Middle paleozoic rhyolite of Gorny and Rudny Altai: geochronology and composition characteristics

Abstract

The paper presents the results of geological, geochemical and isotope-geochronological studies of subvolcanic rhyolites of the Western Gorny Altai and Rudny Altai which have related to two large volcanic systems, the Altai-Minusinsk and Altai-Salair, respectively. The results of U-Pb isotopic dating of zircons revealed two groups of ages ~410-405 and 390-381 million years. Isotope-geochemical characteristics of rhyolites show relatively high values of e Nd ( T ) = +2,7...6,0 with relatively young values of model ages T (DM) = 851-966 Ma in the Rudny Altai and more ancient - up to 1266 Ma in the West Gorny Altai. Geochemical characteristics indicate that its composition is consistent with transitional field between within-plate and island-arc felsic magmas. The results obtained correspond to the two-stage evolution of volcanism and its migration from the continent to the ocean.