Geochemical discrimination of different magma series and their differentiation products using immobile elements

New analyses of 131 samples of A-type (alkaline or anorogenic) granites substantiate previously recognized chemical features, namely high SiO2, Na2O+K2O, Fe/Mg, Ga/Al, Zr, Nb, Ga, Y and Ce, and low CaO and Sr. Good discrimination can be obtained between A-type granites and most orogenic granites (M-, I and S-types) on plots employing Ga/Al, various major element ratios and Y, Ce, Nb and Zr. These discrimination diagrams are thought to be relatively insensitive to moderate degrees of alteration. A-type granites generally do not exhibit evidence of being strongly differentiated, and within individual suites can show a transition from strongly alkaline varieties toward subalkaline compositions. Highly fractionated, felsic I- and S-type granites can have Ga/Al ratios and some major and trace element values which overlap those of typical A-type granites. A-type granites probably result mainly from partial melting of F and/or Cl enriched dry, granulitic residue remaining in the lower crust after extraction of an orogenic granite. Such melts are only moderately and locally modified by metasomatism or crystal fractionation. A-type melts occurred world-wide throughout geological time in a variety of tectonic settings and do not necessarily indicate an anorogenic or rifting environment.

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A-type granites: geochemical characteristics, discrimination and petrogenesis

The Portscatho Formation, within the allochthonous unit of the Middle and Upper Devonian Gramscatho Group, is a thick sequence of deep-water sandstones and interbedded slates deposited by southerly-derived turbidity currents into the Gramscatho basin of south Cornwall. Throughout an approximately 3.5 km thick sequence, the Portscatho Formation is petrographically and chemically coherent, except that the upper section shows a higher proportion of metamorphic clasts, high, but variable Cr, and low, uniform Zr abundances. Complementary framework mode and bulk geochemistry indicate that the sandstones were derived from a dissected continental magmatic arc of predominantly acidic composition, similar to average upper continental crust, but with an admixture of minor intermediate/basic material. Flysch deposition took place in a fore-arc setting. The presence of an arc to the south of Cornwall during the Devonian implies that there was subduction at the margin of the Gramscatho basin, whose ultimate closure was accommodated by the northward stacking of flysch–ophiolite nappes.

Tectonic environment of the Devonian Gramscatho basin, south Cornwall: framework mode and geochemical evidence from turbiditic sandstones

Partition coefficients for Cs, Ba, Sr, Ca, Mg, La, Sm, Lu, Mn, Ti, Cr, Ta, Zr, and P between immiscible basic and acidic liquids in the system K2O-Al2O3-FeO-SiO2 were experimentally determined at 1,180 °C and 1 atm. Phosphorus is most strongly enriched in the basic melt (by a factor of 10), followed by rare earth elements, Ta, Ca, Cr, Ti, Mn, Zr, Mg, Sr, and Ba (enriched by a factor of 1.5). Of the elements studied, only Cs is enriched in the acidic melt. The two-liquid partition coefficients of Zr, Ta, Sm, and Mn are constant for concentrations ranging from <0.1% to as high as 1 wt.-%, suggesting that Henry's law is applicable in silicate melts (at least for these elements) to concentrations well above typical trace element levels in rocks. The strong relative preference of many elements for the basic melt implies that the structural characteristics of basic melts more readily permit stable coordination of cations by oxygen. Partitioning of elements between crystal and liquid in a magma must therefore be influenced by the composition (and consequent structure) of the liquid. Application of the two-liquid partition coefficients to possible occurrences of liquid immiscibility in magmas reveals that typical basalt-rhyolite associations are probably not generated by two-liquid phase separation. However, liquid immiscibility cannot be discounted as a possible origin for lamprophyric rocks containing felsic segregations.

Two-liquid partition coefficients: Experimental data and geochemical implications

Granitic pegmatites of the rare_element (and miarolitic) class display extreme fractionation and accumulation.of rare lithophile elements, beyond the limits observed in other igneous and postmagmatic assemblages. Enrichment in Li and -Cs leads to precipitation of rock-forming spodumene, petalite, Li-phosphates or lepidolite, and pollucite. These gqeoes-can be interpreted as crystallochemically conditioned Li- and-Csbased feldspathoids, crystallizing along with (and after) the last generations of primary K- and Nalfeldspars. Extreme fractionation is encountered in K-feldspar gi,znb !,9.rK/Qs 22.4, K/Tt 236, Rb,zCs 6.5, Rb,/Tt 130 io 35, K,/Ba 18,0@, BalRb <0.002); muscovite and lepidolite q/R! !.4, K,/Cs 4.0, K/Tl3ZO, Rb,/Cs 4.4, nb,ril SO ro 3.6, N/Ga239): pollucite (KAl 10, Rb/Tl 60io l3); microute, srmpsonite and other late oxide minerals of Ta (Nb/Ta < 0.001); manganoranialire (Fe,/Mn 0.@3): spes_ sartine @e,/Mn < 0.@3); lithiophilite (FeZVn < O.oii: iraf_ yoy (ZrlHf 0.014), and hawteyite and dernjite (in/Cd, 0.067)- Classic crystallochemical concepts of Goldichmictr and Ringwood alone are not adequate tb explain the above values. Selective extraction and transport in a volatile phase (by diffusion or in an exsolved hydrous fluid), complex_ ing stable to relatively low late- to postmagmaiic temieratures, and crystallochemical for specific mineral structures operate in conjunction with crystal,/melt fractionation; the environment evolves from that of a volatile_ saturated residual granitic melt, through that ofa melt coex_ isting with exsolved supercritical fluid, to that of an aque_ ous solution and possibly a gas phase, in a closed oirestricted system.

Extreme fractionation in rare-element granitic pegmatites; selected examples of data and mechanisms

Recent pantelleritic lavas comprise the whole of the isolated and outlying volcano of Mayor Island. Mineralogically, they are characterised by phenocrystic anorthoclase-sodic27 sanidine, quartz, sodic ferrohedenbergite, and cossyrite. Nine new chemical analyses of the lavas are presented (including one residual glass), confirming their strongly sodic and peralkaline nature. One analysis is also given of trachybasalt, which occurs as common inclusions in the mantling pumice deposits. These inclusions are characterised by abundant feldspar phenocrysts. Detailed trace element data is presented for five of the lava samples, representing the mam volcanic phases and the trachybasalt inclusions. The following conclusions are presented:
 The data is interpreted to indicate that the pantellerites were derived by crystal differentiation from a postulated mildly alkali olivine basalt parent — feldspar fractionation is considered to have been extremely important in this process. It is shown that the element enrichment occurring in the younger lavas may not be wholely explained by crystallisation differentiation alone — it is possible that some additional process is required. It is also shown that the observed enrichment of sodium in the youngest lavas can only occur during crystal fractionation if quartz, as well as anorthoclase, separate from the magma. This is due to the higher alkali abundances of the anorthoclase phenocrysts, relative to the pantellerite compositions. There is limited evidence that post-eruptive devitrification of some of the lavas has resulted in some modification of the lava chemistry, notably sodium loss.

A. Ewart

Papers

Geochemistry of the pantellerites of Mayor Island, New Zealand

Leucogranites and rhyolites: Trace element evidence for fractional crystallisation and partial melting