S. N. Rudnev

Age, composition, sources, and geodynamic environments of the origin of granitoids in the northern part of the Ozernaya zone, western Mongolia: Growth mechanisms of the Paleozoic continental crust

The paper presents data on the structure, composition, and age of granitoid associations (Tokhtogeshil’skii Complex) composing the Kharanur and Sharatologoi polychronous plutons in the northern part of the Ozernala zone in western Mongolia. The Tokhtogeshil’skii Complex was determined to consist of a number of independent magmatic associations, which were formed at 540–450 Ma, within three age intervals (540–520, 510–485, and 475–450 Ma), have different composition, were derived from different sources, and were emplaced in different geodynamic environments. During the first, island-arc stage (540–520 Ma), high-Al plagiogranites were produced, which belong to tonalite-plagiogranite (531 ± 10 Ma) and diorite (529 ±6 Ma) associations in the Kharanur pluton, low-Al plagiogranites of the tonalite-plagiogranite association (519 ± 8 Ma) in the Sharatologoi pluton, and rocks of the Khirgisnur peridotite-pyroxenite-gabbronorite complex (Kharachulu and Dzabkhan massifs). The rocks of the diorite and plagiogranite associations of the Kharanur pluton have ɛNd(T) from +7.9 to +7.4, TNd(DM) = 0.65 Ga, and (87Sr/86Sr)0 = 0.7038–0.7039. The plagiogranites of the Sharatologoi pluton (tonalite-plagiogranite association) are characterized by ɛNd(T) from +6.5 to +6.6, TNd(DM) = 0.73–0.70 Ga, and (87Sr/86Sr)0 = 0.7038–0.7039, which suggest predominantly juvenile subduction sources of the parental melts at a subordinate role of ancient crustal material. During the second, accretionary stage (510–485 Ma), low-Al plagiogranites of the diorite-tonalite-plagiogranite association of the Sharatologoi pluton (494 ± 10 Ma, M type) were formed. The Sr-Nd isotopic characteristics of these rocks ɛNd(T) = +6.6, (87Sr/86Sr)0 = 0.7039 are analogous to those of the plagiogranitoids of the early type. This suggests that the melted sources were similar in composition. During the third, postcollisional stage (475–450 Ma), rocks of the diorite-granodiorite-granite association were formed (459 ± 10 Ma, type I) in the Kharanur pluton. These rocks have ɛNd(T) = +5.1, TNd(DM) = 0.74 Ga, and (87Sr/86Sr)0 = 0.7096. The parental melts were supposedly derived by means of partial melting of “the Caledonian” juvenile crust with the addition of more ancient crustal material.

Early Paleozoic batholiths in the northern part of the Kuznetsk Alatau: Composition, age, and sources

The paper reports geological, chemical, and geochronological data on the Early Paleozoic granitoid and gabbro-granite associations, which compose the Kozhukhovskii and Dudetskii batholiths in the northern part of the Kuznetsk Alatau. The Kozhukhovskii batholith located in the Alatau volcanoplutonic belt is made up of tholeiitic, calc-alkaline, and subalkaline rocks that were formed in two stages. The first stage corresponded to the formation of granitoids of the Tylinskii quartz diorite-tonalite-plagiogranite complex (∼530 Ma, Tylinskii Massif, tholeiitic type) in an island arc setting. The second stage (∼500 Ma) produced the Martaiga quartz diorite-tonalite-plagiogranite complex (Kozhukhovskii Massif, calc-alkaline type) and the Krasnokamenskii monzodiorite-syenite-granosyenite complex (Krasnokamenskii Massif, subalkaline type) in an accretionary-collisional setting. The Dudetskii batholith is situated in the Altai-Kuznetsk volcanoplutonic belt and contains widespread subalkaline intrusive rocks (Malodudetskii monzogabbro-monzodiorite-syenite and Karnayul’skii granosyenite-leucogranite complexes) and less abundant alkaline rocks (Verkhnepetropavlovskii carbonatite-bearing alkaline-gabbroid complex), which were formed within the age range of 500–485 Ma. Our Nd isotopic studies suggest mainly a subduction source of the rocks of the Kozhukhovskii batholith (εNd from + 4.8 to + 4.2). Subalkaline rocks of the Dudetskii batholith exhibit wide isotopic variations. The Nd isotopic composition of monzodiorites and monzogabbro of the Malodudetskii Complex (εNd = + 6.6), in association with the elevated alkalinity and high Nb and Ta contents of these rocks, testifies to the predominant contribution of an enriched mantle source at the participation of a depleted mantle source. The lower εNd (from + 3.2 to + 1.9) in its syenites possibly indicates their generation through melting of metabasic rocks derived from enriched mantle protolith. The rocks of the Karnayul’skii Complex have lower Nb and Ta contents at similar εNd (+3.6), which suggests some crustal contribution to their formation.

U-Pb and 39Ar/40Ar dating and Sm-Nd and Pb-Pb isotopic study of the Kalguty molybdenum-tungsten ore-magmatic system, Southern Altai

The Kalguty ore-magmatic system comprises two intrusive complexes: the Kalguty granite-leucogranite complex and Eastern Kalguty complex of dikes and small intrusions. U-Pb dating of individual zircon grains from granites of the main intrusive phase demonstrated that the crystallization age of small grains of magmatic habits and outer rims of large grains is almost concordant and is 216 ± 3 Ma. Ar-Ar isotope study shows that the K-Ar system of biotites from granites of the main phase within the Kalguty ore field was disturbed (radiogenic Ar was partially lost) and gave an age of 202 ± 1 Ma. The Ar-Ar dating of muscovites from intraore and postore dikes of the Eastern Kalguty complex devoid of signatures of postmagmatic recrystallization and superimposed greisenization gave similar ages of 205–201 Ma. This date is considered as the emplacement age of the Eastern Kalguty dikes and associated complex W-Mo-Bi-Be ore mineralization. Sm-Nd and Pb-Pb isotopic study of granites, ongonites, and elvans of the Kalguty ore-magmatic system and host rocks shows that these systems were closed. For example, recalculation of Nd isotopic ratios for corresponding ages of crystallization of magmatic systems (216 and 205 Ma) shows that ɛNd(T) values decrease from −1.9 to −3.5 ... −5.08 with transition from granite-leucogranite to subvolcanic granite porphyry, ongonite, and elvan dikes with corresponding increase of model ages of protoliths from 1.0 to 1.25 Ga. Lead isotopic ratios for leaching residues of whole-rock samples of all rock varieties (206Pb/204Pb = 18.305–18.831; 207Pb/204Pb = 15.527–15.571) are plotted well below the line of average crustal lead evolution according to the Stacey-Kramers model.

U-Pb Isotopic Dating of Zircons (SHRIMPII) from Granulites of the Ol'khon Region of Western Baikal Area

Based on the first isotopic geochronological data obtained by the classic U–Pb method by zircons [1–3], it was established that magmatic and metamorphic rocks of the Ol’khon region are of Early Paleozoic age. The age of granulite metamorphism of the Chernor� udskaya zone rocks spreading as a narrow band (with a width of <1 km) along the boundary of the Siberian Craton was 485 ± 5 Ma. Data of the SHRIMP ion microprobe for U–Pb isotopic dating of zircons [4, 5] confirmed previously obtained results: age estimations were 507 ± 8 Ma, for granulites in the northeastern part of the Chernorudskaya zone (Khadarta Penin� sula) and 498 ± 7 Ma, for the Khoboi Cape (Ol’khon Island). However, problems concerning age estima� tions for the protolith of these rocks remained unsolved. Our study is aimed at solution of these prob� lems.

Petrology of volcanic and plutonic rocks from the Uimen-Lebed’ terrain, Gorny Altai

The Uimen-Lebed’ volcanoplutonic terrane is located at the junction of the Gorny Altai, Gornaya Shoriya, and western Sayan structures and is part of the Devonian-Early Carbonaceous Salair-Altai volcanoplutonic belt. The volcanic facies of the terrane composes the contrasting Nyrnin-Sagan Group, which includes basalt-basaltic andesite and basalt-rhyolite associations. The plutonic facies makes up the multiplet Elekmonar Group, which includes two independent complexes: monzogabbro-monzodiorite-granodiorite-granite and granodiorite-granite-leucogranite. The volcanic and plutonic rocks are asymmetrically distributed: volcanic sequences fill inherited depressions in the eastern part of the terrane, whereas plutonic complexes are located in its western part at the fault system branching from the transregional Kuznetsk-Teletsk-Kurai fault zone. The basalts of the Nyrnin-Sagan Group show geochemical signatures of both suprasubduction and rift-related rocks. The evolution of basaltoid magmatism reflects the formation and development of a suprasubduction mantle wedge in the inner part of an active continental margin accompanied by the influence of an intraplate mantle source. The silicic volcanism was generated under lower crustal conditions (P > 10 kbar) at the expense of metabasic materials and was accompanied by the influx of potassium into the anatectic zones. The gabbroids of the Elekmonar Group show suprasubduction geochemical features and no signatures of rift-related structures. The composition of the Elekmonar granitoids indicates significantly shallower (compared with the silicic volcanics) depths of their generation. The Uimen-Lebed’ volcanoplutonic terrane in the northeastern part of Gorny Altai was formed in the inner part of an active continental margin of the Andean type. Its magmatic complexes were formed over a considerable time range, from the early Emsian, when the formation of the active continental margin began, to the end of the Eifelian or, more likely, the beginning of the Givetian stage.

Petrology and age of granitoids of the Aturkol Massif, Gorny Altai: Contribution in the problem of formation of intraplate granitoids

Geological, mineralogical, petrographic, geochemical, and geochronological data are reported for granitoids of the Aturkol Massif (Gorny Altai). It is shown that it was formed in within-plate setting in the Early Triassic, nearly simultaneously with flood basalts of the Kuznetsk Basin and alkalic basite and lampropyre dike swarms in the western Altai-Sayan Fold Region. At the same time, the mineralogical-petrographic, geochemical, and isotope characteristics of the considered granitoids are close to those of I-type granites. Intraplate signatures (elevated HFSE and REE) are recognized only in the least silicic rocks (granosyenites). Obtained data suggest mantle–crustal nature of the granitoids. They were formed by mixing of lamprophyre magmas with high pressure (>10 kbar) crustal melts derived from a mixed source consisting mainly of N-MORB-type metabasites with insignificant admixture of high-Ti basalts and metasedimentary rocks. The contribution of mantle component in the granitoids was insignificant (<20%). Proposed petrogenetic mechanism can provide the formation of large volumes of granitoid magmas with “crustal” geochemical and isotope signatures in an intraplate setting.

First evidence for the Middle Triassic volcanism in South Primorye

A detailed study of a relatively well-exposed fragment of the Barabash Formation in the southern part of the Voznesenka terrane is carried out to specify the geodynamic settings of the Permian volcanogenic and volcanogenic-sedimentary complexes in South Primorye. It is established that the basaltic flows juxtaposed in the studied sequence originated from sharply different sources. The geochemical characteristics indicate that the basalts from the sequence base were presumably derived by melting of oceanic lithospheric mantle or asthenosphere, while the source of the overlying basalts was lithospheric mantle reworked by a subduction process. The basalts are subsequently overlain by tuffaceous–terrigenous and terrigenous rocks and limestones with remains of Capitanian (Middle Permian) fauna. Accessory zircons extracted from the tuffaceous–terrigenous rocks yield an U–Pb concordant age of 233.3 ± 3.3 Ma (Middle Triassic Ladinian Stage) for the youngest zircon population. The obtained data lead us to conclude that the Barabash Formation is a tectonostratigraphic rather than stratigraphic unit and may be a fragment of the Triassic accretionary wedge. The obtained data cast doubt on the accepted assignment of this unit to the Voznesenka terrane. It is more logical to include it in the Laoelin–Grodekov terrane, which represents a fragment of the Late Paleozoic active continental margin. This suggests that the boundary between these blocks should be specified and the timing of the final stage of amalgamation of the Laoelin–Grodekov terrane with the terranes of the Bureya–Khanka orogenic belt should be revised.

Paleozoic Granitoids of the Southern Part of the Voznesenka Terrane (Southern Primorye): Age, Composition, Melt Sources, and Tectonic Settings

This paper presents data on the geological position, geochemistry, age, and isotopic characteristics of the granitoids of the southern part of the Voznesenka terrane, Southern Primorye (Muraviev–Amursky Peninsula and its vicinities). All of the studied granitoids were formed in three stages: the Ordovician, Silurian, and Permian. The Silurian and Permian ages of the granitoid intrusions have been previously determined (Ostrovorussky Massif, 432–422 Ma, and 250 ± 4 Ma, early and late associations, respectively; Sedanka massif, 261 ± 3 Ma). The granites of the Artem and Nadezhdinsky massifs define an U–Pb zircon age of 481 ± 6 and 452 ± 4 Ma, respectively. The geochemical and isotope data show mainly the crustal nature of the granitoids. Their formation was related to melting of relatively immature rocks of the continental crust (mafic–intermediate volcanic rocks). The Nd isotope composition of the granitods (TNd(DM–2) = 1.3 Ga) indicates the absence of the mature ancient crust at the basement of the southern Voznesenka terrane. The maximum contribution of mantle sources to the granite formation is recorded in the Permian associations. A comparison of the peaks of intrusive magmatism in the southern part of the Voznesenka terrane and adjacent territories suggests that the formation of the granitoids of the Muraviev–Amursky Peninsula and its vicinities was caused by the interaction of continental blocks with two oceanic basins: the Paleoasian (and its fragments) and Paleopacific ones.