Academic literature on the topic 'Pb-Pb Rb-Sr Sm-Nd isotopic composition'

The early Permian intrusions of the Alai Segment of the South Tien Shan comprise four geochemically contrasting intrusive series, including (1) I-type and (2) shoshonitic granitoids, (3) peraluminous granitoids including S-type leucogranites and (4) alkaline rocks and carbonatites, closely associated in space and time. New geochronological data indicate that diverse magmatic series of the Alai segment formed virtually coevally in a post-collisional setting. Five U-Pb zircon rock ages in the range 287 – 281 Ma, in combination with published ages, define the main post-collisional magmatic pulse at 290 - 280, which is similar to ages of post-collisional intrusions elsewhere in the South Tien Shan. The Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf isotopic compositions of the studied intrusions are consistent with the reworking of crustal material with 1.6 – 1.1 Ga average crustal residence times indicating the formation of the Alai segment of the South Tien Shan on a continental basement with Mesoproterozoic or older crust. It is suggested that position of the Alai microcontinent between two major sutures enabled delamination of its lithospheric mantle, which triggered the diverse post-collisional magmatism as a result of interaction of ascending asthenospheric material with lithospheric mantle and various crustal protoliths.

ABSTRACT This contribution is concerned with the debated origin of the impact melt rock in the central uplift of the world’s largest confirmed impact structure—Vredefort (South Africa). New major- and trace-element abundances, including those of selected highly siderophile elements (HSEs), Re-Os isotope data, as well as the first Se isotope and Se-Te elemental systematics are presented for the felsic and mafic varieties of Vredefort impact melt rock known as “Vredefort Granophyre.” In addition to the long-recognized “normal” (i.e., felsic, >66 wt% SiO2) granophyre variety, a more mafic (<66 wt% SiO2) impact melt variety from Vredefort has been discussed for several years. The hypothesis that the mafic granophyre was formed from felsic granophyre through admixture (assimilation) of a mafic country rock component that then was melted and assimilated into the superheated impact melt has been pursued here by analysis of the two granophyre varieties, of the Dominion Group lava (actually metalava), and of epidiorite mafic country rock types. Chemical compositions, including high-precision isotope dilution–derived concentrations of selected highly siderophile elements (Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Se, Te), and Re-Os and Se isotope data support this hypothesis. A first-order estimate, based on these data, suggests that some mafic granophyre may have resulted from a significant admixture (assimilation) of epidiorite to felsic granophyre. This is in accordance with the findings of an earlier investigation using conventional isotope (Sr-Nd-Pb) data. Moreover, these outcomes are in contrast to a two-stage emplacement model for Vredefort Granophyre, whereby a mafic phase of impact melt, derived by differentiation of a crater-filling impact melt sheet, would have been emplaced into earlier-deposited felsic granophyre. Instead, all chemical and isotopic evidence so far favors formation of mafic granophyre by local assimilation of mafic country rock—most likely epidiorite—by a single intrusive impact melt phase, which is represented by the regionally homogeneous felsic granophyre.