M. L. Tolstykh

Chemical composition and crystallization conditions of trachybasalts from the Dzhida field, southern Baikal volcanic area: Evidence from melt and fluid inclusions

Melt and fluid inclusions have been studied in olivine phenocrysts (Fo 81–79) from trachybasalts of the Southern Baikal volcanic area, Dzhida field. The melt inclusions were homogenized, quenched, and analyzed on an electron and ion microprobe. The study of homogenized glasses of nine inclusions showed that basaltic melts (SiO2 = 47.1–50.3 wt %, MgO = 5.0–7.7 wt %, CaO = 7.1–11.1 wt %) have high contents of Al2O3 (17.1–19.6 wt %), Na2O (4.1–6.2 wt %), K2O (2.2–3.3 wt %), and P2O5 (0.6–1.1 wt %). The volatile contents are low (in wt %): 0.24–0.31 H2O, 0.08 F, 0.03 Cl, and 0.02 S. Primary fluid inclusions in olivines from four trachybasalt samples contain high-density CO2 (0.73–0.87 g/cm3), indicating a CO2 fluid pressure of 4.3–6.6 kbar at 1200–1300°C and olivine crystallization depths of 16–24 km. Ion microprobe analyses of 20 glasses from melt inclusions for trace elements showed that the magmas of the Baikal rift were enriched in incompatible elements, thus differing from oceanic rift basalts and resembling oceanic island basalts. A comparison of our data on melt and fluid inclusions in olivine from trachybasalts of the Dzhida field with preexisting data on the Eastern Tuva volcanic highland in the Southern Baikal volcanic area showed that they had similar contents of volatiles, major, and trace elements.

Types of parental melts of pyroclastic rocks of various structural–age complexes of the Shiveluch volcanic massif, Kamchatka: Evidence from inclusions in minerals

The Shiveluch volcanic massif is one of the largest centers of andesite volcanism in Kamchatka. The paper reports pioneering data on inclusions in 24 samples of pyroclastic rocks characterizing principal evolutionary stages and episodes of the three structural–age complexes composing the massif. The rocks composing these complexes range from andesite to basalt. Data obtained by studying 145 inclusions of natural quenched glasses in minerals from the volcanic rocks of various age make it possible to distinguish three major melt types which gave rise to the whole spectrum of the pyroclastic rocks of the Shiveluch volcanic massif. These melts corresponded to picrobasalt and tephrobasanite (42–34 wt % SiO2, 7 wt % MgO, and up to 1.9 wt % K2O), dacite and trachydacite (59–66 wt % SiO2, 1.6–2.6 wt %, and up to 3 wt % K2O), and rhyolite (69–74 wt % SiO2, 0.2–0.5 wt % MgO, and up to 3.7 wt % K2O). The trace-element composition of the melts and their water contents are determined. All of the melt types had low Nb concentrations and were relatively rich in elements mobile in fluid (up to 50 ppm Rb, >700 ppm Ba, and up to 2–3 ppm Th) but were differently depleted in HREE (La/Yb ranges from 3 to 14) and enriched in HFSE. Along with the melts, the mineralogy and petrography of the rocks were examined. The rocks show evidence of hybridism, which should have played an important role in producing andesite of the volcano. The evolutionary history of the volcanic massif is reproduced based on tephrochronologic and petrologic data.

Adakites and adakitic melts: Compositions of rocks, quenched glasses, and inclusions in minerals

Data set of rocks and glasses whose compositions correspond to the term “adakite” (SiO2 > 56 wt %, Sr > 400 ppm, Sr/Y > 18) was compiled from two large geochemical data bases. It was revealed that the adakitic melts are characterized by extremely low abundance as compared to adakitic rocks. Only 50 adakitic compositions (~0.5%) were identified in the data base that includes the major and trace element compositions of over 9700 quenched and melt inclusion glasses. It was established that only 22 of selected analyses characterize melt inclusion glasses, while other analyses represent residual glass or “pocket melts” in ultramafic mantle xenoliths. The question of a genetic relationship between adakitic rocks, adakitic melts, and melting of subsiding plate remains open. Original data on the Shiveluch volcanic center (Kamchatka) were used to demonstrate the formation of adakitic signatures through mineral accumulation.

The beginning of volcanic activity within Sredinny metamorphic Massif (Sredinny Range, Kamchatka)

For the first time, the age of the beginning of the volcanic activity within Sredinny metamorphic Massif is determined (7–6 Ma). We suppose that this event was caused by the collision of Kamchatka with the Kronotsk arc that started about 7 Ma from accretion of Shipunsky peninsula. We demonstrate that at least two types of rocks were erupted within Sredinny Range of Kamchatka in late Miocene times: typical islandarc rocks were produced in the central and northern parts of the Range, and hybrid type rocks—in its southernmost part.

Unusual acid melts in the area of the unique Rosia Montana gold deposit, Apuseni Mountains, Romania: Evidence from inclusions in quartz

Crystalline and melt inclusions were studied in large (up to 2 cm across) dipyramidal quartz phenocrysts from Miocene dacites in the area of the Rosia Montana Au-Ag deposit in Romania. Data were obtained on the homogenization of fluid inclusions and the composition of crystalline inclusions and glasses in more than 40 melt inclusions, which were analyzed on a electron microprobe. The minerals identified in the crystalline inclusions are plagioclase (An 51–62), orthoclase, micas (biotite and phengite), zircon, magnetite (TiO2 = 2.8 wt %), and Fe sulfide. Two types of the melts were distinguished when studying the glasses of the melt inclusions. Type 1 of the melts is unusual in composition. The average composition of 20 inclusions is as follows (wt %): 76.1 SiO2, 0.39 TiO2, 6.23 Al2O3, 4.61 FeO, 0.09 MnO, 1.64 MgO, 3.04 CaO, 2.79 Na2O, 3.79 K2O (Na2O/K2O = 0.74), 0.07 P2O5, 0.02 Cl. The composition of type 2 of the melts is typical of acid magmas. The average of 23 inclusion analyses is (wt %) 79.3 SiO2, 0.16 TiO2, 10.27 Al2O3, 0.63 FeO, 0.08 MnO, 0.29 MgO, 1.83 CaO, 3.56 Na2O, 2.79 K2O (Na2O/K2O = 1.28), 0.08 P2O5, 0.05 Cl. The compositions of these melts significantly differ in concentrations of Ti, Al, Fe, Mg, Ca, Na, and K. The high analytical totals of the analyses (close to 100 wt %, more specifically 98.9 and 99.0 wt %, respectively) testify that the melts were generally poor in water. Two inclusions of type 1 and two inclusions of type 2 were analyzed on an ion probe, and their analyses show remarkable differences in the concentrations of certain trace elements. These concentrations (in ppm) are for the melts of types 1 and 2, respectively, as follows: 10.0 and 0.69 for Be, 29.3 and 5.7 for B, 6.4 and 1.4 for Cr, 146 and 6.9 for V, 74 and 18 for Cu, 92 and 29 for Rb, 45 and 15 for Zr, 1.7 and 0.6 for Hf, 10.3 and 2.3 for Pb, and 52 and 1.3 for U. The Th/U ratio of these two melt types are also notably different: 0.04 and 0.19 for type 1 and 2.0 and 2.9 for type 2. These data led us to conclude that the magmatic melts were derived from two different sources. Our data on the melts of type 1 testify that the magmatic chamber was contaminated with compositionally unusual crustal rocks (perhaps, sedimentary, metamorphic, or hydrothermal rocks enriched in Si, Fe, Mg, U, and some other components). This can explain the ore-forming specifics of magmatic chambers in the area.