The Apuseni‐Banat‐Timok‐Srednogorie Late Cretaceous magmatic arc in the Carpathian‐Balkan orogen formed on the European margin during closure of the Neotethys Ocean. It was subsequently deformed into ...a complex orocline by continental collisions. The Cu‐Au mineralized arc consists of geologically distinct segments: the Apuseni, Banat, Timok, Panagyurishte, and Eastern Srednogorie segments. New U‐Pb zircon ages and geochemical whole rock data for the Banat and Apuseni segments are combined with previously published data to reconstruct the original arc geometry and better constrain its tectonic evolution. Trace element and isotopic signatures of the arc magmas indicate a subduction‐enriched source in all segments and variable contamination by continental crust. The magmatic arc was active for 25 Myr (~92–67 Ma). Across‐arc age trends of progressively younger ages toward the inferred paleo‐trench indicate gradual steepening of the subducting slab away from the upper plate European margin. This leads to asthenospheric corner flow in the overriding plate, which is recorded by decreasing 87Sr/86Sr (0.70577 to 0.70373) and increasing 143Nd/144Nd (0.51234 to 0.51264) ratios over time in some segments. The close spatial relationship between arc magmatism, large‐scale shear zones, and related strike‐slip sedimentary basins in the Timok and Pangyurishte segments indicates mild transtension in these central segments of the restored arc. In contrast, the Eastern Srednogorie segment underwent strong orthogonal intraarc extension. Segmental distribution of tectonic stress may account for the concentration of rich porphyry Cu deposits in the transtensional segments, where lower crustal magma storage and fractionation favored the evolution of volatile‐rich magmas.
Key Points
Major magmatic arc concealed by postsubduction continental collision
Europe's active margin reconstructed using magma chemistry and geochronology
Distribution of magmatic‐hydrothermal ore deposits controlled by stress state
This study focuses on an east‐west trending belt of granitic to intermediate intrusions and their volcanic cover in the northern Dur Kan Complex, a continental slice outcropping to the north of the ...exposed Makran accretionary wedge in southeastern Iran. Field observations, petrographic descriptions, trace element, and isotope analyses combined with U‐Pb zircon geochronology are presented to determine the time frame of magmatism and tectonic setting during the formation of these rocks. Results document three magmatic episodes with different melt sources for (1) granites, (2) a diorite‐trondhjemite‐plagiogranite sequence, and (3) diabases and lavas. Granites, dated at 170–175 Ma, represent crystallized melt with a strong continental isotopic contribution. The diorite‐trondhjemite‐plagiogranite sequence is 165–153 Ma old and derives from a mantle magma source with minor continental contribution. East‐west trending diabase dikes and bodies intruded the granitoids, which were eroded and then covered by Valanginian (140–133 Ma) alkaline lavas and sediments. Alkaline dikes and lavas have a mantle isotopic composition. Temporal correlation with plutonites of the Sanandaj‐Sirjan Zone to the northwest defines a narrow, NW‐SE striking and nearly 2000 km long belt of Jurassic intrusions. The increasing mantle influence in the magma sources is explained by thinning of continental lithosphere and related mantle upwelling/decompression melting. Accordingly, the formation of the studied igneous rocks is related to the extension of the Iranian continental margin, which ultimately led to the formation of the Tethys‐related North Makran Ophiolites.
Key Points
U‐Pb zircon ages from North Makran granitoids track Eurasia evolution
Sr‐Nd isotopes show increasing mantle component with younging
North Makran was an extensional system in Jurassic times
A silicic ignimbrite flare-up episode occurred in the Pannonian Basin during the Miocene, coeval with the syn-extensional period in the region. It produced important correlation horizons in the ...regional stratigraphy; however, they lacked precise and accurate geochronology. Here, we used U–Pb (LA-ICP-MS and ID-TIMS) and (U–Th)/He dating of zircons to determine the eruption ages of the youngest stage of this volcanic activity and constrain the longevity of the magma storage in crustal reservoirs. Reliability of the U–Pb data is supported by (U–Th)/He zircon dating and magnetostratigraphic constraints. We distinguish four eruptive phases from 15.9 ± 0.3 to 14.1 ± 0.3 Ma, each of which possibly includes multiple eruptive events. Among these, at least two large volume eruptions (>10 km
3
) occurred at 14.8 ± 0.3 Ma (Demjén ignimbrite) and 14.1 ± 0.3 Ma (Harsány ignimbrite). The in situ U–Pb zircon dating shows wide age ranges (up to 700 kyr) in most of the crystal-poor pyroclastic units, containing few to no xenocrysts, which implies efficient recycling of antecrysts. We propose that long-lived silicic magma reservoirs, mostly kept as high-crystallinity mushes, have existed in the Pannonian Basin during the 16–14 Ma period. Small but significant differences in zircon, bulk rock and glass shard composition among units suggest the presence of spatially separated reservoirs, sometimes existing contemporaneously. Our results also better constrain the time frame of the main tectonic events that occurred in the Northern Pannonian Basin: We refined the upper temporal boundary (15 Ma) of the youngest counterclockwise block rotation and the beginning of a new deformation phase, which structurally characterized the onset of the youngest volcanic and sedimentary phase.
Capo Marargiu Volcanic District (CMVD) is an Oligo-Miocene calc-alkaline complex located in northwestern Sardinia (Italy) and characterized by the widespread occurrence of basaltic to andesitic ...domes. One of these domes hosts abundant crystal-rich enclaves with millimeter-to-centimeter sized clinopyroxenes showing intriguing textural features as a result of complex magma dynamics. To better understand the mechanisms governing the early evolution of the CMVD magmatic system, such clinopyroxene phenocrysts have been investigated in terms of their major, trace element, and isotopic compositions. Three distinct clinopyroxene populations have been identified, i.e., Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3. Type 1 appears as the sub-rounded cores of diopsidic clinopyroxenes with overgrowth textures corresponding to Type 2 and Type 3. These latter populations may also occur as single isolated crystals. Type 2 diopsidic pyroxene exhibits oscillatory zoning and spongy cellular textures with Type 3 over-growths, whereas Type 3 are polycrystalline augitic glomerocrysts with occasional Type 2 overgrowths. The crystal overgrowths are striking evidence of magma recharge dynamics. Type 1 (CpxMg#83-92), Type 2 (CpxMg#75-82), and Type 3 (CpxMg#72-79) are, respectively, in equilibrium with Sardinian mantle-derived high-Mg basalts (HMB with meltMg#56-73), least differentiated basaltic andesites (BA with meltMg#45-56) and evolved basaltic andesites (EBA with meltMg#41-50). Type 1 and Type 2 are diopsidic phenocrysts that have evolved along a similar geochemical path (i.e., linear increase of Al, Ti, La, and Hf contents, as well as negligible Eu-anomaly) controlled by olivine + clinopyroxene + amphibole fractionation. This differentiation path is related to phenocryst crystallization from hydrous HMB and BA magmas stalling at moderate crustal pressures. The occurrence of globular sulfides within Type 1 suggests saturation of the HMB magma with a sulfide liquid under relatively low redox conditions. Moreover, Type 1 clinopyroxenes show variable 87Sr/86Sr ratios ascribable either to assimilation of crustal material by HMB magma or a mantle source variably contaminated by crustal components. In contrast, Type 3 augitic phenocrysts recorded the effect of plagioclase and titanomagnetite fractionation (i.e., low Al and Ti contents associated with high La and Hf concentrations, as well as important Eu-anomaly) from more degassed EBA magmas ponding at shallow depths. Rare titanite associated to Type 3 and titanomagnetite crystals point to high oxidizing conditions for EBA magmas. The 87Sr/86Sr ratios of both Type 2 and Type 3 are almost constant, suggesting a limited interaction of BA and EBA magmas with the country rock. The overall textural and compositional features of Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3 clinopyroxene phenocrysts lead to the conclusion that CMVD was characterized by a polybaric plumbing system where geochemically distinct magmas crystallized and mixed under variable environmental conditions.
The Cu-Au deposit of Bor (Serbia) represents a continuum of mineralization styles, from porphyry-style ore occurring in quartz-magnetite-chalcopyrite veins and chalcopyrite disseminations to ...high-sulfidation epithermal Cu-Au ores in pyrite-chalcopyrite and anhydrite-sulfide veins. Decisive for the great economic importance of Bor is the presence of exceptionally rich high-sulfidation massive sulfide orebodies, composed of pyrite + covellite + chalcocite/digenite and minor anhydrite and enargite. They form irregular bodies measuring 0.5–10 million tons of ore grading up to 7% Cu, hosted by andesites and surrounded by intense argillic alteration. This study focuses on a small but rich underground orebody mined out recently, where limited drillcore is preserved for quantitative geochemical study. This paper documents the vein relationships within the deep porphyry-style orebody of Borska Reka, the transitional porphyry-epithermal veins, and the overlying and laterally surrounding epithermal massive sulfides of the Bor deposit. Geological observations indicate that the formation of massive sulfide orebodies concludes the ore formation. Mass balance calculations, recast into geologically realistic bulk fluid-rock reactions, confirm textural evidence that near-isovolumetric replacement of andesite host rocks is the dominant formation mechanism of massive sulfide orebodies at Bor, whereby all lithophile elements including Si are dissolved and only Ti stays relatively immobile. While net volume changes for individual mineralization styles within the massive sulfide orebody vary from − 16% volume loss to + 127% volume gain, overall volume change for the whole massive sulfide orebody was probably slightly negative. Brecciation is important only as means of creating channelways for reactive fluid that turns the andesite protolith into massive sulfide, whereas net breccia infill occurred only locally.
Large-scale Upper Eocene plutons in the Western Alborz–Azarbaijan orogenic belt mostly show calc-alkaline and I-type geochemical features contrasted by the Tarom complex with its high-potassic to ...shoshonitic affinity. The pluton was emplaced in the Tarom subzone of the orogenic belt and its laser ICP-MS zircon U–Pb age of 41Ma is interpreted as the age of magma crystallization. The Tarom complex is composed of quartz monzodiorite, quartz-monzonite and monzogranite, the SiO2 contents range from 57 to 70wt.%, the K2O+Na2O content is high (5.0–8.9wt.%) and K2O/Na2O ratio ranges from 0.4 to 1.9. All the investigated rocks are enriched in light rare earth elements (LREEs), large ion lithophile elements (LILEs) and depleted in high field strength elements (HFSEs), and bear a weak Eu anomaly (Eu/Eu*=0.46 to 1.38) in chondrite-normalized trace element patterns. The samples display some variety in initial Sr and Nd isotopic compositions, marked with low ISr=0.704–0.705 and εNd (40Ma)=−4.2 to +3.4 (−5.7 for an enclave) values. The Pb isotopic ratios are (206Pb/204Pb)=18.52–18.86, (207Pb/204Pb)=15.57–15.72 and (208Pb/204Pb)=38.47–39.08. Comparison with experimental studies, together with mantle-like isotopic ratios and comparisons of REE patterns, points to an origin of chemically enriched lithospheric mantle source for the Tarom plutonic complex. Partial melting process involving different partial melting degrees affecting heterogeneously metasomatized mantle is a process that seems likely to have occurred in the studied complex as the major differentiation process. The Tarom monzonitic plutons are considered to be post-orogenic intrusions that were emplaced in an environment of lithospheric extension, causing asthenospheric upwelling. Asthenospheric upwelling induced a thermal anomaly which caused partial melting of metasomatized subcontinental lithospheric mantle in the Tarom area.
•This paper presents the first study on the Tarom plutonic complex.•LA-ICP-MS U–Pb zircon data show an age of about 40Ma for the Tarom complex.•Geochemical and isotopic data suggest enriched mantle source for the magmas.•The complex is post-collisional and was emplaced during lithospheric extension.
•High precision U–Pb zircon dates from a single intrusive porphyry stock.•Rapid timescales of porphyry copper formation.•CA-ID-TIMS zircon geochronology combined with trace elements and Hf ...isotopes.•Protracted zircon growth in a cooling, fractionating upper crustal magma chamber.•Zircon geochemistry can be an indicator of volatile transfer through a felsic crystal mush.
The formation of world class porphyry copper deposits reflect magmatic processes that take place in a deeper and much larger underlying magmatic system, which provides the source of porphyry magmas, as well as metal and sulphur-charged mineralising fluids. Reading the geochemical record of this large magmatic source region, as well as constraining the time-scales for creating a much smaller porphyry copper deposit, are critical in order to fully understand and quantify the processes that lead to metal concentration within these valuable mineral deposits. This study focuses on the Bajo de la Alumbrera porphyry copper deposit in Northwest Argentina. The deposit is centred on a dacitic porphyry intrusive stock that was mineralised by several pulses of porphyry magma emplacement and hydrothermal fluid injections. To constrain the duration of ore formation, we dated zircons from four porphyry intrusions, including pre-, syn- and post-mineralisation porphyries based on intersection relations between successive intrusion and vein generations, using high precision CA-ID-TIMS. Based on the youngest assemblages of zircon grains, which overlap within analytical error, all four intrusions were emplaced within 29 ka, which places an upper limit on the total duration of hydrothermal mineralisation. Re/Os dating of hydrothermal molybdenite fully overlaps with this high-precision age bracket. However, all four porphyries contain zircon antecrysts which record protracted zircon crystallisation during the ∼200 ka preceding the emplacement of the porphyries. Zircon trace element variations, Ti-in-zircon temperatures, and Hf isotopic compositions indicate that the four porphyry magmas record a common geochemical and thermal history, and that the four intrusions were derived from the same upper-crustal magma chamber. Trace element zoning within single zircon crystals confirms a fractional crystallisation trend dominated by titanite and apatite crystallisation. However, zircon cathodoluminescence imaging reveals the presence of intermediate low luminescent (dark) growth zones in many crystals from all intrusions, characterised by anomalously high Th, U and REE concentrations and transient excursions in trace element ratios. A return to the same fractionation trend after this excursion excludes external compositional forcing such as magma mixing. Instead we interpret the “dark-zones” to record zircon crystallisation during a transient event of rapid growth that resulted from mafic magma injection into the base of the magma chamber, releasing a CO2-rich vapour phase into the dacitic crystal mush. We propose that this vapour phase then migrated upwards to the apical part of the magma chamber from where it was expelled, together with successive batches of magma, to form the porphyry copper deposit within a short time-span of less than a few 10,000 years. The short duration of host rock emplacement, hydrothermal alteration and mineralisation presented in this study provides critical constraints on fluid storage in magma chambers and the genesis of large porphyry copper deposits.
The Li-bearing pegmatites of the Pampean Pegmatite Province (PPP) occur in a rare-element pegmatite belt developed mainly in the Lower Paleozoic age on the southwestern margin of Gondwana. The ...pegmatites show Li, Rb, Nb ≤ Ta, Be, P, B, Bi enrichment, and belong to the Li-Cs-Ta (LCT) petrogenetic family, Rare-Element-Li (REL-Li) subclass; most of them are of complex type and spodumene subtype, some are of albite-spodumene type, and a few of petalite subtype. The origin of the pegmatites is attributed predominantly to fractionation of fertile S-type granitic melts produced by either fluid-absent or fluid-assisted anatexis of a thick pile of Gondwana-derived turbiditic sediments. Most of the pegmatites are orogenic (530–440 Ma) and developed during two overlapped collisional orogenies (Pampean and Famatinian); a few are postorogenic (~370 Ma), related to crustal contaminated A-type granites. The pegmatites were likely intruded in the hinterland, preferably in medium-grade metamorphic rocks with PT conditions ~200–500 MPa and 400–650 °C, where they are concentrated in districts and groups. Known combined resources add up 200,000 t of spodumene, with variable grades between 5 and 8 wt.% Li2O. The potential for future findings and enlargement of the resources is high, since no systematic exploration program has yet been developed.
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