changes are observed: (i) the 1Md2M₁ polymorph transformation is completed in the higher grade anchizone; (ii) K₂O increases from 6–8 wt. % (diagenetic zone) to 8.5–10% (anchizone) to 10–11.5% (epizone), reflecting an increase in the total negative layer charge from 1.2 to 2.0; (iii) a decrease of the chemical variation of the mica population with detrital muscovite surviving up to the anchizone/ epizone boundary; iv) a shift of an endothermic peak in differential thermal curves from 500 to 750° C; (v) K-Ar and Rb-Sr apparent ages of the fraction <2 m decrease from the diagenetic zone to the epizone, K-Ar ages being generally lower than Rb-Sr ages. The critical temperature for total Ar resetting is estimated to be 260±30° C. K-Ar and Rb-Sr ages become concordant when the anchizone/ epizone boundary is approached. The stable isotope data, on the other hand, show no change with metamorphic grade but are dependent on stratigraphic age.These results suggest that the prograde evolution from 1 Md illite to 2M₁ muscovite involves a continuous lattice restructuration without rupture of the tetrahedral and octahedral bonds and change of the hydroxyl radicals, however this is not a recrystallization process. This restructuration is completed approximately at the anchizone/epizone boundary. The isotopic data indicate significant diffusive loss of ⁴⁰Ar and ⁸⁷Sr prior to any observable lattice reorganization. The restructuration progressively introduces a consistent repartition of Ar and K in the mineral lattices and is outlined by the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age spectra.Concordant K-Ar and Rb-Sr ages of around 35-30 Ma. with concomitant concordant ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar release spectra are representative for the main phase of Alpine metamorphism (Calanda phase) in the Glarus Alps. A second age group between 25 and 20 Ma. can probably be attributed to movements along the Glarus thrust (Ruchi phase), while values down to 9 Ma., in regions with higher metamorphic conditions, suggest thermal conditions persisting at least until the middle Tortonian.     

Age of intrusion and rapid cooling of the Frankenstein gabbro (Odenwald,SW-Germany) evidenced by40Ar/39Ar and single-zircon207Pb/206Pb measurements

The Frankenstein gabbro complex in the northern Odenwald/FR Germany is one of the Hercynian plutonic bodies of the Saxothuringian zone in the Variscan belt.⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotopic investigations on pyroxene,⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age determinations on hornblendes, plagioclases, biotites and pyroxenes and²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb dating on single zircon crystals have been carried out. The⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr initial ratio of the gabbro (0.70380) indicates uncontaminated derivation of the magma from the mantle. The results on hornblendes, plagioclases and zircons establish the isotopic age of intrusion and the mode of cooling. Pyroxene and biotite data indicate disturbed K-Ar systems of these minerals. The average ages of the hornblendes (363±7 Ma), of the plagioclases (359±3 Ma) and of the zircons (362 ±9 Ma) agree within the 1-sigma levels and constrain the early history of the plutonic intrusion at the turn from Devonian to Carboniferous times. These minerals must have been cooled below their closure temperatures within a time-interval shorter than the error margins of 10 Ma. The ages therefore are, unlike those of the neighbouring Bergsträßer Odenwald, not long-time cooling ages due to largescale and slow geological uplift of the crustal segment. Instead, they will closely estimate the time of intrusion of the Frankenstein pluton into a shallow crustal level. The hiatus of about 20 Ma compared to the average ages of the crystalline rocks of the Bergsträßer Odenwald in the south characterizes the mafic Frankenstein pluton as a separated unit of the Odenwald crystalline, and underlines the importance of the Carboniferous tectonic fault zone in-between. The present data set clearly demonstrates the importance of the applied combination of methods and techniques to constrain the history of intrusion and cooling of mafic plutonic rocks.     

Rb-Sr study of Au-Ag Shkol'noe deposit (Kurama Mountains, north Tadjikistan): age of mineralization and time scale of hydrothermal processes

The epithermal Au-Ag Shkol'noe deposit is located in the Kandjol ore field, Kurama Mountains. This region is a part of the east-west trending Late Hercynian Bel'tau-Kurama volcanic belt, an Andean-style collisional margin. The deposit comprises a number of quartz-carbonate veins hosted by the syn-subductional Middle Carboniferous Karamazar granodiorites. The Au-Ag mineralization is considered to be the result of the earliest hydrothermal event in the region. The Rb-Sr isochron age 296.3 ± 1.3 Ma and an initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr₀=0.7071 ± 2 ratio were obtained for an adularia-sericite-quartz-calcite sample from Au-Ag mineralization. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio range from 0.70645 ± 10 to 0.70741 ± 10 was obtained for the calcites from the earlier and later mineral assemblages. The Rb-Sr age is interpreted as a real geological age of the Au-Ag mineralization. It corresponds to the initial stage of the Late Carboniferous – Early Permian collision following the main syn-subduction stage of Bel'tau-Kurama volcanic belt evolution. The comparison of the Rb-Sr age with previously obtained ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar and K-Ar data for adularia from the Au-Ag mineralization implies that gangue minerals of the Shkol'noe deposit bears the fingerprint of at least three events in its history. They are (1) Au-Ag mineralization at 296.3 ± 1.3 Ma; and (2) two subsequent thermal pulses at 277 ± 4 and 263–267 ± 8 Ma. The minimum time scale for the hydrothermal activity within the Shkol'noe deposit is thus approximately 30 million years. A general uniformity of the strontium source during the hydrothermal processes within the Au-Ag Shkol'noe deposit (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr₀=0.70645 ± 10 to 0.70741 ± 10) is suggested as well as within the Bel'tau-Kurama belt (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr₀=0.7051–0.707). The slight shift into a higher strontium isotope composition of the hydrothermal minerals of the Shkol'noe deposit in comparison with other deposits and rocks of the Bel'tau-Kurama belt may be ascribed to the contribution of relatively radiogenic strontium from the Karamazar-type granitoids. The mobilization of low radiogenic strontium during propylitic alteration of diabase dikes emplaced after the Au-Ag mineralization could be responsible for comparatively low ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios in some of the latest post-dike carbonates. Received: 4 August 1998 / Accepted: 25 August 1998     

Geochemistry and petrogenesis of tertiary granitic rocks from the Island of Mull,Northwest Scotland

The anorogenic igneous rocks of Mull consist essentially of a lava pile of predominantly basaltic composition, cut by an intrusive complex. The basement consists of Precambrian metamorphic rocks of the Moine Series underlain by Lewisian gneiss. The intrusive complex contains a significant proportion of granitic intrusions which can be ascribed to three successive centres of activity, Centres 1–3. We report new major and trace element, including rare earth element analyses, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios and ¹⁸O values for a comprehensive collection of granitic rocks from the 3 centres. The ¹⁸O values range from +4 to –6 indicating variable extent of interaction between the rocks and heated meteoric groundwater. However, correlations of ¹⁸O with other major and trace element data and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios are uniformly low, apart from Fe₂O₃. It is thus unlikely that the interaction of the rocks with meteoric water has systematically altered the chemical (including Sr isotope) characteristics. The chemical and Sr isotope data reflect magmatic values and can therefore be used to comment on the petrogenesis of the granitic rocks.These data indicate that there are important differences between granitic rocks of the centres with Centre 1 forming one distinct group and Centres 2 and 3 a different group. For a given SiO₂ value, the Centre 1 granites have higher Na₂O, MgO, P₂O₅, TiO₂, Sr, and V and lower Al₂O₃, MnO, Zn, Zr, and Y than those of Centres 2 and 3. In addition, the Centre 1 granites have lower REE contents and higher Ce_N/Yb_N ratios than those of Centres 2 and 3. Granites from all three centres have Eu anomalies, those of Centre 3 being generally greater (Eu/Eu* = 0.66–0.10). Finally, there are important Sr isotope distinctions between the three Centres; calculated initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios for the Centre 1 granites (using 58.2Ma) range between 0.71366–0.71646 (average 0.71530) and have a general correlation of ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr with ⁸⁷Rb/⁸⁶Sr. The initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of the Centre 2 granites range from 0.70663 to 0.70868, but the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr data do not define an isochron. Finally, data for the Centre 3 granites define a Rb-Sr wholerock isochron with an age of 58.2±2.5 Ma and an initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of 0.71003 ±36.Both the chemical trends and isotopic data for the Mull granites can be interpreted in terms of contrasted origins for the granitic rocks of the two groups. The relatively primitive chemical composition and high initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of the Centre 1 granites indicate a substantial crustal contribution and we consider that these granites formed by a combination of partial melting of Lewisian basement together with some magma derived by fractional crystallization of basaltic magma. In contrast, the chemical and isotope data for the Centre 2 and 3 granites are consistent with formation dominantly by fractional crystallization of basaltic magma, together with a relatively small proportion of crustal contamination. A model is proposed which emphasises that acid magmatism in Mull is a consequence of the rise and crystallization of basic magma into continental crust. Granite magma has formed both by partial melting and by fractional crystallization and both of these events probably occurred under open system conditions.With oxygen isotope analyses by J.J. Durham, Geochemical Division, Institute of Geological Sciences, 64–78 Grays Inn Road, London, WC1X 8NG, England     

Strontium isotope composition and petrogenesis of the Kirkpatrick basalt,Queen Alexandra Range,Antarctica

The initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of twelve basalt flows of Jurassic age on Storm Peak in the Queen Alexandra Range are anomalously high and range from 0.7094–0.7133. The average value is 0.7112±0.0013 (1). The concentrations of rubidium and strontium have arithmetic means of 60.6±19.4 ppm and 128.8±11.9 ppm, respectively. The corresponding average Rb/Sr ratio is 0.47 which is also anomalously high for rocks of basaltic composition. In addition, these rocks have high concentrations of SiO₂ (56.50%) and K₂O (1.29%) and are depleted in Al₂O₃ (12.92%), MgO (3.44%) and CaO (7.91%) compared to average continental tholeiites. They are nevertheless classified as basalts on the basis of the composition of microphenocrysts.The initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios and all of the chemical parameters of the flows exhibit systematic stratigraphic variations. These are interpreted as indicating the occurrence of four eruptive cycles. In a typical cycle the initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of successive flows and their concentrations of SiO₂, FeO (total iron), Na₂O, K₂O, P₂O₅, Rb and Sr decrease in ascending stratigraphic sequence while the concentrations of TiO₂, Al₂O₃, MgO, CaO and MnO increase upward. The initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of the flows show a strong positive correlation with the strontium concentration. Similar correlations are observed between the initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios and all of the major oxide components. These relationships are incompatible with the hypothesis that these flows are the products of crystal fractionation of a-34 magma at depth under closed-system conditions. It is suggested that the flows resulted from the hybridization of a normal tholeiite basalt magma by assimilation of varying amounts of granitic rocks in the Precambrian basement which underlies the entire Transantarctic Mountain chain.Mixtures of two components having different ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios and differing strontium concentrations are related to each other by hyperbolic mixing equation. Such an equation was fitted by least squares regression of data points to a straight line in coordinates of initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and the reciprocals of the concentrations of strontium. This equation and plots of strontium versus other oxides were then used to estimate the chemical composition of the parent basalt magma and of the granitic contaminant by substituting reasonable estimates of their ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios. The chemical composition of the parent basalt (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr=0.706) is generally compatible with that of average continental tholeiite, but is distinctive by having a low concentration of strontium (117 ppm). The chemical composition of the contaminant (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr=0.720) is enriched in strontium (173 ppm), SiO₂, FeO (total iron) and the alkalies but is depleted in Al₂O₃, MgO and CaO. The data for strontium indicate that the lava flows on Storm Peak contain between 20 and 40% of this granitic contaminant. The contamination of basalt magma is not a local event but is characteristic of the Jurassic basalt flows and diabase sills throughout the Transantarctic Mountains and in Tasmania.Laboratory for Isotope Geology and Geochemistry, Contribution No. 33.