Petrogenesis of the Swaziland and Northern Natal Rhyolites of the Lebombo Rifted Volcanic Margin, South East Africa |
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Authors: | Miller, Jodie A. Harris, Chris |
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Affiliation: | Department of Geological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7700, South Africa |
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Abstract: | The Jozini and Mbuluzi rhyolites and Oribi Beds of the southernLebombo Monocline, southeastern Africa, have geochemical characteristicsthat indicate they were derived by partial melting of a mixtureof high-Ti/Zr and low-Ti/Zr Sabie River Basalt Formation types.Compositional variations within the different rhyolite typescan largely be explained by subsequent fractional crystallization.The Sr- and Nd-isotope composition of the rhyolites is uniqueamongst Gondwana silicic large igneous provinces, having Ndvalues close to Bulk Earth (0·94 to 0·35)and low, but more variable, initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0·70340·7080).Quartz phenocryst 18O values indicate that the rhyolite magmashad 18O values between 5·3 and 6·7, consistentwith derivation from a basaltic protolith with 18O values between4·8 and 6·2. The low-18O rhyolites (< 6·0)come from the same stratigraphic horizon and are overlain andunderlain by rhyolites with more normal 18O magmavalues. These low-18O rhyolites cannot have been produced byfractional crystallization or partial melting of mantle-derivedbasaltic material. The rhyolites have low water contents, makingit unlikely that the low 18O values are the result of post-emplacementalteration. Modification of the source by fluidrock interactionat elevated temperatures is the most plausible mechanism forlowering the 18O magma value. It is proposed that the low-18Orhyolites were derived by melting of earlier altered rhyolitein calderas situated to the east, which were not preserved afterGondwana break-up. KEY WORDS: rhyolite; Lebombo; stable and radiogenic isotopes; low-18O magmas; partial melting |
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Keywords: | : rhyolite Lebombo stable and radiogenic isotopes low- /math/delta.gif" ALT=" {delta}" BORDER=" 0" >18O magmas partial melting |
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