A. J. R. White

I- and S-type granites in the Lachlan Fold Belt

Granites and related volcanic rocks of the Lachlan Fold Belt can be grouped into suites using chemical and petrographic data. The distinctive characteristics of suites reflect source-rock features. The first-order subdivision within the suites is between those derived from igneous and from sedimentary source rocks, the I- and S-types. Differences between the two types of source rocks and their derived granites are due to the sedimentary source material having been previously weathered at the Earths surface. Chemically, the S-type granites are lower in Na, Ca, Sr and Fe 3+ /Fe 2+ , and higher in Cr and Ni. As a consequence, the S-types are always peraluminous and contain Al-rich minerals. A little over 50% of the I-type granites are metaluminous and these more mafic rocks contain hornblende. In the absence of associated mafic rocks, the more felsic and slightly peraluminous I-type granites may be difficult to distinguish from felsic S-type granites. This overlap in composition is to be expected and results from the restricted chemical composition of the lowest temperature felsic melts. The compositions of more mafic I- and S-type granites diverge, as a result of the incorporation of more mafic components from the source, either as restite or a component of higher temperature melt. There is no overlap in composition between the most mafic I- and S-type granites, whose compositions are closest to those of their respective source rocks. Likewise, the enclaves present in the more mafic granites have compositions reflecting those of their host rocks, and probably in most cases, the source rocks. S-type granites have higher δ 18 O values and more evolved Sr and Nd isotopic compositions, although the radiogenic isotope compositions overlap with I-types. Although the isotopic compositions lie close to a mixing curve, it is thought that the amount of mixing in the source rocks was restricted, and occurred prior to partial melting. I-type granites are thought to have been derived from deep crust formed by underplating and thus are infracrustal, in contrast to the supracrustal S-type source rocks. Crystallisation of feldspars from felsic granite melts leads to distinctive changes in the trace element compositions of more evolved I- and S-type granites. Most notably, P increases in abundance with fractionation of crystals from the more strongly peraluminous S-type felsic melts, while it decreases in abundance in the analogous, but weakly peraluminous, I-type melts.

Ultrametamorphism and granitoid genesis

Abstract A model is presented to explain the geochemical and mineralogical characteristics of granitoids and their inclusions. The product of ultrametamorphism is melt + residuum, both of which may move en masse to the site of crystallization. The nature of the source material can be deduced from studies on the granitoids and their inclusions; based on studies of the Lachlan belt of southeastern Australia we recognize granitoids derived from metasedimentary rocks (S-types) and those derived from igneous source rocks (I-types). The straight-line variation diagrams of most granitoid suites is explained by progressive separation of residuum (= restite) and melt. It is shown that some granitoid suites consist of minimum melt + residuum whereas others represent the crystallization of “nonminimum” melts + residuum. Residuum is recognized as metasedimentary xenoliths in S-types and as mafic hornblende-rich xenoliths in I-types. Xenocrystal material is more difficult to recognize petrographically. We suggest that the complexly zoned and twinned plagioclases so characteristic of orogenic rocks are modified residuum. These and xenoliths are absent in granitoids which have largely crystallized from a melt such as those of the Tuolumne Suite of the Sierra Nevada. Mafic minerals of granitoids whether residuum or crystallization products are mostly equilibrium assemblages. Relict mafic phases from the source do not persist and hence P-T conditions of magma generation cannot be deduced.

Two contrasting granite types: 25 years later

The concept of I‐ and S‐type granites was introduced in 1974 to account for the observation that, apart from the most felsic rocks, the granites in the Lachlan Fold Belt have properties that generally fall into two distinct groups. This has been interpreted to result from derivation by partial melting of two kinds of source rocks, namely sedimentary and older igneous rocks. The original publication on these two granite types is reprinted and reviewed in the light of 25 years of continuing study into these granites.

Granite provinces and basement terranes in the Lachlan Fold Belt, southeastern Australia

Many granites have compositional features that directly reflect the composition of their source rocks. Since most granites come from the deeper parts of the Earths crust, their study provides information about the nature of parts of that deep crust. Granites and related volcanic rocks are abundant and widely distributed in the Palaeozoic Lachlan Fold Belt of southeastern Australia. These granites show patterns of regional variation in which sharp discontinuities occur between provinces which internally are of a rather constant character. Such a discontinuity has long been recognized at the I‐S line and the extent of that line can now be defined more fully. Breaks of this type are thought to correspond to sharp changes in the composition of the deep crust that correspond to unexposed or basement terranes. Nine such basement terranes can be recognized in the Lachlan Fold Belt. The character of these basement terranes appears to be different from that of the terranes recognized in the Mesozoic‐Cainozoic Cor...

Contrasts between I‐ and S‐type granitoids of the Kosciusko Batholith

Abstract Two distinct groups of granitoids occur on the eastern side of the Kosciusko Batholith. Those considered to be derivatives of sedimentary source rocks (S‐types) are usually foliated and either contain cordierite or white‐mica secondary after cordierite. The granitoids produced from igneous source material (I‐types) are generally massive and frequently contain hornblende. Geochemical parameters provide the best discriminant between the two groups, I‐types have higher Ca, Al, Na2O/K2O, and Fe2O3/FeO, and lower Fe, Mg, Sc, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ba, Rb, Th, La, Ce, and Y than S‐types of comparable SiO2 values. The differences between the two groups are not the result of differences in the melt‐forming process but reflect differences in the nature of the source material. Thus the geochemical features of the S‐type granitoids are indicative of their source rocks having been through a process of chemical weathering in a sedimentary cycle. Conversely, the I‐type granitoids were derived from fractionated...

Some supracrustal (S-type) granites of the Lachlan Fold Belt

S-type granites have properties that are a result of their derivation from sedimentary source rocks. Slightly more than half of the granites exposed in the Lachlan Fold Belt of southeastern Australia are of this type. These S-type rocks occur in all environments ranging from an association with migmatites and high grade regional metamorphic rocks, through an occurrence as large batholiths, to those occurring as related volcanic rocks. The association with high grade metamorphic rocks is uncommon. Most of the S-type granites were derived from deeper parts of the crust and emplaced at higher levels; hence their study provides insights into the nature of that deeper crust. Only source rocks that contain enough of the granite-forming elements (Si, Al, Na and K) to provide substantial quantities of melt can produce magmas and there is therefore a fertile window in the composition of these sedimentary rocks corresponding to feldspathic greywacke, from which granite magmas may be formed. In this paper, three contrasting S-type granite suites of the Lachlan Fold Belt are discussed. Firstly, the Cooma Granodiorite occurs within a regional metamorphic complex and is associated with migmatites. It has isotopic and chemical features matching those of the widespread Ordovician sediments that occur in the fold belt. Secondly, the S-type granites of the Bullenbalong Suite are found as voluminous contact-aureole and subvolcanic granites, with volcanic equivalents. These granites are all cordierite-bearing and have low Na 2 O, CaO and Sr, high Ni, strongly negative e Nd and high 87 Sr/ 86 Sr, all indicative of S-type character. However, the values of these parameters are not as extreme as for the Cooma Granodiorite. Evidence is discussed to show that these granites were derived from a less mature, unexposed, deeper and older sedimentary source. Other hypotheses such as basalt mixing are discussed and can be ruled out. The Strathbogie Suite granites are more felsic but all are cordierite-bearing and have chemical and other features indicative of an immature sedimentary source. They are closely associated with cordierite-bearing volcanic rocks. The more felsic nature of the suite results in part from crystal fractionation. It is suggested that the magma may have entered this “crystal fractionation” stage of evolution because it was a slightly higher temperature magma produced from an even less mature sediment than the Bullenbalong Suite. The production of these S-type magmas is discussed in terms of vapour-absent melting of metagreywackes involving both muscovite and biotite. The production of a magma in this way is consistent with the low H 2 O contents and geological setting of S-type granites and volcanic rocks in the Lachlan Fold Belt.

Structure of the melanesian arcs and correlation with distribution of magma types

Abstract Chemical data on Cenozoic lavas (29 new analyses) from Melanesia indicate a zonal arrangement of lava types in the New Guinea-New Britain arc. Tholeiitic rocks occur on the oceanic side of New Guinea (Manam, Karkar), and north of New Britain. Calc-alkaline rocks occur on the East Papuan coast (Mt. Lamington, Mt. Victory). The shoshonitic rock association of the New Guinea highlands (Mt. Hagen, Mt. Giluwe) and East Papua probably represents the equivalent of the alkali-basalt association, or a further zone of magma variation across island arcs. Zonation is not distinct within the Solomon Island Arc. Lavas of the New Georgia Group show tholeiitic as well as calc-alkaline affinities, and rocks from Bougainville and Guadalcanal are calc-alkaline. The equivalent of the alkali-basalt association has not been found in the Solomons. Seismic data are reviewed. The position of the seismic zone may be correlated with the chemistry of the rocks and in the New Guinea Arc the plane dips towards the continent. In the Solomon Arc (Bougainville section) the seismic zone dips steeply towards the continent: in the southern section (New Georgia-Guadalcanal) it is almost vertical.

S-type granites and their probable absence in southwestern North America

Criteria that have been (and still are) used to characterize S-type granites of the Lachlan Fold Belt (LFB) of southeastern Australia are reviewed, and comparisons are made with various peraluminous granites of southwestern North America, some of which have been classified as S-types on the basis of insufficient data. Virtually all of the vast volume of S-type granites in the LFB are near-surface, batholithic granites that are commonly associated with S-type volcanics and are not associated with regional metamorphic rocks and migmatites. They are strongly peraluminous, as shown by the presence of cordierite. Granites with primary muscovite are rare. All are low in Na, Ca, and Sr as a result of chemical weathering during formation of the sedimentary sources. Peraluminous granites of various ages in southwestern North America are distinctly different. They rarely contain cordierite (a mineral characteristic of LFB S-types), but some are highly evolved such that Fe-Mn-rich garnet has crystallized. They are dominantly two-mica granites, indicating crystallization at higher water fugacities and greater depths than most peraluminous granites of the LFB. Cordierite-bearing volcanics (S-types) have not been reported. Sodium is generally high in the peraluminous granites of southwestern North America. Some of these rocks have trondhjemitic affinities; the parent magmas seem more likely to have been produced by partial melting of altered basaltic rocks. Locally, some peraluminous rocks (marginal to metaluminous types) may owe their compositions to high-level contamination of I-types; these are not S-type rocks. No compelling evidence has been presented that any of the peraluminous granites of southwestern North America are S-types.

Yardea Dacite—Large-volume, high-temperature felsic volcanism from the Middle Proterozoic of South Australia

The Yardea Dacite is a large-volume felsic volcanic unit from the Middle Proterozoic Gawler Range Volcanics of South Australia; it has been previously described as an ignimbrite. However, some samples contain no petrographic evidence for a pyroclastic origin, but have characteristics compatible with final crystallization from a nonfragmented magma. These samples may have erupted as lavas, but others are likely to be extremely densely welded ignimbrites, suggesting a compound nature for the unit. Geothermometry and phase equilibria indicate that the Yardea Dacite originated from a high-temperature (∼1000 °C) felsic magma with a low water content (≤2%). The Yardea Dacite is not associated with a known caldera of the Valles type, and shares many characteristics of recently described Cenozoic felsic volcanic rocks from the western United States, interpreted as rheoignimbrites or as unusually extensive lavas.

The Jindabyne Thrust and its Tectonic, physiographic and petrogenetic significance

Abstract The Jindabyne Thrust has been mapped south of Lake Eucumbene, along the eastern side of Lake Jindabyne and thence southwards to the gorge of the Snowy River in Byadbo Lands. It is marked by a crush zone and a west‐facing scarp. Structure contours on the Thrust where it enters the gorge of the Snowy River in the Byadbo region indicate an easterly dip of about 20°. The north‐south erosional valley now occupied by Lake Jindabyne is controlled by the Thrust and the gorge below the Jindabyne Dam has been rejuvenated by recent movement. The nature of the Jindabyne Thrust and other faults in the Jindabyne‐Berridale region can be deduced from their effects on the Silurian granitoid plutons. Where a pluton, circular or elliptical in plan and with vertical walls, is transected by a thrust, a semi‐elliptical or semi‐circular shape results; granitoid rock types cannot be matched across the fault. Wrench faults in the region either curve into or are transected by the thrusts, depending upon the geometrical re...