Tony D. Peterson

Proterozoic (1.85–1.75 Ga) igneous suites of the Western Churchill Province: granitoid and ultrapotassic magmatism in a reworked Archean hinterland

Paleoproterozoic igneous rocks in the Archean hinterland of the Paleoproterozoic Trans-Hudson orogen (THO) consist of voluminous late syn-orogenic to post-orogenic monzonite to granite (Hudson granitoids; ≈1850–1810 Ma), and contemporaneous ultrapotassic lamprophyre dykes and volcanic rocks (Dubawnt minettes) that are interbedded with alluvial fan and fluvial deposits (Baker Lake Group, lower Dubawnt Supergroup). They were followed at approximately 1750 Ma by rapakivi granite (Nueltin granite) and porphyritic rhyolite associated with aeolian sandstone (Pitz Formation, middle Dubawnt Supergroup). The tectonic cycle ended with the deposition of conglomerates and sandstones in a large sag basin (Thelon Formation, upper Dubawnt Supergroup, ≈1.72 Ga). The Hudson granitoids, which are strongly concentrated northwest of the THO, were broadly synchronous with terminal collision between the Archean Churchill and Superior cratons and the development of NE-trending ductile structures in the Western Churchill Province (WCP) that may be related to tectonic escape to the northeast. They were emplaced at mid-crustal level and no volcanic equivalents are preserved. Fault-bounded basins containing the minette volcanic rocks are located farther west in a domain dominated more by brittle faulting. The Nueltin granites, emplaced during a period of active extensional faulting, are present in a band extending southwest from the minette basins toward a preserved remnant of the sag basin (the Athabasca basin). Hudson granitoids are largely absent from this band but reappear west of it, indicating a higher crustal level of exposure in a downdropped Nueltin ‘corridor’. The Nd isotope composition of the three suites is similar (minettes: eNd,1830 Ma=−5 to −11; Hudson granitoids: eNd,1830 Ma=−7 to −13.5; Nueltin suite: eNd,1750 Ma=−7 to −10.5), and they have late Archean model ages that match those of average Archean WCP rocks. The Hudson granitoids are rich in inherited Archean zircon, and both granitoid suites are interpreted as crustal melts. Some Nueltin granites and Pitz rhyolites are mingled with basalt, and the Nueltin suite fits a commonly cited model for rapakivi granite production, which postulates injection of basalt into extending, brittly faulted crust. The Hudson granitoids are similar to late syn- to post-orogenic plutons in numerous other collisional hinterlands, which are typically associated with ultrapotassic lamprophyres. The minettes, which have high mg# and bear mantle xenocrysts, must have a mantle source component, and their source region could have been subduction-enriched lithospheric mantle. However, their source had only slightly lower time-integrated LREE enrichment than did that of the granitoids, and the incompatible element signatures of the two suites are strikingly similar. The minette source region may have been in a zone of mixed crust and upper mantle, formed during a shortening event which resulted in crustal thickening and subsequent melting at mid-crustal layers to form the Hudson granitoid plutons. The generation and emplacement of minette melts may have been promoted by extension related to a combination of slab breakoff, gravitational collapse of thickened crust, and strike-slip faulting in the deforming hinterland. Subsequent anorogenic rapakivi granite-basalt activity may have been triggered by lithospheric mantle delamination. The hinterland tectonic cycle of the WCP was repeated in other large Archean terranes that were deformed during the early Proterozoic, but the igneous and sedimentary record is unusually complete in the WCP.

Nephelinite-carbonatite liquid immiscibility at Shombole volcano, East Africa: Petrographic and experimental evidence

SummaryWe summarize the evidence for silicate-carbonate liquid immiscibility in two nephelinite lavas from Shombole volcano, East Africa, and discuss its significance for carbonatite petrogenesis. The nephelinite lavas contain spherical to irregular globules ≤ 0.5 cm containing low-Sr calcite, Sr-Ca and K-Ba zeolites, fluorite, aegirine, strontianite, and fluorapatite. The globules are interpreted to be magmatic in origin, and represent quenched immiscible carbonate liquid. Most phases in the globules form an interlocking mosaic of euhedral crystals, however, rare blebby intergrowths of calcite and strontianite indicate eutectic crystallization from a melt. The phase assemblages and respective compositions of minerals in the globules and silicate groundmass are nearly identical, indicating that the samples were quenched when two liquids were in near-equilibrium. Experiments with the samples at 200–500 MPa and 975–925 °C have reproduced the natural assemblages (phenocrysts + 2 liquids) exactly and the compositions of experimentally generated solid phases closely match the original phenocrysts. The natural and experimentally produced carbonatites are both sövitic (calcite carbonatite) in composition.The two-liquid experimental data from Shombole are compared with the 300 MPa experimental data ofFreestone andHamilton (1980) andHamilton et al. (1989), who utilized strongly peralkaline bulk compositions typical of the lavas erupted at Oldoinyo Lengai. Both data sets are nearly coplanar in the tetrahedron Si-(Ca + Mg + Fe2+)-(Al + Fe3+)-(Na + K) (SCAN), but the tielines have different orientations and the Oldoinyo Lengai bulk compositions generate alkali-rich carbonatitic liquids, rather than sövitic liquids. At both volcanic centers, only one type of extrusive carbonatite is known, and crystal fractionation schemes to generate one carbonatite from another are not supported by the data. Experiments illustrate that the full range of Ca-Mg-(Na + K) carbonatites can be generated by liquid immiscibility from nephelinitic magmas of different compositions.ZusammenfassungWir fassen die Hinweise auf fehlende Mischbarkeit von Silikat-Karbonatschmelzen in zwei Nephelinitlaven des Shombole-Vulkans, Ostafrika, zusammen und diskutieren die Bedeutung der Ergebnisse für die Genese der Karbonatite. Die Nephelinitlaven enthalten rundliche bis unregelmäßig geformte Einschlüsse von bis zu 0,5 cm Durchmesser, die Sr-armen Kalzit, Sr-Ca und K-Ba Zeolite, Fluorit, Aegirin, Strontianit und Fluorapatit enthalten. Diese Einschlüsse (“Globules”) sind magmatischen Ursprungs und stellen rasch abgekühlte unmischbare Karbonat-Schmelze dar. Die meisten Phasen in den Einschlüssen bilden ein vernetztes Mosaik idiomorpher Kristalle. Selten kommen auch tröpfchenförmige Verwachsungen von Kalzit und Strontianit vor, die auf eutektische Kristallisation aus einer Schmelze hinweisen. Die Assoziationen der Phasen, und die Zuammensetzungen der Minerale in den Einschlüssen und in der silikatischen Grundmasse sind fast identisch, und weisen darauf hin, daß die Proben rasch abgekühlt wurden als beide Schmelzen beinahe im Gleichgewicht waren. Experimente mit den Proben bei 200–500 MPa und 975–925°C haben die natürlichen Assoziationen (idiomorphe Kristalle und zwei Schmelzen) genau wiedergegeben und Zusammensetzungen der experimentell hergestellten festen Phasen stimmen sehr gut mit denen der ursprünglichen idiomorphen Kristalle überein. Die natürlichen und die experimentell hergestellten Karbonatite sind sövitischer Zuammensetzung (Kalzit-Karbonatit).Die experimentellen Daten vom Shombole werden mit den bei 300 MPa durchgeführten experimentellen Daten vonFreestone undHamilton (1980) undHamilton et al. (1989) verglichen; letztere benützten stark peralkalische Gesamtzusammensetzungen die typisch für die Laven des Oldoinyo Lengai-Vulkans sind. Beide Datengruppen sind beinahe koplanar in den Tetraedern Si-(Ca + Mg + Fe+2)-(Al + Fe +3)-(Na + K) (SCAN), aber die Konoden haben verschiedene Orientierungen und die Oldoinyo Lengai-Zusammensetzungen erzeugen alkalireiche karbonatitische Schmelzen und nicht sövitische. In beiden vulkanischen Zentren ist nur ein Typ von Karbonatiten bekannt und Fraktionierungs-Mechanismen, die einen Karbonatit aus dem anderen ableiten könnten, werden von den erarbeiteten Daten nicht gestützt. Experimente zeigen, daß das volle Spektrum möglicher Ca-Mg(Na + K) Karbonatite durch Unmischbarkeit (immiscibility) aus nephelinitischen Magmen verschiedener Zusammensetzung abgeleitet werden kann.

Petrology and genesis of natrocarbonatite

Microprobe analyses of phenocrysts and groundmass, and crystal-size distributions of phenocrysts of pahoehoe natrocarbonatite lavas of the 1963 eruption of Oldoinyo Lengai have been determined. Nyerereite phenocrysts are homogeneous, with average composition Nc41Kc9Cc50 (neglecting F, Cl, P2O5, and SO3) where Nc=Na2CO3, Kc=K2CO3, and Cc= (Ca,Sr)CO3. Gregoryite phenocrysts have turbid, pale brown, oscillatorily zoned cores (average composition Nc77Kc5Cc18) with 0–30% oriented inclusions of exsolved nyerereite. Overgrowths on gregoryites (30 μm wide) are relatively sodic (Nc81Kc4Cc15) and are free of inclusions. Cores and rims are rich in SO3 (4%) and P2O5 (2%). Blebs of pyrite-alabandite mixtures (≤100 μm) occur in the groundmass. The groundmass has the simplified composition Nc65Kc15Cc20, less calcic than the composition of the 1-kbar nyerereite+gregoryite +liquid cotectic in the ternary system Nc-Kc-Cc. Groundmass quench growth of alkali halides + carbonate was followed by slower growth of coarse-grained and irregular gregoryite +KCl+BaCO3. Crystal size distributions of gregoryite and nyerereite in one sample are linear, implying little loss or gain of phenocrysts by crystal settling. AverageGτ is 0.15 mm, compared toGτ=0.03 mm for combeite phenocrysts from consanguineous nephelinite. Assuming an equal residence time (τ) for both lavas, the apparent crystal growth rate (G) in carbonate melt is 5 times greater than in peralkaline undersaturated silicate melt. Data from experiments with natrocarbonatite and related synthetic systems indicate that Na−K−Ca carbonatite magmas which crystallize calcite cannot fractionate to nyerereite+gregoryite +liquid assemblages. Natrocarbonatites plot in the liquidus field of nyerereite, and minor fractionation of nyerereite to produce the erupted lavas is indicated. The term natrocarbonatite has been inappropriately applied to other eruptive rocks with calcite phenocrysts, and the only known occurrence of gregoryite-bearing natrocarbonatite is Oldoinyo Lengai. Natrocarbonatite probably originates by liquid immiscibility from strongly peralkaline nephelinites, which have also been erupted at Oldoinyo Lengai.

Enriched Archean lithospheric mantle beneath western Churchill Province tapped during Paleoproterozoic orogenesis

Ultrapotassic rocks of the Christopher Island Formation (Baker Lake basin) were emplaced across an enormous area (240 000 km 2 minimum) of the western Churchill Province ca. 1.83 Ga. These rocks extend across the Snowbird zone, a geophysical feature postulated by others to represent a Paleoproterozoic suture that welded the Rae and Hearne domains. Minette dikes and flows of the Rae and Hearne domains display identical ϵ Nd, 1830 values and incompatible element patterns, and thus appear to have originated from a common lithospheric-mantle source. Christopher Island Nd model ages cluster at 2.8 Ga, and ϵ Nd data from one Archean lamprophyre and three 2.45 to ca. 2.2 Ga mafic suites suggest that enriched lithospheric-mantle sources beneath both the Rae and Hearne domains existed well before ca. 1.83 Ga, inconsistent with Paleoproterozoic suturing along the Snowbird zone. In contrast to commonly invoked models that envisage melting of local enriched domains, Christopher Island ultrapotassic rocks appear to have originated from an extensive reservoir. We suggest that such a reservoir was created during an Archean metasomatic event, perhaps owing to flat subduction, and that it remained in nearly complete isolation until tapped during Paleoproterozoic extension related to squeezing of western Churchill crust between flanking Wopmay and Trans-Hudson orogens.

Nd and Sr isotope systematics of Shombole volcano, East Africa, and the links between nephelinites, phonolites, and carbonatites

Nd and Sr isotope compositions of nephelinites, carbonatites, and phonolites from Shombole, a Pliocene volcano in East Africa, show that the phonolites cannot be derived by simple fractional crystallization of nephelinite magma. For a given initial {sup 87}Sr/{sup 86}Sr ratio, {sup 143}Nd/{sup 144}Nd is lower in most phonolites than in the nephelinites and carbonatites. Interaction between nephelinitic magma and lower-crustal granulites can account for these differences. The similar ranges in isotopic composition of the carbonatites and nephelinites are consistent with repeated melting events involving heterogeneous mantle. The carbonatites could have formed by immiscibility with nephelinite magma or by direct partial melting of the same mantle source(s) as the nephelinites.

Geochemistry and origin of the Proterozoic ultrapotassic rocks of the Churchill Province, Canada

SummaryEarly Proterozoic ultrapotassic dikes, lava flows, and pyroclastic rocks of the Christopher Island Formation (CIF) erupted throughout an area 600 × 300 km within the Churchill Province of the Canadian Shield at 1.84 Ga. The rocks range from mafic lamprophyres (mg # ⩾ 60; SiO2 47–54%, mean K2O/Na2O > 4) with phenocrysts of phlogopite + diopside + apatite ± olivine ± magnetite, to phenocryst-poor felsic rocks and sanidine porphyries (SiO255–69%). All samples have high incompatible element contents and display large depletions of high field strength elements relative to K, Rb, Sr, Ba, and Th. The CIF has geochemical and petrographic characteristics of both minettes and lamproites, but overall most closely resembles young Mediterranean lamproites. Felsic rocks of the CIF were produced by crystal fractionation and crustal contamination of mafic ultrapotassic magma, and include both high-silica lamproites strongly enriched in Zr, U, and Th, and weakly potassic to sodic rocks of trachytic composition. Flows and feeder dikes have relatively homogeneous ɛNd, 1840 Ma (−6 to −11) but highly variable ES., 1840 Ma (−40 to + 100); samples classified as lamproites have higher average ɛSr. Dike samples have highly variable present-day Pb isotope compositions, ranging from moderately to strongly nonradiogenic. Geochemical and isotopic data are consistent with contributions from depleted Archean lithospheric mantle, and OIB-type convecting mantle, both metasomatized by subduction-related processes during the Early Proterozoic. The lithospheric mantle probably contained Archean enriched domains as well. Proterozoic enrichment may have accompanied shallow underplating of subducted oceanic lithosphere beneath the Churchill Province during amalgamation of the Laurentian supercontinent. There are strong analogies in isotopic composition, and interpreted source region history, between the CIF and lamproites and minettes of the Wyoming Province and western Greenland, which suggest the existence of a Laurentian ultrapotassic “superprovince”.ZusammenfassungAltproterozoische, ultrapotassische Gänge, Lavaströme und pyroklastische Gesteine der Christopher Island Formation (CIF), eruptierten in einem Gebiet von 600 × 300 km in der Churchill Provinz des Kanadischen Schildes vor 1.84 Ga. Die Zusammensetzung dieser Gesteine variiert von mafischen Lamprophyren (mg > 60; SiO2 = 47–54%, durchschnittliches K2O/Na2O > 4) mit Phänokristallent von Phlogopit + Diopsid + Apatit + Olivin + Magnetit, bis zu phänokristallarmen felsischen Gesteinen und Sanidinporphyren (SiO2 = 55–69%). Alle Proben zeigen hohe Gehalte an inkompatiblen Elementen und zeigen beträchtliche Verarmung an “high field strength” Elementen relativ zu K, Rb, Sr, Ba und Th. Die CIF hat geochemische und petrographische Eigenschaften sowohl von Minetten wie von Lamproiten, aber im allgemeinen ähnelt sie am stärksten jungen mediterranen Lamproiten. Felsische Gesteine der CIF wurden durch Fraktionierung und Krustenkontamination aus mafischen ultrapotassischen Magmen gebildet. Letztere umfassen sowohl siliziumreiche Lamproite, die deutlich an Zr, U und Th angereichert sind und schwach potassische bis sodische Gesteine von trachytischer Zusammensetzung. Lavenergüsse und zufuhrgänge zeigent ein relativ homogenes ɛNd, 1840 Ma (−6 bis −11) aber ein sehr variables ɛSr, 1840 Ma (-40 bis + 100); Proben die als Lamproite klassifiziert wurden, zeigent höhere durchschnittliche ɛSr-Werte. Proben von Gängen haben sehr variable Bleiisotopen-Zusammensetzungen, die von mäßig bis stark nichtradiogen variieren. Geochemische und Isotopendaten weisen auf Beiträge aus verarmtem archaischen lithosphärischen Mantel und aus konvektierendem OIB-Typ Mantel hin, die beide während des Alproterozoikums durch Subduktions-Vorgänge metasomatisiert wurden. Der lithosphärische Mantel enthielt wahrscheinlich auch angereicherte archaische Domänen. Proterozoische Anreicherungsvorgänge dürften seichtes Underplating subduzierter ozeanischer Lithosphäre unter der Churchill Provinz während der Amalgamation des laurentischen Superkontinentes begleitet haben. Es gibt starke Analogien in der Isotopenzusammensetzung und in der interpretierten Geschichte der Ursprungsregion, zwischen den CIF und Lamproiten und Minetten der Wyoming Provinz, und des westlichen Grönland. Diese weisen auf die Existenz einer laurentischen ultrapotassischen “Superprovinz” hin.