Origin of Li-F-rich granite: Evidence from high P-T experiments

Though magmatic origin of Li-F-rich granite has been supported effectively by the existence of volcanic and subvolcanic rocks and melt inclusions trapped in them with similar chemical compositions, evidence from high T-P experiments is poor up to now. To simulate the evolution process of Li-F-rich granite and to interpret its forming mechanism, a series of melting-crystallization experiments were carried out. Under the conditions of 1×10⁸ Pa and 570–700°C, a magmatic mineral association of quartz + alkali feldspar + lithium muscovite/ferromuscovite ± fluorite ± cassiterite is found in leucogranite-HF-H₂O system. This indicates the following points: (i) Fluorite, light-colored muscovite and cassiterite can crystallize directly from the Li-F-rich granitic melt. (ii) The coexistence of dark-colored micas (e.g. biotite) and light-colored micas (e.g. lithium muscovite and ferromuscovite) suggests that the muscovite granite and two-mica granite can be formed under magmatic condition. The zonal texture of micas is not the sole feature for the micas of hydrothermal origin. (iii) As crystallization proceeds, the SiO₂ concentration of the residual melt decreases, while the Al₂O₃ and F concentrations and A/CNK, NKA/Si ratios of the melt incerese, favoring the formation of Li-F-rich granites. Our experiment results are well consistent with the vertical zonation widely observed in rare metal bearing granites, and therefore provide strong experimental evidence for magmatic origin of Li-F-rich granite.