Zircon U-Pb geochronology,geochemistry and petrogenesis of syenogranite from Angeer Yinwula area in Inner Mongolia

The study presents the results of U-Pb dating of zircons and whole-rock geochemical analyses of syenogranite in Angeer Yinwula area, China, with the aim of determining its formation time, petrogenesis and regional setting. Zircon U-Pb data obtained by LA-ICP-MS indicate that the syenogranite formed in the Early Cretaceous(136.1±0.9 Ma). Geochemically, the rock is characterized by high SiO_2(76.63%--77.58%) and Na_2O+K_2O(8.00%--8.32%), low MgO(0.02%--0.04%) and TFe_2O_3(0.51%--0.84%), and is enriched in LREEs and LILEs, depleted in HREEs and HFSEs. It belongs to high-K calc-alkaline, metaluminous-weakly peraluminous, exhibiting an affinity to I-type granite. All these characteristics implied that the syenogranite in this region derived from crust-mantle mixed source. Overall, the regional geology, geochronology and geochemical features suggest that the formation of the syenogranite was related to the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Ocean.

Zircon U-Pb geochronology and geochemistry of syenogranitesin western Niubiziliang,northwestern Qaidam,Qinghai

The study presents the results of U-Pb dating of zircons and whole-rock geochemical analyses of a syenogranite located in the western Niubiziliang area,China with the aim of determining its formation time,petrogenesis and the regional tectonic setting. Zircons within the syenogranite are euhedral-subhedral and display rhythmic growth zoning,indicating a magmatic origin. Zircon U-Pb data obtained by LA-ICP-MS indicate the syenogranite formed in the Late Permian (260.7±1.5 Ma). The w(SiO_2) of syenogranites is 70.82%--73.59%,w(Al_2O_3) is 13.49%--14.82%,and w(Na_2O + K_2O) is 7.85%--8.52%,and yield K_2O/Na_2O ratios of 1.06--1.26. Therefore,the syenogranites belong to the high-K calc-alkaline and metaluminous (A/CNK< 1,A/NK > 1) series which display I-type granites similarly. The syenogranites also show the geochemical characteristics of volcanic arc rocks,being enriched in large-ion lithophile elements (LILEs; K,Rb) and light rare-earth elements (LREEs; La,Ce,Sm,Nd),but depleted in high field strength elements( HFSEs; Ta,Nb,P,Ti). On the whole,trace element ratios are close to the mean of the Earth's crust,indicating a lowercrust magma source. The low Sr (161--214) ×10^(-6) and Yb (1.08--1.80)×10^(-6) concentrations indicate that plagioclase and hornblende are residual mineral phases in the source. The regional geology and whole-rock geochemistry suggest that the formation of the syenogranites was related to subduction of the Zongwulong Ocean crust,and the north margin of Qaidam Block during the Late Permian was in an active continental margin tectonic setting.

Geochemistry and geodynamic significance of the rare-earth mineralized Paleoproterozoic Longwangzhuang granite on the southern margin of the North China Craton

The Longwangzhuang granite pluton occurs on the southern margin of the North China Craton and consists mainly of biotite syenogranite with aegirine granite being locally distributed.The granites are characterized by high silicon and alkaline contents(SiO2=72.17%-76.82%,K2O+Na2O=8.28%-10.22%,K2O/Na2O>>1),AI(agpaitic index) =0.84-0.95,DI=95-97,ASI(aluminum saturation index)=0.96-1.13,and very high Fe* number(FeO*/(FeO*+Mg)=0.90-0.99),thus the granites are assigned to the metaluminous to weakly peraluminous,alkalic to calc-alkalic ferroan A-type granites.The granites are rich in large ion lithophile elements(LILE),especially high in REE concentrations(REE+Y=854×10-6-1572×10-6);whereas the enrichment of high strength field elements(Nb,Ta,Zr,Hf) is obviously less than that of LILEs,exhibiting mild depletions on trace element spider plots;and the rocks are significantly depleted in Ba,Sr,Ti,and Pb.The low εNd(t) values(-4.5--7.2) and high model ages(2.3-2.5 Ga) of the granites as well as the low εHf(t) values(-1.11--5.26) and high Hf model ages(THf1= 2.1-2.3 Ga,THf2=2.4-2.6 Ga) of zircons from the biotite syenogranite suggest that the granites were probably derived from an enriched mantle source.The zircons from the biotite syenogranite are mainly colorless transparent crystals exhibiting well-developed oscillatory zoning on the cathodoluminescence images with a LA-ICPMS zircon U-Pb age of 1602.1±6.6 Ma(MSWD=0.48).Petrochemical,trace elements,as well as Nd and Hf isotopic compositions of the rocks demonstrate that the granites were formed in a within-plate extensional tectonic regime possibly related to the breakup of the Columbia supercontinent.The granites were most likely formed through extreme fractional crystallization of alkali basaltic magma resulted from partial melting of the mantle,which was fertilized by recycling crustal rocks triggered by the delamination of lithospheric mantle and lower crust following the ～1.8 Ga collision and amalgamation of the North China Craton which is part of the Columbia supercontinent.However,contamination of neo-Archean to Paleoproterozoic crustal rocks during the ascent and emplacement of the magma could not be excluded.Being the youngest known anorogenic magmatism on the southern margin of the North China Craton related to Columbia breakup,it might represent the break off of the North China Craton from Columbia supercontinent at the end of Paleoproterozoic.

Melt extraction and mineralization: A case study from the Shuangjianzishan supergiant Ag-Pb-Zn deposit(208 Mt), Inner Mongolia, NE China

The supergiant Shuangjianzishan(SJZ) Ag-Pb-Zn deposit is in the southern segment of the Great Hinggan Range(SGHR), northeast China. Previous studies suggest the ore-forming material and fluid originated from the magmatic system, and the mineralization age was consistent with the diagenetic age. However,the relationship between granitic magmatism and mineralization is still unclear in the SJZ. In this study, CH-O-He-Ar and in-situ S-Pb isotope analyses were conducted to determine the sources of ore-forming fluids and metals, which were combined with geochemistry data of SJZ granitoids from previous studies to constrain the relationship between the magmatism and the mineralization. The C-H-O-He-Ar-S-Pb isotopic compositions suggested the SJZ ore-forming material and fluids were derived from a magmatic source, which has mixed a small amount of mantle-derived materials. In addition, the disseminated sulfide from the syenogranite has comparable S-Pb isotopic composition with the sulfide minerals from ore veins,suggesting that the generation of the SJZ ore-forming fluids has a close relationship with the syenogranite magmatism. Combining with the geochemical characters of the syenogranite, the authors proposed that the mantle-derived fingerprint of the SJZ ore-forming fluid might be caused by the parent magma of the syenogranite, which was derived from partial melting of the juvenile lower crust, and underwent the residual melts segregated from a crystal mush in the shallow magma reservoir. The extraction of the syenogranite parent magma further concentrated the fertilized fluids, which was crucial to mineralization of the SJZ Ag-Pb-Zn deposit.

Geochemistry, mineralogy, and radioactivity of the Abu Furad Area, Central Eastern Desert, Egypt

Abu Furad is in the Central Eastern Desert,Egypt. It comprises metasediments, metavolcanics,metagabbros, syn-to late-orogenic granites, and post-orogenic granites, in addition to numerous dykes and veins of different shapes and composition invading all the older rocks cropping out in the study area. Field, petrographic,mineralogical, and chemical investigations led to the classification of Abu Furad granites as quartz diorite, tonalite,granodiorite, and syenogranites.Major oxide and trace element data revealed that the syn-to late-orogenic granites and post-orogenic granites are peraluminous. Syn-to lateorogenic granites originated from calc-alkaline volcanic arc–related magma; while the post-orogenic granites(syenogranite) are highly fractionated, calc-alkaline granite from a within plate regime. Radiometrically, the studied quartz diorite, tonalite, and granodiorite had lower uranium and thorium contents and higher eU/eTh ratios than the syenogranites. This may indicate that the syn-to late-orogenic rocks originated from sources depleted in these elements. The average e Th/eU ratio of syenogranites was higher than that of average continental crust, suggesting that the syenogranites are relatively depleted in U. The studied altered syenogranites were strongly enriched in U and Th compared to the Earth's crust. On the other hand, the average of e U in pegmatites is lower than the global average for uraniferous pegmatites. The most recorded accessory minerals in the altered syenogranites were thorite, fergusonite, samarskite, columbite, zircon, monazite, xenotime,apatite, fluorite, sphene, atacamite, and malachite, in addition to chromium and nickel inclusions.

Ra's Abdah of the north Eastern Desert of Egypt:the role of granitic dykes in the formation of radioactive mineralization,evidenced by zircon morphology and chemistry

Syenogranitic dykes in the north of Egypt's Eastern Desert are of geological and economic interest because of the presence of magmatic and supergene enrichment of radioactive mineralization. Zircon crystal morphology within the syenogranitic dykes allows precise definition of sub-alkaline series granites and crystallized at mean temperature of about 637 °C. The growth pattern of the zircons suggest magmatic and hydrothermal origins of radioactive mineralization. Hydrothermal processes are responsible for the formation of significant zircon overgrowth; high U-zircon margins might have occurred contemporaneously with the emplacement of syenogranitic dykes which show anomalous uranium(e U) and thorium(e Th) contents of up to 1386 and 7330 ppm, respectively.Zircon chemistry revealed a relative increase of Hf consistent with decreasing Zr content, suggesting the replacement of Zr by Hf during hydrothermal activity.Visible uranium mineralization is present and recognized by the presence of uranophane and autunite.