Geochemistry and origin of the Archean Prince Albert Group volcanics,western Melville Peninsula,Northwest Territories,Canada

Major and trace element data on the Archean metavolcanic rocks of the Prince Albert Group (PAG), Northwest Territories. Canada, are reported. The following major groups were found, based on combined field and geochemical evidence: ultramafic flows; basaltic rocks, predominantly tholeiites; andesites; heavy REE depleted dacites; and rhyolites.The ultramafic and basaltic rocks are relatively normal Archean volcanics except for the downward bowed REE patterns of the tholeiitic basalts. The andesites, dacites and rhyolites, however, are not typical of Archean terrains. Comparisons between the andesites of the PAG and other Archean and more recent ones show that those of the PAG are most similar chemically to modern high-K andesites. REE patterns in these rocks suggest that partial melting of assemblages with significant garnet are an unlikely source but it is not possible to ascribe their origin to any simple process. Partial melting of a garnet-poor mafic granulite is an acceptable source for the heavy REE depleted dacites. The geochemical characteristics of the rhyolites cannot be explained by partial melting of a mafic source or by fractional crystallization from the daeites. It is suggested that these rocks originated by partial melting of pre-existing sialic crust.