Quartz from Allchar as monitor for cosmogenic 26Al: Geochemical and petrogenetic constraints

Summary Results of a multidisciplinary study on quartz concentrates (mineralogically separated) and etched concentrates (stoichiometric quartz) from three locations at Allchar (Macedonia) are presented. The investigation of quality and composition of these quartz samples is of great interest because the same material has been previously used as monitor for ²⁶Al Acceleration Mass-Spectrometry (AMS) erosion rate estimates. Two genetically different types of quartz are distinguished in the studied samples which petrologically can be described as hydrothermally altered dacites or quartz latites; i.e. volcanic (Q_V) and hydrothermal (Q_H) quartz with relative proportions of Q_H:Q_V around 3:2. Q_H is genetically related to the Allchar Sb–As–Tl–S mineralization having very high Sb (85–785 ppm), As (7.6–78 ppm) and (Tl 3.3–4.0 ppm) contents. This type of quartz is also characterized by very high Li (129–138 ppm), Al (2424–2520 ppm) and Ti (153–219 ppm) concentrations. Q_V appears to be much less enriched in trace elements having Al and K contents ranging from 0 to 280 ppm and from 50 to 85 ppm, respectively. ²⁶Al AMS measurements were done on the samples containing two genetically different types of quartz but this had no effects on the interpretation and erosion rate determinations. However, the extremely high Al concentrations in the analyzed quartz have generally negative effects, mainly by decreasing ²⁶Al/²⁷Al ratios and thus causing an increase of the detection limit. The disagreement between the results of ²⁶Al AMS analyses and quantitative geomorphologic data for one location is probably caused by different geographical position with respect to the direction of cosmic rays.     

Characteristics of the lithospheric mantle beneath East Serbia inferred from ultramafic xenoliths in Palaeogene basanites

Mantle xenoliths from Paleogene basanites of East Serbia were studied using EMP and LA-ICP-MS techniques in order to better understand mantle characteristics in this region. Five different mantle lithologies have been distinguished: a dunite/harzburgite/lherzolite (D/HZ/L) group, clinopyroxene-rich lherzolites (Cpx-L), clinopyroxene megacrysts (Cpx-M), spinel-rich olivine websterites (OWB₁) and spinel-poor olivine websterites (OWB₂). D/HZ/L xenoliths are the most common and represent normal mantle composed of typical anhydrous spinel peridotites with well equilibrated, unzoned silicates characterized by high Mg# s. Negative correlations between Mg# and TiO₂, Al₂O₃ and CaO wt% in clinopyroxenes (cpx) and orthopyroxenes (opx) and the Cr–Al trend in spinel (sp) suggest depletion via extraction of basaltic melts. The modal composition of D/HZ/L xenoliths and unusual low-Al opx suggest that the lithospheric mantle underneath East Serbia is more depleted than normal European lithosphere. D/HZ/L xenoliths contain numerous pockets and veins filled by Cr-rich cpx, Ti-rich spinel, altered glass, apatite and rare ilmenite and phlogopite. Petrographic observations, supported by major element contents in sp and cpx, and modelling using trace element contents in cpx, indicate that the pockets and veins formed from infiltration of alkaline melts and reaction with peridotite wall-rock causing opx and spinel replacement. The same alkaline melt-related metasomatism gave rise to the Cpx-L and OWB₁ mantle xenoliths and Cpx-M xenocrysts. Trace element contents of cpx in these xenoliths show a distinctively concave downwards REE pattern with a HFSE depletion, very similar to cpx megacrysts from the Pannonian Basin and to vein cpx from Eifel. In contrast, the OWB₂ xenoliths show evidence of precipitation from subduction-related mafic to ultramafic melts, as inferred from their opx-rich lithology and unusual Cr-rich spinels. They are probably related to subduction magmatism during the Late Cretaceous.Milivoje Jovanovi: deceased in April 2004     

Geodynamic significance of ultramafic xenoliths from Eastern Serbia: Relics of sub-arc oceanic mantle?

A suite of highly depleted peridotite xenoliths in East Serbian Palaeogene basanites represents the lithospheric mantle beneath the Balkan Peninsula. The xenoliths are harzburgites, clinopyroxene-poor lherzolites and rare dunites. They contain mostly <5 vol.% of modal clinopyroxene and are characterized by high Mg# in silicates (>91), high Cr# in spinel (mostly 0.5–0.7), and by distinctively low Al₂O₃ contents in orthopyroxene (mostly 1–2 wt.%). They have experienced some mantle metasomatism which has slightly obscured their original composition. Nevertheless, the general characteristics of the xenoliths imply a composition which is significantly more depleted than most non-cratonic sub-continental mantle xenolith suites, as well as orogenic peridotites and abyssal peridotites. Geological and compositional evidence suggests that the xenoliths do not represent Archean mantle. The existence of Proterozoic mantle cannot be entirely excluded, although it is in disagreement with geological evidence. On the other hand, the studied xenoliths are compositionally very similar to peridotites of modern oceanic sub-arc settings. The existence of such a depleted lithospheric mantle segment is also inferred from the presence of rare orthopyroxene-rich xenoliths in the same suite. These are interpreted to have originated as lithospheric precipitates of high-Mg, SiO₂-saturated magmas that require a highly depleted mantle source. Such source is typically required by boninitic-like magmas of intraoceanic suprasubduction settings. A proposed geodynamic model to explain these observations involves accretion or underplating of the lower parts of the Tethyan oceanic lithosphere during the Upper Jurassic closure of the eastern branch of the Vardar ocean.     

Cenozoic granitoids in the Dinarides of southern Serbia: age of intrusion,isotope geochemistry,exhumation history and significance for the geodynamic evolution of the Balkan Peninsula

Two age groups were determined for the Cenozoic granitoids in the Dinarides of southern Serbia by high-precision single grain U–Pb dating of thermally annealed and chemically abraded zircons: (1) Oligocene ages (Kopaonik, Drenje, Željin) ranging from 31.7 to 30.6 Ma (2) Miocene ages (Golija and Polumir) at 20.58–20.17 and 18.06–17.74 Ma, respectively. Apatite fission-track central ages, modelling combined with zircon central ages and additionally, local structural observations constrain the subsequent exhumation history of the magmatic rocks. They indicate rapid cooling from above 300°C to ca. 80°C between 16 and 10 Ma for both age groups, induced by extensional exhumation of the plutons located in the footwall of core complexes. Hence, Miocene magmatism and core-complex formation not only affected the Pannonian basin but also a part of the mountainous areas of the internal Dinarides. Based on an extensive set of existing age data combined with our own analyses, we propose a geodynamical model for the Balkan Peninsula: The Late Eocene to Oligocene magmatism, which affects the Adria-derived lower plate units of the internal Dinarides, was caused by delamination of the Adriatic mantle from the overlying crust, associated with post-collisional convergence that propagated outward into the external Dinarides. Miocene magmatism, on the other hand, is associated with core-complex formation along the southern margin of the Pannonian basin, probably associated with the W-directed subduction of the European lithosphere beneath the Carpathians and interfering with ongoing Dinaridic–Hellenic back-arc extension.     

Jankovićite,Tl5Sb9(As,Sb)4S22, a new TI-sulfosalt from Allchar,Macedonia

Summary A hitherto unknown TI-sulfosalt, containing antimony and arsenic, was discovered by ore microscopy (including quantitative reflectance measurements) and electron microprobe analysis in samples from the Allchar TI-Sb-As sulfide ore deposit (Macedonia). The chemical formula is TI₅Sb₉(As,Sb)₄S₂₂, X-ray single crystal and powder diffration data gave the lattice parameters _o = 7.393(4) Å, b₀ = 8.707(2) Å, c_o = 17.584(3) Å, = 103.81(1)°, = 91.79(1)°, = 109.50(1)°; space group , Z = 1. The new mineral and the new mineral naine jankoviéite have been approved by the IMA/CNMMN.

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Jankoviit, Tl₅Sb₉(As,Sb)₄S₂₂, ein neues TI-Sulfosalz aus Allehar, Macedonien

Zusammenfassung Ein bislang unbekanntes Thallium-Antimon-Arsen-Sulfosalz wurde mittels Erzmikroskopie (inklusive quantitativer Reflexionsmessungen) und Elektronenstrahl-Mikrosonde in Proben aus der TI-Sb-As-Sulfid-Lagerstätte Allchar in Macedonien entdeckt. Die chemische Formel lautet Tl₅Sb₉(As,Sb)₄S₂₂, aus Röntgen-Einkristallaufnahmen und Pulverdiffraktogrammen konnten folgende Gitterkonstanten bestimmt werden: a_o = 7.393(4) Å, b_o = 8.707(2) _Å, c_o = 17.584(3) Å, a = 103.81(1)°, = 91.79(1)°, = 109.50(1)°; Raumgruppe , Z = 1. Das neue Mineral, sowie der neue Mineralname Jankoviit wurden durch die IMA/CNMMN anerkannt.