Concomitant skarn and syenitic magma evolution at the margins of the Zippa Mountain pluton

Summary Zippa Mountain pluton is a Mesozoic concentrically-zoned intrusion, located within the Canadian Cordillera of British Columbia. An extensive phase of K-feldspar bearing syenite grades towards its margins to mela-syenite and clinopyroxenite. This simple pattern of petrological zonation is overprinted by localised occurrences of silica-undersaturated, peralkaline rock types. High-purity wollastonite skarns occur within and peripheral to the intrusion and result from extensive interaction between intrusion-related fluids and Permian limestone/marble, at shallow crustal levels. Field, chemical and isotopic studies provide insights into interaction between a parental syenitic magma and these country rocks. To achieve this, petrological studies of four of the skarn bodies present have been combined with chemical and isotopic data from the pluton, and from drill core through the skarn into the pluton, to reconstruct the stages in the development of wollastonite skarn and progressive magma-country rock interaction. Derivation of peralkaline compositions from the syenitic magma requires either a loss of Si and Al, or addition of Na and/or K. Our studies preclude the addition of alkali elements but highlight extensive Si-infiltration into the limestone, while the conversion of marble to grossular-andradite skarn, indicates Al-infiltration. Fluid egress resulted in de-silicification/de-alumination of the Zippa Mountain magmas, and increased peralkalinity; wollastonite and garnet-bearing skarn formed as a by-product. Hence, the development of peralkaline rock compositions at Zippa Mountain required a parental syenitic magma, and reaction and/or interaction with calcareous country rocks. Present address: Institut für Geowissenschaften, Universit?t Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany     

Petrogenesis of carbonate-bearing nepheline syenites and carbonatites from Southern Victoria Land, Antarctica: origin of carbon and the effects of calcite-graphite equilibrium

Chemically-evolved carbonate-bearing nepheline syenites are intruded into basement metasediments of the Koettlitz Group on Dismal and Radian Ridges in the Pipecleaner Glacier region of Southern Victoria Land, Antarctica. Whole rock XRF data from the Dismal Nepheline Syenite defines a broad trend which is consistent with the removal of a cumulate fraction of approximate composition 70% hedenbergite, 15% nepheline, 10% titanite and 5% apatite. Stable isotope, major and trace element and mineralogical characteristics of the syenites are very similar to those of cross-cutting calcite-rich dykes indicating derivation from closely-related source magmas. The general association of carbonatites and nepheline syenites with extensional environments, suggests that the Dismal and Radian Ridge nepheline syenites and carbonatite dykes indicate a period of early Paleozoic (531 Ma) rifting or intrusion into localised tensional structures in an overall compressional regime. Assimilation of marble by the syenite magmas is evidenced by abundant rafts and xenoliths within the Dismal Nepheline Syenite, however, carbon and oxygen isotopic ratios from syenite and carbonatite calcites are distinctly lighter than values from the marble country rock indicating a magmatic source. Graphite and calcite commonly occur as aggregates in the Dismal Nepheline Syenite suggesting equilibrium between these two carbon-bearing phases. Isotopic fractionation between calcite and graphite, via the equilibrium: C + O₂ = CO₂ has resulted in enrichment of the ¹³C isotope in calcites from the Dismal Nepheline Syenite.     

Genetic implications of minor-element and Sr-isotope geochemistry of alkaline rock complexes in the Wet Mountains area,Fremont and Custer counties,Colorado

Concentrations of Rb, Sr, and REE (rare earth elements), and Sr-isotopic ratios in rocks of the Cambrian alkaline complexes in the Wet Mountains area, Colorado, show that rocks formed as end-products of a variety of magmas generated from different source materials. The complexes generally contain a bimodal suite of cumulus mafic-ultramafic rocks and younger leucocratic rocks that include nepheline syenite and hornblende-biotite syenite in the McClure Mountain Complex, nepheline syenite pegmatite in the Gem Park Complex, and quartz syenite in the complex at Democrat Creek. The nepheline syenite and hornblende-biotite syenite at McClure Mountain (535±5m.y.) are older than the syenitic rocks at Democrat Creek (511±8m.y.). REE concentrations indicate that the nepheline syenite at McClure Mountain cannot be derived from the hornblende-biotite syenite, which it intrudes, or from the associated mafic-ultramafic rocks. REE also indicate that mafic-ultramafic rocks at McClure Mountain have a source distinct from that of the mafic-ultramafic rocks at Democrat Creek.In the McClure Mountain Complex, initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios for mafic-ultramafic rocks (0.7046±0.0002) are similar to those of hornblende-biotite syenite (0.7045±0.0002), suggesting a similar magmatic source, whereas ratios for carbonatites (0.7038±0.0002) are similar to those of nepheline syenite (0.7038±0.0002). At Democrat Creek, initial ratios of syenitic rocks (0.7032±0.0002) and mafic-ultramafic rocks (0.7028±0.0002) are different from those of corresponding rocks at McClure Mountain.     

Rb-Sr Geochronology,Nd-Sr Isotopes and Whole Rock Geochemistry of Yelagiri and Sevattur Syenites,Tamil Nadu,South India

Alkaline magmatism during the late Proterozoic is an important event in the northern part of the South Indian granulite terrain. A number of alkaline plutons comprising saturated syenite and ultramafic rocks often associated with carbonatite are found localized along NEHYPHEN;SW trending lineaments, which are considered as deep crustal fractures. Along one such lineament, the alkaline complexes of Yelagiri, Sevattur and Samalpatti have intruded into the country rocks comprising epidote hornblende gneiss. The isotope characteristics and geochemistry of Yelagiri and Sevattur plutons are examined in this paper. Whole rock Rbhyphen;Sr isochron ages of the Yelagiri and Sevattur syenites are 757±32 Ma and 756±11 Ma respectively. The close spatial relationship, similarities in age, mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of these plutons strongly suggest their close genetic relationship. The initial Sr and Nd isotope ratios of the Sevattur carbonatites suggest their derivation from an alkali metal and LREE enriched mantle source. However, the silicate rocks of the Yelagiri and Sevattur plutons have distinctly different isotopic characteristics from this enriched mantle source. Combined geochemical and isotopic characteristics of these silicate rocks indicate that silicate rocks of both plutons are derived independently from isotopically different sources from those of carbonatites. Moreover, comparison with the isotopic characteristics of Archean crustal rocks in South India indicates that the source regions of both silicate rocks are lowerhyphen;crustal portions, which are deeper than any other crustal portion exposed in South India, or isotopically metasomatized crustal portions by volatile influx from carbonatite.     

Enigmatic association of the carbonatite and alkali-pyroxenite along the Northern Shear Zone,Purulia, West Bengal: A saga of primary magmatic carbonatite

The Purulia carbonatite, ‘carbonatite’-‘alkali-pyroxenite’-‘apatite-magnetite rock’ association, is located at Beldih area of Purulia district, West Bengal and falls within the 100 km long Northern Shear Zone (NSZ). Published literature suggests that the Purulia carbonatite was formed by the process of liquid immiscibility from under-saturated silicate parent magma. However, no silica under-saturated rocks like ijolite, nepheline-syenite etc. is known from the area. The trace element geochemistry (Ba/La, Nb/Th, Nb/Pb and Y/Ce ratios in the present study) also does not support this view. Present study indicates that the Purulia carbonatite is enriched in ΣREE and incompatible elements but the carbonatite is also poorer in Nb, Th and Pb compared to the world average of calicocarbonatites. The lower value of Nb is characteristics of carbo(hydro)thermal carbonatite where carbonatite is associated with alkali-pyroxenite and suggests probable origin of the carbonatite as carbothermal residua evolved from an unknown parentage. However, the field, petrographic and geochemical data indicate the genesis of this carbonatite from a primary carbonatitic magma of mantle decent. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of the carbonatite and apatite separated from the carbonatite (～0.703) implies primary magmatic derivation of the Purulia carbonatite. Close similarity of the apatite of the apatite-magnetite rock with the mantle apatite (of type Apatite B) indicates that they are also of primary magmatic origin. The present work portrays a unique example where primary magmatic carbonatite is associated with the alkali-pyroxenite.     

Alkaline rocks of Samchampi-Samteran, District Karbi-Anglong, Assam, India

The Samchampi-Samteran alkaline igneous complex (SAC) is a near circular, plug-like body approximately 12 km² area and is emplaced into the Precambrian gneissic terrain of the Karbi Anglong district of Assam. The host rocks, which are exposed in immediate vicinity of the intrusion, comprise granite gneiss, migmatite, granodiorite, amphibolite, pegmatite and quartz veins. The SAC is composed of a wide variety of lithologies identified as syenitic fenite, magnetite ± perovskite ± apatite rock, alkali pyroxenite, ijolite-melteigite, carbonatite, nepheline syenite with leucocratic and mesocratic variants, phonolite, volcanic tuff, phosphatic rock and chert breccia. The magnetite ± perovskite ± apatite rock was generated as a cumulus phase owing to the partitioning of Ti, Fe at a shallow level magma chamber (not evolved DI = O1). The highly alkaline hydrous fluid activity indicated by the presence of strongly alkalic minerals in carbonatites and associated alkaline rocks suggests that the composition of original melt was more alkalic than those now found and represent a silica undersaturated ultramafic rock of carbonated olivine-poor nephelinite which splits with falling temperature into two immiscible fractions—one ultimately crystallises as alkali pyroxenite/ijolite and the other as carbonatite. The spatial distribution of varied lithotypes of SAC and their genetic relationships suggests that the silicate and carbonate melts, produced through liquid immiscibility, during ascent generated into an array of lithotypes and also reaction with the country rocks by alkali emanations produced fenitic aureoles (nephelinisation process). Isotopic studies (δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C) on carbonatites of Samchampi have indicated that the δ¹³C of the source magma is related to contamination from recycled carbon.     

Enigmatic association of the carbonatite and alkali-pyroxenite along the Northern Shear Zone, Purulia, West Bengal: A saga of primary magmatic carbonatite

The Purulia carbonatite, ‘carbonatite’-‘alkali-pyroxenite’-‘apatite-magnetite rock’ association, is located at Beldih area of Purulia district, West Bengal and falls within the 100 km long Northern Shear Zone (NSZ). Published literature suggests that the Purulia carbonatite was formed by the process of liquid immiscibility from under-saturated silicate parent magma. However, no silica under-saturated rocks like ijolite, nepheline-syenite etc. is known from the area. The trace element geochemistry (Ba/La, Nb/Th, Nb/Pb and Y/Ce ratios in the present study) also does not support this view. Present study indicates that the Purulia carbonatite is enriched in ΣREE and incompatible elements but the carbonatite is also poorer in Nb, Th and Pb compared to the world average of calicocarbonatites. The lower value of Nb is characteristics of carbo(hydro)thermal carbonatite where carbonatite is associated with alkali-pyroxenite and suggests probable origin of the carbonatite as carbothermal residua evolved from an unknown parentage. However, the field, petrographic and geochemical data indicate the genesis of this carbonatite from a primary carbonatitic magma of mantle decent. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of the carbonatite and apatite separated from the carbonatite (∼0.703) implies primary magmatic derivation of the Purulia carbonatite. Close similarity of the apatite of the apatite-magnetite rock with the mantle apatite (of type Apatite B) indicates that they are also of primary magmatic origin. The present work portrays a unique example where primary magmatic carbonatite is associated with the alkali-pyroxenite.     

Genesis of apatite-fluorite rock in the Burpala pluton

Burpala is a unique peralkaline pluton known to the world. Alkaline pegmatites of the pluton contain about 70 rare-metal minerals. A new scheme of rock crystallization is offered: shonkinite → nepheline syenite → alkali syenite → quartz syenite → vein rocks: mariupolite, rare-metal pegmatite, apatite-fluorite, and alkali granite. Investigation of fluid inclusions in fluorite from the apatite-fluorite rocks established the high temperatures (520–560°C) of homogenization of multiphase salt inclusions. Fluids from inclusions are dominated by hydrocarbonates and chlorides as anions and sodium and calcium as cations; microelements include strontium, barium, boron, iron, manganese, lithium, rubidium, and cesium, i.e., components characteristic of magmatogenic fluids. These rocks are analogous to foskorites of carbonatite complexes in the high calcium content, but calcite is replaced with fluorite along with other foskorite minerals such as apatite, magnetite, mica, and pyroxene.     

Origin of silicate minerals in carbonatites from Alnö Island,Sweden: magmatic crystallization or wall rock assimilation?

Textural, electron microprobe and whole rock geochemical evidence from carbonatites and associated silicate rocks on Alnö Island, Sweden, suggest that the carbonatite, at the time of emplacement, could have been an (almost) pure CaCO₃ liquid with a high volatile (H₂O–CO₂) content and that most silicate minerals, which are ubiquitously present, are either (1) assimilated from the surrounding wall rock, by progressive and coupled fragmentation and corrosion; or (2) by‐products of corrosive interaction between the carbonatite liquid and the wall rock. This interpretation is supported by balancing a reaction to describe interaction between carbonatite and a cpx + ne‐bearing (ijolite) wall rock. Although our analysis does not preclude the possibility that fenitizing agents (e.g. Na, Fe) were transported by the carbonatite liquid, these components are not required to drive the observed mineralogical changes in the carbonatite.     

内蒙古特颇格日图地区大理岩的地球化学特征及成因探讨

在内蒙古特颇格日图地区分布的大理岩出露于志留系徐尼乌苏组含砾砂岩或粉砂岩中,呈EW向线状断续展布,多数为似层状和透镜体状,且有相当一部分大理岩与蚀变超基性岩呈复杂的空间关系。大理岩稀土元素球粒陨石标准化配分型式为向右缓倾型,REE总量低,具弱Eu负异常。微量元素数据显示大离子亲石元素Rb,Sr,Th相对富集,高场强元素Nb,Zr等相对亏损。（87Sr/86Sr）0=0.7085~0.7100,平均0.7091。该区大理岩地质地球化学特征与沉积的碳酸盐岩相似,其原岩应为沉积型碳酸盐岩。     

Petrography and mineral chemistry of Alkaline-Carbonatite Complex in Singhbhum Crustal Province,Purulia region,Eastern India

The variant rock types of an Alkaline-Carbonatite Complex (ACC) comprising alkali pyroxenite, nepheline syenite, phoscorite, carbonatite, syenitic fenite and glimmerite along with REE and Nb-mineralization are found at different centres along WNW-ESE trending South Purulia Shear Zone (SPSZ) in parts of Singhbhum Crustal Province. The ACC occurs as intrusions within the Mesoproterozoic Singhbhum Group of rocks. Alkali pyroxenite comprises of aegirine augite, magnesiotaramite, magnesiokatophorite as major constituents. Pyrochlore and eucolite are ubiquitous in nepheline syenite. Phoscorite contains fluorapatite, dahllite, collophane, magnetite, hematite, goethite, phlogopite, calcite, sphene, monazite, pyrochlore, chlorite and quartz. Coarse fluorapatite shows overgrowth of secondary apatite (dahllite). Secondary apatite is derived from primary fluorapatite by solution and reprecipitation. The primary fluorapatite released REE to crystallize monazite grains girdling around primary apatite. Carbonatite is composed dominantly of Srcalcite along with dolomite, tetraferriphlogopite, phlogopitic biotite, aegirine augite, richterite, fluorapatite, altered magnetite, sphene and monazite. The minerals comprising of the carbonatite indicate middle stage of carbonatite development. Fenite is mineralogically syenite. Glimmerite contains 50–60% tetraferriphlogopite. An alkali trend in the evolution of amphiboles (magnesiotaramite-magnesiokatophorite-richterite) and chinopyroxenes (aegirine augite, aegirine) during the crystallization of the suite of rocks is noted. Monazite is the source of REE in phoscorite and carbonatite. Fluorapatite has low contents of REE, PbO, ThO₂ and UO₂. Pyrochlore reflects Nb-mineralization in nepheline syenite and it is enriched in Na₂O, CaO, TiO₂, PbO and UO₂. Pyrochlore containing UO₂ (6.605%) and PbO (0.914%) in nepheline syenite has been chemically dated at 948 ± 24 Ma by EPMA.     

矾山碱性岩体磷铁矿床金的地球化学

河北矾山钾质碱性岩体,由３期侵入岩和脉岩正长岩组成。第１期岩石为层状超镁铁质岩系,具韵律层结构。层状岩系中赋存巨大磁铁磷灰石矿床。碱性岩体全岩２２５个样品平均含金为７．８×１０－９。矾山岩体金的丰度为６．１×１０－９,是地壳金丰度（３．５×１０－９）的１．７４倍。第１期岩石平均金含量为８．８×１０－９,第２期岩石为５．１×１０－９,第３期岩石为７．４×１０－９,正长岩为４．２×１０－９。第１期侵入岩中辉石岩平均金含量为９．３１×１０－９,黑云辉石岩平均为７．７８×１０－９,伟晶正长黑云辉石岩为７．４０×１０－９,间隙状正长辉石岩为８．００×１０－９,磁铁磷灰石岩为１３．７８×１０－９,磷灰石岩和黑云磷灰石岩为１１．８０×１０－９,黑云母岩为１８．６３×１０－９。在垂直层状岩系的剖面上,岩石金含量呈韵律性变化。在东矿区,岩石金含量由西向东趋于降低。在岩浆液相分离过程中,金倾向富集在含铁、镁、钙和磷的熔体相中,而在岩浆结晶分异过程中,金可能富集在流体相中。     

Postorogenic carbonatites at Eden Lake, Trans-Hudson Orogen (northern Manitoba, Canada): Geological setting, mineralogy and geochemistry

The Eden Lake pluton in the Trans-Hudson Orogen is the first known occurrence of carbonatites in Manitoba. The pluton is largely made up of modally and geochemically diverse syenitic rocks derived from postorogenic magma(s) of shoshonitic affinity. Their diversity can be accounted for by a combination of crystal fractionation and fluid release in the final evolutionary stage (crystallization of quartz alkali-feldspar syenite). At Eden Lake, carbonatites, represented predominantly by coarse-grained massive to foliated sövite, occur as branching veins and lenticular bodies up to 4 m in thickness showing crosscutting relations with respect to all of the syenitic units. The host rocks are intensely fenitized at the contact, and there is also abundant mineralogical and textural evidence for assimilation of silicate material by carbonatitic magma through wallrock reaction and xenolith fragmentation and digestion. The bulk of the carbonatites are composed of (in order of crystallization): Sr–REE-rich fluorapatite, aegirine–augite, and coarse calcite crystals surrounded by fine-grained calcite (on average,  90 vol.% of the rock). Noteworthy accessory constituents are celestine, bastnäsite-(Ce) (both as primary inclusions in calcite), Nb–Zr–rich titanite, low-Hf zircon, allanite-(Ce) and andradite. The calcite is chemically uniform (Sr-rich, Mg–Mn–Fe-poor and low in ¹³C), but shows clear evidence of ductile deformation and syndeformational cataclasis. Geochemically, the carbonatites are enriched in Sr, Ba, light rare-earth elements, Th and U, but depleted in high-field-strength elements (particularly, Ti, Nb and Ta). The stable-isotope composition of coarse- and fine-grained calcite from the carbonatites and interstitial calcite from syenites is remarkably uniform: ca. − 8.16 ± 0.27‰ δ¹³C (PDB) and + 8.04 ± 0.19‰ δ¹⁸O (SMOW). The available textural and geochemical evidence indicates that the Eden Lake carbonatites are not consanguineous with the associated syenites and may have been derived from a Nb–Ti-retentive and ¹³C-depleted source such as the subducted crustal material underlying the Eden Lake deformation corridor.     

白云鄂博矿床赋矿岩石的自交代现象及其意义

通过对白云鄂博矿床赋矿岩石(白云岩和富钾板岩)的自交代现象研究论证其成因，认为白云岩的原岩是碳酸岩质岩浆岩，富钾板岩是一套沉积-火山岩系，其中微晶-隐品质钾长石岩为粗面质火山碎屑岩或凝灰岩。     

Coexisting K-rich alkaline and shoshonitic magmatism of arc affinities in the Proterozoic: a reassessment of syenitic stocks in the southwestern Grenville Province

Biotite-rich syenitic stocks in the Mont-Laurier area of the southwestern Grenville Province are shown to belong to the first recorded Proterozoic example of an ultrapotassic, K-rich alkaline and shoshonitic rock association with clear arc affinities. The plutons investigated were previously considered mostly syenitic, typical of nepheline syenite alkaline suites, slightly metamorphosed and late-tectonic with respect to the Grenville orogeny. We find that they postdate the regional metamorphism and comprise a felsic to ultramafic range of rock types belonging to two series: (1) a potassic-to-ultrapotassic, silica-undersaturated series of biotite-rich nepheline-bearing syenite, syenite, monzonite, diorite and pyroxenite, and (2) a shoshonitic, critically silicasaturated series of quartz syenite and amphibole-bearing syenite, with rare monzonite and diorite. The ubiquitous biotite, previously regarded as metamorphic, is reinterpreted as igneous and diagnostic of the potassic character. The shoshonitic and potassic series display the strong enrichment in Al, Ca, K and large-ion-lithophile elements relative to the high-field-strength elements (e.g. Ba/Nb722, La/YB45) and the low contents in Mg that are characteristic of arc-related magmas. The syenitic rocks consistently share the distinctive arc-related geochemical signature of their mafic counterparts. Syenites may thus represent a potential source of paleotectonic information for high grade terranes. Geochemical discriminants (Nb_N/Ta_N and Hf_N/Ti_N ratios) indicate that the shoshonitic and potassic series are unrelated by closedsystem fractionation processes. Rather, the chemical differences between the two series probably reflect differences in source characteristics and conditions of melting. Similar plutons occur throughout the Central Metasedimentary Belt of the southwestern Grenville Province. They define a 1089 to 1076 Ma, 450-km-long grenvillian potassic alkaline plutonic (PAP) province. The presence of this K-rich alkaline province indicates that the scarcity of K-rich rocks in the Precambrian could be only apparent and a consequence of misidentification of K-rich plutons in metamorphosed Precambrian terranes. These 1.1 Ga ultrapotassic to shoshonitic plutonic rocks are geochemically similar to shoshonites and leucitites of the Sunda arc. This similarity suggests that subduction-type enrichment processes were operating in the Proterozoic in ways similar to those of modern settings.     

Geological, geochemical characteristics and isotope systematics of the Longqiao iron deposit in the Lu-Zong volcano-sedimentary basin, Middle-Lower Yangtze (Changjiang) River Valley, Eastern China

The Middle-Lower Yangtze (Changjiang) River Valley metallogenic belt is located on the northern margin of the Yangtze Craton of eastern China. Most polymetallic deposits in the Changjiang metallogenic belt are clustered in seven districts where magmatism of Mesozoic age (Yanshanian tectono-thermal event) is particularly extensive. From west to east these districts are: E-dong, Jiu-Rui, Anqing-Guichi, Lu-Zong, Tong-Ling, Ning-Wu and Ning-Zhen. World-class iron ore deposits occur in the Lu-Zong and Ning-Wu ore clusters, which are mainly located in continental fault-bound volcanic-sedimentary basins. One of these deposits is the Longqiao iron deposit, discovered in the northern part of the Lu-Zong Basin in 1985. This deposit consists of a single stratabound and stratiform orebody, hosted in sedimentary carbonate rocks of the Triassic Dongma'anshan Formation. A syenite pluton (Longqiao intrusion) is situated below the deposit. The iron ore is massive and disseminated and the ore minerals are mainly magnetite and minor pyrite. Wall rock alteration mostly consists of skarn minerals, such as diopside, garnet, potassic feldspar, quartz, chlorite, phlogopite and anhydrite. Thin sedimentary siderite beds of Triassic age occur as relict laminated ore at the top and the margin of the magnetite orebody. These sideritic laminae are part of Triassic evaporite-bearing carbonate deposits (Dongma'anshan Formation).Sulfur isotopic compositions show that the sulfur in the deposit was derived from a mixture of magmatic hydrothermal fluids and carbonate–evaporite host rocks. Similarly, the C and O isotopic compositions of limestones from the Dongma'anshan Formation indicate that these rocks interacted with magmatic hydrothermal fluids. The O isotopic compositions of the syenitic rocks and minerals from the deposit show that the hydrothermal magnetite and skarn minerals were formed from magmatic fluids. The Pb isotopic compositions of sulfides are similar to those of the Longqiao syenite. Phlogopite coexisting with magnetite in the magnetite ores yielded a plateau age of 130.5 ± 1.1 Ma (2σ), whereas the LA-ICP MS age of the syenite intrusion is 131.1 ± 1.5 Ma, which is slightly older than the age of phlogopite.The Longqiao syenite intrusion may have crystallized from a parental alkaline magma, generated by partial melting of lithospheric mantle, during extensional tectonics. The ore fluids were probably first derived from magma at depth, later emplaced in the sedimentary rocks of the Dongma'anshan Formation, where it interacted with siderite and evaporite-bearing carbonate strata, resulting in the formation of magnetite and skarn minerals. The Longqiao iron deposit is a skarn-type stratabound and stratiform mineral system, genetically and temporally related to the Longqiao syenite intrusion. The Longqiao syenite is part of the widespread Mesozoic intracontinental magmatism (Yanshanian event) in eastern China, which has been linked to lithospheric delamination and asthenospheric upwelling.     

Geochemistry, mineralogy, and radioactivity of Upper Cretaceous Abu Khruq Ring Complex, South Eastern Desert, Egypt

The upper Cretaceous Abu Khruq ring complex (ARC) is located in the South Eastern Desert between latitudes 24°00′10′′ and 24°03′15′′ N, and longitudes 33°54′50′′ and 33°58′ E and has a roughly circular shape with a diameter of 7 km. ARC is built up by major extrusion of alkaline volcanic rocks comprising mainly rhyolite porphyry and alkaline trachyte rocks at the center of the ring complex followed by successive intrusions of alkaline gabbro and syenitic rocks comprising quartz syenite (oversaturated), syenite (saturated), and nepheline syenite (undersaturated). Petrographical and geochemical studies were carried out for the rocks of the forming ARC. For mineralogical and radioactive investigations, samples were collected from the most promising locations representing the hematitized nepheline syenite, nepheline syenite pegmatites, and quartz syenite. The most important minerals comprise: phosphuranylite, zircon, monazite, xenotime, plumbopyrochlore, pyrite, huttonite, apatite, REE mineral, rutile, and atacamite. The hematitized nepheline syenite is the most U- and Th-rich rocks, where eU content in this rock ranges from 375 to 788 ppm with an average 502 ppm and the average eTh content is 2,345 ppm ranging from 1,918 to 3,067 ppm. The pegmatite syenite and quartz syenite contain relatively low concentrations of U and Th, where the average eU content are 11 and 16 ppm and average eTh contents are 27 and 327 ppm, respectively.     

Enriched Subcontinental Lithospheric Mantle in the Northern Part of the South Indian Granulite Terrain: Evidence from Yelagiri and Sevattur Syenite Plutons, Tamil Nadu, South India

In the southern part of the Indian Peninsula, there are a number of alkaline plutons of Proterozoic age. In the northern part of the South Indian granulite terrain, the Yelagiri (syenite, pyroxenite) and Sevattur (syenite, pyroxenite, carbonatite) plutons intrude Archaean epidote-hornblende gneisses. Geochemical and isotopic characteristics of the Yelagiri and Sevattur plutons indicate that the syenitic magmas formed from highly differentiated mantle-derived alkali basalts. The Yelagiri and Sevattur syenites are characterized by evolved Sr and Nd isotopic compositions, pronounced enrichment in LILE and large negative Nb anomalies. Trace element and Sr-Nd isotope characteristics of the Yelagiri and Sevattur syenites are similar to those of the subduction-related alkaline rocks. The scarcity of geological evidence for subduction activity at the time of syenite intrusion during Neoproterozoic does not support a link between the alkaline magmatism and subduction. However, our data are consistent with the model of derivation of the Yelagiri and Sevattur syenites from the subcontinental lithospheric mantle, which was previously enriched by slab derived component. The geochemical and isotopic signatures of other mantle-derived intrusive rocks in the northern part of the South Indian granulite terrain with ages ranging from ca. 2.5 Ga to 0.75 Ga also support the above idea.     

Evaluation of phase chemistry and petrochemical aspects of Samchampi-Samteran differentiated alkaline complex of Mikir Hills,northeastern India

The Samchampi-Samteran alkaline complex occurs as a plug-like pluton within the Precambrian granite gneisses of Mikir Hills, Assam, northeastern India and it is genetically related to Sylhet Traps. The intrusive complex is marked by dominant development of syenite within which ijolitemelteigite suite of rocks is emplaced with an arcuate outcrop pattern. Inliers of alkali pyroxenite and alkali gabbro occur within this ijolite-melteigite suite of rocks. The pluton is also traversed by younger intrusives of nepheline syenite and carbonatite. Development of sporadic, lumpy magnetite ore bodies is also recorded within the pluton. Petrographic details of the constituent lithomembers of the pluton have been presented following standard nomenclatorial rules. Overall pyroxene compositions range from diopside to aegirine augite while alkali feldspars are typically orthoclase and plagioclase in syenite corresponds to oligoclase species. Phase chemistry of nepheline is suggestive of Na-rich alkaline character of the complex. Biotite compositions are typically restricted to a uniform compositional range and they belong to ‘biotite’ field in the relevant classification scheme. Garnets (developed in syenite and melteigite) typically tend to be Ti-rich andradite, which on a closer scan can be further designated as melanites. Opaque minerals mostly correspond to magnetite. Use of Lindsley’s pyroxene thermometric method suggests an equilibration temperature from ∼450°–600°C for melteigite/alkali gabbro and ∼400°C for syenite. Critical assessment of other thermometric methods reveals a temperature of equilibration of ∼700°–1350°C for ijolite-melteigite suite of rocks in contrast to a relatively lower equilibration temperature of ∼600°C for syenite. Geobarometric data based on pyroxene chemistry yield an equilibration pressure of 5.32–7.72 kb for ijolite, melteigite, alkali pyroxenite, alkali gabbro and nepheline syenite. The dominant syenite member of the intrusive plug records a much higher (∼11 kb) equilibration pressure indicating a deeper level of intrusion. Major oxide variations of constituent lithomembers with respect to differentiation index (D.I.) corroborate a normal magmatic differentiation. A prominent role of liquid immiscibility is envisaged from field geological, petrographic and petrochemical evidences. Tectonic discrimination diagrams involving clinopyroxene chemistry strongly suggest within plate alkaline affinity for the parental magma which is in conformity with the regional plume tectonics.